If you're a parent, and you don't want to be trapped in your hometown forever, and you don't want to shell out exorbitant sums for air travel, chances are you'll find yourself road tripping with your kids. It can be fun! It can also be miserable. Here are some products to make it a little less miserable.
First, make a list. I know not everyone is a list person, but it's the only way I keep my sanity before a road trip. My favorite list maker is my Alexa device. I can ask her to add or remove anything to my Packing List, and it saves it to the list I created in my app. I can check off items as I pack and then "um-complete" the task before each new road trip to rebuild the list. Here's my list.
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Organization and Comfort
Car caddy: I keep this in my car at all times, not just for road trips. I keep diapers, pull-ups, wipes, and kids' activities here.
Car blankets, depending on the season
Large stuffed animal: My kids get to take 1 stuffed animal on vacation, and I always suggest a big-ish one that they can use it as a pseudo-pillow in the car for naps
Window shades: not fun to have a screaming baby who's blinded by the sun that you can't block 😑
Travel potty: for emergencies or quick side-of-road pit stops
Disposable grocery bags: for any unexpected gross trash or messes or car sickness. For regular road-trip trash, I like these seat-back trash bags that can just be emptied.
Slip-on shoes: so not fun to have to tie laces on a wiggly toddler when you're trying to make a quick stop
Portable sound machine: great to attach to an infant car seat to block some noise and send some sleep cues
Baby wipes: cuz they always always always come in handy
Disposable diaper pads: love these for gas station changing tables.
Activities
Trivia books based on your destination
Tablet with kids headphones and car seat mount (A note here: We only use tablets (with downloaded parent-approved movies) for car trips longer than 3 hours. We opt for imaginative activities when possible, and our kiddos don't play with apps. All that being said, on 10+ hour trips, a few movies for kids can be invaluable. We were gonna buy a portable DVD player, but the tablets were cheaper and easier, especially with our family's Vudu account.)
Snacks
Refillable water bottle (plastic-free) and juice boxes
PB&J
Meat sticks
Fruit snacks
Granola bars
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