How to Keep your Kids Clean when They Eat in the Car
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Wet Ones® hand wipes. The opinions and text are all mine.
Do you let your kids eat in the car?
I know it can be a bit of a hot topic. I used to be firmly in the “my kids will never eat in the car” camp. Then I had a few more kids and life got really busy.
Now eating in the car is just the norm around here.
Sometimes as a mom, you just do what you have to do.
For us, that means there are days we have to feed the kids in the car. And don’t even get me started on road trips — those are like an all-you-can-eat buffet
Now, that being said, I may have slacked off on the no-eating-in-the-car rule but I was not willing to deal with a dirty car all the time. I did not want to be pulling petrified chicken nuggets from the deep recesses of the seats in my van.
With 6 kids, things can get messy really fast. We have a few tricks we use to make sure our van stays at least mildly presentable.
Use Cardboard Boxes
One of our favorite fast food chains gives out cardboard boxes you can use to eat in the car. They are so useful because you can set them on your lap and catch any food that falls (and they keep all your food in one spot). Even as an adult, I know how hard it is to avoid dropping any food at all so I appreciate those. It’s especially useful for kids.
You can buy similar cardboard boxes in bulk online and keep them in the car and pull them out whenever your kids are eating on the go.
Keep those hands clean withWet Ones® Hand Wipes
Wet Ones® hand wipes come in so handy, especially in the car. I keep several travel packs and/or canisters in the cup holders throughout my van (my van is BIG. We need several packs). That way my kids can grab them, or hand them to younger siblings, to keep their hands clean after they eat. Wet Ones® hand wipes kill 99.99% of germs while still being gentle on skin so they are perfect when you don’t have soap and water available. It’s no wonder they are America’s #1 Hand Wipe*.
I’ve found if I can keep little hands clean, that’s half the battle. My twin toddlers will touch everything in the van and if they have food in their hands that makes a huge mess. If we clean up everyone’s hands as soon as they eat it seriously limits the mess.
*#1 claim based on scan data for 52 weeks ending 1/23/16
Limit it to Clear liquids
We may eat in the car but I draw the line when it comes to drinks. My kids know they can only drink water in the car. Food is easy enough to clean up. Liquid gets everywhere and if you are unfortunate enough to spill milk . . . well, your car will never be the same.
I learned this lesson the hard way after an unfortunate experience with chocolate milk . . .
Have a trash bag in the car
I know I have about a two second window that my kids will make any effort at all to look for a trashcan before they’ll just throw their trash on the floor.
I’ve learned that I have to have a car trash bag within arms reach in order to keep trash off the floor. I found a cheap lunch bag that I use as a trash can and just strap to the back of the headrests in my van. It works perfectly as a trash bag and then all the mess is (mostly) in one spot when I go to clean my van.
Pack it in, Pack it Out
We are big campers at my house. When you go camping, it’s common practice to “pack it in, pack it out”. That means anything you bring in with you has to leave with you.
We put that rule into play for our van. If you bring it into the van, you are responsible for bringing it out. My kids know that every time they leave the car, they have to take whatever they brought in.
With my older kids we take this one step further. They always have to leave the car cleaner than it was when they got in. That means they hunt for trash to remove, organize anything that is in the car, or wipe up any spills they see.
As a mom, I’m a big fan of this rule and it makes keeping the van clean a family task.
Want to go to Six Flags?
Wet Ones® hand wipes are not only helping to make your summer a cleaner one, they also want to help make it more fun. Buy a participating Wet Ones® Antibacterial Hand Wipes product (Canisters, Singles and Big Ones®; excluding 15ct & 20ct Travel Pack Sizes) between 5/1/16 and 7/15/16 and you’ll receive a Six Flags Kid’s Ticket offer!
Offer Information:
- Buy: A participating Wet Ones® Antibacterial Hand Wipes product (Canisters, Singles and Big Ones®; excluding 15ct & 20ct Travel Pack Sizes) between 5/1/16 and 7/15/16.
- Visit: www.WetOnesSixFlags.com and follow the directions to complete your request by 11:59:59 AM ET on 7/15/16.
- Receive: A discount coupon for a FREE Six Flags® weekday kids ticket (up to a $51.99 value) with the purchase of a full price general admission ticket on weekdays (Monday-Friday) OR $10 off one (1) full price general admission ticket on weekends (Saturday-Sunday).
Offer expires 11:59:59 AM ET on 7/15/16. Void outside of the 50 United States and DC and where prohibited. Printer required.
