You know how it goes…you didn’t expect to be in the car with your kids for hours on end stuck in traffic.
Or on a spontaneous adventure that took you to the mountains when suddenly the weather took a turn.
Life as a parent can be unpredictable at times. You never know when your day will take a turn because some puked all over the back of the car or a bloody nose turned the backseat into a scene from your favorite true crime thriller. Which is why you can never be too prepared when you leave the house.
The countless predicaments we have encountered as we ventured out of the house with our twins has taught us many lessons in preparedness along the way.
We have put together our list of must-have items that you need to store in your care at all times, so that you don’t learn the hard way like we did. Having a few things on hand can be super helpful should you get caught in a pickle.
6 Things Every Parent Needs To Keep in the Car:
Sunscreen:
As Colorado parents, no matter what season, we find ourselves needing to slather tons of sunscreen on our kids year round. Sunscreen is helpful if you happen to be at a park, at soccer practice or on even a spontaneous hike up the canyon, having a sunscreen bottle that is designated for your car is a must.
Emergency First-Aid Kit Designated for the Car:
With kids comes bumps and bruises, cuts and scrapes. Having an emergency first-aid kit tucked away in your car seems like a no-brainer. Make sure you have band-aids and all of the first-aid basics. We like this kit it seems to store easily and have it all!
Extra clothes:
Fold up an extra set of clothes for each of your children, slide them into a gallon-sized Ziploc bag and stash them somewhere in your car. There is nothing worse than having to listen to whining kids the whole ride home because someone fell in the river. In Colorado, the weather can turn in an instant. It might be sunny in the morning only to find yourself in a snowstorm by lunchtime. We never leave home without a hoodie or jacket in the car, even if it is 85 degrees outside. Even better, throw a blanket into your car!
Toys and Snacks:
Traffic can be a pain in the you know what! So can hours of listening to your kids talk about their hungry bellies chanting “are we there yet?”. Head to the dollar bin or stop by a garage sale and grab a few cheap toys to keep in your car and have hand in case you get stuck in a dreaded traffic jam. Snacks will also be a live saver in these circumstances. Fill a gallon-sized Ziploc with non-perishable snacks (that also won’t melt) so that your kid’s don’t hit the hangry point when you’re 30 minutes away from home.
Money/Gift Cards:
Mom brain is a real thing. Having an extra $20 stored under the driver’s seat for emergencies or for when you leave your wallet at home is key! If you have any gift cards for coffee, food, etc…throw those in the glove box. If your babies or kids fall asleep and you want to stretch out that nap…you can treat yourself with a drive-thru pick me up!
Shop Towels and Trash Bags:
Here’s another lesson learned the hard way one too many times. Upset tummies, bloody noses or diaper blowouts happen without much warning, if any. After an epic bloody nose incident, where a gentleman stopped on the side of the highway to share his roll of shop-towels, we have learned to keep towels and trash bags in our cars in the case of a BIG mess!
Toss a few of these ideas in your car for your next adventure…you never know what you’ll need.
What are some must-haves you always tend to keep in your car? Hit us up below in the comments below; we’d love to hear from you.
