You're running late. You're trying your best to get everyone ready in a timely manner, including yourself, but of course, you leave something at home. Yep, the one thing you are for sure to need while you are out and about with your children is the one thing you are guaranteed to need, right?!
A few weeks ago, a video was shared in a mom's group on Facebook and the caption read, "What would you do?" I'll spare you all the details and just tell you that the video starred an infant who was strapped into her car seat only for her mom to find her and her seat covered in poop. And I do mean covered! It looked like the baby's diaper exploded all over the back of this mom's car. This video quickly prompted the moms in the group to start a discussion about what they would do in this particular situation. Here are just a few of the responses:
First comment: "Jesus be ALL the sanitizer! Keep, wipes, clothes, gloves and cleaner in the trunk at all times!"
One mom said, "Water hose everything, including the baby lol!"
Another mom simply said, "Oh My!"
After a few minutes I chimed in and said that this would be a great blog post... so here it is.
For various reasons, it is nothing less than difficult being a parent and keeping a clean car. Between the toys, drawings, school memos, mail, pet hair, crumbs, lip balm, baby socks and everything else, it seems impossible.
Okay, fine. I'll accept that. If you are a parent, your car will never be 100% clean ever again. Not even when you are pulling away from the car wash. (No, really). But wouldn't you at least like to have the things you actually NEED in the car along with all the other junk? Me too.
Here is a list of things parents should make sure they have in the car when traveling anywhere with their children (especially in the Summer):
- Baby wipes
- Diapers
- Moisturizer
- All-in-one wash
- A change of clothes for baby, siblings and parent(s)
- Old tennis shoes
- Nursing pads
- Hair ties/comb/brush
- Nail clipper/tweezers
- Sewing kit
- Tide pen
- Febreeze
- Plastic bags for trash/wipes/soiled clothes
- Deodorant
- Gloves
- Vaseline
- Disinfectant spray and/or cleaner
- Toys
- Books
- Paper/Crayons
- A towel/paper towels/tissue
- Pacifier
- Extra bottle
- Clean water
- Thermos that can hold ice and/or hot water
- Snacks
- An extra phone
- Cash
- Duck Tape
- First Aid Kit
- Roadside Emergency Kit
- A new car seat for the mom in the video (J/K)
All of these things will need to be organized and stored in an orderly fashion so you might want to get a soft storage bin or organizer like the one below (2-in-1 organizer with cooler) to keep it all within arms reach. You never know what you might need in case of an emergency!