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15+ Things All Moms Need in Their Car

Here are the 15 things moms need in their car. You never know when you’re going to need something when you have kids.

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I have three kids ages 6, 9, and 11.  I’ve learned what the most important things are to keep in my car to make my life a little easier.  I previously wasn’t very organized and would just run out of the house.  It made me aggravated and stressed out. Scroll down to get the 15 things all moms need in their car!

 I was always forgetting things and wasting time and money buying  things we repeatedly used.  I grabbed a bag and loaded those items in my car and decided just to leave them there because I never wanted to be in a situation where I needed them, especially when we have have a mess that needs a fast and easy clean up. 

White van in garage with trunk open

15 Things All Moms Need in Their Car

Umbrella 

Most the time rain isn’t an issue, but you don’t want to be caught without an umbrella at a game.  We just needed it for the 4th of July when it started to rain during the fireworks.

Towel  

Having an old towel is very useful.  You never know when someone’s going to spill a water, have muddy shoes, or need a wet slide wiped clean.

Flip flops 

Don’t ask!  It’s amazing how many times my kids have forgotten their shoes when we run out.  I keep a cheap pair for all of them in the back.

Extra shirt (or outfits) 

It never fails that someone drops pizza all over their shirt or uses it to wipe their chocolatey hands off.  It’s nice to have a back up in case we still have things to do and don’t have time to run home to change.

No-Itch Lotion  

We’ve been stung a few times by ants and bees.  This is great to have for quick pain and itch relief.  There are several times I had to run back to the car and grab it when we were at the park or ball field.

Small Toys 

My daughter loves little dolls and knick knack toys.  I keep them all in a little bag for you to play with.

Ball

If we go anywhere, my boys are always pulling out the soccer ball we keep in the car and kicking it around.  We also carry around an old tennis ball.

Cooler Bag  

There are so many times I was out in town and needed milk or cheese, but to run my errands I would have to backtrack so I just started carrying a bag so I could run my errands faster.

Chair  

You never know where you’ll end up and you need a place to sit; the park, friends backyard, pool, or ball game.

Water  

Keep a few bottles in the car for emergencies.  We may run by the park or be out longer than expected.  The water’s hot, but if the kids are thirsty they’ll drink it until we get home.

After reading this, several people have warned me about chemicals in water bottles that have been left in a hot car.  Remember-  These are just for an emergency so you don’t have to spend $10 at a gas station when you’re 15 minutes from home.  

Red SUV with truck open against a white wall

Snacks

Same with snacks.  Sometimes we may be at the doctor or getting the oil changed longer than expected.  It’s always nice to be able to grab something quick.  Here’s a great idea that I’ve been doing lately!

Sunscreen/Bug Spray  

There are several times where we’ve run to of the house so fast and forgotten to apply sunscreen.  I always keep extra, just in case.

First aid kit  

I don’t have to give any examples of this, do I?  I have 2 boys!

Hair Ties

These are the best to have when it’s hot out.  You always need some of these.  I just put them on my gear shifter where I can grab the quickly.

Phone Charger

I always keep a charger in my car and automatically plug it in when I’m driving.  That way I know it won’t run down while I’m out.

Hand Sanitizer 

The first thing I do after getting gas, going to the ATM, or grocery shopping is get a squirt.

Wet-Naps® 

These are a must if you have kids.  We can’t go anywhere with a messy incident.  We were eating pizza at the neighborhood pool last night and I had to run out to the car and grab them because we all had messy hands.  They were so quick and easy to use and they were back to playing before we knew it.  You know boys, the faster the better.

boy wipinghands with wet nap after eating pizza

Wet-Naps® are safe on faces and hands.  They are also moisturizing which is perfect for me because I have dry skin. I normally purchase mine at Walmart when I do my normal grocery shopping. How many times have you had an ice cream cone melt and become a huge mess?  Well,  that happens to me x3 everytime we go to the ice cream store.  

This photo is what the inside of my car looks like.  I can grab a wipe and throw it back to one of the kids when needed.  We literally don’t leave home without them!  They make cleaning up really easy.

black bag filled with stuff like wetNaps, soccer ball, sunscreen

This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and Wet-Nap®, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #ConquerTheMess http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV

Tabitha

Saturday 28th of March 2020

As someone with a big family, I love these blog posts... But I always wonder, with that big bag (if not more)... Where do you put all the groceries? We live 40 miles out of town so shop by the month, and fill up the trunk area.... I've always kept an extra bookbag in the front under the baby's carseat for things the kids might need and emergency roadside is under the one seat that isn't solid underneath (only thing I don't like about our Kia minivan)... Because trunk space is valuable. We have a 15 passenger van now in dire need of organization.. When it finally warms up and I get it all cleaned and shampooed the organization will begin, utilizing under the seats for storage. I keep most of the items you do in the van except for the snacks and water. When we bought a first aid kit, we bought one that's a solid plastic container and we refill as needed.. If we do a day outing we just grab those before we leave the house-or stop at Dollar Tree while we're in the city.

Sarah

Friday 12th of July 2019

I have a Car Kit too! Mine has a lot of the same things yours does, but my Little gets car sick, so a large portion of my box (not bag) is devoted to that. Here’s the rundown: Paper towels Toilet Paper (because emergencies LOL) Baby Wipes Clorox Wipes Zipper Ziplocks (to catch the barf, or hold the soiled clothes; 1 bag stays within reach of my son inside the vehicle, but I put the whole box into the Car Kit) Hand Sanitizer Actual trash bags (I use grocery bags for garbage in the car, but just-in-case) Bug Spray Sun Screen 1st Aid (bandaids, neosporin, Benadryl spray, tooth brushes for both & tiny toothpaste) Rubbing Alcohol Peroxide Aloe Gel Dry Shampoo Glasses Cleaner/Cloth Anti-Fog for Glasses (I’m sure I missed an item or 2)

The box is pretty good sized, but fits easily at my son’s feet in the car (he uses is it as a foot rest in his car seat), and sits right at the tailgate of my truck—via a board I keep in the notches on either side.

Holly

Sunday 14th of July 2019

Thanks for sharing!

Kristopher

Friday 28th of July 2017

Awesome post thank you for sharing

Kati

Sunday 13th of March 2016

Great list!! The only thing I wouldn't keep in the car for a long period of time is bottled water. The plastic being in heat for long periods of time has been known to contain carcinogens. Other than that, everything else is great!

Stacy

Saturday 20th of February 2016

Great minds think a like! Having young children we have to be prepared. Your list is great and I have most of these items in my truck as well. Due to the lack of space I keep all my items in two baskets under the back seat along with an overnight bag just in case. I also keep paper plates, roll of paper towels, utensils, plastic cups (from Olive Garden or Cotton Patch) with the lids and straws on hand, too because we travel a lot during the summer. And I always have hand wipes. It's the most used item. Keeping plastic grocery bags on hand is also great for trash, wet clothes, dirty shoes and the list goes on....