Let's face it, road trips with kids can be a real chore: The kids get cranky, particularly since they are strapped into their seats. Even if they eventually drop off to sleep, they tend to be sore when they wake up, because their heads droop and the seat belt cuts into their neck.
I know that my kids were always complaining that they were bored and had nothing to do on trips. We would end up making a lot of stops so that the kids could get out and run around, making our trips take a lot longer than they should. Still, there wasn't much we could do about it. So whenever we went for a long drive, we, and the kids, just had to suffer.
Then I saw the ad for SeatPets one day on TV and thought it was a pretty interesting product that would at least help make the kids more comfortable on long car rides. We ordered one for each of the kids and, wow. . .what a difference! While it may not necessarily solve the boredom issue, it definitely has made them much more comfy while in the car and they tend to sleep better too.
SeatPets look like stuffed animals, but they are actually cushions that contain an interior space for storage along with an adapter strap in the back. Just slide the seat belt through the adapter strap and you are good to go. When the kids get strapped in, the SeatPet sits in front of them, acting as a pillow for when the kids want to nod off.
The SeatPet's inner compartment has several zippered pouches where you can tuck surprises, such as candy, crayons or stickers. There's also a larger compartment you can fill with books and scratch pads. The kids have a fun friend to travel with, along with plenty of things to do!
Another great aspect about these things is they are machine-washable. So when the kids get them dirty, you can just throw them in the wash and they will be good as new.
The current selection of SeatPets includes:
Love Bug the Ladybug
Bentley the Dog
Lincoln the Lion
Mercedes the Cat
Malibu the Monkey
Yukon the Cow
Edsel the Monster