Nursery Tips

This remedy has been sent in by Elaine Brattain, a grandmother of 7.

Really bad diaper rash (the kind with open wounds) can been helped by using Milk of Magnesia.  A nurse once told me to use Milk of Magnesia like a lotion.  Just pour it on the affected area - and it worked like a charm.  The magnesia appear to neutralise any acid before it touches the skin allowing it to heal.   The very severe rash was gone in two days.

Pam Phillips has submitted any useful remedy for this problem -

Here is a hint for diaper rash that was given to me by my neighbor.  Make a paste of cornstarch and plain yogurt.  Be sure to keep it refrigerated.  This worked on my daughter's rash when nothing else would.  Easy and cheap to make!

1:  Give teething babies dried apple rings to chew on.  They are spongy, sweet, natural and babies love them.

2:  Wet a clean face cloth/wash cloth, wring it out and put it in the freezer in any shape you want (I usually make it a circle). The cold feels good and it is soft for the baby to chew on and there is no chocking hazard.

Dawn (mum of 5)

Just to be on the safe side, may be a good idea to boil the cloth first to ensure it is germ free.

To prevent car sickness, eat crystallised ginger.

I have taught preschool for many years and have tied children's shoe laces endlessly.  I learned this trick a while back.  Keep a spray bottle with water handy, when tying the laces spray with a little water.  When the shoelace dries it will cause a tighter knot and, therefore, come loose less often.

An invaluable bit of advice from B. & K. Meyers - thanks.

Once way to encourage children to do their music practice is to set a quota (say three times a week) and if they don't do it make them pay for the next lesson.

This was kindly sent in by Ros Heit

To get the house free of clutter from playtime before Daddy or Mummy come home from work, grab a plastic laundry basket and the children and go through the house throwing everything into the basket that doesn't belong in each room.  Then stash the filled basket somewhere out of sight.  Next morning, take the basket (and the children) into each room putting each item back into its place. 

This solution to a nightly problem was kind contributed by Jean Coyle - thanks.

This can easily be made into a game to make it more enjoyable and be careful not to clear up one of Daddy's shoes or Mummy's lipstick!  

Have a sheet of paper laminated (this can be done very cheaply), and then this can be used over and over again if used with dry wipe marker pens.  This is especially useful when travelling or camping.

To help young children to change quickly from shoes to plimsolls (pumps, daps, gym shoes, trainers - whatever they are called in your part of the world); use elastic instead of laces.

To children just starting school, all name tapes look the same, so when putting their name tabs on their clothes include a symbol they will recognise e.g. a smiley face

To get children to divide something fairly, let one child cut the item in question and then let the other child have the first choice as to which piece they want.

To get gum out of hair, clothes, body, and any other place kids manage to place it - use peanut butter.  Just rub the peanut butter in and begin to easily pick the gum out.
It also works on clothes.

(Anon)

This same tip was sent in by Diann Woods  (she says smooth peanut butter is best but crunchy can also be used).