Essential Items for the Family Car
What Parents Should Keep in their Vehicles when Travelling with Kids
Regardless of the travel distance, parents should always be prepared whenever they have children on board the family car. And that means keeping bits and pieces of things children need or for emergencies. Yes, it’s a bit troublesome and can be messy at times but really, the trouble is worth it. Here’s the list of essential items in the car.
Food and Drinks
One of the best ways to keep children occupied is to give them their favorite snacks and drinks during the journey. Have several individually packed biscuits, wafers and candies and bottled drinks. Of course, be prepared for crumbs and spills.
Tissues and Baby Wipes
No sensible parents will travel with their kids without the aid of tissues and baby wipes. There will always be runny noses to wipe as well as sticky fingers, gooey faces and dirty bottoms to clean.
Plastic Bags
Plastic bags have many different uses. They can be used as rubbish bags, bags to carry soiled clothing, for throwing up or even cut up to line the car seat when there is a need – for instance when there are spills or when someone cannot hold the bladder long enough! They are also useful for stuffing little toys and trinkets that kids tend to leave behind. So keep several clean plastic bags of various sizes just in case.
Children’s CDs, Toys and Books
Play some children’s nursery rhymes and sing along with the kids in the car. It’s great fun to keep some small toys and picture books in the car too. Older children may enjoy joke books and read out loud for all to enjoy the jokes – it kills boredom when the family is stuck in traffic or waiting.
Change of Clothing
Even if you’ve already packed everything in the luggage, it’s always advisable to pack a smaller bag with a change of clothing for the kids. Make sure there is a spare shirt, jacket, towel, pants, socks and undies for each child. If any of the kids accidentally dirties or wets the shirt during the journey, Mum can easily change her without having to go through the entire luggage for items needed.
It’s a good idea to keep the change of clothing in the car at all times. The kids may have little mishaps in the car even during 10-minute drives or want an impromptu sleepover at their cousin’s house after spending an afternoon there.
First Aid Kit
Get a first aid kit and leave it in the car. Make sure the kit has band-aids, cotton wool, antiseptic cream, a pair of small scissors, alcohol swabs, gauze pads and triangular bandage. These will come in handy when someone suffers cuts and bruises while playing in the park.
Medication
If the family is travelling long distance, consider packing medication such as paracetamol and teething gel in a small toiletry bag and keep it in the glove compartment or a handbag instead of putting them in the luggage. The medication will be easily accessible when there is a need for it and the risk of it leaking all over the contents of the luggage eliminated altogether.
Cushions and Pillows
These can make travelling within the confines of the car more comfortable, especially when the kids are tired or sleepy. They are also useful to protect the upholstery if there is a big heavy load on the car seat.
Big Bottle of Clean Water
Fill up a 2 liter bottle with clean water and leave it in the car. You never know when someone needs to have a quick wash of the hand, rinse the mouth after vomiting or top up the water in the radiator!
Big Plastic Bin
Buy a big plastic bin and keep it in the trunk. This bin can be used to hold shopping bags, shoes, wet swimsuits and towels, dirty toys and almost everything mentioned above. That way, the trunk will be better organized and parents can find what they want more easily.
Have these 10 items in the car when travelling with kids and the family will have a more comfortable journey - whether you are going for a 10-minute drive to the supermarket or for Aunt Grace’s 60th birthday party two hours away.
For more tips on car travel, read also Surviving Long Car Trips with Children and Surviving Long Car Trips with Babies and Toddlers.
References:
Natalie Woodman & Marielle Sloss. 887 Ideas for Busy Families. Australia: Lothian Books, 2002.
Trish Kuffner. 350+ Activities for Toddlers. Australia: Lothian Books, 2005.
Leave Some Toys in the Car for the Kids
|
More in Partners & Parents
Latest Articles