5 Back-Seat Essentials For Your Little Ones

Are you and your kids getting fed up with being cooped up due to COVID-19? Head out on a road adventure! It’s a good way to have fun and escape our sedentary lifestyles while keeping ourselves safe from the pandemic. 

While it’s a safe outdoor activity, a road trip with kids can be a test of patience. Long car rides can be tiresome for adults, let alone those little ones. But everything is bound to end well when you come prepared. 

What are the things you need to pack for your kids for a road trip? We’ve got you covered. Here are our top five sanity-savers that will surely keep your kids under control while on the road in the back seat. 

Right Car Seat

Of course, you already have car seats for your kids installed in your car. Not only because it’s mandated by the law but also because you’re a careful parent. That’s the very reason why you’re here as well. 

But unfortunately, choosing the kids’ car seats is seemingly a huge blind spot for many parents. Don’t forget to always use the right and comfortable car seat adapted for your kid’s age, height, and weight, as your country’s law recommends. 

For example, if you’re Australian and your kid is already four years old and bigger than rear-facing seats, opt for the booster seats the Australian government requires. Having a car seat isn’t enough. Choosing the right one is a must.

Foods and Drinks

Food and drinks are absolute necessities when traveling with the kiddos. You should pack plenty of them! They’re your weapons to fend off their hangry meltdowns. For healthy and easy grabs, throw dried fruits, nuts, crackers, pretzels, fruits, and veggies in kid-size servings.

In addition, load up filling high-protein and calcium-dense snacks and drinks, like protein bars, cheese sticks, squeezable yogurts, or frozen peanut butter. These will keep them fuller for some time. Also, in case someone gets sick, pack some essentials that can curb their nausea or relieve their aches at the ready. 

Keep all these bites and drinks in a cooler that can easily be stowed between your kids’ car seats. Another smart addition to your cooler is reusable silicone food bags. Apart from reducing plastic consumption, they will greatly help you during your kids’ appetite slumps. 

Last but not least, don’t forget water. Hydration is really important when traveling. Pack one reusable water bottle for each person. It’s way cheaper and environmentally friendlier. Prepare big water bottles in the back as well in case there’s no good tap water available. 

Fun Stuff

Keep your kids occupied in the back seat while you’re behind the wheels. Otherwise, they’ll lose their mind on a long car ride. Even worse, you’ll get distracted if they’re bored or throwing tantrums at the back. Remember that distracted driving can cause vehicular accidents, and you want to avoid that, especially if you’re with your kids. 

Bring all the things that can help them pass the time, such as toys, games, maps, books, gadgets; you name it. Doing so will decrease the likelihood of you getting distracted while driving, ensuring safe travels.

Portable Potty

Nothing beats a soiled car seat than a portable toilet. If you have traveled with your potty-trained kids, you’ll surely sympathize with it. But if you don’t, be warned. Your car seat could end up like a sea of cottage cheese due to your littlies wee and poo! Thankfully, a portable potty can save us, especially if we’re on long stretches of highway without roadside toilets.

If your kid has to go, pull over somewhere safe. Let your kid answer their call of nature in the potty. Then, empty it with water and disinfect it before heading on your way. It’s easier than cleaning an entire kids’ car restraint. You can also check out Viking Rental for more portable toilets that you can choose from.

Back-seat Organizer

With a back-seat organiser, you’ll be able to focus on driving more. Since everything has a dedicated space, kids can know where to find things and stash things inside easily. You can even stop back-seat arguments over what thing belongs to who by personalizing a compartment for each of your kids. 

Choose a back-seat organizer that’s designed to hold everything you could need. Something with mesh is ideal, so kids can easily find what they’re looking for. It’s best if it’s hangable from the back of your headrest or by the window too. This way, kids won’t have excuses to beg for us to hand something to them from the front seat, and you can keep your eyes on the road. 

Road tripping with your little busy-bodies can be quite a pain in the neck, but it’s totally worth the time and effort. Challenges on the road will pass, but the fun and lifelong memories you’ll share on the trip will last.