7 Essential Accessories for Traveling in the Car With Baby

Remember to pack goodies in case the hungries strike.  You’ll want food that’s easy to access in the car, but doesn’t pose a choking hazard (that means no hard fruits, big crackers or raisins). Bumpies love Itzy Ritzy’s eco-friendly, reusable snack pouches. They come in cool designs (hey chevron!) and, best of all, are machine washable. $19, ItzyRitzyStore.com

You never know when you’ll be stopped at a place where the bathroom changing station just doesn’t cut it. Ew. We love this one from Aden+ Anais. It’s made with durable — and washable — muslin and comes in cute patterns. $20, Diapers.com

She’s soft. She’s teethable. She squeaks. Baby can love on her for hours in the car. Buy one regular-sized Sophie la Giraffe for the diaper bag and keep a travel-sized Sophie in the car. You know he’s going to throw one on the floor while driving! $23, BabiesRUs.com

Safely stow soft books, sippy cups and other loose stuff in pockets and pouches. Most organizers just snap onto the backseat pocket like this one by Munchkin. We love that it has mesh pouches (we see you, pacifier!) and is made of durable Nylon. $10, Amazon.com

The ChildMinder Smart Clip System snaps on to baby’s car seat strap and alerts you if the strap becomes detached, too loose, or if you forget to buckle baby in (hey, we know how tired you are). You’ll have time to pull over and readjust before anything happens. It’ll also trigger an alarm if you inadvertently move more than 15 feet away from baby, preventing you from ever accidentally leaving baby in the car unattended. $80, Amazon.com

Bumpies love Jelly Cat’s colorful books that can be tucked into a backseat pocket and provide a much needed distraction during a car trip. You’ll probably have them memorized, so as long as baby can look at the pictures, you can “read” them to her from the driver’s seat! $17, Nordstrom.com

We would like to personally high-five the mom who created the wonder that is the Wubbanub. This pacifier-and-lovey-in-one is a must-have for a cranky baby, and it’s easy for baby to find in her seat. If baby takes a paci, consider picking one up for the car. $13, Target.com

Plus, more from The Bump:

Best Car Tunes for Rocking Out With Baby 

Top Travel Gear

Tool: Baby Travel Checklist