It’s the dog days of summer and hardly anyone is escaping the heat. Going to the grocery store can be a nightmare for kids in the car- the AC doesn’t reach the backseat as fast, seatbelts are miserably hot, and forget it if you’re a baby in a rear facing carseat. It’s ridiculously hot. Not that I’ve been riding around in a rear facing carseat or anything.

So, what’s a mama to do? You can always go out and start the car to cool it down before getting in, but if that is not an option, here are some things to try.

1. Get the Cold Seat (pictured). It’s a car seat cover that uses ice packs (freeze it in your freezer beforehand) to cool the seat down. Bonus: it covers the buckles as well, so little hands won’t get burnt.

2. Bring along the cold drinks. If your kid is still too small for a regular bottled water, fill up a sippy cup with water and lots of ice. It is important to stay hydrated in this kind of heat- make sure you don’t forget to keep yourself hydrated as well.

3. Make sure your car has sun shades. My kids tee hee at my friend Ginger’s sun shades in her car, but it’s always much cooler inside her car than mine is without the sun shades.

4. Bring along a wet washcloth. My kids love to suck on them, but a wet washcloth on the back of the neck goes a long way to cool a person down.

5. Stop for paletas or ice cream. One of the best things about the heat is beating it by eating a tasty popsicle!

What are your beat-the-heat tips and tricks for when you have to drive somewhere?