Raising a toddler can be challenging and exhausting. After you're done protecting, feeding, teaching, comforting, and chasing after your busy little child, there isn't much time left over for making dinner or cleaning house, much less relaxing. Fortunately, there are plenty of crafty ways to save time and make daily life run more smoothly. Read on for tips from moms and dads on how to get the basics out of the way so you can better enjoy life with your little one.

Waking up

"Mornings can be tough for everyone with children. I've found that if I take five to ten minutes with my 2-year-old when he first wakes up to snuggle and talk quietly about the day, the whole morning goes much more smoothly. If I slow down, he's able to speed up. If I try to rush him, he usually stops or slows way down." -- Rebecca

Dressing

"My daughter has a very hard time getting ready in the morning -- she'd rather play, watch TV, or read stories. To eliminate some of the rush, I dress her at bedtime in clothes she can wear the next day. She thinks it's pretty neat to sleep in her clothes, too!" -- Alisha

"My husband dresses my daughter for daycare every morning. I bought a closet organizer that has five slots for Monday through Friday. On Sunday I put my daughter's outfits in their proper slot. It helps my husband in the morning." -- Paige

"I get completely ready for work while my son's sleeping. Then I change his diaper and start dressing him while he's still asleep. By the time I'm finished he's waking up." -- Michele

Getting out the door

"I pack all the food we need the night before and keep it in a large bag in the refrigerator: things like yogurt with a spoon, cut-up fruit, string cheese, a sippy cup with juice. Then I put my car keys on top of the bag so there's no way I can leave the house and forget the food." -- Megg

"I divvy up boxes of snack foods like crackers, pretzels, and raisins into snack-size zippered bags and keep a picnic basket of bags on the counter so I can grab a few whenever we leave the house." -- Maggie

Use distractions

"I leave a little toy box next to my daughter's car seat. I know she can get bored when we do errands, so this gives her options. I try to restock it often, changing toys around, adding a few new surprises from time to time." -- Jane

Get creative

"A trip to the grocery store used to take half a Saturday, but now I do it on my lunch hour, shopping quickly and efficiently. I always use a shopping list. I use the refrigerator at my office to store perishables until I go home -- and, since my commute is 45 minutes, I use a cooler in the car." -- Midge

"We always keep walkie-talkies in the car so we can communicate with each other when one of us is in a store and the other is staying with the kids. I can tell him to hurry up or that we're doing fine and he can take his time. They're also great to take to big warehouse stores, in case you lose each other." -- Lisa

Avoid errands altogether

"I do as much online grocery shopping as possible. It's a super time-saver." -- Claudia

Easy cutting

"Instead of using a fork and knife to cut my toddler's food, I use a pair of scissors. It works like a charm -- fast and easy." -- Jenny

"I use a pizza cutter to cut just about anything -- pizza, sandwiches, pancakes, waffles, quesadillas. I can make bite-size pieces in no time." -- Jessica

Dining out

"Sometimes I take my 18-month-old son to my favorite deli just before naptime. I get her a few bites to eat and order something 'to go' for me. I drive around until she dozes off and then park at a lovely location overlooking the Pacific Ocean and enjoy a few moments to myself, eating lunch. This feels like real decadence." -- Donna

"My husband and I order food for our toddler as soon as we sit down in a restaurant. The food comes before our meal arrives so he has plenty of time to eat, and it keeps him occupied while we're waiting for our meal." -- Samantha

Feeding the whole family

"If you've put your slow cooker away, take it out again. I put in bunch of veggies, rice, and meat in the morning, add water and spices, and turn it on. A hearty meal is ready by dinnertime." -- Rosemary

"I keep my freezer filled with frozen entrees for lunches and dinners. There are some delicious frozen meals available today. My husband is also getting in the habit of bringing take-out food home once a week, which is a treat." -- Jennifer

"When I do find time to fix a meal, I make huge amounts and freeze the extra in freezer bags, ready to be heated up when I don't have time to cook. Many foods lend themselves well to freezing, including soups, stews, pasta sauces, and bean and rice dishes." -- Margarita

"I prepare enough food for three days. That way we don't get caught in the pre-packaged food trap. I make vegetables, steamed chicken, and other meats, cut up pieces of fruit, and put everything in zippered bags in the fridge." -- Cathi

"I try to make meals that require only one or two pots. They're faster to make and easier to clean up. We like pasta tossed with olive oil, garlic, broccoli, and precooked frozen shrimp." -- Linda

A stitch in time . . .

"Place several trash bags nested within each other in the trash receptacle. When you take out the trash, you don't need to go back to put in a liner. Alternately, keep several unopened bags in the bottom of the trash receptacle." -- Pamela

The quickie cleanup

"I use laundry baskets for everything, especially to pick up toys strewn around the house. When I don't have time to clean and company is coming over, I throw everything in a laundry basket and put it in a closet." -- Molly

"I purchase all the 'quicker-picker-uppers,' like sanitizing wipes and dusting cloths, and keep them handy in whichever room needs cleaning. As I walk through the room, I grab one and clean my way through. It's more expensive, but it saves time." -- Catherine

Organizing

"Make a place for everything that tends to get lost. Shoes are taken off and put next to the door. School bags are hung on a rack. Crayons and other art materials are kept in the art bin. Library books are kept in a special, separate place so they don't get mixed up with our books." -- Lisa

"Emptying the dishwasher is a snap if you put your silverware in head-down and grouped together. This way, when you only have a minute to empty the dishwasher while the kids are asleep, you can grab a section at a time and slip it in the drawer." -- Brenda

"I write a 'to do' list for the week on a dry-erase board. Having everything written down, and crossing things out once they've been done, keeps me from feeling overwhelmed. It also gives my hubby an opportunity to help without having to ask me what to do." -- Natasha

"To keep track of bills, I use a flexible folder with 12 slots labeled January to December. When I pay my bills each month, I take the whole stack of paperwork and slide it into the appropriate slot. My checkbook and stamps go in the front." -- Kate

"I have a list on the refrigerator with all the necessary contact information for me and my husband and our son's doctors, other emergency numbers, and tips on the foods he likes, his usual bedtime and naptimes and routines, and his favorite snacks and toys. I always go over the list with a new caregiver, and it's been a huge help." -- Patty

Finding time

"If I straighten up the house each time my daughter naps it doesn't get overwhelming. When she goes down for the night, I usually don't have energy for much, so I pick one thing, usually the dishes, and allow myself to wait until the next day to do the rest without feeling guilty." -- Ryan

"I clean the bathroom while my 2-year-old and 5-year-old are taking a bath together. I'm in the room for safety -- and getting work done." -- Doreen

"When my daughter wakes up in the morning or from a nap I do things around her room while she's still in her crib. We sing, talk, and play games while I put clothes away, sort laundry, restock diapers, pick up toys, and vacuum. She watches me all around her, and she's in a safe place and not underfoot." -- Heidi

"I try to get everything done when my toddler is in his highchair. After I finish eating, I'll fold clothes, wash dishes, and do anything else in the kitchen. Once or twice a week, I try to get him to sit in his chair with some crayons so I can do something more major, like wash the floor." -- Annie

"I do everything I can after the kids are in bed and before I pass out. I make their lunches, prepare bottles, fold laundry, or clean the kitchen. That way I can go to sleep knowing I've gotten some things done, and it doesn't interfere with my time with my kids." -- Paula

"Keep a small bin of toys in rooms where you'll be busy working, like the laundry room and kitchen. This occupies my toddler when I'm busy." -- Annisa

Laundry

"I place socks in large mesh lingerie bags so I don't have to search for them in the dryer." -- Kelly

"Instead of using a long block of time for laundry, I do it as I go, starting a wash at night before I go to bed and switching it to the dryer in the morning. I throw dry clothes in a basket and fold when I get the time, like when my daughter's napping. I've also stopped buying anything that needs ironing. Those days are gone!" -- Jill

"I fold and sort laundry in separate baskets -- one for me and my husband, another for my two girls. It makes it easier to put clothes away." -- Sue

Recruit help

"I let my daughter help with chores. She thinks it's fun, and I can get things done. She hands me dishes from the dishwasher and she holds the hose, on gentle spray, on our vegetable garden and flowers." -- Kristine

"My son is in charge of putting any shoe he finds lying around the house in our 'shoe drawer.' It has completely eliminated our 15-minute morning shoe-searching time. Now we can count on any shoe being in the drawer." -- John

"I've enlisted the help of my 14-month-old. He's best at laundry. I set the wet clothes on the dryer door and he shoves them in. When the load's dry, he pulls them out and puts them in the basket (though this is hit and miss)." -- Theresa

"After we're done eating, every member of my family -- even my 13-month-old -- carries their plate to the kitchen, scrapes food off, and places it in the dishwasher." -- Paul

"When I'm cooking dinner, I let my 18-month-old help by pulling out ingredients from the fridge. He digs through looking for various items I ask him to find. He thinks it's fun, and it's educational. I'll ask for a green pepper, and if he grabs an apple, I explain the difference." -- Jean

"My husband and I like to take trips with our kids on weekends, so we decided to each spend about 30 minutes a day during the week cleaning and doing chores. This frees up Saturdays and Sundays. The best part is that we're both contributing and we made this decision together." -- Hannah

Stick to a schedule

"I try to stick to a nap schedule for my son. I also have a strict bedtime for him, no later than nine. I need a break when he naps, and my husband I get some time together after he's down for the night." -- Carrie

Two baths in one

"I always bathe my 12-month-old and 2-year-old together. It saves time, and they have fun playing." -- Jane

Tangle-free hair

"Braid little girls' hair right after washing. It keeps it from getting tangled overnight." -- Naomi

Have the right gear ready

"I keep a basket in the bathroom filled with supplies for my daughter's bath: towels, washcloths, shampoo, soap, lotions, diapers, and wipes. I fill it up each week so I'm always ready for her bath and don't have to run around gathering supplies while bathing her. They're always there, within easy reach." -- Melanie

"My son is super-sensitive to getting shampoo in his face and used to scream and struggle through a hair wash -- even with non-stinging shampoos. We've eliminated this problem by using a little plastic sun visor. It keeps suds off his face, plus it's kind of cute and didn't cost much. We keep one with the bath supplies." -- Martha and John

"I try to remember that the world isn't going to end if dinner isn't at a certain time, or if the house isn't completely clean, or if the laundry isn't done. If my daughter is crying or having a tantrum, she usually just wants attention or to play. The best thing I can do is forget everything else and give her all the love and attention I can. Soon enough she'll be so independent that she'll want to do everything alone." -- Jennifer

"I think if you're a stay-at-home mom or dad, the main thing to remember is that you're staying home to raise children and spend quality time with them, not to have the perfect house. With toddlers, a perfect house is an oxymoron!" -- Valerie

"When the world gets too hectic, I stop whatever I'm doing and just sit down and play with my daughter. It's amazing how much clearer my head is afterward, and I don't feel so pressured to get everything else done. The laundry and cleaning will be there the next day, but what you do with your child today will be a lasting memory for both of you." -- Amy