Shopping with a Toddler

Hi
I usually try to get the carts with the little car attached to them so my daughter can "drive" around the store. That seems to keep her occupied. :)

You can defintely try those carts that have additional seating attached, but I think they are challenging to drive! I had the same problem. My four year old now walks while the 15 month old rides. I give him a snack he can hold and eat as we go. Sometimes I make him a list to hold. I also try getting him involved with picking out the items and bagging produce, etc. He loves to drop things into the cart. (that makes the trip a lot slower though)

honey you are making this harder than it has to be!!! i have 4 and even though i prefer going shopping by my lonesome, sometimes i have my little shadows with me. my youngest (4) sometimes likes sitting in the cart- but other times wants to walk around. and if my 6yr old is tired he likes to get in the back. sometimes i get lucky and get the double cart, but that doesn't always get bored little guys to stay in there........my oldest 2 are easier. they are 11 and 13 so they can stay together and go off. anyway if the younger 2 want to get out they have to hold on to the cart or walk next to me. i can't hold their hand and push, and they need to stay with me, if not its back in the cart.

How about those shopping carts with a bench attached to the cart? The seat is still on the cart where you can fasten the car seat. I actually went shopping with my 6 yr. old and 20 mo. twins last week and used one of these carts (Publix has them)! I put the 6 yr. old and one of the twins on the bench w/ the safety strap on tight (the bench only works if they are a little older though) and put the other twin in the shopping cart seat. It worked great - though the cart is huge - like a limo! I don't think my son would have been much help at 4 if I had let him walk around behind me. He still likes to run off when he sees something cool in the store.

This is when the carts that have the gray seats or the yellow bench behind for two to sit (like Publix or Winn Dixie) and then have the normal place in the buggy still for the baby seat come in real handy. Target has them as well. So does Wal-mart and Sam's Club. I have four kids. Two of mine were very close together. This is what I did. And if that wasn't possible, then I put the babyseat into the large part of the buggy and the four year old into the sitting part in the front, and shopped with another buggy. Cumbersome, I know, but you have to have them safe!

my daughters are the same age difference, although they are now 1 1/2 and 5 1/2. I just have the older one get things off the shelf for me as I push the cart. We shop at a super Walmart so she already has the store down. If we need to do a long walk between picking up items (since it's a super walmart) she stands on the metal piece at the bottom and holds where I push from that way she is between me and the cart and we can really go, this is getting tough now as Sara at 1.5 doesn't want her there and kicks her. Good Luck, you'll figure it out.

Been there! :)

I had the older one help me with getting stuff from the shelves and holding my list and coupons. She would take a purse, too and keep coupons in there for me and "pay" at the checkout with my credit card.

The baby used to only be able to shop with us "quietly" if she was in her carrier ... so I would often hold my other daughter's hand and proceed slowly through Publix - much to other shoppers' chagrin! :)

They have shopping lists and coloring books at the entrance that were helpful keeping us organized and as a reward (other than cookies).

You could put her in a carrier like Baby Bjorn or similar. That way the baby is close to you and she could still sit in the cart. Hopefully the baby will sleep and you can have some one on one time with your daughter.

I have all the same suggestions as the previous posts. I started off with the "limo" cart, the one at publix with the bench seat and the regular seat was use for the carseat. I have also used the baby carrier and put him in the cart. When she could sit up I moved her to the car. She loves it, was a natural at pretending to drive and her brother can sit right next to her. If I am at a store that doesn't have these niffty carts, I have him walk and he has learned to stay near me where I can see him. I have to remind him every once in a while, but he is a good listner. I have also put him in the back of the cart and purchased less items. Now a days, I am so tired of being with both kids all the time, that I go to the store on the weekends when my husband is home, when grandma comes over, or late at night during the week, it's just easier and it gives me an excuse to get out of the house and have some alone time :) Good luck!!

Hi... I have several suggestions. I hope one of them works for you (I'm a mom & in-home daycare provider).

- put the baby in a front- or back-pack carrier
- leave one or both kids with someone when you go shopping
- Walmart has the cool limo-long baskets that has the extension where one or two older kids can sit while you put the infant carrier in the regular spot.
- some people use the "leash" especially made for toddlers.

I have always grabbed a balloon (the ones for sale for $2.99) that are either near the registers or floral section. My 3rd child is now 20 months and that ALWAYS keeps him busy. I also make sure I know exactly what I want to get and get out quickly so as to not push his patience limits. By the way, I leave the balloon at the register!! :)

GOOD LUCK!
M.

I actually saw this on Supernanny the other night. Get your daughter involved in the whole shopping process. If you clip coupons hand them to her and ask her to look for the items. Let her pick out the items and put them in the plastic bags. Have her place them into the cart.

Try it and see how it goes.
Good Luck,
N.

What about the special carts for kids? My Publix has a race car where the older child can be strapped in the race car that is in the front of the cart but they feel like they are driving. Then the younger child can sit with you like you are used to. They also have the double carts where two children can be sat in front of you instead of the traditional carts with just one.