Car Essentials for Families
Two summers ago, we shared a blog titled Car Essentials for Mom. We’re back with a new and improved list of car essentials for every family! Keep in mind that some of the listed essentials may need to be tailored or changed a bit to fit the needs of you and your family.
First Aid Kit
Accidents happen and there isn’t much you can do about it. But you can be prepared. With this in mind we’ve kept a first aid kit on the car essentials list. Depending on your family's needs or the activities you participate in, you may need a larger or smaller kit. If you have a little one who gets motion sickness adding dramamine for kids may be a great addition to your first aid kit!
Trash Can
Every vehicle accumulates trash, especially with children! A car trash can be big or small, reusable or even a store bag. Making sure you have some kind of trash bag will help keep smells away!
Charcoal Odor Absorber Bag
Something we would like to add to our car essentials list, along with a trash can is a charcoal odor absorber bag. Even if you use a trash bag, having a car full of kids can get smelly! Using a charcoal odor absorber bag can also help keep those yucky smells away!
Car Seat Gap Fillers
Another addition to our list is using car seat gap fillers. This is a game changer! No more lost crayons, fries, keys, phones, etc! Added bonus that the gap fillers are hardly noticeable and easy to install!
Sunscreen and Bug Spray
While you may apply sunscreen or bug spray to your little ones before leaving the home, it’s always a great idea to have some on hand. Sunscreen should be applied often. Having these on hand can help everyone in the family enjoy your outings without the consequences of bug bites or sunburns!
Weather Related Items
Additionally, we are adding weather related items to our car essential list! This is to include items that are for days you may not plan for but need at the drop of a hat. Some of these items include an umbrella, hat, ice scraper, snow brush, and even a little kitty litter to use near wheels if you are stuck in ice and snow.
Water
Having water, on hand, in your car is always a must. You never know when you might need some extra water. Errands can run long, traffic accidents can happen, scraps may need a quick clean, or your child may drink all the water in their personal water bottle. This can especially be beneficial in the hot summer months.
Wipes and Tissues
If your children are long past diapers, having wipes on hand are so helpful! Kids are messy at every age, and sometimes at the most inconvenient times. Tissues are also a must have. It seems as though once your child gets a cold or allergies, they have a lingering runny nose for quite some time. Tissues and wipes can help clean up little messes and stop them from becoming large messes!
Picnic Blanket
Blankets in the car are game changers! Sometimes we get too rushed and forget to grab a blanket for a picnic or game we are attending. Or you're making an unplanned stop and a blanket lets you and your little ones stretch in a nice shady area. A blanket in a car is also great for an emergency during cold weather when you need a little more heat in your car.
Snacks
A small container of nonperishable snacks is a must have! We’ve all been in a scenario where either a snack saved the day or you were out of snacks and had a major meltdown on your hands. Having a container with some extra snacks is a gamer changer for your everyday outings!
Emergency Road Kit
An emergency road kit is a must have whether you are a parent or not. Some essentials we think are must haves are: jumper cables, a car escape tool, a flashlight, gloves, reflective items, pepper spray, and a cell phone charger. Some other items you could consider in your road kit are: basic tools, rope, duct tape, utility gloves, or a code reader.
Change of Clothes
A change of clothes in your car, for your little ones is a must. There are many different situations that can happen where you need a change of clothes for your child. In the summer you may also want to have a swimsuit for your child on hand. While in the winter you may want to have a second coat or heavy jacket on hand.
Towel and Diapers
Kids are naturally drawn to playing in water, mud, or anything that gets them dirty and wet! So right along with having a change of clothes on hand, having some extra diapers and a towel on hand is a great idea.
Bags
Having extra bags on hand in your vehicle will come in so handy. Whether your bags are reusable, reusing a plastic bag from the store, etc it doesn’t matter. Use what works best for your family. But there will be many instances where you find your hands full and the need for a bag!
Kids Entertainment
Yes, entertainment for your kids is essential. Can you remember a time when you were out and about and your child was either overstimulated, tired, bored, etc and it ended up in tears or screaming? Having a few items to keep your little one busy while riding in the car.
Kids Travel Tray
If you find yourself in your car, with your little ones, for long periods of time or for a long road trip investing in a travel tray for your child to easily have all their things within reach. This can help your car rides run a bit smoother.
Storage Organizer for Trunk
After compiling all of these items you may feel a little overwhelmed with the amount of things in your vehicle. Solve this problem by finding a trunk organizer that works well for you and your vehicle. This way everything in your car has a place and you can find it easily without feeling crowded.
While this list isn’t the end all be all of lists, we hope it helps you evaluate what you have in your own vehicle! Hopefully you already have many of these items and this is a reminder for you to replace items in your first aid kit. Or to add an emergency roadside kit to your car. Whatever the case may be, we hope you found something of value! Stay safe out there on the road!