iPad Car Set-up
When I was pregnant with our 3rd child, we had the common problem of needing a new car. The top thing on my must-have list was a built-in DVD player. At the time, I was using short video stints on the iPad or my cell phone to keep my toddler awake on rides home, so he could nap in his bed. I wanted a more formal set-up for this in my next car.
Of course we found a used GMC Acadia that hit all the other requirements, but did not have a DVD player. The dealer (and my husband…) assured me that after a quick trip to Car Toys we would be able to remedy this missing element.
Well a couple months later, that quick trip to Car Toys resulted in a $5,000 estimate to get my DVD player installed. This was because my Acadia has 2 sun roofs and installing a simple DVD player would require ripping the entire roof off my car! (I didn’t want to do headrest units because my interior is this pretty brown leather and all my headrests would have to be a different color than the rest of the seats…)
I literally wanted to burst into tears! I know… it’s totally ridiculous, but I was 6 months pregnant and did not have much emotional control. Anyway, as I was leaving the store, the sales guy said (very nonchalantly): Or you could buy this $15 magnetic car mount and hook it to your sun roof…
My tears dried right up and I turned my $5,000 car remodel into a $30 quick fix – I bought two, to give the iPad some stability. Then I stuck them upside-down to my sun roof and applied the magnetic strips to the back of an old iPad that I keep loaded with various shows and movies for the kids. I store this iPad in a hidden spot in my car (hope no car thieves are reading this…!), and I pull it out when we’re on a long drive or if I need to keep someone awake.
We also figured out how to link the iPad to the Bluetooth in our car, and when the kids are watching we change the speaker settings to only have sound in the rear of the car. This way, on a road trip, my husband and I can still chat.
I actually think this is way better than the DVD player. I don’t have to keep DVDs in my car and I can easily change what’s on the iPad as the kid’s interests change. But don’t tell my husband! I’m still making him feel guilty about the whole thing – I occasionally have reason to say: I saved you $5,000 on a car DVD player!!!
But this iPad set-up has been incredibly useful to our family – perhaps it will also be for yours!
