Nobody likes to be stuck in a car: adults, teenagers, kids and babies alike. However, each have different coping mechanisms to handle the stress of bumper to bumper traffic or the general annoyance of a daily commute. Obviously, the younger the kiddos are the more likely they are to have a tantrum and scream for seemingly no reason, causing stress to the driver. If leaving them at home and avoiding the ordeal in the first place isn’t an option, try the below products; they may help ease the stress of communing with kids.
1. Kids E-Z Travel Lap Tray
Kids E-Z Travel Lap Tray is a fully functioning tray suitable for vast age and activity ranges. It can be used for a convenient snacking station, a table to do homework, or color and has the storage capacity to hold a laptop or tablet. The tray has a 1-inch rim to help prevent spills whether from a beverage or crayons. It’s easy to pack and take in and out of the car, as it comes with a handy strap, your kids can carry like a backpack.
2. Munchkin Backseat Organizer
The Munchkin backseat organizer is the perfect impromptu shelf for your car if you commute with little ones regularly. It hangs brilliantly on the back of either the front seats and doesn’t take up much space. You can keep wet wipes, diapers, sippy cups, pacifiers, toys, books, trains, sunglasses or whatever your kids think is hot that week. Go a step further and use it for both entertainment and practical purposes that can help you and your kids, such as putting wrappers in there instead of on the floor.
3. Backseat Mirror
If you have a baby or a toddler who accompanies you during the commute, having a mirror can be a great distraction for them. Infants, if not sleeping in the car can become especially uneasy and cry if they don’t see their mom or dad. Couple this with the fact car seats must be rear-facing for the real little ones, it can be extra stressful for a new baby with lots of tears. As long as the mirror isn’t affecting your drive, there are many good ones on the market. We especially like Baby Caboodle Backseat Baby Mirror in extra-large, because it’s ideal for rear-facing infant car seats, plus it has an adjustable 360-degree view, crystal clear viewing, and best part, it’s shatterproof!
You can buy this mirror by Baby Caboodle at any of the big retails for around $20.
4. TFY Universal Car Headrest Mount
Kids of all ages (and adults, let’s get real) get entranced with technology, especially movies and videos. Adults get glued to their smartphones even when driving so it’s no surprise their younger versions would also have a desire for screen time. Though having a child glued to the TV or iPad for prolonged periods is not recommended, sometimes parents just gotta do what they gotta do when they have an unruly child onboard. We recommend getting a simple product to hold or mount iPads/table to the backseat. Any such product can work to keep the kiddo’s distracted.
5. Wikki Stix
Arts and crafts are always a good idea, except who likes to clean up the inevitable mess? Enter Wikki Stix! According to their website, “No glue, no paste, no mess. Just press them down with light fingertip pressure on virtually any smooth surface and they will stick. They are also easy to peel up and reposition so “mistakes” virtually disappear. That’s it…. no preparation…no clean-up, no mess. Press ‘em down, peel ‘em off… it’s that simple…Wikki Stix are made of hand-knitting yarn enhanced with a microcrystalline, food-grade non-toxic wax. So there you go, fun, educational and virtually mess free all while being able to fully occupy kids (and adults) of any age!
