Essential Items Every Parent Should Regularly Maintain in Their Vehicle:
Road trips with the family can be a lot of fun, but they require some careful planning to make them enjoyable for everyone. Here's a list of 25 must-have items to help make your next family road trip a breeze (plus two bonus suggestions):
1. Foldable Potty:A portable potty is essential for those unexpected bathroom breaks when there's no restroom in sight. The OXO Tot 2-in-1 Go Potty can serve as an instant roadside commode in emergency situations, or it can be used as a comfortable seat on regular toilets.
2. Cleaning Gel:Kids love exploring and finding new ways to make a mess. Car detailing cleaning gel, like the jar variety, helps eliminate gunk and grime from every crevice in your vehicle.
3. Packing Cubes:Stay organized during family trips with Amazon Basics packing cubes. Use these for storing extra clothes in your go-bag, or for keeping belongings tidy in the car.
4. Car Tissue Holder:With multiple snot and spills guaranteed during the trip, obtaining speedy access to tissues is crucial. Car tissue holders, which work with both tissues and napkins, are an essential item for family road trips.
5. Rubik's Perplexus Fusion:This puzzle, maze, and ball skill game provides hours of entertainment for kids, twisted and turned through 200 challenging barriers in its intricate labyrinth maze.
6. Car Seat Gap Fillers:Drop Stop car seat gap fillers keep your phone, crayons, loose change, or fries from falling into the abyss of your car's deep, dark, unreachable voids.
7. Travel Tray:This backseat workstation features a desk-like area that can be used as a dry-erase board, along with dedicated holders for tablets and water bottles.
8. Car Escape Tool:This keychain tool can cut through seat belts and break car windows in emergencies. Hopefully, you'll never have to use it, but it's better to have it just in case.
9. First Aid Kit:Packed with bandages, butterfly closures, gauze pads, ointments, exam gloves, an instant cold compress, and more, this first aid kit is a necessity for any road trip emergencies that don't require a trip to the emergency room.
10. Portable Vacuum Cleaner:This handy tool plugs into the car's lighter port, giving you no excuse for not cleaning every nook and cranny from the dashboard to the trunk.
11. Travel Blanket:Rumpl's puffy travel blanket keeps kids cozy during transit and can be easily stored in the car.
12. Storage Organizer:Yogi Prime's storage organizer keeps trunk floors free for extra space, such as a stroller or sporting equipment. Velcro strips keep it from rattling around.
13. Beach Towel:Always have a beach towel handy in the trunk for those unanticipated wet moments when the kids get too close to water sources, other than the beach or pool.
14. WD-40 EZ Reach Spray:This versatile spray can loosen tight lug nuts, remove embarrassing bumper stickers, and clean hard-to-reach places in your car.
15. Bungee Cords:Reusable hooded, button-down kids' rain ponchos are perfect for those unexpected storms or overlooked weather forecasts.
16. Auto Safety Kit:This deluxe safety kit includes everything you need for dead batteries or flat tires. Although it might take up valuable trunk space, safety first!
17. Motion Sickness Chewables:Grape-flavored Dramamine motion sickness chewables help keep your family comfortable during long car trips, without causing them to puke on the go.
18. LED Flashlights:These compact, durable, water-resistant flashlights provide bright light during those late-night rest stops or emergency situations.
19. Headrest Hooks:Keep your belongings within easy reach during long drives by using headrest hooks to hold your bag securely.
20. Solar Panel Charger:This waterproof, shockproof, dust-proof solar panel battery charger helps keep your devices charged during long road trips, and can also function as a lantern for those dark stops.
21. In-Car Dip Clip:Secure your favorite sauces and condiments within reach using these ingenious dip holders that attach to your car's air vent.
22. Car Trash Can:A waterproof, portable car trash can with a lid and storage pockets helps keep your vehicle somewhat clean during long trips.
23. Emergency Urinal Bags:For those desperate moments when that rest stop is nowhere in sight, use these leak-proof, disposable urinal bags designed to turn liquids into an odorless, spill-proof gel.
24. Charcoal Odor Absorber Bags:These all-natural charcoal bags help eliminate stinky odors that accumulate within your car from spilled milk, gym clothes, or pets.
25. Duct Tape:3M duct tape can be used to fix broken items temporarily, such as a side-view mirror, until proper repair can be completed.
26. Extra Snacks:Kids can get hungry—always have extra snacks and water on hand just in case.
27. GPS or Smartphone Mount:Keep your navigation visible with a GPS or smartphone mount.
Bonus 1:An umbrella helps shield you from unexpected rain showers during pit stops or while exploring rest areas.
Bonus 2:A reusable water bottle keeps everyone hydrated during the trip and reduces waste. Fill it up at rest stops to save money and be environmentally friendly.
- The foldable potty, such as the OXO Tot 2-in-1 Go Potty, is a crucial item for freelance-market families during road trips, serving as an instant roadside commode or a comfortable seat on regular toilets.
- To maintain a clean car interior during family trips, consider purchasing a portable vacuum cleaner that can be plugged into the car's lighter port, ensuring no nook or cranny goes unwashed.
- Buzzfeed's list of essential items for family road trips might include a dashboard organizer to keep your electronics, snacks, and maps within easy reach.
- For those moments when a restroom isn't available, an emergency urinal bag could be another item to consider, turning liquids into an odorless, spill-proof gel on the go.
