Tips for shopping with toddlers and children!

[mickee311]

Floppy Seat Shopping Cart High Chair Seat Cover Balloons

check this out. Sanitary and comfy for carts.

[TheWoman]

Originally Posted by MamaBird06 Okay, so I have been doing this coupon thing for about 6 weeks and things are getting difficult with my 20 month ds. Dh works 12 hours a day 5 to 6 days a week so i pretty much have to take ds with me to shop, and he acts like a typical toddler who doesn't want to sit in the basket, he kicks his shoes off, so I have just started taking them off when we first get to the store so I don't lose one, I have almost done that 3 or 4 times. I have to give him suckers (which I don't really like to do) or raisins to be able to shop. So many times I end up forgetting something, or I am unable to find a coupon when I find a great clearance, so I end not getting the item or I have to go back to get it. At the grocery story the car carts are helpful, but places like kmart/walmart are not as easy. I have found I am going out in small trips nearly every day, just get good deals, and I would really like to make it 2-3 times a week. Dh does not like me going out shopping on his off day(s) because it is family time and I really don't want to have to pay a sitter, kwim? So, what are the veterans with kids tips?

Pick your deals. Kids get tired of going shopping every day, and who can blame them? If I were in your shoes, I would limit it to 2-3 stores per week maximum. Choose the stores with the best deals that week. This is easier after you have a good stockpile built up.

Another thing you can do is trade babysitting with a friend. I have a friend that I trade stockpile stuff for babysitting. It really helps a lot.

[kdownie]

The problem with my child (age 2) is that she doesn't want to be in the cart at all. It is a little better if they have the special kids carts, with cars attached to the front or whatever. Normally, though, she asks to walk, or for me to carry her, or for her to push the cart herself. She can get out of some of the straps, so I have seen her get out of her buckles and try to stand up etc.
I try explaining before we get to the store that I expect her to sit in the cart on her bottom, but that doesn't always work!

[patcheskitty]

I got a hip sling and stick him in there, then he's carried but it's not a heavyweight on me!

Should add that he's almost 14 months.

[mickee311]

I agree on the slings. I have a Maya wrap and am about to get a Moby...They hold kids up to like 35 lbs.

[lovinmylife]

I have a 7 year old, an almost 3 year old, a 13 month old, and I am due in 6 weeks. I take all of them with me to do most of my shopping, and I do NOT have quiet calm children. I plan all trips at home, and carry an envelope with the q's and list, different transactions papercliped together.

For small trips I use a double stroller and food. For larger trips, I put the 2 year old in the seat and the 13 month old on my back in a Mei Tai. For really big trips, I push the double stroller and pull a cart or have my 7 year old push if she is not in school. I ALWAYS carry food and drinks. I shop in the morning when they are happiest and the stores are not crowded. I do 20+ transactions a week. When all else fails act crazy and silly your kids will learn to love shopping!

[MamaBird06]

Great suggestions , dh decided to take ds out for the day yesterday and i got most of my weekly shopping done in 4 hours. Now i have to just take ds out to get a raincheck on thursday at cvs and maybe one small trip to the grocery store. dh has compromised and said on one of his off days he will keep ds for a few hours so i can get the bulk of the weekly shopping done!

[prayerbear]

I use amazon and albertsons online and pick up at store. Then I can just go in and get the deals. I really love Albertsons online once I got the hang of it.

[gr8tdiva]

I take my 21 month old twins with me quite a bit. I do try to leave them home with DH in the evenings or weekends if I can. It takes a lot of organization before I go. I try to have everything written out and all coupons pulled that I will need. I always go in the AM with them and they get treats from the deli counter and then a cookie. I try to make it fun for them in the grocery store by showing them the lobster tank, looking for bananas (their favorite fruit!), letting them drive the "car", giving them crummy coupons to play with. If I don't have everything pre-planned when they are with me it doesn't happen! I am fortunate to have well behaved kids though, so I'm lucky! I usually don't take them to CVS or Walgreens runs because they don't have carts to accomodate them. Why don't ALL stores have carts to accomodate two children?????

[blonditz]

Originally Posted by gr8tdiva I take my 21 month old twins with me quite a bit. I do try to leave them home with DH in the evenings or weekends if I can. It takes a lot of organization before I go. I try to have everything written out and all coupons pulled that I will need. I always go in the AM with them and they get treats from the deli counter and then a cookie. I try to make it fun for them in the grocery store by showing them the lobster tank, looking for bananas (their favorite fruit!), letting them drive the "car", giving them crummy coupons to play with. If I don't have everything pre-planned when they are with me it doesn't happen! I am fortunate to have well behaved kids though, so I'm lucky! I usually don't take them to CVS or Walgreens runs because they don't have carts to accomodate them. Why don't ALL stores have carts to accomodate two children?????

Tell me about it. I usually shop with 16 month old twins and a 4 year old. Those big double carts make it so much easier. I can put the twins in the seats and the 4y.o. in the big part of the cart. Makes shopping so much easier. But very few stores around here have them and the ones that do only have like two per store, so of course they're always taken.