From shuttling kids to-and-from school, sports practices, playdates, doctor’s appointments, and everything in between, we mamas are in the car a lot. As a mom, there are a lot of lessons you learn from experience, and one of those lessons is to have a well-stocked and organized car so that you’re ready for any situation. To help keep your littles happy, avoid meltdowns, and save your sanity, there are certain items that you will learn to appreciate having in your car at all times. (Trust me.) Here is my curated list of 15 mom car essentials.
1. Wipes
I will never stop buying wipes. Once you have a baby, you will continue to buy wipes forever and ever simply because they are so darn handy in almost every situation. I actually keep wipes in a drawer in my kitchen because they they are great for wiping dirty faces, getting rid of sticky messes, wiping dirt off of light switches, and the list goes on. Definitely always keep these in your car to wipe dirt & food off of hands and faces, to clean up spills and to keep surfaces clean.
2. Tissues
Pretty self explanatory. Keep tissues within arm’s reach for the occasional sniffles, to wipe away tears, or as a backup napkin. These round tissue tubes are perfect for fitting into a cupholder or organizer pocket!
3. Hand Sanitizer
Especially in the days since Covid, hand sanitizer has become a necessity and helps keep hands germ-free after touching all. the. things.
4. Change of clothes
This was a lesson learned after my eldest son, after a 40-minute car ride to the San Diego Safari Park, proceeded to get out of the car and vomit all over himself! (Poor buddy. At least it wasn’t in the car!) We were there to meet up with friends, who we immediately had to say goodbye to, but who thankfully let us borrow a change of clothes for the car ride home. The point is, you never know when your kid will have a similar experience…or spill an entire drink on their shirt…or fall in the mud…or have a potty accident, so a back-up change of clothes is always a good idea.
5. Towel
I started keeping an extra towel in the trunk after the time we got to swim class and realized that we had forgotten to bring one! Driving all the way back home to get the towel was stressful, so from then on, I just kept one in the car as back up. Even if you’re not going to swim lessons, a towel is a versatile and useful item to keep in the car in case kids get wet, there is a major spill, or just to use as a blanket to sit on. Also, for a lighter, more compact option, Turkish towels make a great alternative.
6. Bottled water
Hands down, every time we go on a playdate to the park, someone is complaining about being thirsty and not having water. Now, I just keep a supply of bottled water in the trunk so that it’s available should anyone need it.
7. First aid kit
You don’t need anything fancy, but having the minimum of antiseptic wipes, band-aids and Neosporin is essential for taking care of boo-boos on the go. This little travel kit is the perfect size for stashing in the car.
8. Sunscreen
In all the hustle of getting out the door, I often forget to put sunscreen on myself and the kids. Having a bottle on hand in the car makes it easy to apply (or re-apply) when you’ll be spending a fair amount of time outside.
9. Car Trash Bin
So handy for keeping the car clean and getting rid of those tissues, wipes, napkins, and snack wrappers that somehow always accumulate in the car. I have this one by my front seat, but there are plenty of options available to suit your car needs.
10. Plastic Bags
Make sure to have a few plastic bags on hand for putting wet/soiled clothes or other wet/soiled things in. Also good for using as a trash bag or in case of car sickness.
11. Phone Charger
As moms, we’re on our phones a lot. But our kids are also on our phones a lot, especially when we’re having to wait somewhere, like at the doctor’s office. Being able to let them play games or watch videos at times is great, but all those games and apps can really drain a battery, so make sure to charge up when you get back in the car.
12. Snacks
It’s just always a good idea to have a stash of snacks handy. Snacks make for happier kids. And hungry kids are grumpy kids, so make sure to satisfy those tummies with a supply of packaged granola bars, fruit snacks, or crackers to avoid heading into meltdown territory(!)
13. Small Toys and Books
When my kids were younger, we had a little basket in the backseat with some toys and small books to keep them occupied on car trips. Now that they are older, we don’t have the toy basket anymore, but even now, they still enjoy playing with pop-its and fidget spinners. What can I say? My kids are easily entertained. (And yours can be too!)
14. Portable Potty or Diaper Kit (for little kids & babies)
There’s nothing more stressful than having a child who is potty training suddenly needing to use the restroom when one isn’t available! Keeping an emergency portable potty in the trunk can give you some peace of mind and be a lifesaver for last minute potty needs. Or, if you have kids in diapers, (I feel like this is a given, but) always have extra diapers and a changing kit in the car, because you-know-what happens. Multiple times a day. So just save yourself the headache, and have the necessary supplies ready at all times.
15. Car Organizers
The best way to keep all your mom car essentials organized. I have two that hang behind the front seats so the kids can easily access things like tissues, hand sanitizer, and wipes, and a trunk organizer that I use to store bottled water, extra clothes, and towels, etc.
(Yes, I’m aware that my car is in desperate need of an interior detailing/shampooing)????
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I hope you find this list to be helpful! If you have any great ideas to add, please share!
With love,
Good post.
Thank you!