As a Mama we are always prepared but sometimes we can be over/under prepared. Well here I am with that sweet spot, the perfect blend if you will. Logan turned 2 in November so I have had 2 years and a few long distance road trips to figure out what is entirely necessary for day to day usage in the vehicle and ABSOLUTELY essential during travel.

If you’re traveling with a baby, be sure to check out my traveling with a baby post by clicking here.

When I say the inside of my car is stacked with everything we need from the #1 best selling car vacuum all the way down to a steering wheel desk, I am serious (without being cluttered)! With littles, there is zero room for fault.

Here are my essential car items for day to day and travel.

These are all items I have purchased from Amazon! I avoid recommending products I haven’t tried unless the one I currently have is sold out so I find a comparable.

Maxi Cosi Pria 85 Max Convertible Car Seat

This is the #1 choice when it comes to a convertible car seat. We have the Grace Extend and while it is a great seat, removing the cover to wash it is an absolute nightmare and the fisheye hooks are frustrating beyond belief. The Maxi Cosi Pria 85 has an easy to remove cover, is comfortable AF for your little one, can take them from infancy to 85lbs if you want to skip an infant car seat and is very easy to install. Whenever it comes time for me to recommend a seat to a friend or family member, I immediately rave about this seat and the Nuna Pipa Lite LX (for infant seat).

Car Vacuum

I will rave on this item until they don’t sell it anymore. It has over 110k 4 star+ reviews and there is a reason! It is a holy grail product that I am OBSESSED with! It plugs right into your AC adapter in your car and vroom vroom zoom zoom, you have a strong vacuum to get all the sand out of your car post beach day or crumbs after a goldfish fight.

Car Power Inverter

Now don’t go plugging your blow dryer into this but this is awesome to have if you need to charge a laptop or a mini waffle maker while camping. It also has 4 USB ports which is great when phones and tablets are dying! You can never have too much energy. This plug has a long cord so it can reach from front to back or trunk to back (if your car is like mine and all ports are in the front or the trunk!

Back Seat Organizer with Tablet Holder

Look ma’ no hands. I am not afraid of screen time when we are on the road. Logan is notoriously not a car sleeper so I download a couple episodes of Bluey from Disney+, make sure his education games don’t need WiFi and BOOM. I love having it hands free for when he is snacking so the screen of his tablet doesn’t get the “ick”, you know what I mean; so I slide it in here with a show on. I also love all the compartments to store snacks, extra water, toys, etc. This one is a 2 pack because we put one in my car and one in Brian’s truck.

Steering Wheel Desk

I bought this item for my Mom for Christmas because there has been SO MANY times where she is sitting outside of my sisters dance studio trying to balance her laptop on her center console and literally breaking her neck and back at the same time. This product was recommended to me on TikTok so I thought, hey why not! It was like the clouds opened up and the angels sang! 1 side a full on desk and the other is for eating! Has a slot for your cup and everything. No more balancing your chicken nugs on your leg while you wait, just mount this to your steering wheel (while you’re pulled over of course) and voila.

Car Trash Can

Do less baby, do less! Stop with the single use plastic bag build up in the car capturing all the trash, get this reusable, rinseable and affordable trashcan for your vehicle ASAP.

Back of the Seat Trunk Organizer (for SUV’s/Vans)

We have had this organizer in our trunk since Logan was born! I loved being able to have extra diapers, wipes, outfits and more. Now I use it to store shoes, snacks, our car vacuum, sanitizing wipes, extra masks, etc. Basically everything we MIGHT need that can stay in the car.

Purse/Diaper Bag Hook

This makes reaching into the bag really easy on the go when you’re riding passenger and keeps everything from accidentally tipping over during a possible hard brake situation. By keeping it off the floor and seat you’re also opening up some more space in the car for other items which as we all know you can’t ever have enough space for MORE things!

Clip Food Tray

Okay so this item is ON THE WAY when I am typing this but was recommended by one of my favorite TikTok Amazon bloggers that I trust with these type of things so that is the ONLY reason I am recommending it to you prior to having the item in hand first. BUT, HOW FRICKEN COOL DOES THIS LOOK? People are really solving the real first world problems am I right? You can clip this tray to anywhere in your car that will take a clip and have a mini tray to hold your food, phone, laptop, etc. It’s a 10/10 for being innovative AF for me.

We have traveled by car a lot since Logan has been born and I have found it best to be as efficient as possible by using the tools available to make our lives easier. Some of these items might be non-essential to some but have made a HUGE difference to us and we have been SO THANKFUL that we have had them or even had the opportunity to order them in a pinch.

Let me know if you want more travel tips via my instagram DM’s.

As Always, Ashley.

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