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Tuesday Giveaway: bumGenius Freetime!
December 13, 2011 9:54 am | by

We’re pleased to announce that the new bumGenius Freetime all-in-one style cloth diaper has arrived at the Cotton Babies warehouse! Preorders are beginning to ship as they arrive to us. The Cotton Babies staff are beginning to look like children waiting for Santa each time a new truck arrives. We just can’t wait to open the boxes to see what new products have arrived!

Today, we want to share that excitement with you by giving you the chance to win a bumGenius Freetime cloth diaper! We know how busy life becomes once you are a parent, so we designed Freetime to save you a few extra moments with the simple, all-in-one, no stuffing required design. Learn more about the Freetime in our video here.

To enter today’s blog giveaway for your chance to win one of the new bumGenius Freetime cloth diapers, share your favorite time saving tip! It can be about cloth diapering, laundry, organization or anything in between. We all could use a little more free time, so share your tip and maybe pick up a new one from someone else by reading the comments below.

Five winners will be selected at random from all eligible comments to receive a bumGenius Freetime cloth diaper in the color and closure of their choice from Cotton Babies.

Eligible entries must be posted no later than midnight Central time, Wednesday, December 14, 2011. U.S. Residents only. Void where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary to win. Winners will be drawn at random on Thursday, December 15, 2011 and notified via e-mail. (Please make sure Cotton Babies staff can see your e-mail in your comment or through your Blogger profile page.) Please note, prize may not arrive before the holidays.

About the Author

Heather is mom to four, born within 40 months (single, twins, single). She writes transparently about her chaotic household to encourage others through the twists and turns of parenting.

Comments

402 Comments

  • laundry sink said...
    January 14, 2012 at 3:42 am

    We babywear while doing our chores/ daily routines done. This allows us to get that cuddle time in while building a beautiful bond with our baby. Not to mention a little work out with the extra weight we carry around

  • Laura said...
    December 21, 2011 at 2:43 am

    To save time, I keep files of the meals I cook on a regular basis, with the ingredients of each listed. I rotate through these based on what is on sale that week, what the season is, etc and when I sit down to make out my grocery list for the week I pull the cards and my list is right there. I only have a babysitter two hours a week to go grocery shopping, so I need to be organized so I don’t have to take the kids in with me throughout the week for a couple of things here and there.

  • Katrina said...
    December 16, 2011 at 8:35 pm

    I write out my grocery list in order by aisle that way I never have to backtrack in the store.
    ykatrina at hotmail dot com

  • parksje said...
    December 15, 2011 at 5:23 pm

    After washing my diapers I like to pre-adjust the rise and stuff them so I don’t have to worry about it when its changing time.

  • Laurie said...
    December 15, 2011 at 2:11 pm

    I don’t un-stuff my pockets before throwing them in the pail — the inserts usually come out in the wash!

  • PunkRockChic said...
    December 15, 2011 at 12:59 am

    I have three separate laundry bins where I toss darks, whites and colors as they get dirty. It saves me time not having to separate laundry and can wash loads as they get full.

    I also pack the diaper bag and set outfits out the night before that way in the morning, we can just get up and go.

  • Carolyn said...
    December 15, 2011 at 12:38 am

    My baby loves playing in the clean diapers when they come out of the dryer (I don’t know why, but I’m okay with that!) so I time my diaper laundry to be dry in the late afternoon/early evening (i.e., when he is most fussy and demanding and in need of attention). I take it the living room, dump it out, and he burrows in the clean laundry as I slowly stuff diapers and put them away. He’s happy when he usually wouldn’t be, and I get a chore done!

  • Anonymous said...
    December 15, 2011 at 12:25 am

    I like to stuff & fold my dipes ahead of time and stack them in the changing table so they’re ready to go as we need them throughout the day. Also cloth wipes save a lot of time & money!

    Rec_melinda@hotmail.com

  • Dani said...
    December 14, 2011 at 11:10 pm

    My son goes to bed at about 7:30 every night. I spend about thirty or forty minutes (sometimes more sometimes less depending on how my day has gone) cleaning my kitchen and living room. Then first thing the next day I have a fresh start and I can really focus on my little guy.

  • Anonymous said...
    December 14, 2011 at 10:51 pm

    I multi-task: I spend time playing with my son, letting him pull the laundry out of the basket, and as he lets go of it, I fold it and put it out of his reach. He gets time with Mom; I get the laundry folded.
    Grace D., goodgracious at juno dot com

  • *reyanna klein* said...
    December 14, 2011 at 10:24 pm

    I try *really* hard not to go on the computer before going out somewhere. If I go on the computer, I lose track of time and *always* seem to be late. LOL. :-p

    I also always have the diaper bag packed and ready to go. And while my daughter is napping, *I* get all ready to go. Then when she wakes up, all I have to do is feed her and change her, and we’re off! 🙂

    Love, LOVE the new Freetime. Would love to have more in our stash! 😀

  • Samantha- Confessions of a Twin Mom said...
    December 14, 2011 at 10:11 pm

    Time saving tip: I get the children’s pajamas and night time diapers set in advance, ready to go a few days at a time. It makes bath time and bed time much easier with 2 year old twins.

  • Jodi and Nate said...
    December 14, 2011 at 10:09 pm

    I used the crock pot to prep dinner last night. Today when I got home from work, I had so much extra time I didn’t know what to do with it!

  • pappi said...
    December 14, 2011 at 10:05 pm

    I pre-sort my laundry into color-coded pins in the laundry room so I can do each load as they fill up, and I do my diaper laundry overnight since I use a very long cycle for them.

  • Anonymous said...
    December 14, 2011 at 9:47 pm

    I get up and get things done before baby wakes up, ALOT easier to do when you dont have to worry about a grouchy baby, plus you get it done in half the time! krunchykandygoodness@gmail.com

  • Anonymous said...
    December 14, 2011 at 9:39 pm

    filling my car up the day i get paid, no running to gas stations at 5 am before work no more! sbxno1fan@gmail.com

  • Anonymous said...
    December 14, 2011 at 9:36 pm

    i prepare dinner for the next day at night if i can while baby is at grannys house. agraves291024@gmail.com

  • Anonymous said...
    December 14, 2011 at 9:28 pm

    I go grocery shopping BEFORE work, it takes about 30 minutes and store my “cold” stuff in my work fridge! ilovemyfamily101112@yahoo.com

  • Madeline Miller said...
    December 14, 2011 at 9:17 pm

    All kid shoes live in the car – then I don’t have to worry about finding them!

    madelinemiller at gmail dot com

  • Anonymous said...
    December 14, 2011 at 9:15 pm

    My tip is that I keep to a schedule, it really helps now that i have a little one. On certain days i do certain cleaning tasks and cook certain dinners. californiababylove@yahoo.com

  • Anonymous said...
    December 14, 2011 at 9:08 pm

    when my diapers are dry i snap all the inserts, snap all the rises on them then stuff and put away..basically a one man assembly line lol
    clothdiapermomma924@gmail.com

  • Anonymous said...
    December 14, 2011 at 8:33 pm

    I stuff all my pocket diapers as soon as they are dry. Also, making double batches of meals like chilis and soups is great too!
    amandagerber@yahoo.com

  • Hailey said...
    December 14, 2011 at 5:37 pm

    I keep two laundry baskets, one is lined with PUL fabric bag for diapers inserts preseparated from cover so that laundry day is a quick toss of diapers and pul bag into washer.
    haily.goodman at gmail.com

  • sunlilac said...
    December 14, 2011 at 4:56 pm

    my time saving tip is is to wash diapers while i’m in the kitchen working. this way when one cycle is done i’m ready to start the next cycle. less time spent washing diapers when you stay on top of it,

  • Anonymous said...
    December 14, 2011 at 4:51 pm

    I don’t bother folding my prefold Econobums diapers. I have them all piled in a pretty basket in the living room. That way I can just pluck out a new prefold as needed.

    Address: Claire.beagle@gmail dot com

  • Shannon said...
    December 14, 2011 at 4:35 pm

    I keep a “To-Go” pack in my purse. It has a cloth diaper, wipes, crackers, and extra pacifier, for those times when I need to run out to the store.

  • Cara and Josh Monroe said...
    December 14, 2011 at 4:07 pm

    I keep a list of all of my common dinner recipes and their ingredients. When its time to make my weekly grocery list, I pick from my list. This way I can easily decide whats for dinner during the week, and what I will need to make it.

  • Regan said...
    December 14, 2011 at 4:05 pm

    I bring my 13 month old in the shower with me to save time and so I can a shower before naptime at 1:00

  • Regan said...
    December 14, 2011 at 4:04 pm

    I bring my 13 month old in the shower with me to save time and so I can a shower before naptime at 1:00

  • Go Long! Go Green! said...
    December 14, 2011 at 3:16 pm

    I always use my 5 budha bunz dryer balls when drying my diapers to save time and money! 🙂

  • Anonymous said...
    December 14, 2011 at 1:41 pm

    i clean the bathroom while dinner is in the oven after my husband gets home so he can watch the baby. dsasms1011@gmail.com

  • Anonymous said...
    December 14, 2011 at 1:12 pm

    My tip is using the crockpot! I bought a crockpot cookbook and throw everything in the crock pot in the morning and let it cook all day.

    beckyboo1467@yahoo.com

  • Anonymous said...
    December 14, 2011 at 1:06 pm

    When we go grocery shopping we make our list by isles so we can go in and out quickly as possible

    hawks022984@hotmail.com

  • Mallory T said...
    December 14, 2011 at 12:58 pm

    Not too clever or uncommon, but to save time I usually wash diapers at night so they can be dry in the morning! I also keep a diaper bag in the trunk with emergency outfits, blankets, and diapers. Mallorytallman@gmail.com

  • Sarah Ashkar said...
    December 14, 2011 at 12:50 pm

    In order to save time, we ALWAYS meal plan on Saturdays and do only one grocery trip a week. Before we did this, we would be deciding at 5:30 what to eat for dinner and then would still need to go get it and cook it. Ugh. This is our lifesaver.

    voskuil.s @ gmail.com

  • jami said...
    December 14, 2011 at 12:24 pm

    I actually schedule free time into our day. With a full and busy household there is always something to do, but we all (mommy too) need some free time!

  • lgibson said...
    December 14, 2011 at 11:44 am

    I make sure that the kids are on a schedule and my bag is always packed with daieprs wipes, and few other things for out the door fast

  • Eco Baby Mama Drama said...
    December 14, 2011 at 11:32 am

    My favorite time saving tip is to have laundry going all the time while I am doing everything else. It seems like I always have dirty laundry so instead of having a laundry time I just always have a load running!
    sabrina radke
    sradke1024 at gmail dot com

  • Michelle Daddino said...
    December 14, 2011 at 11:13 am

    Mulitasking! Cooking baby’s cereal while emptying the dishwasher, cooking diner and folding laundry, folding/stuffing diapers while watching t.v. and hanging with hubby(and getting him to fold wipes)

  • Shelly said...
    December 14, 2011 at 10:58 am

    I wash my diapers at night after baby is in bed. Then hang them up using pant hangers. Then the next morning they are dry and ready to go. I don’t have to sit around waiting on them and I have a fresh batch the next morning.

    silverpoptab@hotmail.com

  • Nisha said...
    December 14, 2011 at 10:20 am

    My favorite time-saver is to get things ready the night before. Pack whatever bags I’ll need, lay out clothes, etc. The fewer decisions I need to make in the morning, the better!

  • beccajoy said...
    December 14, 2011 at 10:14 am

    When we take off our socks we cuff them together and they go in the laundry pile together, then before I put them in the washer I separate them so when they come out of the dryer there are no missing socks, every sock has a match! Saves tons of time searching for a matching sock that just isn’t there.

  • Cherie said...
    December 14, 2011 at 10:14 am

    I try to make sure i make all my meals for the next day during nap time so that when my kids are awake i dont have to worry about them getting fussy before the meal is ready. It also helps if you are out of the house a lil to long the next day b/c dinner is already done all you have to do is heat and serve.

  • amanda said...
    December 14, 2011 at 10:03 am

    We have a basket of all the cloth diaper supplies, so there is no need tp hunt anything down for a diaper change.

  • Boise Wiebers said...
    December 14, 2011 at 9:56 am

    To save time at my house each night I set out clothes for my me and my children to wear the next day. I also have before and after school checklists for the kids. The lists include things such as making lunch, getting important papers out of their back packs, brushing teeth, etc. trishabear 1970 (at) yahoo (dot) com

  • Love{&}Bugs said...
    December 14, 2011 at 9:24 am

    I make a grocery list based on the aisles at the grocery store. It saves time at the store because I can skip aisles I don’t need anything in and I can go quickly through the rest of them because I know I won’t miss anything.
    popita624 at gmail dot com

  • momma.aynes said...
    December 14, 2011 at 9:16 am

    My time saving tip is invest in a laundry sorter. All laundry is sorted when you get ready to wash.

    amanda dot aynes at gmail dot com

  • Mama on a Green Mission said...
    December 14, 2011 at 9:13 am

    I was always forgetting about the laundry and it would take forever to do because by the time I remembered, it could have been dried! LOL So, I bought a timer to keep in the room I am in to go off at the approximate time the washer is done so I can immediately get the clothes into the dryer…this has saved time and gets laundry done quicker!

    gr812_2000 at yahoo dot com

  • Morrigan said...
    December 14, 2011 at 8:54 am

    During the week my biggest time saver is to make 2 big meals on Sunday. This lets us eat leftovers for a good chunk of the week, minimal clean up and allows us family time!

  • Rebecca said...
    December 14, 2011 at 8:45 am

    I pick up all the clutter daily before I go to bed. That way it never gets out of control and takes 5 or 10 minutes a day to clean up instead of hours on the weekend!

  • Catherine said...
    December 14, 2011 at 8:36 am

    My main way of saving time right now is cosleeping. With my first I would struggle to get him to sleep every night- sometimes taking an hour or more, only to wake up 2 hours later to feed him. Now that I beds hare, my 2nd goes to sleep right away, and when he gets hungry in the middle of the night I barely wake up. It saves so much sleep time! We are both happier and my milk production is much better because I get to sleep!
    Brownch6athotmaildotcom

  • Jana @sidetrackd said...
    December 14, 2011 at 8:29 am

    I freeze leftovers so that I have quick meals on nights when time is running short.

  • April said...
    December 14, 2011 at 8:28 am

    I’d like to think that I save time with a lot of my lazy tricks (like throwing stuff at the bottom or top of stairs to all be taken at once, but honestly these tricks don’t get followed through with and end up causing a messier house. I think that I really need to read through everyone’s tips on this one!

  • Amanda said...
    December 14, 2011 at 8:26 am

    Now that dd is older, she takes a shower with mommy. She gets to play while mommy is washing & mommy gets to get clean without having a head pop in every 2 minutes asking if she’s done!
    Tvpg at aol dot com

  • Anonymous said...
    December 14, 2011 at 7:25 am

    We sold a car and transitioned to being a “one car family”. It might sound counterintuitive as a time-saving strategy, but we spend so much less time juggling baby gear between cars and maintaining an extra car that it really does save time! It also forces us to plan our errands more efficiently, whether we use the car or the stroller. And if we use the stroller, we can manage to combine a grocery trip with a long walk and skip the gym. It is a win-win!

    kellanbeale at gmail dot com

  • Ita said...
    December 14, 2011 at 2:49 am

    Each child has a separate hamper. This way I don’t ever have to check the tag for size when folding and putting away — I know the whole basket belongs to one person! (This is especially helpful when you have several boys in a row, and their pants and dress shirts all look the same!).

  • Jennifer C. said...
    December 14, 2011 at 12:45 am

    My best time saving tip is to do the dishes and laundry at the same time, so you can get it all done at once!

    jennifercausby at hotmail dot com

  • Maria Ivey said...
    December 14, 2011 at 12:30 am

    I try to do a load of laundry each day so that it doesn’t pile up and become a big chore at the end of the week.

    lilydom76 at msn dot com

  • tiffanym916 said...
    December 14, 2011 at 12:20 am

    I have twins so I always have to pack double in the diaper bag. To save time I always repack the diaper bag as soon as I get back from an outing that way if I ever have to leave in a hurry the last thing I have to worry about is the diaper bag.

  • Colleen said...
    December 14, 2011 at 12:18 am

    I’ve given up folding my diaps and just shove them in a drawer. Now that I have two in cloth I find this saves me a LOT of time (mostly because my 20 mo old likes to open the drawer and pull them all out!)

  • Lindsey Weisbruch said...
    December 14, 2011 at 12:07 am

    I used to fold my family’s clothes after they were clean then one day I realized that most of the clothes get hung up and there was not point to folding. I have 2 girls and 2 boys. The girls share a room and he boys share a room. I now stack the clothes. So I lay them flat and make a girl stack and a boy stack because they are going to the girl closet or boy closet anyways. So now I save time not having to sort or fold, so I take out those 2 extra steps. The only time I fold something is if it is going into a drawer.
    lindseyweisbruch (at) yahoo (dot) com

  • Natalie said...
    December 14, 2011 at 12:04 am

    when doing any sort of cooking, i clean as i go. i also sort my silverware in the dishwaser so when its done i can just grab a handful and stick it in the drawer.

  • Natalie said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:55 pm

    Pulling inserts from diapers when I change them and stuffing them as I pull them from the dryer or clothesline.

  • Nicki said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:50 pm

    I always lay out my clothes, the munchkins clothes and pack the diaper bag the night before so we don’t run behind in the morning! I also started planning my meals for the week, i save so much time by not wandering around the kitchen trying to decide what to cook!

  • ani said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:33 pm

    I put up a dry erase board in our laundry room (which is on my way out the door to the car) and off to the right side of the board is a running grocery list that I asked my husband to write down anything that he uses up (ex, if he finishes a box of cereal) that we need more of so that I know we need it without him having to remember to tell me before I head out for groceries again. Also, I keep a running grocery list on my phone, so I always have it with me at the grocery store.

  • Anonymous said...
    December 13, 2011 at 10:58 pm

    I love my DVR! I always either record my show and then fast forward through commercials (which saves 10-15 mins. on an hour episode) or I pause during commercials and switch the laundry or load/unload the dishwasher.

    Sarah
    Rennersa9@gmail.com

  • Lisa said...
    December 13, 2011 at 10:38 pm

    I clean the bathroom while the kids are in the tub! 🙂

  • Abby said...
    December 13, 2011 at 10:32 pm

    I am in a freezer meal group that gets together once a month. Everyone assembles one meal and you go home with a whole month’s worth of meals in one night! It makes for a long night, but saves so much time the rest of the month!

  • Kelly said...
    December 13, 2011 at 10:04 pm

    I try to plan meals for the week before I go to the grocery store and organize ingredients on my shopping list by location in the store. It saves me from making multiple trips, as well as wandering around the store when I forget something! (kaoc812 at gmail dot com)

  • KP said...
    December 13, 2011 at 10:01 pm

    Meal planning is key along with some bulk meal prep. DH and I discuss meals over brunch on the weekend. We then do as much meal preparing as possible and often double recipes and freeze for a few weeks down the road.

  • Baby said...
    December 13, 2011 at 9:47 pm

    1) Cloth wipes – Why not wash a little extra and not have to spend the time sorting trash from washable?
    2) Placing everything I may need for the night in the middle of the bed – diapers, wipes, burp cloth, etc.

  • MV said...
    December 13, 2011 at 9:27 pm

    There are lots of good tips here already. I like to make freeze my cookie dough a few weeks before Christmas. That way I only have to bake them a day or two before our family gatherings.

  • Tara said...
    December 13, 2011 at 9:23 pm

    I prep the food for dinner in double quantities (2x the recipe) and divide the whole batch into four containers–one for that night (we usually only eat half a recipe), and three ziploc bags. I freeze the three and then have meals that just need to be heated (soups, chilis, spaghetti sauce, assembled but uncooked casseroles, and ziti/lasagnas work well). taralrobbins *(at)* hotmail

  • sarah W. said...
    December 13, 2011 at 9:22 pm

    i have a lot!!! my favorite top two would be my goal/cleaning list for the week helps me stick to getting things done and leaves me time to spend with my precious loves!!! And i get my kiddos milk poured into glasses the night before and put them in the fridge so there is NO melt downs in the morning while I’m still in a “daze” trying to make breakfast 🙂

  • Tara said...
    December 13, 2011 at 9:21 pm

    This comment has been removed by the author.

  • carolyn said...
    December 13, 2011 at 9:11 pm

    I always stuff diapers and fold cloth wipes as soon as they are done in the dryer so they are ready to go when I need them. Artist series get double stuffed for overnights, solids for daytime and flips go in the diaper bag.
    carolynsoke@hotmail.com

  • Mary W said...
    December 13, 2011 at 9:08 pm

    The best time saver I for me is to simply wake up earlier! I get to shower and dress, have some me time, and plan out what I need to accomplish that day. Not only do I get more done, but I have a better attitude which makes me a better mom for Lucy 3, Jane 1, and Daniel 1 month (all of whom have been or are being cloth diapered; wink wink)

  • Elizabeth said...
    December 13, 2011 at 9:04 pm

    I spend 15 minutes at the end of the night getting the house ready for the next day. I lay out clothes and shoes for all (4) of the kids, get sippy cups and snack bags ready for the next day, and pack up the diaper bag so we’re ready to go.

  • Cori and Ben said...
    December 13, 2011 at 8:57 pm

    I try to save time by doing laundry at night time so that at least one cycle can run while I am sleeping. 🙂

  • Amanda Edwards said...
    December 13, 2011 at 8:55 pm

    To feel like I have more time, I take “me time” first. When my daughter goes down for a nap, I take the first 15 or so minutes to do what I want to do then I use the rest of the time to do chores or work or whatever needs to be done. It doesn’t technically give me more time but it feels like I have more time because I’m happier ; )

  • JLibbyBoyle said...
    December 13, 2011 at 8:48 pm

    We organize everything . It comes out of the drawer exactly as it needs to go on

  • Katherine said...
    December 13, 2011 at 8:25 pm

    I always keep a stocked diaper bag, plus a bag with a few extras (jackets, socks and shoes, snacks/drinks), in the car. That way we’re always ready to go and only need to get dressed and out the door in the morning. I also like to prep for multiple meals ahead of time, including lunches and snacks, so that it’s easier to cook healthy meals.

  • Charis's Mum said...
    December 13, 2011 at 8:07 pm

    My extra time saving tip is to clean as you go. Don’t wait until the end of the day to clean. I know easier said than done. Trust me. I wish I was better at this, but some days I am better than others.
    mummytocharis[at]yahoo[dot]com

  • Danielle Bartran said...
    December 13, 2011 at 8:05 pm

    I find that I like to do all my laundry in one day, folding each load as I go, separating each drawer into piles. That way I only put away laundry once. I wash diapers as needed during the week.

  • jaysen stratton said...
    December 13, 2011 at 7:42 pm

    I shower at night and get everything ready for the next day. My son would love this diaper.

    Fuzzy2424 at gmail dot con

  • Lady of the Lakes said...
    December 13, 2011 at 7:35 pm

    hmm good time saving tip (when I remember to do it) is to clean the bathroom while you are giving the little ones a bath.

  • Jaime.Osborne@live.com said...
    December 13, 2011 at 7:27 pm

    I always pack our lunches when I am putting away the dinner leftovers. Not only does it make clean up quicker but then I have free time to play with my 6 month old son before he goes to bed.

  • Anonymous said...
    December 13, 2011 at 7:11 pm

    I pre-pack most of lunch supplies in baggies, so making lunches is a matter of collecting baggies of veggies, pretzels, cookies, etc. Also, when I make a casserole, I double it and put one in the freezer for a quick meal later.
    Brooke
    brooke dienberg at yahoo dot com

  • jdeemarie said...
    December 13, 2011 at 7:06 pm

    Hang diapers to dry whenever possible – this helps them to last longer and stay looking nice and new.

    jdeemarie @ gmail.com

  • Melissa Duckett said...
    December 13, 2011 at 6:41 pm

    I like to keep empty hangers together and on laundry day I take them downstairs to hang up shirts as soon as they come out of the dryer. It keeps them from wrinkling, and it keeps me from having all of my laundry sitting in the basket for days because I hang up the stack and I’m done. If I can manage to fold my pants downstairs, too, I just shove them in the drawer and I’m done. Why this is so hard to accomplish upstairs, I’ll never know 😉

  • Nicole said...
    December 13, 2011 at 6:38 pm

    I get everything for the kids ready the night before. I lay out clothes, make lunches etc. Saves us a ton of time in the morning.

  • The Bubblelush said...
    December 13, 2011 at 6:33 pm

    My newest time saving tip has to do with our new bedtime routine: My 15 month old daughter is starting to fall asleep on her own in her crib, but prefers that I’m rocking in the glider while she dozes off in her crib. So I make sure my clean cloth diapers are sitting by the glider and I stuff them while she falls asleep. I can easily do it in low light, and it crosses something off my to do list so I can enjoy adult time once she’s asleep. Fabulous.

  • Felicia R said...
    December 13, 2011 at 6:28 pm

    I always need more time in the morning to get ready and out of the house on time.. the tips I have to help me do that is do as much as can be done the night before.. plan out outfits, pack lunches, load the car with certain items or sit them by the door and back all bags with what can be prepacked!
    fmgrice2(at)yahoo(dot)com

  • Monica said...
    December 13, 2011 at 6:17 pm

    My time-saving tip is to do all the laundry in on day every two weeks. This way I don’t feel like the laundry is never done and the entire house knows it laundry day so we get all the clothes take care of. Of course that doesn’t include the every other day diaper laundry, but I don’t count that 🙂

  • EmConigs said...
    December 13, 2011 at 6:13 pm

    I do one load of clothing laundry every day. I put them in the wash at breakfast, in the dryer at lunch and then after the kids are in bed hubby helps me fold and put them away. This way it takes minimal time during the day and it goes much faster when I have help to fold!

  • Britni said...
    December 13, 2011 at 6:13 pm

    My time saving tip is for everyone in the family to have a different tote in the bathroom so we each just pull out our own when we need something. Saves time trying to find what you need and saves the bathroom from being a mess.

  • April said...
    December 13, 2011 at 6:11 pm

    When I can’t get a shower in before my Little Bug wakes up, I just bring her in with me! I put her in her little tub on the floor of the shower and wash her after I wash me. I love it because it means no more nighttime baths (which always seemed to energize my Bug, not calm her down).

  • Team Ford said...
    December 13, 2011 at 5:59 pm

    My time saving tip? Oh, I’m terrible at saving time. That’s why I need this diaper! 🙂 I make myself lists and STICK TO THE LIST otherwise I get distracted and never get anything done!

  • Alexis said...
    December 13, 2011 at 5:50 pm

    Here, the laundry is sorted into the appropriate hamper (one for whites, one for towels, one for jeans, one for…) as it comes off the person rather than thrown into one single collective basket. We have six tall hampers that are lined up side by side in the bathroom, each labeled. This makes for sorted laundry with little effort and saves time. When laundry day rolls around I just grab the hamper of clothes and toss the contents into the washer.

  • Lauren said...
    December 13, 2011 at 5:48 pm

    I let my one-year-old “help” me stuff and fold diapers. Sure, she’s usually undoing something I’ve just done, but it keeps her occupied and I can actually get them done!

  • Saffron Capson said...
    December 13, 2011 at 5:48 pm

    I do work on my smart phone while I am nursing.

    Saffroncapson@gmail.com

  • thelaundryblog said...
    December 13, 2011 at 5:30 pm

    Do dishes right after dinner or at least before bed, otherwise you lose momentum and they can end up sitting for days.

  • Elaine said...
    December 13, 2011 at 5:29 pm

    Pre-set the washer the night before to wash a load first thing in the morning that way the hubby can advance it or hang it outside before he heads off to work.

  • Alexandra said...
    December 13, 2011 at 5:25 pm

    I get as much done at night as I can for the next day: pick out clothes, pack diaper bag, plan meals, etc… The fewer quick decisions I have to make, the better; that way I have more time to deal with the unexpected things. Also, pre-stuff and fold diapers and put them away in a very organized way to make things easier for everyone!

  • Elizabeth said...
    December 13, 2011 at 5:16 pm

    I fold/stuff diapers while watching tv. It makes it go quickly! (ElizabethTClements@yahoo.com)

  • CandiceJane said...
    December 13, 2011 at 5:12 pm

    My biggest time saver is making large batches of baby food and freezing it in ice cube trays. Once they freeze I transfer them into freezer bags. Then I just grab a couple cubes of whatever veggie/fruit baby will have! I also grind lg batches of rice or oatmeal and make about cook 3 days worth at a time and keep in the fridge! It’s turned out to be a super quick way of making healthy baby food!

  • Haley said...
    December 13, 2011 at 5:08 pm

    I use the delay wash setting on my washer and load up laundry the night before. I set it to start early in the morning so I have a head start on things the next day.

  • The Nameless Wonder said...
    December 13, 2011 at 5:02 pm

    When daylight savings time ends in November, use it as a tool to adjust your toddler’s naptime. When you change the clocks in your house, keep one on “toddler standard time” (i.e. don’t change it), and stick to your normal schedule using only that clock. Your toddler will think he’s going to bed at his regular bedtime, but you suddenly have an extra hour all to yourself every evening. You can get stuff done, exercise, or just relax. Since this happens in the fall, the daylight hours are getting shorter and your toddler is more likely to sleep in. The next few days, wait an extra ten minutes each day to get your toddler out of his room in the morning. The end result; you get an extra hour at night, but only have to get up twenty minutes earlier.

  • Jess and Paul Erickson said...
    December 13, 2011 at 4:53 pm

    I cut large pieces of meat in half for smaller servings and package 2 per baggie for easy defrosting and pre-measured servings! I then try to cook a large meal at least once a week for dinner to allow for a relaxing evening of leftovers the next night. I also get things packed and ready the night before!

  • Guatejen said...
    December 13, 2011 at 4:50 pm

    For grocery shopping, I make a menu, then I list the items by where they are in the store. I have a route I always go on, so I can easily do all my shopping for a few weeks in half an hour. Eat a meal before you go (fewer impulse buys), go alone, and stick to the list religiously!

  • Christie said...
    December 13, 2011 at 4:48 pm

    My husband an I stuff diapers while we watch tv at night. That way I am not dedicating extra time solely to laundry.

  • simplymerry said...
    December 13, 2011 at 4:48 pm

    flushable liners. enough said. 😉
    simplymerry at gmail dot com

  • Drea said...
    December 13, 2011 at 4:47 pm

    Instead of washing alone, prep your natural fiber diapers with baby clothes laundry or any non-diaper laundry using cloth diaper detergent.

  • Anonymous said...
    December 13, 2011 at 4:39 pm

    I have eight covers for each baby and prestuff them with a prefolds and a fleece liner. Then when I change a diaper I just grab another prestuffed one. If the cover isn’t too dirty I rince it in the sink and hang it to dry. I restuff the dry covers before I go to bed so that they are ready for the next day.
    freelandtr@yahoo.com

  • Alicia said...
    December 13, 2011 at 4:39 pm

    My time saving rule–never leave a room without grabbing several things from that room that actually belong in another. In this way I am constantly cleaning up and it saves me from having to do a huge clutter overhaul at the end of the day!

    alicia_bartel@hotmail.com

  • Jill said...
    December 13, 2011 at 4:27 pm

    I use the ’15 minute’ tip when cleaning and stole a tip from Rachael Ray when cooking or doing just about anything. It’s called ‘pockets of time’. In between ‘things’ that you’re doing, sneak in little chores. Like while you’re watching your food cook on the stove, go ahead and run dishwater and wash dishes between pot stirring. Unload the dishwasher while you’re waiting on the oven to heat up, or switch out laundry on commercial breaks. The 15 minute tip is to set a timer for 15 minutes and see what you can rush through and get done. You’d be surprised what you can do in 15 minutes! Works great for kids, too!

  • Allison Hertzler said...
    December 13, 2011 at 4:14 pm

    I have baskets drilled into the bathroom wall that act as the kids’ “cubbies”. We have 3 daughters and only one bathroom, so this organizational trick makes a big space saving difference for us. The girls keep extra bathroom supplies in there, as well as clothes for the next day and pajamas.

  • Tori said...
    December 13, 2011 at 3:56 pm

    My family eat a lot of whole grains and beans. My time saving/money saving trick is to cook the whole bag at once, and then freeze in 1 cup portions. You save crazy amounts of money using dried versus canned, and the 1 cup portions are approximately the same amount in a normal can of beans. Plus, the sodium content is drastically reduced.

  • Jessica said...
    December 13, 2011 at 3:56 pm

    While cooking i do the dishes and to save time while cooking I cook both ingredients at the same time vs one after another.

  • Anonymous said...
    December 13, 2011 at 3:48 pm

    I’m new to cloth but hope to have lots of super tips soon !! LOVING THIS CONTEST….ready to try new things !! I have lots of time saving tips but I’m a mom of three in diapers so I always looking for more. Here is one of my FAVORITES i hope some of you can apply at your homes : we have a big screened outside porch with my kids toys, toys and more toys also a outdoor table ~it gets rather dirty and dusty out there especially after a good rain so i like to take the leaf blower and open the door and blow everything out (I don’t have to really move any toys they get blown clean also.)……this also keeps my kids from tracking/crawling anything into the house also 🙂 Angel awehlage@yahoo.com

  • Marianne said...
    December 13, 2011 at 3:41 pm

    I wash my diapers at night so that they hang dry overnight while we are sleeping…then I stuff them in the morning while the kiddos are eating breakfast. Saves me the time of waiting for diapers to dry during the day 🙂

    MarianneFEdwards@hotmail.com

  • LauraH said...
    December 13, 2011 at 3:39 pm

    I plan slow cooker meals for the nights my daughter has after school activities. That way, we can eat right away when we get home from the activity instead of having to cook dinner.

  • tinsleigh75 said...
    December 13, 2011 at 3:38 pm

    i plan my meals on sunday and grocery shop using my recipes. then, i make a list and stick in on the fridge so i know what meals i’m making what night and can take out what i need!

  • Jon said...
    December 13, 2011 at 3:38 pm

    Like Selena, I set my clock 20 minutes ahead – and my alarm 45 minutes earlier than required. Some days I get out of bed early, others I get to treat myself to rolling over.

    orthimnas gmail (dawt) com

  • Sandy said...
    December 13, 2011 at 3:20 pm

    I keep a monthly calendar up in the kitchen, right next to the fridge to keep the whole family organized.

  • Tami L said...
    December 13, 2011 at 3:20 pm

    I always grocery shop with a list divided up in the different sections of the grocery store so I don’t have to run back and forth in the store if I missed something. (have all the dairy together, fruits and veggies, etc) tamisuelogsdonatgmaildotcom

  • Joni and Zach said...
    December 13, 2011 at 3:15 pm

    We have 3 different diapers, one for day, one for nap and one for night time. We also pre stuff them when a load is dry, this way we never have to waste time putting them together while a naked toddler gets away from us.

  • BeeBaker said...
    December 13, 2011 at 3:14 pm

    I can get a lot done when I set a timer for 5 minutes and pick up non-stop. Maybe it’s the thrill of a time crunch…

  • awehlage@yahoo.com said...
    December 13, 2011 at 3:10 pm

    ok …I have a couple tips hopefully someone can use …….I’m new to cloth so I don’t have any great tips YET !!!! But I like to stuff my purse with little junk so the kids always have something to look to keep them busy if needed, also I like to take all my paperwork with me in case I get ‘stuck” somewhere i can catch up. When I was pregnant i loved going to the doctor because i got everything done without feeling guilty about taking away from family time. We have a big outside screened porch with all kids of kids toys and table (it’s gets dusty and dirty ALOT) so what I love to do is get the leaf blower and open the door and turn it on and just blow out everything …..this way my kids outside toys get dusted and they won’t track anything into our house !! So excited for this contest and to read the others 🙂
    angel

  • tripntwinmom said...
    December 13, 2011 at 3:08 pm

    I like freezer cooking. I make easy to defrost things like meatballs or chicken nuggets when I have time and then when I’m in a hurry to get dinner on the table I can just pull them out

  • Melissa said...
    December 13, 2011 at 3:02 pm

    Above comment by, Melissa belongs to majacobs@piercedmedia.com

  • Anonymous said...
    December 13, 2011 at 3:01 pm

    My best time saving tip is to make a list. Every project goes faster if you have direction in a step-by-step.

    Jutta Pearce

    juttaGesiele@hotmail.com

  • Sarah said...
    December 13, 2011 at 3:01 pm

    I try to make dinners that I can make ahead of time so I can just pop them in the oven and worry about other things.

  • Melissa said...
    December 13, 2011 at 2:59 pm

    The best thing I ever did was to start a laundry schedule, with a large family (6 kids, plus my husband and myself) makes for a LOT of laundry! Now we do laundry everyday of the week, usually 2 loads per day, Girls laundry on Monday, Boys on Tuesday, Sheets and towels on Wednesday, mine and my hubby’s on Thursday, Friday and Saturday are for catch-up and Sunday is off. Also makes it easy to get my diapers washed, because there is alway an empty washing machine at the end of the day. 🙂 This is much better then the old schedule of 10 loads of laundry on Monday. haha!

  • Allison C said...
    December 13, 2011 at 2:52 pm

    We pre-sort all of our laundry. Different hampers for different loads saves us tons of time, and it doesn’t take any longer to put clothes in the correct hamper. Plus it’s easy to just quickly toss in a load when we need to.

  • Micah said...
    December 13, 2011 at 2:51 pm

    I’ve given up on make up! 🙂

  • Patty said...
    December 13, 2011 at 2:51 pm

    When I tidy the downstairs, I always put things on the stairs that need to go up to the bedrooms. Then, I never go up the stairs emptyhanded. I always grab the things on the stairs and put them away!

  • Dakotapam said...
    December 13, 2011 at 2:50 pm

    My favorite time saver? I had twins! I saved 9 months and I always have enough dirty diapers for a load.

  • Channaleah said...
    December 13, 2011 at 2:50 pm

    i try and always have a diaper bag packed 100% so I can get up and leave when needed without packing it.

  • SweetsignsDesigns said...
    December 13, 2011 at 2:47 pm

    I set aside a time to clip coupons and organize them alphabetically saving me tons of time at the store from having to rifle through dozens of coupons!

  • Tanya said...
    December 13, 2011 at 2:45 pm

    I keep a basket in the living room with wipes, and diapers all ready to go. Cleaning up: When I’m going into a different area of the house I’ll gather up any things that need to be put away in those rooms so I don’t have to go back and forth.

  • ssministry said...
    December 13, 2011 at 2:40 pm

    I help my wife with things and it makes things go doubly fast 🙂

  • Elizabeth Vaughan said...
    December 13, 2011 at 2:35 pm

    I make meals at nap time, I also keep toys in the playroom instead of his room so that while he sleep I can actually clean up toys.

  • JustCorey said...
    December 13, 2011 at 2:29 pm

    I saw someone else had something similar, but i keep a diaper bag packed for spur of the moment trips that way we can be more spontaneous without the rush. AlsoI put dirty diapers directly into the laundry with water to start soaking and only do other laundry (clothes, towels etc.) once a week. Skips the step of putting into wetbag and since the laundry room is the same room as my older sons potty his diaper/trainers go striat in without changing rooms.

    coreybelle86 at yahoo dot com

  • clothdiaperingmommatomany said...
    December 13, 2011 at 2:22 pm

    I try to be organized. If I’m organized I know right where everything is and can grab it & go. Laundry wise I also have plastic hampers lined up to seperate cloths as they come in, a table with laundry baskets to fold & put into the correct basket as they come out. I definately menu pan to make my shopping lists as well. I pretty much leave not 1 but 2 diaper bags in the car at all times.

  • Jessica Forno said...
    December 13, 2011 at 2:21 pm

    I recruit my hubby to help assemble diapers while we watch tv in the evening. Also I make the kids pick out their clothes the night before to save the rush in the morning.

  • Sarah J. said...
    December 13, 2011 at 2:21 pm

    We are usually pressed for time in the morning. I try to have diaper bags, etc. packed and by the door, ready to grab on our way out. I also try to have my clothes laid out and I have my oldest pick out his clothes the night before. He also asks me every night what I want for breakfast in the morning.
    saywah_j at yahoo dot com

  • Carrie said...
    December 13, 2011 at 2:19 pm

    I do basically ALL of my laundry on one day! I set aside Mondays for laundry and get every load through. I do our diaper laundry and maybe one extra load of other laundry throughout the week. Doing the majority of the laundry on one day saves me on the amount of loads (I can fill the washer to the max) and TIME. I get everything washed/dried throughout the day and then fold everything at night while watching some of my favorite shows. Laundry is all presorted throughout the week as it comes off our bodies. No need to handle it twice!

    Carrie Butcher
    fantasia1117@aol.com

  • Beka said...
    December 13, 2011 at 2:19 pm

    I have the planet wise wet/dry bag. It’s my favorite buy to save time when cloth diapering. Not only does it keep icky smells from away from the room, but it saves a lot of time when laundering the diapers. Just throw everything (bag included) into the wash and it all can stay together and keep things organized and save time! I love it and couldn’t cloth diaper without it! Email: bekaboo2003@hotmail.com

  • June R said...
    December 13, 2011 at 2:18 pm

    When I check the mailbox, I immediately sort out all the junk and put it into the recycling bin right then and there. It doesn’t save a whole lot of time but a few seconds does add up over a year. 🙂

    tootmum(at)Yahoo(dot)com

  • Elaine said...
    December 13, 2011 at 2:18 pm

    Laundry : I work, so pr-kids getting laundry done was a challenge… now its better! Start the first round of diapers before bed. Start the second round before leaving for work. Move them to the drier when I get home, and pull them out after dinner.

    #2 is due in March, so we’ll have two on diapers then. Don’t stuff until you need them, or color code so you aren’t trying to put the newborn diaper on the toddler!

    Top off a diaper load with clothes that can handle the temp changes… tshirts, sheets, jeans, burp towels, etc. No need to do an extra load this way!

    Buy washable clothes – so no need to go to the dry cleaners.

    Meal plan – cuts down on shopping trips. Try for a couple of weeks in advance, so you can stock ip when things are on sale.

    Pack leftovers in meal-sized containers… makes packing lunches faster and easier.

    Load dirty dishes directly into the dishwasher – run it overnight, and unload asap.

    Set out clothes and pack bags the night before. Also set up breakfast things, and have lunches packed and ready to grab from the fridge.

    Basically, the more preplanning and prep you can do, the better! That way you have the time to handle the emergencies.

  • Lydia said...
    December 13, 2011 at 2:15 pm

    We sort laundry into color bins as we take it off. It saves me time on laundry day & keeps things looking tidy!

  • Anonymous said...
    December 13, 2011 at 2:13 pm

    I carry baby in a baby carrier. I don’t know how I would get anything done around the house without it!

    My email is habcharlene at gmail. Thanks!

  • Kathleen M said...
    December 13, 2011 at 2:12 pm

    Prestuffing BG dipes so I have at least 3 for nighttime.

  • courtney said...
    December 13, 2011 at 2:11 pm

    I freeze everything! I made baby food & froze it months before my baby was eating food! I cook in large batches & then freeze! Then I can just thaw meals on busy nights (like laundry nights!) or when it’s dad’s turn to cook! Our deep freezer is stocked for us & baby!

  • HollySteffen said...
    December 13, 2011 at 2:05 pm

    we have a little coat cubby, and the next day’s clothes go on the top shelf of the cubby. the boys can grab their clothes and get themselves dressed. this saves mom oodles of time. 🙂 they can also put on their own coat/shoes from their cubby too.

    i’d looooove to win one of these. i’ve been waiting for them to come out since i saw the launch video. 🙂 🙂 SO EXCITED!!!! thanks for such a great giveaway!

  • Rebecca said...
    December 13, 2011 at 2:00 pm

    After doing diaper laundry, I take the time to stuff all of our Bum Genius diapers and fold all of our Flip organic prefolds and store them all in a nice basket. I usually put a prefold in each of our Flip covers as well. It takes a bit of time to do – but it saves time in the long run because when it’s time to change my daughters diaper, I have them all ready to go!

  • Annalynn said...
    December 13, 2011 at 1:59 pm

    AS funny as this may sound, I read in the bath tub. As a college student, I have a lot of reading to do. By reading in the bath, im not only relaxed but it saves time for me 😛
    iampezzy@aol.com

  • Jen B said...
    December 13, 2011 at 1:55 pm

    I always do grocery and basic house shopping late at night (husband stays with sleeping kids). No kids to distract me and no long lines at check out – things move so much faster.
    jenniferbleiler at gmail dot com

  • The Hunters said...
    December 13, 2011 at 1:53 pm

    My favorite time saving tip is that we keep a changing pad on the dresser behind our couch, right there in our living room. In the dresser we have all of our cloth diapers, wipes, etc. No sense going to another room, it’s very central to all the spaces we play in our house, and gets a LOT of use. Of course we have a zebra stripe cover just to make it extra cute:) We would love to try out the new freetime!!! Thanks!

  • LovingwifeyMama said...
    December 13, 2011 at 1:47 pm

    I menu plan as well, I also stuff my diapers while watching tv or playing with my daughter, she loves the colors.I also keep a toy-box in my living room for quick pick up when someone is on the way over for a visit 🙂

  • Heidi said...
    December 13, 2011 at 1:46 pm

    It’s just my husband and me and our 18 mo. old daughter. Instead of cooking every night of the week, we cook 3-4 times and either make large recipes or double the recipe to make sure there is enough for lunches and a few left-over dinners a week.

  • Mamaof1 said...
    December 13, 2011 at 1:45 pm

    I made cloth wipes. It saves me time (and $) as I don’t have to go to the store to by disposable ones. I also just wash them with the CDs.

  • ♥Mama of the Littles♥ said...
    December 13, 2011 at 1:44 pm

    I love to use the crockpot whenever possible. Sometimes I start dinner at 9 am and let it cook all day! This is really a great way to save time, especially when you have cranky babies around the time to make dinner! <3

  • ChristinaLynn said...
    December 13, 2011 at 1:40 pm

    I follow the “never leave a room empty-handed” rule. It keeps me tidying up all day long without it seeming like a chore!

  • KJO said...
    December 13, 2011 at 1:38 pm

    I unstuff diapers as they go into the diaper pail, and stuff diapers while I’m chilling after dinner. Sometimes the husband even helps! Then, all the clean diapers go to the changing table in open bins, readily accessible for diaper changes.

  • newmama2010 said...
    December 13, 2011 at 1:36 pm

    My biggest tip would be to stuff your pockets as soon as they come out of the dryer. Yeah it’s a pain but you’ll be so thankful that you did when you have a poopsplosion on your hands (literally)!

    shakeeta_feaster@hotmail.com

  • Bethany said...
    December 13, 2011 at 1:32 pm

    I keep my keys in the same spot always. Well, I started doing it this year, anyway. If my keys aren’t in that spot, it takes one minute to ten minutes extra searching for them and then getting the kids re-ready to go out the door.

  • etta said...
    December 13, 2011 at 1:29 pm

    I always shop with a grocery list and have it organized by aisle so I don’t end up wandering down the same aisle seven times and still forgetting to grab something.

  • Anonymous said...
    December 13, 2011 at 1:29 pm

    As a mother of 5 under 7 saving time is a must. I lay out everyone’s clothes the night before. Put backpacks, folders etc in the car for school, make lunches the night before, set my coffee up, fix juice cups in the fridge, fill the diaper bag with snacks, etc. As far as keeping up on laundry I do a load at night and throw in the dryer in the morning after getting the kiddos to school in the morning. Oh and I take a bath at night before bed so I don’t have to worry about in the morning

  • Stephanie Boyd said...
    December 13, 2011 at 1:27 pm

    I save time by washing my diapers while I get the kids and myself around in the mornings. I toss them in the wash when I get up, get myself around, run the 2nd wash while I get one kid around, run the final rinse while I get the other kid around. Then they get hung to dry random places around the house until I get home from work, toss ’em in the dryer for a few minutes to fluff them up and BAM diaper laundry done without taking up any of my time.

    stphboyd52@gmail.com

  • Kristen S said...
    December 13, 2011 at 1:26 pm

    Do as much as possible the night before. Trying to get two kids off to daycare and two adults off to work is easier when everything is ready to go.
    kristensmith20 at hotmail dot com

  • Lindsey said...
    December 13, 2011 at 1:25 pm

    I stuff all my dipes when they come out of the dryer before putting them away. This saves time at the at changing table. I make lists before I go in the store, so that I don’t waste time contemplating over what to buy! I hang all of the clothes as they come out of the dryer.

  • Roscoe and Julia Richardson said...
    December 13, 2011 at 1:24 pm

    I cut coupons in the Sunday paper with my 3 year old – he works on fine motor skill with scissors (cutting the toy coupons) and we talk about the toys – what they are and what we would do if we had them – mommy and son time while getting one of my tasks done. I’d say that’s multitasking 🙂

  • Emily Mathews said...
    December 13, 2011 at 1:24 pm

    My 21 month old is a slow eater, so I always do the dishes while he’s eating and I still have time to hang out with him too!

  • Julie G. said...
    December 13, 2011 at 1:20 pm

    I unstuff diapers before putting them in the diaper pail and I stuff them before putting them away. Throwing them in the washer is faster and each diaper change is faster with a prestuffed diaper. I also make lists for everything. Keeps me on track when I am doing things and makes sure everything actually gets done! 🙂

  • Katie said...
    December 13, 2011 at 1:19 pm

    We do a dinner menu plan for about a week out. Typically 3 or 4 meals are meals I previously made and put in the freezer. I spend one nap time each week prepping meals to freeze. Planning ahead my daughters snacks and lunches also helps.

    katieschu04@yahoo.com

  • LiciaLee said...
    December 13, 2011 at 1:15 pm

    My favorite time saver is to get everything ready the night before. I pack the diaper bag, fill the sippys, lay out clothes, stuff diapers and do everything possible to make the mornings easy.

  • Tammy said...
    December 13, 2011 at 1:15 pm

    I hate to clean so I find that it helps to set myself a timer for a certain amount of time each day. The amount of time depends on how much I have to do, but usually it’s for 20 minutes. That way I plan out what I need to do most and in what order, and I hurry to get as much done as possible in my time limit. Otherwise I would be dragging my feet or getting distracted.

  • Anonymous said...
    December 13, 2011 at 1:13 pm

    I have five kids that never seem to be able to find socks. I have a basket that is just sock that are folded and they know to go and find them there. So we are never in search of socks. I also fold laundry right out of dryer. It helps not having clothes back up in baskets. Rebekah Wheeler bekahjo21@hotmail.com

  • Anonymous said...
    December 13, 2011 at 1:12 pm

    i ” tissue fold” my prefolds and organize them in a bin so when its time to change i just grab one and another pops up. ( like a tissue box) make changes a breeze, especially if you organize by size and type of prefold. No going through the stack looking for the one you want.
    michelle-hernandez@live.com

  • The Wholesome Duchess said...
    December 13, 2011 at 1:11 pm

    When I fold diapers, I always put one for each of my little ones in the diaper bag on the way to their room (where the rest of them go). That way I don’t have to do it in the morning before we rush out of the house!

  • Dana said...
    December 13, 2011 at 1:09 pm

    I save time by always having the diaper bag packed and ready to go– I have doubles of wipes spray and rash cream so there’s always one of each in the bag. And if I have used something while I’m out, I replace it when I get back in, so that if ever we are running late or need to quickly run out the door, all I need to toss in the bag is a sippy cup for my toddler. (DanaLKroh at gmail dot com)

  • Rachel said...
    December 13, 2011 at 1:08 pm

    I pre-pack everything-school bags, lunches, snacks for outings, etc. to try to make everything as “grab-and-go” as possible. If I have spare time, I pre-do as much as possible. I’m a crazy list-maker. I do certain chores on certain days. My dishwsher is loaded in a very thought-out way to make putting dishes away faster & more efficient. my husband makes fun of me but it’d be total chaos if I didn’t!

    dakotaring at yahoo dot com

  • Malissa said...
    December 13, 2011 at 1:04 pm

    I wash my diapers every night. Before the boys’ last bottle, I throw them in the machine for the rinse. The machine has usually stopped by the time we are done feeding them. Then it’s on to the wash cycle before we put the boys to bed and get ourselves ready for bed. The diapers are done before we go to bed, and we hang them up on pants hangers in the laundry room each night so they’re dry in the morning for me to stuff (and only fold my new Freetimes!) while I am hooked up to the breast pump! Wish I had more Freetime diapers! I need all the free time I can get with twins!

  • Anonymous said...
    December 13, 2011 at 1:04 pm

    I plan all my meals at the beginning of the month to save on shopping time!

    cheryl [dot] rosado [at] gmail [dot] com

  • Laura said...
    December 13, 2011 at 1:02 pm

    Laundry tip to save hours of time: stop folding. Nobody cares if kid clothes have a few wrinkles, nobody will see your undies, and dress clothes get hung right away. Everything else gets thrown in their drawers as-is (I do pair up socks). Wrinkles come out of t-shirts after they’ve been hanging in the closet for awhile.

    The great thing about this method is that it avoids the mama meltdown which occurs when you’ve folded 5 baskets of laundry only to have a toddle walk in and undo it all!

  • Dana said...
    December 13, 2011 at 1:02 pm

    I always fold my sheets so that the top (non-fitted sheet is inside out with the first fold straight down the middle. When changing sheets, you just unfold down to the halved sheet and put line down the middle of the bed. Voila – unfold and it’s all situated and ready to be tucked in w/o any further adjustments!

  • Jenny said...
    December 13, 2011 at 1:00 pm

    I clean after the baby has gone to bed. This way I’m not getting interrupted and I’m not backtracking to pick up after him all day.

  • Katie said...
    December 13, 2011 at 12:58 pm

    My husband and I plan out the week’s menu in advance, so I’m able to shop for it in one go instead of multiple last-minute trips. It also helps save our grocery bill.

  • Laura said...
    December 13, 2011 at 12:58 pm

    I taught my 4 kids from a young age to pack their own lunches. So that they got the appropraite foods I have 3 stackable bins in my pantry. One bin has bagged crackers/pretzels, drink bin – juice box/water, and sweet snack bin granola bar/nilla wafers etc. On Sundays we all work together and bag the snacks ahead of time in single serving baggies. All they need to do is make a sandwich, choose an item from each bin, and add a fruit or veggie. They kids love it because they are choosing things that they will enjoy in their lunches. I started this while they were in preschool and still do it now that they are 12, 14, 16, and 18. Great time saver for me!

    douglauraneal at windstream dot net

  • Bridget W said...
    December 13, 2011 at 12:56 pm

    I fold laundry while watching my favorite tv shows and then do other necessary items during the commercials.

  • nikkipeachy said...
    December 13, 2011 at 12:55 pm

    We do 15 minute pick-ups. My son and I will set the timer, and pick-up everything we can in that time. We can usually get the vacuuming, dusting, laundry, dishes, and toys all done in that time. It’s amazing what you can do when you focus!

    nikkipeachy@yahoo.com

  • Greta said...
    December 13, 2011 at 12:54 pm

    I cook a large meal on Sundays with a whole turkey, ham, roast or other time consuming main dish then I refigerate some leftovers and freeze the rest. This way for the week ahead I have precooked meat to throw into dinner. This makes weekday dinners a breaze.

  • Anonymous said...
    December 13, 2011 at 12:53 pm

    I set my clock 5 min fast but i think i need to change it to 10 min lol

    kimflink26@yahoo.com

  • Amber Joy said...
    December 13, 2011 at 12:50 pm

    Soups! With very little effort, I can make supper as early or as late in the day as I am able and it can just sit and stew all day, just getting more and more delicious. Mmmmm!

  • tessa said...
    December 13, 2011 at 12:49 pm

    I assign one or two chores for each day of the week, that way I always keep up and never have to spend an entire day deep cleaning.

  • Tammy said...
    December 13, 2011 at 12:49 pm

    I use my slow cooker so our meal is done when I get home from work

  • Jenn said...
    December 13, 2011 at 12:45 pm

    My time saver is to take anything that might need ironing out of the dryer and hang it before it has a chance to wrinkle. I hate ironing, so it works for me! When we stuff diapers, we also make sure to double-stuff a few and always use the same colors so we know which are for overnight. jennwillis at gmail dot com

  • Lora @ Motherhood Moments said...
    December 13, 2011 at 12:42 pm

    I take my shower at night so that I’m not trying to shower and deal with making breakfast and getting kids dressed first thing in the morning. It’s nice to be able to get out of bed and put my clothes on first thing and have it over with!

  • JohnsonFamily said...
    December 13, 2011 at 12:40 pm

    I try to save time byt putting things away right when I am done using it…that way the mess is cleaned up and I don’t have to spend hours cleaning and decluttering.

    a(dot)johnson.17@gmail.com

  • Hannahmarie6 said...
    December 13, 2011 at 12:40 pm

    I wash the dog at the same time as washing my diapers since I have our hose hooked up in the tub to add water to my stupid front loader!!

  • Natalie said...
    December 13, 2011 at 12:40 pm

    I use a market tote or a large basket to do a quick pickup. I can make a sweep and get all the baby items together to put away, then do another for my things, and so on. It saves me multiple trips up the tapirs and keeps everyone’s things together.

  • Anne Marie said...
    December 13, 2011 at 12:39 pm

    I menu plan before I go to the grocery store AND I don’t bring my husband…saves time and money. Also, when I buy or make bulk snacks, I package them into snack bags before putting them away so the kids can just grab and go in the mornings.

  • Jesse mommy of four said...
    December 13, 2011 at 12:37 pm

    I always have a diaper bag packed and ready to go. That way I’m not wasting time to make sure I have everything in there. It has three cloth diapers, a wet bag, spare outfits for the three youngest and it doubles as mommys purse so it has all my products I’m there. We are set to leave at a moments notice. Good for six to eight hours.

  • Rachel said...
    December 13, 2011 at 12:37 pm

    I stuff diapers while watching TV. I’d watch the tv shows anyway, so might as well get stuff done while watching!

  • Alyssa said...
    December 13, 2011 at 12:33 pm

    I recently started splitting up my weekly chores(vacuuming, cleaning bedrooms, mopping, bathrooms, etc.) into 1 or 2 chores each day of the week rather than saving it all for a weekly cleaning! It’s much less overwhelming and the house stays much cleaner! 🙂 amr_81988 at hotmail dot com

  • The Alburger Family said...
    December 13, 2011 at 12:32 pm

    When I change the sheets on the crib and toddler bed I layer 4-5 sheets with waterproof pads in-between them so that way when the sheets are soiled or need to be changed I just have to pull off the top sheet and pad and the bed is ready to go. Perfect for those night-time accidents because it only takes 30 seconds to have a clean sheet on the bed.

  • Anonymous said...
    December 13, 2011 at 12:31 pm

    I pick a color, rabbit, and put extra stuffing in those to use at night. It saves me from stuffing them while he is squirming on the blanket, tired, and ready for bed. I also use them for when we are on the go so I don’t have to worry about leaks in public.

  • Katie Wick said...
    December 13, 2011 at 12:31 pm

    I pack up my son and husbands lunch while I’m putting away the dinner leftovers!

  • Anisette said...
    December 13, 2011 at 12:30 pm

    I always get the diaper bag or anything I need to get out of the house ready the night before.

  • Katie Lockie said...
    December 13, 2011 at 12:30 pm

    I have meals in the freezer that I made all at once and whenever I don’t feel like cooking, I take one our and pop it in the oven or crock pot and I don’t have to worry about prep or much clean-up! I actually used one last night! I had all the ingredients for chili in a freezer bag and put it in the crock pot with a can of tomato juice in the AM and had a delish meal for my family by supper time!

    Katie Lockie

  • Mel said...
    December 13, 2011 at 12:27 pm

    I wipe down the shower walls while I an in the shower. I’d I do one wall a day it never gets dirty enough to have to spend 30min scrubbing the shower.
    Same w the bathroom. After I get ready in the morning I take a cleaning rag & my spray bottle of organic cleaner and do a quick wipe down of the sink & toilet, spray a little in the bowl, & swish the toilet brush around & in about 45sec I’m done. Really saves time since I have potty training toddlers that tend to ‘miss’ lol. No scrubbing on my hand and knees once a week getting dried on pee off!
    Its2mell@yahoo.com

  • Rob and Laura said...
    December 13, 2011 at 12:27 pm

    To save time for the next day I do a 5 or a ten minute tidy of the house before bed so that i can wake up to a tidy home.

  • dani426 said...
    December 13, 2011 at 12:27 pm

    I meal plan for 2 weeks in advance. Less trips to the grocery store! dagnew426@gmail.com

  • Chelle and Wes said...
    December 13, 2011 at 12:27 pm

    I clean the kitchen while waiting on dinner to cook, pick up DD room with her before bed as she winds down, and stuff diapers as they come out of the laundry so that I can just grab them as we jet out the door!

  • Amy said...
    December 13, 2011 at 12:25 pm

    I brush my daughter’s hair and teeth, and put her shoes on before she gets down from the booster seat at breakfast. This saves so much time since I’m not chasing her around the house… Once she gets down from the chair she is ready to go out the door!

  • Jeni said...
    December 13, 2011 at 12:21 pm

    I’ve color-coded all of my inserts with fabric marker so that I can easily match them with the right pocket shell when stuffing. Note: although you’d think BG inserts are easily identifiable because of the snaps, the 3.0 and 4.0 inserts are slightly different sizes! Also, I color code my different types of BGs – I have AIOs/BGEs in one set of colors and BG pockets in another set.

    Jeni
    jenilucas814@gmail.com

  • Brendacthom said...
    December 13, 2011 at 12:21 pm

    I love to do housework while playing ‘pretend’ with my girls. I incorrporate my chores into the game and even get them to help. I love when it works out and I can feel good about playing with the kids and getting the house in order.

  • Vlynn75 said...
    December 13, 2011 at 12:18 pm

    I put my 6 year old’s uniform out on his dresser each night so after breakfast I can send him up to get dressed. Everything is out for him – right down to his socks and shoes.

  • Kate said...
    December 13, 2011 at 12:16 pm

    I have no time-saving tips. Might just explain the hectic nature of our lives! But I did read all the comments and got some great ideas. Now to implement them!!!!

  • Maria said...
    December 13, 2011 at 12:15 pm

    Make your shopping list (and eat) before you go grocery shopping. Saves time and money, LOL!!

  • Anonymous said...
    December 13, 2011 at 12:14 pm

    On my days off, I make double batches of a recipe…one for dinner that night and one for the deep freeze. Then we always have cooked meals that we just have to pop in the oven on those extra busy days. We also stuff our 4.0’s while watching tv. If I am up with the baby in the middle of the night, I might put a load of dirty diapers in the laundry. I am up anyway and it is one less thing to do the next day!

    Jenna
    Jlrgraser@gmail.com

  • Carrie said...
    December 13, 2011 at 12:09 pm

    I have two changing areas – one in the bedroom and one in the living room where we spend most of our time. I keep a small stash of the things I use when diapering in an old diaper wipes plastic box – dry wipes, wipes spray, snappis, diaper cream – These used to be scattered everywhere, but by keeping them in the same box, I save time by not hunting things down!

  • KellyMarzolf said...
    December 13, 2011 at 12:07 pm

    I always have a stack of cloth wipes folded and ready for when the warmer gets emptied! Saves time just throwing them in, and saves time having to run to the store for disposable wipes all the time!

  • thewellspackmomma said...
    December 13, 2011 at 12:07 pm

    I will start prepping for dinner during lunch and always do the dishes while cooking. Oh and crockpot meals are the best time savers.

  • Whitney thorpe said...
    December 13, 2011 at 12:06 pm

    To save time I clean the bathroom while my two boys are taking a bath together, I’m in there anyway, and I kill two birds with one stone!

  • Rebekah said...
    December 13, 2011 at 12:06 pm

    I sort laundry ahead of time. When one hamper (whites or darks) gets full I know I have a load ready to go. I also use a stain remover stick before putting clothes in the hamper (which can sit up to a week). Makes laundry go much faster! Also, when I’ve had a baby, I always tried to keep my diaper bag stocked with clean diapers (and empty out the dirty cloth ones right away), a change of clothes & snacks. Getting out of the house on time is much easier that way.

    rebekahsbday@yahoo.com

  • Anne Hammett said...
    December 13, 2011 at 12:06 pm

    I shower, dry my hair, and pick out my work clothes all the evening before. It means less time getting ready in the morning, and since my husband showers at night as well, it means our sheets stay cleaner longer and we have to wash them less often!

  • Emily said...
    December 13, 2011 at 12:05 pm

    I run everything through a short cycle in the dryer on low to take the edge off, then pull/hang the covers and shells and restart it on high right before I go to bed. In the morning, I sort inserts as I pull them from the dryer, stuff into pcokets as I pull them from the line, and put it all away on my way upstairs!
    (of course, this stuffing nonsense makes me love my AIOs all the more! just a cycle on low, hang, fold, done!)

  • Loni said...
    December 13, 2011 at 12:04 pm

    My time-saving tip is this: When I put my BG pockets together, I leave some upstairs in the changing table, some downstairs at the changing station, and some in the diaper bag in a clean wet bag with wipes. That way when the youngest needs to be changed, there are always diapers where you need them. And when you’re out, you don’t have to haul a 3-child diaper bag to the public restroom with you to change the youngest, squirmiest one!

  • Jessica Fogarty said...
    December 13, 2011 at 12:03 pm

    I write out a to do list every night. When I find myself with 5 extra minutes there is usually something on there that I can accomplish

  • Leslie Burns said...
    December 13, 2011 at 12:03 pm

    We delegate tasks… one cooks supper, the other cleans up and tidies the house. Whoever cooks gets to pick supper and also gets the baby ready for bed while the house is getting tidied up. Then we switch. It makes the evening “have-to-do’s” go by much faster so we can spend some time together as a family.

  • miamia said...
    December 13, 2011 at 12:01 pm

    I recently found the beauty of having boil-in-the bag brown rice. Now I can just cook a bag or two in the microwave whenever I need to serve a side of rice. I also like to use the steamer veggie bags or my Pampered Chef micro-cooker to steam veggies in.

  • Kwak-Simon said...
    December 13, 2011 at 12:01 pm

    I love using diaper liners. It saves me from having to clean off all the poop before I wash them. And to even save more time, as I stuff my diapers and get them ready to use, I pre-line them so I don’t forget!!

    kwaksimon@gmail.com

  • abanks9 said...
    December 13, 2011 at 12:00 pm

    I always pack the diaper bag the night before and I always use a list to make sure we’ve packed everything.

  • Mrs. Smith said...
    December 13, 2011 at 12:00 pm

    I have an old top loader with no option for an extra rinse, and I need at least 2 extra rinses beyond my super wash. So, to cut down on trips back to the washer, I just do 3 steps:
    1. throw the dipes in a cold super wash (better than just a rinse for toddler pee) when toddler gets in the bathtub (with dad supervising, of course).
    2. start the hot super wash when step 1 is done.
    3. start a cold super wash.
    4. toss inserts and such in dryer and hang covers, DONE!
    Love it. Much better than 2-3 trips to pre rinse and 2-3 trips again at the end to rinse out after the wash.
    Whew!

  • lauren baltensperger said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:57 am

    I use the bunGenius diaper sprayer and it is very convenient and saves time. I spray out soiled diapers quickly, clean the potty seat and toilet, and use it to spray the bathtub while cleaning it too. I’ve even used it to clean off my little boys bottom in the tub when the mess was too big for wipes (he giggled and loved being sprayed)! The sprayer has truly given me more time to move on to the many other things I do throughout my day.

    lauren_balty@yahoo.com

  • Laura Erwin said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:57 am

    Keeping the diaper bag packed and ready to go – snacks that can’t go bad, making sure when I get home I replace diapers that I’ve used. It seems simple, but you have no idea how much time you spend trying to pack the diaper bag and making sure you have everything while leaving the house.

    Lerwin1324@yahoo.com

  • Anonymous said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:56 am

    When cloth diapering while out and about, I put a few pockets,wipes, spray bottle,and prefolds in my purse, along with a wet bag. I stuff and organize everything in the car since Daddy usually does the driving. I do my hair then too. It saves a few precious minutes as we’re always running late.

    Heather
    hngentit at hawkmail dot hfcc dot edu

  • Heath and Rebecca said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:56 am

    I agree with several comments one here that meal planning and only buying for one week at a time saves time “thinking” about dinner and it saves money since I only buy for that week. Produce doesn’t ruin either. For diapering, I always lay the dirty diapers flat in the diaper pail so that I don’t have to worry about unfolding them when I dump the diapers in the washer.

  • Baby and the Chi's said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:56 am

    I premake my son’s bottles. I mix them in the bottle then put them in the fridge. It helps alot with a fussy teething toddler who doesn’t want to wait for you to measure out formula and water 🙂

    gothickornchic at gmail dot com

  • mollyt said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:55 am

    I have laundry bags to presort our clothes as we take them off. On laundry day, I just grab a bag and dump the whole thing in the washer!

  • lauren baltensperger said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:55 am

    This comment has been removed by the author.

  • Anonymous said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:54 am

    As most people seem to do, i stuff my diapers ahead of time, usually while watching my favorite tv show. I am a sahm 3yr, 2yr, and a newborn who is also attending school. Needless to say that i am stressed for time but i try to fit in a 30 min workout durning naptime on my treadmill while i read/study my school work. josholivia06@aol.com

  • Andrea Shirley said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:53 am

    Like many others have said, to save time (and so I can sleep in a little longer haha) I pick my kid’s clothes out before they wake up because they are soooo slow to get moving…we’ve only been late once this year! haha

    lilygurl13@hotmail.com

  • Unknown said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:53 am

    Meal planning with once a week grocery shopping

  • Christine said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:50 am

    Laundry is presorted in a 3 compartment laundry sorter. On laundry day, just have to plop the clothes in the washer.

    Also … I don’t unstuff my pockets.

    I have my hybrids ready to go at each diaper change so its as smooth as possible on the squirm one year old.

  • Melissa said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:48 am

    I like to “stuff” our diapers when we are watching a movie at night, it’s sorta relaxing and It doesn’t make it feel like a chore!

  • Anonymous said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:48 am

    I set out and outfit for my son and pack his lunch and diaper bag the night before. I also put my outfit and a towel by the shower so I can get moving faster in the morning.

    Jennifer.Just@scbglobal.net

  • LadySnow said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:47 am

    I plan my meals a month in advance to help on days that are super busy. That way I am not wondering what in the world to make. 🙂

  • Jennie said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:47 am

    My time saving tip is to fold the cloths or diaper AFTER the kids go to bed. That way I only have to fold them once!

  • Kate said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:46 am

    I am a HUGE fan of slow cooker meals. I make a few to put in the freezer that I can toss in later.

  • Kelly Davis said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:46 am

    I could never get out of the house in time before so now my clocks are set 5 min early. I also make sure I have the diaper bag packed, clothes out and ready for the next morning. and breakfast ready (If muffins, I mix the batter and put it in the pan and in the fridge so in the morning I throw it in the oven and get dressed)
    kdavis82508@yahoo.com

  • Nicole Poest said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:46 am

    I always get the kids backpacks, snacks and clothes ready for school the night before. That way there is no morning rush to find things and pick out clothes!

  • Sarah said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:44 am

    I meal plan and try to batch cook as well … this saves a lot of time in the kitchen! I let my toddler help me get clothes to the laundry and that saves a lot of time too! sarah at sarah dyess dot com

  • Hilary S. said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:43 am

    I clean the bathroom while keeping an eye on my 3 year old in the tub. I stuff diapers while watching TV, but I’m moving away from pocket diapers for that reason. As a working mom of 2, I need it as simple as possible!

  • Anonymous said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:43 am

    Every night I pack our bags for the next day, I get all our outfits out, I pre-make the coffee, sippy cups & bottles. So when I have to get up all I have to do is get ready 🙂

    Lindsey W
    xxlindsey_63xx@yahoo.com
    CDing Mom of 2 baby boys

  • Helena Giese said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:41 am

    I prepare everything the night before for the next day as soon as the kids are asleep. This is a time saver, cause as soon as the three toddlers are awake pretty much all stands still and not much gets done.
    Sorry this is twice, I forgot my e-mail:
    giese.helena@gmail.com

  • Deanna said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:40 am

    I take a few hours every few weeks to make a bunch of crockpot-ready meals and freeze them. So nice to have a no-prep-time/no-effort dinner on the days when the baby gets me up several times in a night and the toddler gets up for the day at 6am.

    deannaniles [at] gmail [dot] com

  • Q. Oso said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:39 am

    Meal planning. That way I don’t waste time or money trying to make something last minute. Plus with meal planning, I can freeze the left overs in case something comes up, we still have a fresh homemade meal and its ready in less time it takes for take out to be delivered. It frees up so much time and with a crockpot meal planning, I can set it and forget it! Allowing me more time with my family and a homemade ready meal for dinner.

  • Helena Giese said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:39 am

    I prepare everything the night before for the next day as soon as the kids are asleep. This is a time saver, cause as soon as the three toddlers are awake pretty much all stands still and not much gets done.

  • CathyLockerby said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:39 am

    I stuff all of my pocket diapers at once, while watching TV or talking with my husband. Seems to save time in the long run.

  • kayla sanders said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:38 am

    when cleaning house take a basket to each room with you and put the things that dont belong in that particualr room in the basket, keeps you from going back and forth, also keeping some lysol disinfecting wipes under the counter to wipe your sink off daily helps with clean up, so things dont get out of hand. i also set my clock ahead so we’re never late for something.

  • Leanne said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:37 am

    Instead of packing a lunch for my husband every day, I make more than we need for dinner the night before. That way he has a home-cooked meal for lunch instead of sandwiches all the time. Saves a ton of time (and money!) for us both! 🙂

  • aislynbecky said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:37 am

    My best time saving tip is starting a load of laundry before I go to bed and as soon as I wake up I start a load of diapers, put the laundry from the night before into the dryer and continue with my morning routine then do all the washing and rinse cycles as I’m in between feedings and changes.

  • Rivka H. said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:36 am

    Many times I’ll make two or three times a recipe for dinner, then freeze the extra pans to use on a day that I don’t have time to make dinner.

  • Becca said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:35 am

    Every minute counts! For our family the most *critical* time is in the morning. That’s when my husband is getting ready for work and the kids & I are getting ready for the day. With four kids to dress from ages 5 to 5 months it’s no picnic! To save time in the mornings we do several things the night before. I make sure the coffee pot is ready(then all Jason does is run the water through), the dog’s food dishes are made up (they just have to be sat on the floor for the pups), our oldest child’s backpack is packed and ready for school with whatever she needs for the day & (probably the most important) the kids’ close are all laid out – including shoes – so no one is hunting for a piece of clothing last minute. This is also the time of day when I always opt for my bumGenius for that ultra quick/simple diaper change. 🙂 We haven’t been late yet and I ALWAYS have my cup of coffee!

  • Rebecca Winebrinner said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:34 am

    I do an overnight soak on hevily soiled diaper, so I don’t have to wait for them to soak the next day before doing my laundry! I can be a bit impatient & not soak long enough! LOL

    tinytutus4tots@yahoo.com

  • Halee said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:33 am

    I always pack the diaper bag while my baby is asleep so im not running around tring to find stuff while shes crying. Saves me some time and frustration

  • Anonymous said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:32 am

    I start a load of laundry every night before bed. Doing 1-2 loads daily helps keep it from being overwhelming.

    When folding, I fold the biggest, bulkiest items first (like hubby’s clothes or towel) then the pile goes down faster and makes it easier to match socks.

    heidim@hotmail.com

  • Rebecca Winebrinner said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:32 am

    I do an overnight soak on hevily soiled diaper, so I don’t have to wait for them to soak the next day before doing my laundry! I can be a bit impatient & not soak long enough! LOL

  • Mike alrwais said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:31 am

    As a single teen father the best tips I have for saving time is making my meals with my daughters and saving extras in a jar so she keeps eating freshly made foods through out the day without the hassle also our night time routine is very efficient, even though I don’t have cloth dippers yet I do support them and would like to try them when I can buy a few, but before bed we make her bottle then change together as the bottle sits in warm water so it’s just perfect for my princess by the time we are ready for bed.

    Mike.h.alrwais@gmail.com

  • Sarah F said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:31 am

    I make sure the clothes we need the next day (like school uniforms) are ready and laid out the night before. Nothing like realizing all the shirts are dirty or wrinkled, 20 minutes before heading out the door!

    nilknarf2003@yahoo.com
    Sarah

  • Stephanie Huck said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:31 am

    My favorite time saving strategy is my trusty CROCK POT. I can have dinner DONE in 4 minutes of prep time and on the table as soon as we are ready to eat. I’ll share my favorite cold weather, super quick recipe:

    Taco Soup!

    Need:

    -enough chicken breast to feed your family size. I usually assume one breast per person
    -chicken broth
    -can of kernel corn (I like to buy the fiesta mix kinda for this)
    -can or two of Ro-Tel in a “spicy” flavor
    -packet of taco seasoning

    Add all ingedigents to crock pot and cook on low for about 6 hours. I then take out the chicken and “grind it up” with my lettuce chopper then add it all back together and serve with shredded cheese and a dollop of sour cream on top. 🙂

  • Katie and Jason said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:30 am

    I’ve tried many things to save time, and I always seem to fall back into my old ways, however I do always make sure my clothes are laid out and ready for work ahead of time just like my parents used to make me do for school! That way when it’s time to go I’m not searching.

    kitkat000100@yahoo.com

  • Heather said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:30 am

    I wash the kids’ clothes for the week on Sunday afternoon then iron and fold them into outfits and place one outfit a piece into our “days of the week” stacker in their closet. It helps hubby/or my oldest grab their clothes if I’m busy and teaches the kids the days of the week too!!!

  • Anonymous said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:29 am

    I fold laundry and/or diapers while I watch the latest episode of my favorite show.

    cherryface@hotmaildotcom

  • amy h. said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:28 am

    I make ‘meal prep’ bags each Sunday after grocery shopping for the week so week night meals are a breeze! All of the ingredients get prepped (chopped, washed etc) and placed into containers, and then the containers go into a shopping bag labeled with whatever day of the week they will be used on! When that day comes, I can come home from a long day & all I have to do is throw everything in a pan and viola! A family dinner in half the time. 🙂

  • Sarala said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:28 am

    I was going to say menu planning as well (we do once a week) but so many others have already said that! Ditto on the crock pot saving time as well. 🙂 Another thing we do is all the sandwich making stuff is in a Rubbermaid container, so when its time for my husband to make his lunch at 3am, its all right there. No searching the fridge in a foggy haze looking for the mayonnaise!

  • Courtney said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:27 am

    I do all the prep work for dinner in the morning while the baby sleeps. That way at dinner time all I have to do is throw it together and heat it up. Makes the evening go much smoother.

    courtneyroth11@hotmail.com

  • Sarah said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:27 am

    Menu planning and making a grocery list have saved me time and money. I also make to-do lists to make sure I make the most out of my time every day

    Sbandjw@gmail.com

  • Jenn Mac said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:27 am

    We like to pre bag all crackers and other items you might want to take for lunch. Then when packing lunch each night you can just grab a bag of crackers and toss it in.
    I also like to use my crockpot a ton for meals. A little prep work ahead of time saves me spending the night in the kitchen making dinner. We try to freeze a few meals too. When making dinner I try to double the recipe and we eat one now and the other goes into the freezer to pull out and eat later.

    Garnettjennifer@hotmail.com

  • Amy said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:27 am

    We eat a lot of salads, so as soon as I get home from the store I rip all the greens up in bite-size pieces and wash them in my salad spinner. Then I store them in a lock-n-lock container and they stay fresh forever! Then whenever we need a salad, just reach in and grab a handful of greens. I also wash all my peppers and store those on the containers too.

  • Sandy Cress said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:26 am

    I stuff diapers all at once so im not running around frantically when baby needs a new one! They are the cabinet and ready to go!

  • Adventures in Cooking said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:26 am

    I have two changes stations in my home complete with spray solution, cloth wipes, diapers,creams, and small changing mats. I don’t have to run around trying to remember where I left things to change a diaper since I have two good spots to change him.

  • Alayna said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:24 am

    I get my diapers all ready all at one time, and same thing with my cloth wipes, so they are all ready to go when I need them! Also, I keep my son’s clothes together in outfits in his dresser, so it’s easy to find an outfit when it’s time to get him ready in the morning! I attempt meal planning to free up spending too much time thinking about what to eat!

  • KPBerling said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:24 am

    My favorite time-saving tip is the slow cooker (crock pot). My favorite meals are the ones I can just throw in all the ingredients at noon, and by 6 or 7pm when the family is all home, we just open up the pot and serve. Last week I made pulled chicken for sandwiches by throwing in 2 frozen chicken breasts and a half-bottle of barbecue sauce on low for 7 hours.

    I also started folding clothes in the bedroom rather than in the living room, so that they have a shorter way to travel. Same with diapers, I fold them next to the diaper storage.

  • Sady said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:23 am

    My Husband built me a master closet in our laundry room. Clothes go straight from dryer to their rightful place with no drops, missing or forgotten clothing. We hang up and stack on a shelf (NO drawers full of forgotten clothes). With a 3yr old, 2yr old, and 1yr old. It is this momma’s dream come true!! All five of us go to one place instead of being scattered about the house in piles. also no figuring out what is clean and what isn’t. My huge time saver for sure!

  • Banana Fanna Foe said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:21 am

    Simple for me…I use woolen balls for the dryer. They cut down drying time and it’s become a game for my 3 year old to find all three of them between loads. Oh, I should mention that my dog is obsessed with them but that’s NOT a time saver! 😉 dianaoftlg@aol.com

  • Anna said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:21 am

    Always take a minute to restock your stores so you’re never caught without something later one!

  • Jen O said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:21 am

    I fold all our clean laundry while still in the laundry room, while waiting for the washer to fill up for the next load. It makes putting the laundry away a lot easier and less of a chore!

  • Beacher said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:20 am

    I’ve started setting aside ingredients for my weekly meals. If you put them in a storage container in the pantry, you just pull out the container when it’s time for that meal! You can even do this with the refrigerator items.

    k.e.beach at gmail dot com

  • Katie said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:20 am

    I pick up the living room and kitchen while I brush my teeth. It’s amazing how much can get done in two minutes.

  • Caren said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:20 am

    Meal planning is the best time saver I have found yet! I plan meals for every 2 weeks. It reduces meal time stress..and nice to know you have the ingredients to something you want to make! I would highly recommend meal planning!

  • Sara Riester said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:20 am

    I started keeping hats, gloves, mittens and scarves in a basket on the bench inside our front door. It has taken some time to train the kids to get them back in the basket when they get home, but it saves a lot searching for accessories while we are trying to get out the door. Keeping track of those things for three people can be very time consuming!

  • Gretchen said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:17 am

    I stuff diapers while watching my DVR’d shows 🙂

  • MJ said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:17 am

    i fold my diapers as i’m watching tv so i’m not lazy on putting diapers away 🙂

  • mekjsk2000 said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:17 am

    I wash my wool covers/longies/shorties in the washing machine on the delicate cycle in warm water. They get a lot cleaner that way. Just make sure to do a few at a time so you dont felt them.

  • Lacy R. said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:16 am

    I do a chore a day. For example, I sweep the house one day, dust another day, clean the bathrooms the next…This makes house cleaning so much easier when you don’t have to do it all on the same day!

  • Mathy said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:16 am

    We babywear while doing our chores/ daily routines done. This allows us to get that cuddle time in while building a beautiful bond with our baby. Not to mention a little work out with the extra weight we carry around.

    Qubana420@aol.com

  • Sarah said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:16 am

    We unstuff our diapers before they go in the wet bag, so when it comes time for laundry all we have to do is dump them in.

  • Eileen said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:15 am

    I have a laundry sorter in my bathroom so our laundry gets sorted into the appropriate loads as we take the clothes off.

    leenielouwho (at) gmail (dot) com

  • Sarah M said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:15 am

    I have designated days for chores. For example, Monday, clean bathrooms, Tuesday vacume, etc. that way I’m not cleaning all day once a week just for short periods throughout each day!

  • Brittney H said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:14 am

    I always do as much prep work as possible. Doesnt matter what it is – packing, laundry, shopping, giving baths. I have everything set out or organized!

  • Catrina C. said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:14 am

    I pre-stuff my cloth diapers before putting them away so I can just grab one and go! My little guy is usually sitting with me “helping” by dumping the laundry basket out! Having the diapers stuffed and ready saves me a LOT of time!! I also have my dry-pail right next to my BG diaper sprayer so I don’t have to lug a sopping wet diaper into the other room and everything is right there!

    ccozens@ymail.com

  • melinda said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:13 am

    I stuff & fold my dipes and wipes at night & stack them in the changing table, that way they’re all right there & ready as we need them throughout the day.

  • Kaleena said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:13 am

    Time is precious. In our family chores are shared. We keep a laundry-sorting basket in the laundry room. Everyone puts their lights in the “lights” side and darks in the “dark” side. When everyone helps out a little, we have more time to do fun things!

    Kmfancher@hotmail.com

  • Sarah said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:13 am

    When putting the cutlery in the dishwasher group them by type so that when you unload it goes much faster. Make a goal to do one load of laundry every day, which means wash, dry, fold, and put away. If you do this consistently you won’t ever have a huge pile of laundry to do.

  • Laura said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:13 am

    I use flushable liners to toss the poo instead of having to scrape or spray it.

  • Jaime said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:12 am

    I fold laundry while I catch up on my TV shows.

  • mimi said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:11 am

    Getting ready the night before. Laying out my clothes and the kids. Finding anything we will need for the next day. It really saves us time and rushing around.

  • Anonymous said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:11 am

    We have baskets for each type of laundry.They are all labeled so everyone knows which goes where. For example one for whites one for towels and one for colors. Once the basket is full then we do a load of laundry and bring back up the empty basket so that we can keep putting dirty laundry in it.

    Jgrose01@centurytel.net

  • F. E. said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:11 am

    Get clothes out and pack the baby bag the night before.

  • Mary said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:10 am

    Best diaper tip?! Teach your spouse how to stuff and fold diapers. That way while you’re cleaning up or running after the little one, he can be stuffing diapers while watching the football game. 🙂

    Mary
    doclegs@gmail.com

  • erinb80 said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:10 am

    When I’m putting leftovers away after dinner, I store some in lunch-size containers that my husband can easily grab for work the next day.

  • Janice said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:09 am

    My washer has a timer to delay the wash cycle. I put a load in at night to run an hour before I get up so I can throw it straight in the the dryer or hang to dry if it’s sunny.

  • Stephaie said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:07 am

    I fold laundry or stuff BG pockets while I pump.

  • Anonymous said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:07 am

    I do a tiny bit of cleaning in each high traffic area of my house everyday – like a quick bathroom wipe down and toilet swish every morning. I use a ready to be cleaned washcloth and alittle soap (anything, shampoo, bodywash..) and wipe down the shower or tub while I am getting out. 🙂 If you do little bits everyday you never have to do major scrubdowns or scramble to clean your house for unexpected guests 🙂
    -Danielle Metcalf (metcalf.danielle@yahoo.com)

  • Jen said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:06 am

    I try to plan out my day in the morning so I know what’s going on and what I do and don’t have time for.

    jen_brannon1@yahoo.com

  • boxermama24 said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:05 am

    My husband and I are adopting, so in preparation we’ve made plans on how we plan to do our cloth diaper laundry. We have 24 diapers, so we plan to wash half everyday. Instead of drying them in the dryer, we’re going to hang dry them. That way, we can get moving with our other laundry and our dryer won’t constantly be needed for cloth diapers. By the time we use the second half of our cloth diapers, the first half will be dry and hopefully, we won’t ever be in a bind needing a diaper!

    Lauren Bentley
    mrsbentley519@hotmail.com

  • Ruthann said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:05 am

    Storing sheet sets inside the set pillow case helps organize the linens and makes it easy to find all the pieces of the set!

  • Anonymous said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:05 am

    After we’re done eating dinner, I pack the leftovers into containers for the kids and hubby to take for lunch the next day. It makes the morning so much easier!

  • Sarah said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:05 am

    I typed out a schedule for my 9 year old for her morning routine. If I’m busy with the baby, I just have the older child refer to the schedule.

  • Leah said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:04 am

    Menu planning is huge timesaver! And getting my kids clothes ready the night before. I also put their socks and shoes on when they’re eating breakfast – they don’t wiggle as much since they’re busy eating, I can do it twice as fast 🙂

  • Tianna said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:04 am

    To shred chicken, cook it, then use a hand mixer or a Kitchen-Aid (with the paddle attachment). If you use a hand mixer, use a deep bowl, as the pieces will fly. You can shred several chicken breasts in minutes!

  • Robin Wilkins said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:04 am

    BTW: my email is

    wilkinsrus at gmail dot com

  • Carniki@hotmail.com said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:04 am

    We use cloth wipes for everything! I have a four year old and a 20 mth old. We use them for diaper wipes, face clothes, hands, minor spills and everything in between! I keep a stash next to the front door so I can wipe toothpaste off my son’s mouth before he runs out the door for school. I make my own solution…to save time I always put double the solution that I need in the warmer so that when I start to run out of wipes in the warmer I can just add more dry wipes to the extra solution.

  • Jill said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:03 am

    I make my shopping lists in the order I walk through the store so there is no back-tracking and time wasted!

  • Unknown said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:02 am

    We save time bathing our little girls together. Hang cloths in outfits so my older daughter can dress herself. Prestuff diapers so they are ready to go when I need them. When I dry my hair, I try to give my baby air time on the changing table (since I am right there). Rinse dishes when freshly finished so they don’t cake on there. I try to apply this rule to my poopy diapers and rinse with my diaper sprayer but I don’t always do this.

  • Robin Wilkins said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:02 am

    To save time and money, I plan out the weeks menu ahead of time. I post it on the fridge, and then there is not a question of what we are eating or a possibility of going out to eat.

    To save time in the toy area, I make sure my children know exactly where each toy belongs. That way we don’t have to go through “Where does this go” every time they are asked to clean up. Everything has its place.

    Another one of my favorite time saving techniques is just to teach the kids to do things themselves. At about 4, my kids learn to shower, dress, and brush their teeth by themselves.

  • mediocremomof3severelyaveragekids said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:02 am

    My favorite time saver?
    Breastfeed while catching up on Facebook!
    http://mediocremomof3severelyaveragekids.wordpress.com/

  • Anonymous said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:02 am

    I keep all clean CD supplies in a laundry basket.
    vrclay30 at yahoo dot com

  • Nikki said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:01 am

    I set my clock back 15 mins, So i get to where i need to be 15 mins early!

    Thanks for the giveaway!

    carcarsmomi@yahoo.com

  • Lindsay said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:01 am

    I’m a super multitasker! That is the only way I can exist.

    Lam125nola@yahoo.com

  • Joyful Song said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:01 am

    I do a quick pick up around the house every night before I go to sleep (which is after hubby and baby are asleep). That way I don’t have to spend a big amount of time cleaning up. It’s amazing how a few minutes here and there can keep our home looking nice clean and welcoming.

  • Mrs. H said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:01 am

    label everything. I have everything labeled so I don’t have to constantly “remind” my kids where everything goes. plus it helps my husband from calling me when I’m out 🙂

    shabbychicmomma at gmail dot com

  • Anonymous said...
    December 13, 2011 at 11:00 am

    Have enough cloth wipes that we can wash diapers and wipes on same day to save a day of laundry. Do that wash first thing then when dry I put insert into diapers and put away to save on changing time. Try to do diapers on same day of week to stay organized and help me plan around other laundry 🙂

    Hannah
    hannah.lottes@gmail.com

  • Kendal said...
    December 13, 2011 at 10:59 am

    My hubby gets the baby ready while I do my morning treatments – it saves so much time for us so I can just pop on my own clothes when Im done and lil guy and I can head out the door and face the world. W/O my hubby getting him ready it can take an extra hour!
    Also, we always pack whatever we need for getting out the night before.

  • Vicki M said...
    December 13, 2011 at 10:58 am

    Wet a bunch of cloth wipes and keep them in a leak-proof wetbag (like Planetwise) next to the diaper change area. No having to wet fresh wipes each diaper change that way. 🙂

    nrgburst at gmail dot com

  • Anonymous said...
    December 13, 2011 at 10:58 am

    I get everything ready for work the night before so I never have to worry about anything in the morning.

    clearym559@bellsouth.net

  • Ash said...
    December 13, 2011 at 10:57 am

    My time (and energy) saving tip is to wash the diapers first and then wash baby cloths separately but load them both in the dryer at the same time so I can get a full load of dryer… that way I can have small stash of diapers as well as baby cloths out to use for a long time

  • Goettig Family said...
    December 13, 2011 at 10:57 am

    I get up BEFORE my baby so I can actually get in a shower and eat some breakfast. It takes way less time compared to sleeping in and getting up when baby does and trying to accomplish those same tasks!

  • AEK said...
    December 13, 2011 at 10:57 am

    Plan your meals so that you only go to the grocery store once a week.
    Thanks for the giveaway!
    angiedkelly at gmail dot com

  • CHRISTINE said...
    December 13, 2011 at 10:56 am

    I use cloth wipes and have built a big enough stash to do diaper laundry about twice a week. I also stuff pockets while watching tv and playing with my LO on the floor.

    christine.das@hotmail.com

  • Eliany said...
    December 13, 2011 at 10:56 am

    I have to say that planning the week’s dinner menu has been a huge time saver for me. It saves me time at the grocery store on Sundays because I know exactly what I need and then every day during the week since I don’t have to think about what to cook.

  • Amy said...
    December 13, 2011 at 10:55 am

    At the holidays my family always makes lots of cookies. Free time is usually scarce the closer it gets to the holidays/cookie making time, so whenever I have time in the weeks before, I premeasure all the dry ingredients and label the container with a post-it note (some may choose ziplocs, I use my reusable containers). When it comes cookie making time, just dump the dry stuff in the mixer and add the wet ingredients! Plus, you’ve got all you’re dry stuff out at once so it goes faster on the measuring end too! Saves SOOO much time!

  • Shelley said...
    December 13, 2011 at 10:55 am

    I love prestuffing my diapers while watching TV. Then, when I need them, they are ready!

    Also, fixing lunch the night before makes it easy to grab and go in the morning!

  • greengirl46 said...
    December 13, 2011 at 10:55 am

    I use prefolds and covers and realized its easier to just stack them in a drawer instead of folding them. Also like others, I sort laundry into baskets as they are dirty so I don’t have to spend time sorting when it’s time and try to do a load or two a day instead of letting it pile up! Also make up bottles and baby food ahead so you aren’t scrambling and the diaper bag is always stocked!

  • Janis said...
    December 13, 2011 at 10:54 am

    I mostly use flips, which saves time as there is no stuffing required! Other things that save time: meal planning and setting up a cleaning schedule so I can keep track of what I need to do around the house.

  • mymonkeysrock said...
    December 13, 2011 at 10:54 am

    I plan clothes for the kids like I plan meals for the week. They each have a stacker in their closet with an outfit put together for all five school days. This way there’s no searching for clothes in the morning.

  • TEXAUS MOMMA said...
    December 13, 2011 at 10:54 am

    Throwing all the dirty dishes in a sink of hot soapy water to soak while I wipe down the counters, then they are ready to throw in the dishwasher by the time I’m done with the kitchen…no tough scrubbing time!

  • TyKes Mom said...
    December 13, 2011 at 10:54 am

    I do Once-A-Month cooking and freeze each meal so throughout the month I can just grab something and have it on the table in 15 minutes. http://the-north-forty.com/once-a-month-cooking/

    email: tykesmom@the-north-forty.com

  • boyzrule said...
    December 13, 2011 at 10:53 am

    Have a designated spot for everything and immediately return it to that spot. Less clean up and mess around the house. This goes for cloth diapers and anything!!! Picking up is the pits!

    debbie m
    dmoretti1967 at yahoo dot com

  • Erin said...
    December 13, 2011 at 10:53 am

    I also plan meals for a week or two in advance. In addition though, when I grocery shop I put my list together by aisle. Or when I actually order my groceries online (at Harris Teter) after bed time then I pick them up the next day during baby’s quick afternoon nap times so I can keep her in the car seat in the house while dragging all the groceries in and putting them away.

  • Affton said...
    December 13, 2011 at 10:53 am

    With a toddler and baby, my time is very busy. Laundry is one tasks that is neverending and easily gets piled up. To keep myself from getting behind, I do one load each day. Since it is just one load I am able to wash, dry, fold, and put the clothes away without taking time away from my family. I also don’t dread the task since it only takes a few minutes for each step. Much easier than folding and putting away 3 or 4 loads one day a week

  • kblaix said...
    December 13, 2011 at 10:53 am

    I set everyones clothes out at night, including shoes and jackets. Our mornings run so much smoother when everyone can just grab their stuff and put it on.

  • mallory wheat said...
    December 13, 2011 at 10:53 am

    I have never used cloth diapers but have always wanted to! My saving time trick to life basically is that i do all my housework and school work when my kids are asleep! it gives me more time teaching them things and playing with them so i dont have to waste that time doing all the cleaning! 🙂 I have a 3 yr old and a 1 yr old and a wife, and a full time student. So time saving is my life lol!

  • Mrs. M said...
    December 13, 2011 at 10:53 am

    I prepare all of DS fresh fruit/veggie snacks as soon as I buy them. I take the time then to get the cut and put away so that all I have to do is grab and go!

  • Jessica said...
    December 13, 2011 at 10:53 am

    I always wash diapers on the same days of the week. Makes it predictable and allows me to plan what else I need to do around getting them clean.

  • AmyBW said...
    December 13, 2011 at 10:52 am

    To get ready for a middle of the night diaper change, I make sure that I stuff and a bumgenius pocket diaper that has a velcro closure before putting my daughter to bed. That way I don’t have to fumble with snaps in a sleep-haze!

  • jlcmc32 said...
    December 13, 2011 at 10:52 am

    Meal planning, is my biggest time saver. The crock pot is also a great time saver. set it to cook in the morning and when its dinner time its done! I love my bumgenius diapers!

  • kristenD said...
    December 13, 2011 at 10:52 am

    Making babyfood in big batches and freezing in ice cube trays. Just pick out the cubes the night before and put in the fridge and baby has perfect portions ready to go in the morning.
    Plauntk@mail.gvsu.edu

  • Amanda S said...
    December 13, 2011 at 10:52 am

    I use cloth wipes and just wash them with the diapers. And also have a wash machine that has a timer so I can save both time and money by doing laundry on off peak hours.

  • Rachel said...
    December 13, 2011 at 10:52 am

    I have everything laid out the night before. Coffee ready, bags packed, lunch made, etc. Makes things so much easier!

  • Karen said...
    December 13, 2011 at 10:52 am

    I meal plan for a month. I make almost all of my meals in one day at the beginning of the month and freeze them. It usually takes me like 2 hours to make them all (naptime is great for this) and then all month, I just pull them out of the freezer and cook/warm them on the stove or in the oven.

    kjhead719@gmail.com

  • Kati B said...
    December 13, 2011 at 10:51 am

    My best time saving tip is…
    to set out mine and the kids clothes and shoes the night before. It saves so much time in the morning!

    Kati B
    greenapple2646 at gmail. com

  • Peapopper said...
    December 13, 2011 at 10:51 am

    Keep an on-going shopping list – when you run out of something, write it on your list (keep the list on the fridge, so you don’t lose it!)

  • Leo Mom said...
    December 13, 2011 at 10:51 am

    The best time saving for me is to do laundry while cooking. I always start the washer machine and then going up to do cooking. By the time my foods are ready, my laundry is ready to go into the dryer.

  • Kim and Ty said...
    December 13, 2011 at 10:51 am

    Our time saver tip is when washing bottles we always leave the water to soak dishes in so that they don’t need to be scrubbed when putting into the dishwasher…saves time and water!

    kdscurrah@gmail.com

  • xheatxherx said...
    December 13, 2011 at 10:51 am
  • Taryn L. McCracken said...
    December 13, 2011 at 10:51 am

    I spend a little time every night getting things ready for the next day so I’m not rushing in the morning to get my son off to school, get everyone ready for the day and getting out of the house at a reasonable time.

    tlmgiveaways@gmail.com

  • Andrea said...
    December 13, 2011 at 10:50 am

    the best time saving tip i have is making my husband help me with the laundry, after he gets done stuffing the diapers he appreciates how much i do everyday!

  • Sisrea said...
    December 13, 2011 at 10:50 am

    I like to fold laundry (at least mine and my husbands) right as it comes out of the dryer. It usually takes less then 5 minutes and it saves it from sitting in a basket and piling up for loads at a time.

  • Elenor's Mama said...
    December 13, 2011 at 10:49 am

    I set out my kids clothing the night before so that we get up and get ready to go without any hiccups. (Or with fewer hiccups anyway lol!)

  • Karen said...
    December 13, 2011 at 10:48 am

    Time saving tip go shopping early morning stores r empty

  • xheatxherx said...
    December 13, 2011 at 10:48 am

    When it’s “clean up” time in the toy room, I set a 5 minute timer & the kids try to beat the timer…makes clean up so much faster since it’s a game. 🙂

  • Erin E said...
    December 13, 2011 at 10:48 am

    I work from home so I throw in a load of cloth diapers at lunch and let them line dry throughout the afternoon. Then we stuff the inserts while playing with the baby or watching TV. We love cloth diapering! emcgloin@hotmail.com

  • Foofie said...
    December 13, 2011 at 10:48 am

    to save time I meal plan – this always saves me time and money. something about being thought through that is just good all around. I too use cloth wipes and LOVE them. don’t have to worry about separating out wipes from dipes when tossing in the pale. Also, we have a cleaning “schedule” in the loosest since of the word, which allows us to live in the kind of environment we enjoy (sheets changed, bathrooms cleaned, vacuum, grocery shop on Saturday, vacuum, dust, bathroom clean on Wednesday), it’s amazing what a little schedule will do for your sanity and eventually saving you time!
    ruthievincill at gmail dot com

  • Tara said...
    December 13, 2011 at 10:47 am

    To save time sorting laundry, I have a 3-bin system. One for warm, cold, and delicate. All underwear go into the delicate and the rest is separated out as we take it off in the evening. Plus, I have a hamper in my daughter’s room for her clothes (washed separately) and a bucket for her diapers.

    trsutton82 at gmail dot com

  • Lauren Staples said...
    December 13, 2011 at 10:47 am

    pre-stuffing my diapers really helps save time and keep things organized. I also reserve a certain color of diapers for night-time diapers so they are pre-stuffed with the right inserts for my little one.

  • Anonymous said...
    December 13, 2011 at 10:47 am

    I lay out all of our clothes the night before, use a crock pot for dinner, toss my diapers in the washer to soak over night and start them first thing in the morning to save some time w/ washing. I NEED time saving tips, thanks so much for this idea!

  • Karla said...
    December 13, 2011 at 10:47 am

    Menu planning…

  • Sarah Paradis said...
    December 13, 2011 at 10:47 am

    My two time saving tips are folding the laundry as i comes out of the dryer so I dont have to fold it later, and stuffing all my diapers the night before so I dont have to stuff them while changing. 🙂

  • Erin E said...
    December 13, 2011 at 10:46 am

    I work from home so I throw in a load of cloth diapers at lunch and let them line dry throughout the afternoon. Then we stuff the inserts while playing with the baby or watching TV. We love cloth diapering!

  • Sara Pierce said...
    December 13, 2011 at 10:46 am

    I’m waiting for the chance to use my cloth diapers (due in 2 weeks) but I like to set my alarm for 10 minutes before I need to get up so I can hit the snooze button at least once and still be “on time” getting my day started!

  • Rachel Leann said...
    December 13, 2011 at 10:46 am

    I have so many diapers that I can leave a load of clean ones in the dryer a few days until the next load needs done.

    tall_person13@yahoo.com

  • Jackie said...
    December 13, 2011 at 10:46 am

    My time saving tip has to do with dishes. Sort silverware before putting in the dishwasher. You’d be amazed how much time it saves you when putting it away!

  • Emily said...
    December 13, 2011 at 10:45 am

    I save time by having a laundry routine & sticking to it! Staying on top of it and not letting myself “fall behind” saves me time in the long run, because I don’t have to spend time catching up.

  • Krystyn said...
    December 13, 2011 at 10:45 am

    I fold clothes while watching TV/movie…or chatting with the hubby. We get time together, and get the laundry done.

  • Mary said...
    December 13, 2011 at 10:45 am

    I’m in charge of getting our son ready in the morning, but I have to get myself ready too. Since he’s 18 mos, I’m not comfortable leaving the room while he’s still eating, so to save time I’ve gotten in the habit of pulling his high chair into the bathroom with me while I shower. It works because he’s getting breakfast, he’s contained while I shower, and if he starts to choke, I’m only arms length away. It works for us!

  • Jennifer said...
    December 13, 2011 at 10:44 am

    Meal planning is my biggest tip! We meal plan once a week, saves the “what’s for dinner” question as well as random trips to the stores through the week.

  • Ivy Freimuth said...
    December 13, 2011 at 10:44 am

    A great time saving tip that comes to mind would be when making my husbands lunch. I prepack all the snacks in baggies as soon as I buy them. As well as bagging veggies for the entire week. This makes putting his lunch together the evening before very simple. Even when we get home late, or have soemthing going on, it will take me just a few short minutes, with much love, to get the next days food together and in the fridge!

    Ivy Freimuth
    IDuffy08@hotmail.com

  • Shawna C. said...
    December 13, 2011 at 10:44 am

    I do dishes while I cook. Getting two things done at once.

  • Jessica Abney said...
    December 13, 2011 at 10:44 am

    I always plan my meals and make sure to get the groceries for them at least one week ahead of time. Also I go ahead and fluff, stuff, fold, etc. all my cloth dipes so they are ready for action as soon as it’s time for a dipe change (might be common sense to most, but for the longest time I would wait to fold my prefolds until right before putting the diaper on lol).

  • Danielle said...
    December 13, 2011 at 10:44 am

    I always separate my diapers, and unstuff them before washing them.

  • Elisha said...
    December 13, 2011 at 10:43 am

    I stuff my BG pockets as I watch my favorite television program – I have fun while doing something I need to do anyway!

  • Erica said...
    December 13, 2011 at 10:42 am

    I have 2 sets of cloth wipes. The extra is premade and in a ziploc bag so that as soon as I am out I can pop the additional set in the wipe warmer and not have to worry about running out, and we go through them every other day, but usually only wash dipes every 3 days. 🙂

  • MIsadventures of a 3rd Time Mom said...
    December 13, 2011 at 10:42 am

    Use cloth wipes too! So much easier just to put the wipes inside the diaper and roll it up. Just like a disposable!

  • thecopelandclan said...
    December 13, 2011 at 10:42 am

    I rinse my diapers in the laundry sink and then hang them to dry while waiting to run laundry- it saves me a ton of time as I don’t have to wash diapers as often!

  • Lisa N said...
    December 13, 2011 at 10:41 am

    The best time saving tip that I have for laundry is to set up a “staging” area. We have stack-able baskets for each member of the family so when clothes come out of the dryer, but there isnt time to fold, they can go in that basket instead of just piling up.

  • Selena said...
    December 13, 2011 at 10:41 am

    I always set my clocks 10 mins fast so I make it places on time LOL.