What to do when DC outgrows the grocery store shopping cart?

[jenjenfirenjen]

So the child seating area on a grocerty store shopping cart is typically 35 lbs and DS1 is 2 and 38 lbs. Now, at the big conventional grocery store, we usually find a truck cart or some other cart that has additional big kid seating in the front. But at our Whole Foods/TJ's, there's no such option. And besides, I have two kids. So my options are:

1. Ignore the weight limit, and put DS1 in the shopping cart seat, and put DS2 in a carrier (which is a PITA when it's this darn cold outside.)

2. Put DS2 in the shopping cart seat, put DS1 in the actualy cart area, leaving very little room for to put any acual food.

3. Put DS2 in the shopping cart seat and proceed to try to steer cart around tiny ailse while simultaneously trying to hold DS1's hand or let him hang on the front or back of cart and hope he doesn't fall off or jump off and run away.

I did option 3 today and it was an utter nightmare. I felt like I needed a stiff drink by the time we got out of there (though DS1 had a blast helping mommy shop!)

So, how do you handle this. Would just ignore the weight limit on the cart? I figure it's there for a reason so I'm inclined to follow it. Ugh!

[KrisM]

DS walks. He's a bit older than yours, and it's gotten much better in the past few months, but it works. He actually walks at the big grocery store now too. After the first handful of times, he finally figured out that I meant my threats and did much better walking. Of course, he hated the cart seat, so that was my threat :). Might not work for you.

But, what about a harness so that he can't get too far?

Or a promise to visit a favorite place if he does well?

I'd also make the first few trips with him walking short ones. Maybe 10 minutes and out the door.

[lisams]

Go when DD is at preschool, or send DH in the evening when the kids are asleep, lol!!

I'm a wimp and if I have a long list of things I need to get I try my best to go without DD. If it's a quick trip for a few things it's no big deal, DD walks and likes to help me, but she's 4 and is much easier to go with than she was at 2 or even 3! She still likes to find things to add to the cart and I feel like I can't focus (I like to read labels, compare products, etc) because I have to keep a constant eye on her.

Sorry, don't have a good answer for you! It does get easier as they get older.

[SnuggleBuggles]

>Go when DD is at preschool, or send DH in the evening when
>the kids are asleep, lol!!
>
That was my idea too. :) We didn't pass the 35lb weight limit till ds was 4 so it wasn't a big deal to have him walk with me. It was much easier when he was in the cart but it's not so bad now. I sometimes let him get his own small cart at Whole Foods and I don't get one at all. We can fit our weekly groceries in there (which always amazes me).

I wouldn't put ds1 in the basket portion. It doesn't seem practical or all that safe (not the proper use of the cart).

Beth

[JBaxter]

look for a grocery store that has the double seats OR the ones that have the red plastic car in the front. ?have you seen those?

** Nathan is 40lbs and still rides in there front 90% of the time. I do try to shop when he is in school.

[Ceepa]

Give DS1 tasks while shopping. Hand him things to put into the cart. Ask him to point the way to the bananas, etc. Ask him to count out two loaves of bread for you.

If I keep DS occupied while we're in busy aisles and every now and then when we're in an enpty aisle I let him trot to the middle of the aisle and back to the cart or to the end of the aisle and back, it keeps him engaged enough to not think about running away.

Sometimes I've had to put him into the main cart area and stack groceries around him. It's like a game of Tetris fitting everything in. :)

-Ceepa

[jamsmu]

Totally curious... how did you find out it is 35 pounds? And is this in all the carts or just the smaller ones like at TJs?

While neither of my kids has reached the limit, when I take them both (which is rare, I usually go when DS1 is in school, or order delivery, I give DS1 a choice.) I despise the ones with the cars in the front, but like the benches so I push those. If they aren't available, I make a deal with him. Like, if you get to walk, you have to stay close and listen. And then you can pick ____ (fave cereal, special dessert, etc.)

Another idea, give him tasks to do. Like, in this aisle, we're going to find all the red boxes. Or help me find my favorite box of rice. Its orange.

[SnuggleBuggles]

Just about every cart has the weight range printed on the seat. The 35lb is on the ones at TJ's, Whole Foods and Target for sure (at least at my stores).

Beth

[jamsmu]

LOL I guess I just never noticed.

[gatorsmom]

I understand that this is crazy, but I take both of my kids in our double stroller. That nice 5 point harness keeps in locked in good. I have those Strollr Swivelr hooks that a basket can hang on the back of the stroller. I put the diapers, gallon jug of milk in the basket, and have my kids hold a few things in their laps. I usually have to make a trip every 5 days instead of once a week, but this works well for us. Or, I just do my shopping at SuperTarget in one of those carts with the 2 seats in front.

Sometimes I have to bring some little toys they haven't seen before (like McDonald's happy meal toys that they havent' seen yet) to occupy them while I'm shopping. But hey, whatever works, eh?



Lisa
Mom to Gator July 2003
And Cha-Cha July 2005

[deborah_r]

>look for a grocery store that has the double seats OR the
>ones that have the red plastic car in the front. ?have you
>seen those?
>


This was my thought - if you can find a store with those little "cars" in the front. They are hard to manuever, but overall they work pretty well.

I can't imagine if I had to have DS walking with me in the store at age 2. Not an issue for us, since he hasn't broken 30 lbs yet, but IMO that's a tough age to try to get them to cooperate on that level.

[mcdonald29]

There's a weight limit on the seats? Uh oh.

I really detest the carts with the car on front. They just seem so hard to maneuver and so big for other people to get around -and I'm not sure DS1 would even stay in it. SIL swears by them, though. I'm afraid to try them in case the boys like them forcing me to use them every time in the future! For that reason, DH has strict instructions to never use one either.

The other day I finally came to grips with the fact that we will be doing night time shopping w/o kids for a while, at least until DS1 is in preschool. It's just so much easier and I can actually read labels -also a good opportunity to catch up on my Podcasts!

Of course there are always emergency trips, so I'm still using the carrier and cart seat.

[egoldber]

Option 1 worked for me until DD1 got too heavy for me to lift into the cart (well over 40 pounds...). But I usually prefer to shop when she's in school.

There's also the Peapod option.

[deborah_r]

I'm afraid to try them in case the boys like
>them forcing me to use them every time in the future! For that
>reason, DH has strict instructions to never use one either.
>

LOL! I was going to mention that as one of the downsides! Sometimes DS wants to sit in there when we just need to get a loaf of bread! I can usually talk him out of it though, by telling him *this time* he can walk in the store.

[KrisM]

Today, I saw a child sitting underneath! the cart. Yikes. I'm not suggesting it, really.

[jenjenfirenjen]

Ugh. There really is no good option I guess. I do use the truck cart at the big grocery store (I don't have too much trouble pushing it and DS1 loves it.) But at Whole Food and TJ's, the only option is the little cart. I could try to go while DS1 is in preschool but that's only 2 hours 2 mornings a week and DS2 is usually napping. And WF's closes at 8 so can't go after bed (not sure about TJ's.) I'll just keep working on getting DS1 to stay with me and give him things to do to help. I think it would be better if I had a list and a clear idea of what I needed but at TJ's and WF's that's part of the fun for me...seeing what's new, trying out different stuff, etc.

[squimp]

I'm pretty sure we did that as kids. My mom has 4 kids, and I just don't know how she shopped with all 4 of us hanging off the cart!