Oh Labor Day—how bittersweet you are. While I love having a long holiday weekend in the summer with my family, it also means that our summer fun has come to an end for the year. Sigh.

But rather than sit around and mope that my favorite season is wrapping up, it’s time to have a little fun with the fam. So if you’re hitting the road with your kiddos or just staying home and taking care of business with kids in tow, I’ve got some great hacks to take the labor out of Labor Day.

 

If you have travel plans for this long weekend, you’ll want to be prepared for just about anything. Boudreaux’s Butt Paste recently surveyed more than 1,000 millennial parents and 82% said they wished they had more tricks up their sleeve to prevent diaper rash.

It’s no fun to deal with diaper rash when you’re  just hanging out at home, but if you’re traveling or have plans this Labor Day, diaper rash is even more of a pain the butt. So here’s a few hacks and tricks to kick some rash while you’re having a little late summer fun with your baby.

• If you’re hitting the pool or beach, remember that one key to preventing diaper rash is keeping moisture away from your baby’s skin. That can be hard to do if you have a water baby on your hands! So this Labor Day if your baby will be hanging out in the pool or ocean and you’ll be using a swim diaper, try these tips:
  • Change the swim diaper frequently and remove the swim diaper as soon as water play time is over. Pack a few extras so you don’t have to rely on just one swim diaper all day.
  • Since swim diapers aren’t absorbent and don’t pull moisture away from your baby’s skin, make sure your baby is completely dry before you put on a regular diaper. Give your baby a little time to “air dry” before getting them dressed.
  • The one surefire way to treat and prevent diaper rash is keeping moisture away from the skin, that’s why new parents should invest in a diaper rash cream that provides a thick moisture barrier, like Boudreaux’s Butt Paste.

• If you’re traveling this Labor Day and need to change a diaper on-the-go but you can’t find a diaper changing station or you’ve found one that is probably covered in a million germs, try the reclining position of your stroller or the backseat or trunk space of your car for a quick diaper change.
• If your baby has a blowout and is wearing a onesie, it’s your lucky day. Well not that lucky because of the blowout but sorta lucky. Use those silly flaps at their shoulders to pull the onesie down your baby—rather than pulling the poopie onesie up and over and making an even bigger mess. Are you now saying “Aha! That’s what those things are for!”  I know, mind blowing.

In the same survey, when it comes to getting a free minute of time to tend to some household tasks, parents admitted to taking some shortcuts! Zero shame in that game, Mammas. And a three day weekend is the perfect time to get all caught up on the things we have to do. So to get the job done, parents said they’ve set their child up in front of the TV or a device, put their child to bed before their bedtime (genius), and let their child stay up past their bedtime. So when you’ve got things to do and you have your little ones with you, it’s time to get creative.

• If you’re headed to the grocery store, leave foldable laundry baskets in your car to easily carry all of your groceries or bags inside the house in one trip.
• If the floor of your vehicle looks like a buffet of snacks, dirt and things you’re not too sure about, you’re not alone! For quick and easy clean up, line the floor of your car with long rag rugs from the dollar store. The ridges help catch all the crumbs and falling debris and cut down on vacuuming. You can even use blue painter’s tape or double stick tape to secure the rugs to the floor. When you’re ready to clean, shake the rugs out, throw them in the laundry and smile because this hack is saving your sanity!

And what if you’re spending a little alone time with just you and your baby this Labor Day? Sounds perfect, right? Well, both moms and dads get an average of eight texts or calls when their significant other is home alone with their child. Sometimes you just need your partner in crime! So here’s a few ways to make that time apart a little easier on everyone.

• If the parent on duty is feeling a little nervous about the alone time, line up some extra help in the form of a play date, or even a family member to stop by for a little extra support.
• Many “HELP” calls come from parents not knowing where something is while the other is gone. To cut back on searching, use an over the door shoe organizer to arrange everything you need for a diaper change, bath time and more all in one place. Before your partner leaves home, go over the organizer together to make sure everything is accounted for.

 

So whatever you do this Labor Day, enjoy the time with your family and say so long summer. We’ll see you next year!

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*This post was sponsored by Boudreaux’s Butt Paste. The opinions are completely my own based on my experience*