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These 27 Things Are Great To Have On Hand If You Have A Toddler *And* A Car
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BuzzFeed and our publishing partners may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page. Read More So you won’t be cleaning out cracker crumbs until the end of time. I have been a BuzzFeed Shopping contributor since 2022 and I love researching a little bit of everything while, as a mom, constantly looking for ways to solve parenting challenges, refresh corners of my home, and make time for style and self-care. Promising review: "These backseat car organizers are perfect, high-quality material, great for organizing kids' toys or placing car snacks into, even has a spot for a tablet and books as well, it looks great, has lots of pockets, easy to access, and it's the perfect fit." —Kyrstin Promising review: "This Graco easy-turn car seat is the real deal! It has so many features and is so easy to use. This is my first time using a toddler car seat, and it was easy to install. Once I got my baby in the car seat, she was so happy and comfortable! I love that it is made for small babies up to young kids. It will grow with my child and is well worth the money. To rotate her, it is so simple and smooth. Adjusting the height is much easier than with her infant car seats. Rather than adjusting the height by removing the straps, it is just the simple click of a button, and the entire seat adjusts. I’m so glad that I got it and know that my baby will be so comfortable on long rides! I also love the double cup holder for her sippy cups and snacks. Well done, Graco!" —Alan Get it from Amazon for $279.99 (available in two colors). Promising review: "The Bissell Little Green is a little beast! Got it to shampoo carpets in my car. It got up so much dirt and caked-on things left in the back of the car that my kids hid! I would definitely recommend. It revived the carpet and made it happy again! The weight of it is very easy to move and get around. And so worth the money!!" —Sara Connors Get it from Amazon for $88.99+ (available in four sizes). Promising review: "I love this! It’s genius. It was easy to use, clean, and store. I have it stored in my car for quick cleanups of pollen, ash, dust... the lost fry in the seat crevice. It also smells good (lol) and is really satisfying to squish like a stress ball. Multi-purpose!" —Brittany Elizabeth Balside Promising review: "Bought this to keep my toddler entertained during a 7-hour road trip AND IT WORKED. Easy to set up quickly, stores away flat, great size, and convenient pockets to hold the dry-erase pens and eraser (included). We did lots of coloring, but also used it as a stable table to play with other toys and eat snacks. Definitely recommend getting one!" —Chloe Young Get it from Amazon for $22.09+ (available in 11 colors). Promising review: "These towels are a 10/10. They’re phenomenal. I never write reviews, but I was bragging to my husband about cleaning off every slide in a playground with one cloth and realized I need to brag to the internet, too. This prob sounds like a paid ad at this point, but seriously, they do it all. I cleaned seven slides after the rain with one of them! They live everywhere — in my car, in the kitchen, bathroom, and anywhere prone to kid spills. They’re great for cleaning up dust, too, but they really shine in terms of absorbency. Again, 10/10, would definitely buy again." —Kerri Get them from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in seven pack sizes and two color combinations). Travel Tray is a small business that created a way for toddlers to keep a drink and snack nearby while in a car seat or stroller. Promising reviews: "Love this handy tray. Had a 15-hour drive to Arizona with our 16-month-old, and this made the drive so much easier! Was easy to turn around to place his snacks on the tray while he watched his movie, PLUS our food stops. I highly recommend this!!" —David reyes Get it from Amazon for $16.99 (available in seven colors). Promising review: "These are great if you have toddlers! The packaging is small and compact, making it travel-friendly, great to throw in a diaper bag or even a purse. The magnets are just as strong as the usual-sized tiles. I love that the case is metal and magnetic, so you can build the tiles on the case, which is great for car rides or restaurants." —Kindle Customer Get it from Amazon for $11.99+ (available in six styles). Promising review: "This is fantastic! For a mom who is constantly being asked to hand things to my kids in the back seat and then, of course, something falls down the 'black hole' in between the seats, this stops all of that! Easy to install and stays in place!" —Amazon Customer Promising review: "I’ve only used this a couple of times, but I am happy with the quality! I love that it’s small enough to stow in the trunk, the cord is long, and there are attachment options. Definitely a game changer to help keep up on the car with three kids trying to destroy it." —Amber Antecki Get it from Amazon for $20.99+ (also available in a two-pack). Promising review: "Absolutely perfect! This has brought so much organization to my trunk. Great price and super sturdy. Would definitely recommend, and if you have kids, it's a must-have! After shopping around for a while for a trunk organizer, this one is it!" —Diann Holmes Disclaimer: only look in the mirror when your car isn't in motion! Promising review: "As a first-time mother, I discovered that you can get so overwhelmed with all of the different high-tech bells and whistles offered in child products. What I love about this mirror is its simplicity and how it does what you need it to. There is no need for a fancy digital camera to make a quick glance in the back to make sure your little one is safe. This mirror is easy to transfer and adjust to other vehicles when needed. My son also loves to smile at himself in it (lol) or to see my reflection from the front mirror. I purchased one for my babysitter as well. Such a great, well-priced, and useful product." —Jodi West Get it from Amazon for $17.59 (available in three colors). Promising review: "Great for all devices! This product fits my kids' 10-inch tablet and their smartphones if they decide to switch it up! It is so versatile! The Velcro is holding up nicely as well!" —Tierra Get it from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in three sizes and multipacks). Promising review: "This is perfect for anyone who wants to charge devices that do not use a USB. I do a lot of work on the road with photography and needed a way to charge my computer and camera battery while not losing valuable driving time, and this was the perfect solution. The charging speed is comparable to a standard house outlet, even with my computer, camera, and phone plugged in! The cord is a great length, so it can be moved around my front seat. However, it does get warm, as do many things that use that amount of electricity, so I would recommend keeping it on the floor or in the cup holder. I love the on and off switch, so if it does feel too warm, I can to turn it off without unplugging anything." —Cheryl M. UnbuckleMe is a woman-owned small business run by Becca Davison and her mother, Barbara Heilman, an occupational therapist and grandmother of four. Promising review: "I love this because pushing the button on a five-point harness can be difficult, time-consuming, and sometimes just annoying. The UnbuckleMe product helped me easily unbuckle my child’s car seat from the driver's seat so he could remove himself from it and be ready for me to open the back door and exit the car. Also, for anyone who likes to have longer nails, I’ve broken my thumb nail too many times to count while unbuckling the car seat. This product? Saves that from happening! It’s definitely worth the money." —Alexia Get it from Amazon for $14.99 (available in seven colors). Promising review: "These shades work great. With a freshly cleaned window, they stick to the glass quickly, even in Arizona. They fold up easily and stay on indefinitely." —Brad Get a pack of four Amazon for $14.99+ (available in two sizes and packs of two or four). Promising review: "Great for car, truck, or SUV. Easy to install and the kiddos love using it, so it is a big win for me. I have five grandkids, and they love going with Grams, but they constantly leave their trash behind. Not anymore! And it also holds a lot of trash. As a matter of fact, they tell me when it’s full and will take the bag out and put a new one in. Simple to use, no mess, and everyone is happy." —Tammie Russell Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in seven colors). Promising review: "I bought this for our road trip, desperate for something to keep our kids entertained. This was super fun! My husband, our 5-year-old, and I had fun playing it together. My 3-year-old was trying, but is a little bit too young for it. The pictures are fun and engaging. I honestly had a great time and would recommend this to other parents looking for something to keep their kids busy!" —Heather Promising review: "I bought this for a stain in the upholstery. I wish I had taken a video. It worked so well and so fast. I didn’t realize until I bought it that it can also be used to clean surfaces. So I used the same cloth, now damp from cleaning the stain, and wiped down all the surfaces. The car looks amazing." —Jaime H. Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in two sizes). Promising review: "This small first aid kit is great! Cute fabric, it is a 'roll-up' first aid kit. Perfect, small size to fit in a diaper bag/purse, or to just stash in your car. There is an exterior slot pocket in case you want to add anything. Nice assortment of bandage sizes. Other things included: scissors and medical tape, nail clippers, tweezers, gauze, hydrocortisone, burn cream, antibiotic ointment, lip balm, and safety pins. My favorites are the two disposable thermometer strips! Oral or under the arm. Brilliant! So handy for when out and about! I just bought one, and I've already used a bandage. Great find, I do recommend!" —Jac Get these disposable bags with absorbent liners to put in the potty before your little one uses it! Promising review: "We are new to the potty training journey, and we thought we had purchased all the gadgets for success. We got a little foldable seat for big toilets out in public, which is great in theory. Only our child is TERRIFIED to use the big toilets out in public! So we were dragging her big potty everywhere and leaving it in the car, and rushing her to the car for potty breaks. NOT IDEAL. This little potty is PERFECT. She can sit right on the potty like hers at home, anywhere (park, bathroom, car, etc.) without fear. I was worried the plastic would bother her, but it is soft, and she doesn't notice it. And let's talk about the bags. SOO MUCH EASIER to clean than a little potty when you are on a road trip! Just toss the bag in the trash. I mean, someone needs a medal for this invention. It was FOR SURE a parent!" —Sean and Heather Gilliland Promising review: "I bought this for my toddler, and it's been a great purchase. It keeps them busy much longer than I expected, especially in the car or while we're waiting at appointments. There are lots of different activities, so they don't get bored quickly. The board feels well-made, and the pieces are easy for little hands to use. It's also lightweight and easy to pack in a diaper bag or backpack. If you're looking for a screen-free toy that keeps a toddler entertained while also building fine motor skills, this is definitely worth it. I'd buy it again and would recommend it as a gift too." —DIYGearGuy Get it from Amazon for $18.99 (available in six colors/styles). Promising review: "This coloring book is amazing! It keeps my 1-year-old entertained at restaurants and in the car! Love that the pen is a good size for her to hold, and the water does not leak out. Highly recommend!" —Miranda Get it from Amazon for $5.99+ (available in six themes). Promising review: "Fits perfectly in the car cup holder for when I have short or long rides with my 1-year-old son. I picked this up when, one day, he dumped the entire container of snacks all over my back seat (to this day, I am still picking Gerber snacks out of the cushions). During car rides, I love to bring this in case my son gets a craving, and he doesn't think twice about tipping it over. It is also collapsible for easy storage after cleaning and comes with a lid for in-between snacking. Would recommend for handsy and active toddlers." —Kelsey C. Promising review: "If you have small kids, babies, or dogs, these are great to keep on hand. Although more expensive than some alternatives, they work well and don’t irritate the skin like other wipes. I like to keep some of these in the car and my bag, just in case. They work great for snotty noses, sticky fingers, and dirty puppy faces. They are a little smaller than other baby-type wipes, but I feel more comfortable using them than others. They also have a pleasant scent and are pretty durable." —Angela Bowman Get a set of 90 wipes from Amazon for $11.97. Promising review: "Bought this six months ago and just bought a second for my husband's car. It's been great to have under a toddler's car seat. It has caught everything from spilled smoothies to potty accidents. With the lip, it keeps things from going on the floor. And it's easy to take out (single clip) and wash it out in the bathtub with some Dawn dish soap." —Kaitlin Klinkebiel Promising review: "My daughter (now 4) hadn’t napped in the car since she was about 18 months. No joke. We took a 10-hour road trip when she was 3, and she didn’t sleep a wink. We had another chunk of long trips coming up, so I splurged on this neck pillow, and she took a two-hour nap on both legs of the trip! We’ve used it frequently since, and it’s been amazing. It is soft, adjustable, and the perfect height and support for her little neck. I can’t rave enough about this product. Buy it!" —Audrey Get it from Amazon for $39.95+ (available in four sizes and seven patterns). * Effective Cleaning Products Parents Say “Saved” Them * Products Reviewers Say Helped Their Kids Enjoy The Outdoors * Parenting Products Reviewers Say You Will Inevitably Need * If Your Home Is Dominated By Pets And Kids, These 29 Products Are Worth Buying * Products Reviewers Say Are “Game Changers” For New Parents * Products Reviewers Who Work With Kids Love Plus, the parenting products we gave a 2026 Buzzy Award to, next-level school supplies, durable toys, and finds from Amazon, Target, Walmart, and Wayfair. BuzzFeed Shopping is service journalism first: our writers and editors spend all day shopping so you don’t have to, vetting products, fact-checking brand claims, and surfacing what actually helps in real life. We center readers over revenue, recommend products with authenticity (using real experiences, not ad-speak), and reflect our diverse audience, inclusive of a variety of price points, people, and needs. We cut through fake deals, favor useful info over glossy fluff, and recommend both budget and splurge options with context so you can decide what’s right for you — and still have a little fun along the way. The reviews in this post have been edited for length and clarity.
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