If you're spending time in the car this holiday, here's what to pack to keep both your family - and your sanity - safe.
If you’re headed over the river and through the woods to grandmother’s house this winter, here’s what to keep in your car – to have you prepared for any emergency (including the “Mom are we there yet” type of emergency that is the #2 threat to parenting sanity…. Just behind “Elf on a shelf”…(but I digress….)
Car Emergency Kit
- Jump pack / Jumper cables
- Flashlight (with extra batteries – don’t use one that requires the car’s USB; or a hand-crank flashlight)
- Multi-tool (such as leatherman or swiss army knife)
- Extra phone power bank or portable charger
- Collapsible or folding shovel (in case you need to shovel out a tire that is spinning)
- Wool blanket
- Road flares or reflective warning triangles (NOTE: if you have any issue on the highway, I ALWAYS warn you to first try to get OFF of the highway – do NOT stay on the side of the highway). These will be useful even on smaller side-streets.
- Work gloves
- Sufficient coats, mittens, hats, and boots for the weather and all vehicle occupants
- Hand warmers
- Snacks
- Bottled water (including snacks + water for any pets)
- Hand sanitizer
- Paper towels or clean small towels
- Basic set of tools + duct tape
- Ice scraper / snow brush
- Traction aid (sand/salt/cat-litter)
- Windshield cleaner / extra wiper fluid
- Extra to consider if weather really bad: tire chains and toe strap
First Aid Kit
- You can just buy and keep a kit in your car, like this one, or make your own.
- Band-Aids of various sizes
- Adhesive tape
- Anti-septic wipes
- Anti-septic ointment
- Coban or other wrap
- Gauze (i.e. sterile dressing)
- Acetaminophen + Ibuprofen
- Water bottle to irrigate a cut
- Any extra medications that anyone in your family may need (including an EpiPen, etc.).
- Pair of blunt-tip scissors (useful for so many things!)
- This includes any extra infant formula, bottles, diapers, wipes, or cream that you could need, if the trip takes longer than you expect
Emergency “Keep the Kids Occupied” Kit
- Coloring books + crayons
- Audiobooks – AND the real book – so a child learning to read can listen to the audiobook while also reading
- Sticker books
- Road trip scavenger hunt / road trip bingo
- Travel tray to keep coloring items from rolling off their lap
- Pipe Cleaners (great for forming any sort of structure, and re-using!)
- Window art cling-ons
- Magnetic tangram puzzles like this one
- Water WOW books (my kiddos love these!)
- Printable math games and puzzles (Tangmath.com has great ones!)
Get Your Car Serviced for the winter
Is your car due for service? Always check it out before a road-trip – especially in the winter, to make sure that tires, fluid levels, and everything else is in-tune before you hit the road, to avoid preventable emergency stops! (Not sure? Call your dealer and they will be able to tell you if you’re due!)
All my best,
- Dr. Darria
