Summer means family road trips. There’s something liberating about packing up with family with a car full of snacks, good music, and the open road full of possibility. But for parents, car travel is about more than the destination–it’s about keeping kids safe, comfortable, and entertained on long drives. From having the right type of car with great safety ratings to boasting freshly cleaned car seats that are properly installed, these three St. Louis-based car services will have you ready to hit the road with confidence.
Having grown up in the Suntrup Automotive family, Kelly Stumpe knows a lot about cars. She spent years selling cars, but after becoming a mom, she realized that there wasn’t a lot of trusted information for families shopping for vehicles. So she launched The Car Mom to fill this void. While she won’t recommend the “best” car, her video tours and reviews highlight family-friendly features across a wide range of models and are organized in a variety of categories–cars for three kids, price, first-time moms, full-size SUVS, and minivans. You can begin your search by taking a 90-second quiz, which will narrow your options based on your family’s needs. In addition to the wealth of information you’ll find on her website, Stumpe also shares reviews and helpful tips on YouTube and Instagram.
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If you’ve ever wished there was a way to clean your car seats–like, really clean them–The Tiny Seat Company is your answer. This St. Louis-based company professionally cleans car seats and strollers with child-safe products. The cleaning will remove most stains and odors, though they may not disappear completely. To preserve the safety of each seat, harnesses and other critical features are not removed. Knowing that car seats are something families can’t be without, the business has a contact-free porch pickup and drop-off to accomplish a quick turnaround. Pickups are scheduled for the evening, and your clean car seat will be returned to your porch before 9 a.m. the next day. Pickup and drop-off is complimentary for South County, West County, and central St. Louis areas. A small fee applies for those living outside of these areas.
St. Louis Children’s Hospital – Safety Stop
Safety Stop, a program through St. Louis Children’s Hospital, wants to help you keep your children safe. The parental guidance program focuses on helmet, home, sleep, water, and car safety. There are technicians available to answer questions you have about your car seat and teach you how to install your car seat correctly. They also provide complimentary car seat inspections. Appointments are individualized, must be scheduled in advance, and are available at St. Louis Children’s Hospital in St. Louis, St. Louis Children’s Speciality Care Center in West County, St. Louis Children’s Speciality Care Center in South County, Progress West Hospital in O’Fallon, and the Magic House Children’s Museum.
