What Kids Supplies to Keep in Car
At-Hand Necessities in Trunk Make Family Life on the Go Easier
A small stash of items in the trunk help families lead active lifestyles without having to go home to retrieve items. What every family should have in theirs.
Every family spends a lot of time in the car, especially during vacation season. This makes it that much more important to have the necessities available on hand. Here are a few items that every family should have in their trunk.
Portable first aid kit. Drug stores sell fully compiled kits, or you can make your own. Either way, every car should have a first aid kit with the basics, including band aids, a topical antibiotic ointment like Neosporin, clean cloths, packet of tissues, both children’s and adult pain relievers like Tylenol or Motrin, Q-Tips, alcohol wipes, antibacterial hand sanitizer, and hand soap. A small diaper wipe holder makes the perfect container for a make-it-yourself first aid kit. Accidents can and do happen away from home, and having a first aid kit immediately on hand is especially important with children.
Change of clothes. Depending on the season, every family member should have a few extra items of clothing including bathing suits, shorts, socks, mittens, hats, and t-shirts. For families with babies, include a full change of clothes for both baby and parents for the inevitable diaper blow out or spit up episode. For potty-training toddlers, carry at least one extra set of underwear, shorts or pants, socks, and shoes above and beyond the rest of the family.
Diaper supplies. If children still wear diapers, every car should have a minimum of 2 diapers, diaper wipes, a trash bag, and some kind of protective pad for changes, whether it’s a disposable changing pad, portable pad, or extra towel. Single size diaper rash creams or small tubes are also handy, as is sanitizing hand gel.
Cleaning supplies. A tube of Wet Ones, roll of paper towels, and handful of Shout wipes are simple to store, and life savers to have.
Water and non-perishable food. There should be enough water for each family member, and a small amount of food that can be eaten as a snack for trips that take longer than expected, times when snacks are forgotten, or in case of an emergency breakdown. Easy to store snacks include nuts, granola bars, raisins, and graham crackers.
Change of entertainment. Being able to rotate the toys, books, DVDs, and other items that children use when in the car helps parents maintain their sanity. Old toys that children have not seen in awhile will get renewed interest and buy parents additional happy time.
Seasonal items. For an impromptu trip to the beach, having a pre-packed back with sunscreen, buckets and shovels, towels, and beach hats makes for a much easier outing. Even if families are just spending the afternoon at the park, children should be slathered in sunscreen. Fall days get chilly quickly and a sweater is nice to have on hand. During the winter, a dry pair of mittens or extra hat for each child is a welcome addition. At the end of each season, take out the old items and replace them with the new necessities.
The emergency stash does not have to take up a lot of room. In fact it should all fit inside of an empty milk crate, or slide into built-in car storage bins. Just replenish supplies as necessary. A well-stocked truck gives families greater peace of mind during car trips or daily outings.
