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At least once a week, I notice that someone forgets something and I say “You left home without ____?” I have learned to be prepared! Now, I’ve found my favorite 10 things to keep the car. Sometimes we will even grab our snack hack and take that with us, too!
I made this list of 10 must-haves for the car, when you have kids, a few years ago. I have found that even though our kids are now older, the things that I keep in the car remain the same. 🙂
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We have four kids, so we are ALWAYS trying to find things in the car. When emergencies pop up, we like to be prepared. It was mostly “learning through experience” that brought us to this list. I’ve been caught without many of these too many times and I’ve learned my lesson! Our car is not “ready for anything” (most of the time, anyway!) Plus, Our kids are young and we need a little more than families with older children.
1. Coats or zip-up sweatshirts in the trunk.
I do this because our kids are constantly cold, especially in restaurants, so if I can have a coat handy, it works out great. I even do this in the summertime because this is when everyone has their AC on full blast and our kiddos get extra-cold if we are out to eat.
2. An extra pair of flip-flops
I can remember several times, when our kids were toddlers or young preschoolers, that they had just forgotten their shoes. Don’t ask me how I overlooked that little detail while we were getting into the car, but somehow it happened more than once.
I’ve also had each of our four kids break a flip-flop at least once during an outing.
Oh- and muddy puddles. How did I forget those?! When my kids were young, they stepped in plenty of puddles and they were left with soaking wet shoes.
Having an extra pair in the car is always a good idea. It may seem weird, but trust me… there is a reason. 🙂
3. Bandaids
You never know when you’ll need one.
4. Power Converter – my FAVORITE thing to keep in the car!
This little box turns any normal plug into a car plug. I can charge anything using this and I use it all of the time! I’ve used this on my laptop, portable DVD players, a cooler that works with a little air conditioner that’s powered by an outlet, the kids’ tablets on a long trip (since our back seat doesn’t have the right outlet for their devices), and so many more things.
This is life-changing for me! (I keep this & all of my chargers in the little-hidden console under the dash). Here is the power converter that we have.
5- Extra Grocery Bags
We always have stuff that needs to be thrown away when we are out & about (antibacterial hand wipes that I made them use after we left the last store, wrappers, broken pencils, paper, empty water bottles) and these grocery-store bags are the perfect way to get rid of it. When we stop to get gas, or when we are going to walk into a store, I will just grab one of the bags from the dashboard and pass it around. The kids toss any trash into the bag and we carry it to the nearest garbage can.
6. Snacks
I try to keep a few snacks in the car because sometimes plans change, and that trip that should have taken one hour is now approaching its third hour.
It just makes it easier if I have a snack to pass back to the kids. Plus, this stops everyone (including myself) from asking if we can stop for something to eat.
7- Sunglasses (extras!)
A few years ago my Mom & I were shopping at Michaels and they had their sunglasses on clearance for 50 cents. We bought about 6 pairs. I have lost most of them by now, but I still keep a few spare pairs of these sunglasses in the car, just in case I lose my regular sunglasses. My kids have also used them when they have forgotten their sunglasses at home.
Oh- I try to stock up each year, at the end of the season. They are always discounted.
TIP: You could even order a cheap pack of 12 and just keep them in the car, under the front seat.
8 – Water Bottles
I keep 3 water bottles in my trunk (in a tote bag). It seems to be a cure-all when we have sticky hands! (NOTE: It has been found that they can leak chemicals, so you might not want to do this. I keep them in there because we use the water to wash up when we are in a bind, but we usually have fresh (new that day) water to drink because the kids grab a new water bottle from the refrigerator in our garage before hopping into the car in the mornings.)
9- My “Restaurant backpack”
This is a backpack that I keep just for going out to eat or going somewhere like that. I keep hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes, coloring books, crayons, some small toys & a few other little things. When the kids were young, I kept a high-chair cover and disposable bibs in the bag, too.
10- 3 pack of $.99 Tissues
It never fails that the kids need a tissue when I have none. Now, I keep a skinny box or travel packs of tissues in the glove compartment.
WHAT TO KEEP IN YOUR CAR: READER SUGGESTIONS
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- Scissors (in case you need to cut a seatbelt)
- An extra pair of clothes for the kids
- Ziplock bags (for new clothes & then dirty clothes)
- “barf bags” using disposable diaper genie refills.
- Sticky Notes made FOR YOUR VISOR (love this idea!)
- If you have a potty trainer, keep a mini baby bjorn travel potty in your car.
- A coloring book (we love our Potty Training Coloring binder that we made).
- A bag of books
- Decorate a shoe box as their special car toy box- let them pick the toys that go in it.
- Keep a roll of toilet paper in a plastic bag in the trunk
- 1/2 a roll of paper towel (takes up less room, but does the job.)
- Car laundry basket. Everything goes in there and then into the house (sports stuff, etc…)
- Spare change
- A towel, in case you get caught in the rain (or jumping in puddles!)
What else can you think of?
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As grandparents we always carry a couple of beach towels and some fruit box lids in the back of the SUV. Not only do they help us without the babies but can be used for a multitude of things with them.
I’very found that the best way to store those extra plastic grocery bags is in an old Pringles can. Rinse it out, dry it and it fits perfectly in the cup holders built into the doors of my van!
Oh- smart!
A small plastic bucket (like the one you take to the beach), a plastic bag, and a roll of toilet paper.
I have fashioned a portable toilet multiple times for my 2 youngest children using these 3 items. Where we live, public toilets are not very clean (and sometimes it’s a squat over a hole style of toilet and my kids are not physically ready for that yet).
Just put the plastic bag inside and fold the handles over the rim of the bucket. Drop some toilet paper inside the plastic bag (trust me, this is very important), then have your child sit on the bucket. When he/she is done, just pull the handles of the bag up and tie it closed. Then toss it in a trash can.
Seriously, this is a lifesaver on road trips.
haha! I read about this for camping, too. Pretty creative!
A little bit of money as spare change always comes in handy too when you’re out and about, especially if you forget your purse! Spare plastic plates, bowls and cutlery are very useful too. Like sunglasses, hats (winter or summer) are handy as well as a small bottle of sunscreen. Last but not least, a towel for all those times when you’ve been jumping in puddles or the waves at the beach 🙂
True! Adding those 🙂
I like to have a car laundry basket. So I can take everything in and out in one load from car to house or hockey practice etc.
Hmm… smart!
I keep a roll of toilet paper in a plastic bag in the trunk for the times you may need to make a “rest stop” and there may or may not have a roll of toilet paper in the stall. This is particularly helpful on road trips. I also keep a half unused roll of paper towels in the trunk also. A half roll of paper towels doesn’t take up much room. And it can be a lifesaver when there is a spill in the car that you want to clean up immediately.
Adding those. 🙂 thanks!
I keep a container of books for the kids. I also recently had each one decorate a shoe box as their special car toy box. They filled them with little toys like legos for long car rides. I’m hoping it stops them from keeping a mountain of toys on the seat next to them.
I added that to the list. Love it!!
Great post though I think I may need to buy a bigger car for all this ‘just in case Stuff!’ I have a small fold up buggy which lives in the car, first aid kit, spare nappies and wipes, change for car parks, rain macks and wellingtons with spare socks, (good old English Weather), picnic rug, towel, bag of books and toys and a football. Sun hats in summer, hats and gloves in winter, we get through a Lot! Strangely in my husbands car he has nothing though my bag is similar to that of Mary Poppins!
hahaha!
it is a good idea to keep latex free disposable gloves in your first aid kit in case you need them.
SMart.
Don’t think unkindly of me, but a wooden spoon kept in the glove box, is a great deterrent for ill behavior while driving. All I ever had to do was mention it and threaten to pull off the road and get it out if they didn’t straighten up. Kids are fine and grown now, but spoon is probably still in there- haha!
We’ve never even spanked our kids, but I certainly wouldn’t think ill of a person for parenting differently than we do.
I would add dollar store ponchos! I keep a few to put kids in and tie the bottoms. They have been a life saver at sporting events or other times! And a sharpie!
Great idea- wish we would have thought of that for Disney!
“Croc” shoes have been known to shrink so I wouldn’t leave them in a car, on the deck of your holiday home or anywhere the sun can get to them.
So funny you said that because I JUST heard that today, too!!
Sunglasses MUST be UV rated (look for 99.9+% UVA/UVB or UV 400), anything less can cause permanent damage to your eyes. They also can cause long-term damage to your eyes! WebMD gives some good advice for picking sunglasses: http://www.webmd.com/eye-health/features/how-to-pick-good-sunglasses?page=2
We have most of those items listed, plus many of the ones in the comments. A couple more things to consider:
We have those heat packs that warm up when exposed to air and last for hours (found at the dollar spot at Target in the winter, or online) just in case we get stuck somewhere in the winter. If the car won’t work, it’s going to get VERY cold very quickly. They are small and can be put in pants pockets or shoes if needed. Maybe it will just be a ‘comfort’ thing, maybe it will save you from frostbite. Maybe you can just use them when its freezing cold at the sidelines for football practice one night 😉
Also, I am a flip-flop girl 99% of the time, so I keep an extra pair of sneakers/tennis shoes in the trunk (with socks tucked into them) in case the car breaks down and/or I need to walk a long distance. Flip-flops/sandals aren’t really made for that, nor will they protect my feet if needed. The sneakers are in addition to the extra flip flops in case I forget to wear shoes out of the house 😉 (tip for saving money: whenever you replace shoes that aren’t totally *gone*, put the older ones in the car. You don’t need to buy a second set, just use what you have)
Those fold-up-tiny umbrellas fit under the seats very well and you’ll be so thankful for them if you have them..
They sell water in cardboard “milk” cartons now, that would be perfect for leaving in the car for emergencies. We also keep a gallon or two of water in case we get stranded in the summer when its 100* out. No, it’s not perfect, but it’s better than nothing. And, I think sometimes you can use it in the various parts of the engine if needed (??? not my area of expertise lol)
Flashlights. What are you gonna do if the car breaks down at night? Plus extra batteries rubber-banded to the handle of the flashlight. For the kids, toss in a couple of those $1 packs of ‘glow sticks’ or glow stick bracelets just to comfort them if needed in the dark. Or, use for impromptu night-time parties 😉
Anytime I end up with $2 or $3 in ones, I add them to a small change purse in my glovebox. I hardly notice they are missing when I do that, but they have saved the day numerous times when I’ve needed a couple dollars in parking money, or a vending machine is the only option for dinner (hospital stays, etc). Also putting quarters in here will help out later as well.
I’ve heard unscented kitty litter is good in a ‘winter’ box as well, to put under the tires to add friction if needed in the snow.
Finally, we have a decent first aid kit with gloves/bandages/gauze/ice packs and the like. My son plays sports and I’m pretty sure there is going to be a need for this at some point.
Wow! You are all set!! 🙂
I travel a lot so I’ve grabbed the barf bags from the airplane and have those in hand as we’ve used other bags in emergencies but a barf bag specially made is hard to beat and they are free!