Car and 3 year old: what do I need?

[MyCatIsAFiend]

We've just bought our first car and have a three year old. I'm likely to do most of the driving with him by myself (ie without another adult in the car).

What "bits" would you recommend for drivers with small kids?

I'm thinking window shades and perhaps a back-of-the-seat tidy for things like his water bottle and snacks, but then I wondered whether he would be able to reach stuff? We definitely need some kind of seat protector as there's been a bit of kicking so far... Is there anything else which would make journeys (especially longer ones) easier?

I never bought anything extra for my car/children except for a car tidy that firtted on the back of the front seat.

Never had drinks or snacks unless we stopped for a break.

No journey starting unless they'd been to the toilet first.

Sounds strict but worked for hassle free car journeys.

we have this attached to the front passenger seat. My dds can easily reach their toys (and you can move the seat back if they can't) and it also has a tablet holder, meaning i can play a movie while i drive. their car seats have cup holders, and we use one pocket on the travel tray for snacks. all the best x

Carseats often have little integral trays to hold water bottles/snack pot, though I'm not sure we've used them much.

I've never bought anything except a carseat for my 2, and a sunshade for when they were babies but at 3 he can turn his head. I suppose child friendly CDs - story CDs or whatever music he likes - might count.

We kept a potty, carrier bag and a couple of muslins or an old nappy in the boot in case of toilet emergencies if they were unreliable. If he is prone to carsickness then a bottle of water & muslin (or wipes) and a change of clothes stashed in the boot was useful.

When I get my next car, I'll get covers on the seats. It's a bit late for my current car, but it always seems to be a mess of crumbs, twiggy bits and dusty mud.

Food and drink can trash the car. I tend to end up going from A to B to C so the kids do often end up eating on the move (ravenous creatures), or longer journeys.

Thank you - this is all really helpful. Most of our trips will be short local ones but will be doing a longer run once a month or so. Sounds like a tidy and shades would be a good idea!

Large tupperware with click-lock lid. Teach car sick child to throw up in to it. Have baby wipes and kitchen roll in car. Put towel under car seat (to mop up spills, sand, etc before hits seat).

Small Tupperware in door pocket by each seat - as a temporary bin, empty every so often.

Fleece blanket nice for sleeping in car. Also the pillows that attach to seat belts.

I wouldn't go for dvd in back - get used to looking out of window, radio, audio books.

For up to an hour journeys nothing other than favourite toy.

Longer I will put the DVD on.
It was bought when my oldest was about 18mths and I was doing fairly long journeys every couple of weeks. It was OK pointing out sheep / trucks etc until the clocks changed and he was sat in the dark and cried for 30mins.

I don't like kids eating or drinking in a moving car. I worry about them choking and not being able to stop safely. Probably being ott.

Make sure you can lock the rear doors from your driving position - does it have a button that enable you to childproof the interior handle? We recently discovered that we hadn’t re-set ours after getting it back from the garage...72mph in the middle lane

Mine are 5 and 3 and all I’ve ever bought for the car is car seats!