A tablet can make a long drive much calmer for back-seat passengers, but only if it's set up well. Held on a lap, it slides off, gets dropped between the seats and has kids looking down for hours. A little planning before you leave fixes most of that. Here's how to set up a tablet in the back seat so it's easy to watch, easy to reach and safe to have in the car.
1. Mount the screen on the headrest, not on a lap
The back of the front headrest is the natural place for a back-seat screen: it sits in front of the passenger at about eye level. A headrest tablet holder with an extension arm clamps onto the two metal posts under the headrest, with no tools and nothing stuck to the seat. The folding arm brings the screen out toward the rear seat, and the spring-loaded cradle extends to grip phones and tablets. When you don't need it, the arm folds back. Check that your headrest has two exposed metal posts before you order.
2. Set the height and angle before you drive
Adjust the holder while the car is parked, with the passenger sitting in their usual seat. Aim for the screen to be roughly at their eye level and close enough to see without leaning forward. Tilt the cradle to cut glare from the side windows. Doing this once at home saves a lot of "I can't see it" from the back seat later.
3. Look out for motion sickness
Some people feel carsick when they look at a screen in a moving car, especially when they look down at it. A mounted screen at eye level means less looking down than a tablet on a lap, but it won't suit everyone. Plan regular breaks, let passengers look out of the window between episodes, and keep some fresh air flowing. If a child starts to feel unwell, put the screen away.
4. Download everything before you leave
Mobile signal comes and goes on the road, and streaming can use a lot of data. Download shows, films, games and audiobooks at home on Wi-Fi, and check that they open with the device offline. Charge the tablet fully the night before, too.
5. Plan for charging and cables
On a long drive a tablet will need power. If your car has a USB port or a power outlet the back seat can reach, bring a cable long enough to reach the holder without being stretched tight. Route it along the side of the seat so it doesn't cross a passenger's lap, the seat belt buckle or their feet, and unplug it when you stop.
6. Pack headphones for every passenger
Headphones keep the car quiet enough for the driver to concentrate, and they stop two passengers fighting over whose show is louder. Keep the volume low enough that passengers can still hear you speak to them.
7. Keep the extras within reach
Headphones, charging cables, tissues and snacks need a place to go, or they end up on the floor. A car seat storage net stretches between the backs of the two front seats and hooks onto the headrest posts, giving back-seat passengers a mesh pocket they can reach for small items. It can also hang on the back of one seat. For each passenger's own things, a seat back organizer adds pockets for a book, a drink and snacks, plus a tray. Note that the storage net is for storage only; it isn't a pet or child barrier.
8. Give trash and bags somewhere to go
Snack wrappers and bags are what make the back seat messy on long trips. A hanging car trash can straps to a headrest or seat back so passengers can drop wrappers in themselves. Headrest hooks give small bags and jackets somewhere to hang, and their fold-out holder can hold a phone for a passenger as well.
A few safety notes
- Mount the holder on the back of a front seat for rear passengers only. Never put it where it blocks the driver's view, and keep it clear of airbags.
- Check that the clamp is tight and the device is gripped firmly before you set off. A loose tablet can move with a lot of force in a sudden stop, so don't leave devices loose on seats or the rear shelf.
- Make sure the holder and its arm don't get in the way of a child's legs or a rear-facing car seat, and don't attach anything to a child's car seat or its straps.
- The driver should never set up, adjust or reach back to the tablet while driving. Pull over somewhere safe first.
Ready for the next trip
A mounted screen, a downloaded playlist, headphones and a place for the extras make a long drive easier for everyone. For more ideas, read How to Keep Kids' Stuff Organized in the Car and our road trip car organization checklist, or browse our car comfort accessories.