An on-the-go car basket can help busy families handle the unexpected. If you are a busy family that spends a lot of time in the car, you want to be prepared for anything!
We are a busy family and we live in a small town. We spend tons of time in our car, and I get really sick of not having what I need on hand. I decided to make a Busy Families On-the-Go Car Basket so that I would be more prepared!!
I think that most parents will agree…things always take a turn for the worst when you aren’t prepared. Small things can become big things really quickly without the right resources….and when you are driving in rural Kansas….you can’t just stop and grab what you need at a convenience store!
WHAT TO ADD TO YOUR CAR BASKET
First Aid Kit
My kids are accident-prone…hopefully, your kids aren’t! 🙂 It never fails when we stop to play at the park on the spur of the moment….one of the kids will fall down and start bleeding. It may be a tiny scrape…but without a band-aid to save the day….it will be a nightmare! Having a first aid kit in the car can be a life-saver and can help soothe minor wounds quickly! I like to stock my kit with EXTRA band-aids…because you can never have to many!
Hand Sanitizer
As a nurse I believe that hand-washing is the best way to clean your hands….but as a mom I know that a sink and soap may not always be available. I want to be able to give my kids a squirt of hand sanitizer after we stop and feed the geese at the park and find that the park bathroom has NO SOAP in it! 🙂
Flushable Cleansing Cloths
I like to keep flushable wipes in the car basket. The wipes are great for bathroom needs. These cleansing clothes also work great for cleaning dirty hands or even cleaning up a small spill in the vehicle!
Tissues
I normally keep a box of tissues in the car, but it never fails that we run out when someone has a cold! Â I like to keep a backup package in my car basket for days like that! Â Nothing worse than having to use fast-food napkins on a tender nose!
Trash Bags
Trash…kids seem to multiply trash. I keep small trash bags or even just extra plastic store sacks in my basket. These come in so handy for trash or even when someones clothes get soiled or shoes get muddy. We have even had to use trash bags to SIT ON…when we get caught in the rain or someone falls in a puddle! 🙂
Sunscreen
Soccer season seems to be the time of year when having sunscreen in my car basket really pays off for me! For some reason, Spring soccer games just don’t click with me and sunscreen. I always forget to put sunscreen on my daughter before the game and am scrambling once we get there to make sure she doesn’t get burned!! Keeping a small tube of sunscreen in the car has saved my kids from many a sunburn.
Snacks
Snacks are like breathing for children and without them the whining may get intense. I like to keep cracker packs in the Busy Families On-the-Go Car Basket because they stay fresh a long time and don’t get too gross in a warm vehicle. It is a quick pick me up snack and can tide my kids over until mealtime!
Bottled Water
I really hate having to stop and pay a crazy price for a bottle of water at a convenience store. I can get a whole case of water for what I will pay for 2 bottles for my thirsty kids. Having a couple of bottles on hand in the car basket has saved me a ton of money over the years.
FREE PRINTABLE CAR BASKET CHECKLIST
I created a simple printable car basket checklist that you can download and print off for your own personal use. Keep a copy in the basket for a quick reference.
Click the button to download and print.
Be sure to check out these other printables while you are here:
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We don’t allow eating in the car, but we do have everything else you have in your basket in our car!
It would be great to have that rule…the car would stay much cleaner! Unfortunately my kids may starve to death some nights if they couldn’t eat on the road, LOl!
This is great! I love this idea, I usually have most of this in my car but it is stream about rather than kept neatly!
That is how mine used to be too!
This is great to have anywhere! Thank you for showing this post. I am going to make one for my sister and me!
Thanks for stopping by Wendy!
Smart! I just wonder if my kids would keep a car basket looking as neat as this one… how do you keep it from falling over? My car is a mess :/
I keep mine in the back and luckily my expedition has a divider thing that keeps it from sliding around. In our car I use a plastic shoe box with the lid so that things don’t spill out!
This car kit is so handy and I think I totally need one now! (client)
What a well thought out car basket. I never would have thought to include tissues and the wipes, but they really do come in handy.
One of my kiddos freaks out if her hands get dirty…so the wipes are a lifesaver for me!
These are definitely the essentials. I need to remember to pack some of these things when I’m going on trips.
I can’t imagine life without these essentials in the car! Really. Having twins (or having kids) does that to you. Just make sure you replace the water bottle every time, because drinking an old one can be bad for your health.
That is SUCH a smart idea! I’m making one of these tomorrow! I am actually really excited to make my car basket now! Thank you!
Wow! That is really great! Glad to know about it. Thanks for that!
What a fabulous idea! There are so many days when I am running kids around all day; a basket like this would be so very helpful. Thanks for sharing!
We have busy family and i think we should buy one, i want this car basket.
I keep something like this in the trunk of my minivan, but I put it in a scrapbook box. It has saved us so many times.
A scrapbook box is a great idea…I have a few of those sitting in my craft room, LOL!
I don thane kids but I need a car absent for sure! I am always needing something or making a mess! HA!
A pretty neat idea. Amazing car basket checklist too. Thanks for this!
I so need to do this! I love everything about this, I’ve been caught in some situations where this would’ve been perfect.
This is a great idea. I never prepare a basket like this so that will change, thanks!
This is a great idea and would be a cute gift for a new parent!
Definitely a good go to list for the car. It’s nice to have everything contained nicely too.
I love the idea of a car basket! I think it’s something we need in our car too!
These are all great essentials! I’ll have to show my SIL this 🙂