15 Car Essentials Every Mom Needs on the Go

This post is brought to you by AutoZone; the opinions are all mine.

As a Mom that’s often on the go, I’ve learned that having some essential items on hand in my car can be a life saver! So many times I need the very things I have in my car organizer or stored in the back of my car! I can tuck them neatly in my storage space and put the rest in my car organizer and everything stays neat and tidy!

15 Car Essentials Every Mom Needs on the Go

1. First Aid Kit

How many times have you been playing at the playground and your little one scrapes their knee and you need a bandage? Yes, it has happened to me so many times. You’ll feel like the best Mom ever having a bandage and an antiseptic wipe in your car!

2. Lysol Wipes or Baby Wipes

Even though my kids are not technically babies anymore, I still buy baby wipes. They are so handy for so many messes! Yes, I let my kids eat in the car…I think I once said I’d never do that. Of course that was BEFORE I had one of my own children. I am also a tidy person so the kid’s hands have to be wiped after eating so we use a lot of baby wipes!
Plus, spills are bound to happen and wipes are the perfect solution to cleaning up messes in the car!

3. Excedrin or Ibuprofen

If I had a dollar for every time my husband asked for Ibuprofen I would have a lot more spending money. It’s not fun to be driving and have a headache!

4. Small Bags for Wet or Dirty Items

I love keeping small bags on hand for wet swimsuits or a pair of potentially wet undergarments for us with little ones potty training. It’s better than throwing those clothes in with non-soiled stuff. When you get home can just throw the bag out and not worry with the wet mess.

Sometimes I even use these bags for smelly stuff like socks after a ball game or even trash if I forget to keep a trash sack in the car.

5. Jumper Cables

I haven’t personally needed jumper cables many times, but I’ve been asked for them quite a few times in parking lots. I don’t feel like a lot of people keep them in their vehicle, but it’s important to have some. You will feel more secure knowing you can ask someone to help jump your vehicle.

My husband got some for a Bachelor gift, and I think that’s an awesome idea for a Bachelor Party gift. I keep mine in a small zippered bag under the storage space in the back of my SUV.

AutoZone carries a really nice Emergency Kit that has jumper cables included in it along with a flashlight, glow stick, siphon pump, plastic gloves, rain poncho, first aid kit and a help sign. Plus, every time I have gone into AutoZone, the employees are so helpful. I never feel out of place there even though I’m not a car person.

AutoZone Also runs special pricing on different items such as those pictured above on the window of the store. They also have coupons available from time to time. I signed up for their email and now get them sent to my inbox. Be sure to check your local store for details on their current offers as they vary by location.

6. Wash Cloth or Extra Towel

Going back to the spills, if you have a big spill or a sick child, the washcloth or towel is going to come in very handy. I’ve had a few friends have their kids get sick in their car, and a towel would have been so nice to have! Sometimes my kids even get cold in the car and it could be used as an extra blanket in a pinch!

7. Small Pocket Umbrella or Plastic Ponchos

We always keep an umbrella handy. You just never know when it’s going to rain. A poncho is also great to have. Sometimes umbrellas are more cumbersome than just throwing on a poncho.

8. An Extra $20 Bill

Have you ever left your wallet at home? Just a couple of weeks ago my husband took the kids to one of our favorite fast food restaurants and ordered in the drive thru and got up to the window to pay and had no wallet. He had to drive home, get his wallet and go back through the line. A $20 bill could have come in handy that evening!

9. Deodorant

I go to the gym in the mornings quite often and the kids and I will go run a few errands. It’s nice to freshen up just a bit before going out after I’ve had a good workout.

10. Change of Clothes

We have some pretty awesome parks where we live, and a few have creeks. I don’t always remember to pack extra clothes because it’s inevitable, the kids are going to want to play in the creek and they get filthy and wet. It’s so nice to have that extra set of clothes for times like these!

11. Flash Light

If you’ve ever dropped something under your seats, flashlights are very helpful to find small objects.

12. An Emergency Blanket

Last year my husband and I got caught in an ice storm and unfortunately we saw a car accident happen right in front of us. It was cold and someone was hurt so we were able to give two of our emergency blankets to help keep the person warm until the EMT arrived. Plus, if you ever get caught in any bad weather, blankets are a must! And like I mentioned earlier, my kids sometimes use them if they’re cold in the car and we don’t agree on temperature.

13. Insulated Bag for Cold Groceries

It’s been so hot here this summer and I’ve pretty much just kept an insulated bag in the car all summer. It’s great to throw snacks in or keep perishable items chilled after a run to the grocery store until I get home.

14. Car Freshener

I love when my car smells good, but I can’t stand it when I feel that it needs a little freshening. I like to keep a small Jar fragrance in my kit in case I need a little fresh air!

15. Bottled Water

Keeping an empty bottle and a full bottle of water in your car is a great idea. You can always go into a fast food restaurant or a gas station and fill your water bottle (many times for free) if you forget water and need it. It’s also a good idea to keep a disposable water bottle in your car. I forget to take water with us on occasion and my disposable water bottle has come in very handy! Plus, I don’t like to buy $1 waters when I know mine cost $0.10 when I buy them at the grocery store in bulk!

GIVEAWAY: Now that you have some items to gather up for your Car Kit, you can enter to win a $100 AutoZone Gift Card! Here’s how you can enter to win:

Comment – Leave a comment and share why you shop at AutoZone for a chance to win! Also, you can get a bonus entry by liking AutoZone’s Facebook Page. Just add a second comment letting me know you liked their page.

All Giveaways will end at 3:00 pm EST on 8/29/16. Winners will be selected at Random and notified by email. You will have 48 hours to respond to the email to claim your prize. I received compensation for hosting this giveaway from AutoZone, however all reviews and opinions are mine and are not influenced by receipt of product. Others may have a different experience. Open Only to US Residents age 18 or Older. Alternative Entry Method: Mail a 3×5 Card with your Name, Address and Phone Number to P.O. Box 8622, Springdale, AR 72762. Entry must be received by 8/28/16. Void where prohibited & Not Valid in All States.

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