Recharge a resting car battery via the sun

Keep an eye on baby without turning around

Fear not the rested battery: You would think that leaving your car idle for long periods of time would give it the energy it needs to approach your next commute with zest, but the opposite holds true.

Car batteries are notorious for not working after extended rest. Goal Zero’s Guardian Charge Controller Kit, which arrives in a package with the foldable Nomad 13 solar charging panel, is a unit that soaks up sunlight via the panel and attaches to the car battery to provide a steady trickle of juice so that under any unused condition, the battery will not die.

The device has two alligator clips that connect to the car battery’s red and black terminals. As long as the sun can access the solar panel periodically for a few hours, the controller will turn on and off, keeping the battery at a healthy level.

It’s great for people who inexplicably have a car but never use it, and the solar charging panel has excellent versatility, providing electricity to power up other gadgetry while on the go.

$250; visit goalzero.com.

Baby on camera: While it is the attentive parent who’s constantly checking on the status of their child in the back seat, it is not a wise decision to swivel your body around to do so while driving the car.

Yada’s Tiny Traveler Baby Monitor & Camera For Your Car arrives with a 3.5-inch screen that’s positioned on the windshield and a camera that is focused on your child, with the monitor letting parents keep an eye on their children without taking their eyes off the road or lowering their rear-view mirror in such a way that they can see their kids but no longer see out of the back window.

The product has night vision, which lets users see clearly in dark conditions, and the camera features a 90-degree viewing angle. Full of utility, this Yada would definitely benefit from having wireless capabilities because introducing extra wires into the cab is never desirable. But parents who are most focused on their children’s safety are very much willing to surrender a little elegance for some prudence.

$170; visit Canadian Tire stores.