Necessity is the Mother of Invention
Necessity is the mother of invention, as they say – well, emphasis the mother part of that expression. You know when you are out with your baby, and suddenly you realize that you have forgotten something vital?
I’ve made my own wipes with paper towels, soap and water to change my son when we were out and I forgot to bring wipes with me. I’ve duct-taped diapers shut when the tabs broke off, and made a baby carrier for my son with a shirt. How? Watch this video – you can also improvise a baby carrier with a pair of sweatpants or a towel.
I’ve also forgotten to bring a diaper out on one occasion, and created a makeshift diaper from a receiving blanket and a plastic shopping bag. How? Fold receiving blanket in half diagonally to make a triangle. Long side wraps around baby’s waist, third point of triangle goes between baby’s legs, tie the corners together. Then poke two leg holes in the bottom of the plastic bag, insert baby’s bottom in bag, tie bag handles around baby’s waist together to secure. Replace baby’s pants and ignore strangers who are looking at the odd rustling baby. Naturally, keep an eye on baby to ensure baby doesn’t pull the plastic bag apart and that no plastic bag accidents happen. The receiving blanket is absorbent and the plastic bag is fairly waterproof. The best part of this is that I did my MacGyver diaper, not somewhere discrete, but was forced to do so in the middle of Waikiki Beach.
And conversely, baby and toddler products can be useful for moms too. I used a Crayola paintbrush to apply eye makeup the other day, lansinoh nipple cream on a patch of eczema (worked a treat) and used a shovel from the sand box to open a locked window when I locked myself and my baby out of the house. I’m not telling you how I did that just in case someone else decides to break in!
There’s a theme running here… you might be thinking perhaps I need to be a bit more organized and a little less forgetful? Hey, I’m a busy mom, and forgetting keys/diapers/wipes happens… at least to me, anyway! And mom creativity has usually saved the day.
Do you have any clever mom tricks or improvisations to share?
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Simonn says...
Your right there are great opportunities but paying for one isn’t the best