How many times have you needed something only to find it’s not in your diaper bag or in your car? An extra diaper? Sunscreen or a hat? A trash bag for a stinky situation? After running into this scenario too many times, I made an essential car storage container of necessary items that always stays in my car and that way, if one of the kids falls and skins their knee or we get wet at the zoo, I am prepared. Having this car storage bin on hand also frees up space in my diaper bag so I’m not hauling around a bag of bricks or hoping that when one of the kids gets off the stroller, the whole thing doesn’t tip over – true story.
This essential kit is something I change out seasonally as the weather and types of activities and places we visit change.
SPRING/SUMMER ESSENTIAL BIN:Â
– First Aid Kit
– Diapers (3-4)
– Baby Wipes
– Sunscreen
– Bug Spray
– Change of Clothes (each child has a set of underwear, pants or shorts and a shirt)
– Summer Hat for everyone (yourself included)
– Water (2-3)
– Snacks – granola bars, goldfish, fruit strips, applesauce, power bars, trail mix, raisins are great
– Snack Cup (this is for our one year old)
– Trash Bags or Plastic Store Bags
– Baby Blanket
– Extra Toys + Books
– Umbrella
– Baby Carrier
I use our baby carrier a lot and it’s great to always have on hand to throw in the basket of the stroller “just in case” or if I choose to carry our daughter last-minute while we’re running errands.
In the summer, I also keep a small bag of swim toys (zip lock bag size) and an extra towel or two because inevitably in all the excitement of going to the pool, we forget to throw one in the swim bag or one of the kids leaves it on the kitchen counter.
FALL/WINTER ESSENTIAL BIN:
– First Aid Kit
– Diapers (3-4)
– Baby Wipes
– Change of Clothes (each child has a set of underwear, pants, and long-sleeve shirt or sweater)
– Winter Hat for everyone (yourself included)
– Water (2-3)
– Snacks – granola bars, goldfish, fruit strips, applesauce, power bars, trail mix, raisins are great
– Snack Cup (this is for our one year old)
– Trash Bags or Plastic Store Bags
– Baby Blanket
– Extra Toys + Books
– Umbrella
– Snow Scraper
– Baby Carrier
As you can see, the bin isn’t very large so it doesn’t take up much space in your car and was only $6.00 at Target. All of the items you probably already have in your home and you can buy a First Aid Kit from the store or online.
If I take something out of the bin to use, I make a note to replace it for the next time. We went through a phase where to kids cried for band aids for everything from a bump to a cut,  so this is one of those items I keep a lot of in our bin.
Other items you can put in your essential bin – a blanket for winter months, dog bowl for water, dog food and poop bags, an extra phone charger, batteries, flashlight and movies if you have a DVD player in your car.