August in the midwest is pretty much the dead of summer for us. It means our days are full of splash pads, midwestern heat, picnics in the shade, summer food festivals, baseball games, BBQs and pretty much bouncing around town all day. Inevitably, I end up out of the house wishing I had this or that with me, so I have started to keep a few things in my car for those occasions. None of this was really all that important to me until I had kids, and now with two little ones in tow, it has gotten even more important. It’s perfect for those afternoons when you decide to make an impromptu stop at the splash pad so the kiddos can get out a little energy before dinner.
I like to call it my Summer Car Kit!!! I’ll share below my must have basics for our kit, but it can be tweaked to fit your needs. I have a toddler and a newborn so mine if full of things like snacks and diapers, but feel free to swap out or add things that you think you’ll need.
First things first, you will need a container to hold all your stuff. I had this cloth storage cube from when I initially put together my Winter Car Kit my first winter season with Ollie. You could just as easily pick up a clear plastic tote bin from Walmart for a couple bucks. Next is the fun part, filling it!
Spare change of Clothes
This one is pretty obvious. Little boys get dirty/muddy (or you know, poop happens at all infant/toddler ages). I also keep a spare pair of socks in there too.
Swimming Suit
This is a back up suit I got just for this car kit. We use reusable swim diapers as well; however, for the car kit, I have a disposable or two on hand. My little guy practically lives in swimwear in the summer so it doesn’t hurt to have one for on the go!
Hat
Ollie loves hats and got a cute little trucker hat at Target this past spring!
Beach Towel
I like to have a small lighter weight one so it doesn’t take up much room. It can also double as a blanket for the grass.
Sunscreen
This is a MUST! I use a baby one for my little guy and a spray sunscreen for myself.
Baby Wipes/Thieves Spray
These little ones can make a mess! Wipes to clean up and then our Thieves Spray to help sanitize any area, hands, or whatever!
Snacks
I love having packets of dried fruit strips on hand for snacking or yogurt-covered raisins. Ollie also really likes Larabars. Whatever I throw in here, I just like to make sure that there is no chocolate. Chocolate in the middle of the heat is never a good combination!
Diapers
I have both swim diapers and regular diapers.
Picnic Blanket
I also like to keep a fold up picnic blanket in my car. This is perfect if we find ourselves in a park and need a place to lay Lillie flat.
So there you have it! My Summer Car Kit all ready for summer adventures! Is there anything you would add to yours?
