Just remembered a GREAT travel idea if you are traveling across country (especially if you are going to eat and drink in your car). Go to Wal-Mart or Target and buy the mattress pads for your bed that are plastic on one side and cotton on the other. Then put them over the back seat so that when you get to your destination...all you have to do is wad up the cover and your seats are not ruined. If you are traveling and eating in the car...there are bound to be spills!
Just in case someone gets car sick...here is a list of things to keep for a "Yak Pack" that I put together from one that I found online:
Motion sickness bag or large empty butter/plastic icecream tub
Absorbent lap pad to protect surfaces
Yak absorbent/odor neutralizer and disinfectant spray
Scoop/scraper for rapid removal
Antimicrobial wipes and gloves for clean-up
2 Bag(s) one for removal of mess and one for disposal of clothes
Queasy Pops
Paper Towels
Box of Baby Wipes
The best absorbent/odor neutralizer is kitty litter, but if you don't have a cat and don't want to purchase a big bag of kitty litter...take a small box of arm and hammer baking soda.
This is the best time of year to find your scoop/scraper. I use shovels from sand castle building kits. I actually just got mine in the dollar section at Target...they had a perfect scoop and scraper that were sold as a set for building sand castles in the dollar isle!
If you look at the checkout stands you should be able to find a miniature Lysol Spray Bottle to include in the kit.
If you haven't heard of "
Queasy Pops" you need to go get them for your travels. You can buy them at Walgreens or most chain drug stores. They look like suckers but help with upset stomaches. When your child complains that their stomache aches...hand them a queasy pop and they will think they are getting a treat not medicine.
The butter / ice cream tub is great. When your child complains that their tummy is upset..hand them the tub just in case. Then hopefully if they get sick they will be able to use it and you can put a lid on it when they are done to keep it in before you get to the nearest stopping place.
Don't just bring the small plastic carrying case of baby wipes...bring the big one. If you are going on a long trip it is great to have wipes handy to clean up messes, wipe hands and dust the car if you get really bored (yes I have been so bored I have done that on several occassions...or maybe I have OCD
. Plus baby wipes are great for helping with stain removal. I use them all the time to get stains out of clothes, clean dirty tennis shoes and so much more!
I keep all of this (except the baby wipes box, paper towels and butter tub) in a pencil carrying case. Then I put everything under one of the front seats for quick access in case of emergency.