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Multiples
Shopping logistics with Twins?
Hello all!
My hubby and I are expecting twins this summer and have a question (well many, but more on that later!) that stumped us: How do you grocery shop with newborn twins?? We plan on getting travel systems, but how do you fit two in a cart?? Can I bring my double stroller into the store, or will people think I am stealing if I use the storage basket for groceries? We are genuinely stumped for how parents with two infant seats shop?
Thanks for your help!
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Re: Shopping logistics with Twins?
Our approach is to just wait for the other to get home and to shop alone. I don't particularly love the idea of exposing my babies to all the germs in the grocery stores unless I have to. Plus, it's just hard to get around with both when you're by yourself. I've heard of some people pulling a cart while they push their stroller. That sounds very difficult. If I absolutely have to take both babies with me by myself, I "wear" one in a BabyHawk carrier and put the other in the cart. Some carts, like at Costco, are wide enough to sit both babies in the cart together. HTH.
Usually I would wait till DH got home and then go shopping; it was so nice to get out of the house w/o the babies!
Other options:
* Bring in your DSNG/double stroller and put the groceries in the basket. (Most likely people won't think you're stealing; if they do you can just explain you have limited options!)
* Wear one baby and put the other in his/her car seat in the cart.
* Push your double stroller and pull a cart behind you.
Or DH and I would run errands together and one of us would push the stroller while the other pushed the cart.
Also, when they get bigger you can try to find stores that have double-seaters. The grocery store that's closest to us has a cart that's perfect for young twins.
Honestly, I rarely grocery shop with my twins. Either DH or I go at night after they're in bed, or one of us goes while the other stays home. If you do out, it's fine to use the double stroller but you won't fit much stuff in the bottom. One thing I've done when I go to Target is place some of those reusable grocery bags on the hanging hooks on the stroller handle, and put stuff in there. Some stores have double carts, but they often are near the store entrance, and you have to either lug both kids there or leave them in the car while you go grab one. If you do go out with them, I'd try going with your DH or a friend so you each take one baby in a cart (or one person pushes the stroller and the other pushes the cart).
there are a lot of ways you can do it- just have to decide what works best for you.
when they were infants and I just had twins i usually take them in the stroller and clip on some large Ikea bags to the side of the stroller- fill those, and the storage underneath. Sometimes if I only needed a few things I'd put one infant seat in the big part of the cart and the other up on top and clip the Ikea bag on the side and fill + put items underneath. Both worked about the same for me.
Now that they can sit i put them both in the top seat - even when it's only a single- i just bend their inside knee and stick one of each's outside leg through the leg hole - so they are sort of 1/2 turned towards each other. They are still small enough that this works fine.
You can also wear one and put the other into the car in the infant seat - a good option if you need a lot of stuff... but rough on your back (at least for me- my boys are pretty big).
some people bring a stroller and pull a car behind them - i have never attempted this - since i never need that much stuff that i'd need a full cart of food.
or you go when someone can watch one or both of the babies
I go often with all 3 of my kids- that requires one of those shopping carts that has the extra seat in the back (like Target has) or a car/truck thingy up front
My hubby travels a lot, so I COMPLETELY get the "just having to make it work scenario." I plan my trips carefully so that I can be as efficient as possible while there. I have had to walk out and leave my buggy when it was a bad day....
That said, shopping at Costco/Sam's/WalMart, the carts are bigger and it's easiest when you have a lot of shopping to do. HEB/Kroger/Target, have smaller carts, but sometimes that's the only place I can get items I need - so travel system is perfect.
I put one in the infant car seat in the front of the cart and then wear the other in my Baby Hawk--a mei tai style baby carrier. It can be used for a front or back carry, so when they get odler, I can carry one on my back (front does get heavy eventually).
When i take all 3 of them alone, I try to go to a place that has super accomodating carts--like Target has those big kid seats in an attachment in front of the cart. My 2 year old goes in that (he loves it), then one in the car seat and I wear the other. Yes...I look like the circus coming to town. The other carts that work well w/ this are the car carts that have the cars attached to the front a toddler can ride in. My 2 year old loves tht as well.
So, it is doable.
others gave you good recs on the logistics to actually go shopping.
one other suggestion.... do online grocery shopping. our local is vons, so we shopped vons.com for the first 5 months. there are so many plusses to doing this! you can take your time adding things to your "cart", double check that you aren't buying stuff you already have. you can budget by seeing what's in your cart... so if you are trying to watch $$ or not buy junk, you can monitor. there is a service charge, but so worth it, and you don't end up with a bunch of unnecessary stuff.
oh, and they pick good produce! at least the company we used does.
i'm suprised i haven't used online grocery shopping yet - haven't needed to... and I really like our trips to the grocery store- all of the kids love going there - stuff to look at, etc... timing is key, too- doing it right after they eat is the best time so they are happy and not too tired
don't keep yourself inside/at home too much though - it can drive a new mom crazy not to get out of the house... I have been taking them out since they were a week old - usually once/day... lately with the snow and them having colds we don't go out as much- but I really do try to get out a lot - even if just to pick up milk... all the work getting them in/out of the car is worth it to me- just to get out of the house
Before we had kids we always went food shopping together and had a blast and then my DD came along and we always went together still.
Once the twins came along it was just to hard. We went once as a family right before christmas. The boys were almost a year old. I don't think we will ever do that again!
Right now - my DH does all the food shopping, which is fine by me.
I never liked putting the carseat in the cart - my babies like to look around and so the baby stuck in the carseat was always frustrated. So, I took one baby and left the other baby with my husband.
But now, since they can sit in the actual shopping cart, I love grocery shopping with them both! They both have a lot of fun (I wear one baby facing outward and push the other) and I feel like a supermom.
One thing I am learning is that everything is temporary. If one thing is hard (or impossible) now, it will eventually get easier.
We don't online shop, but do get our groceries delivered once a year. I'm sure you can find a similar service in the US (I know there are a few in Canada). Basically, we purchase a freezer & then have a whole year's worth of groceries delivered (excellent choice meats, etc) & our pantry is stock full of everything non-perishable.
All we need to buy outside of this is milk & bread (and for that, my DH goes alone). It's great, because it actually comes out to less than what we would spend on groceries/month, and the quality is much much better!
Wow, I've never heard of that. That's so cool! I wonder if they do have that in the US. (We don't have space for it though.)
Also...sorry to be a PW...but I just had an idea.
You might see if there are any college students who'd be willing to be a "mother's helper" for a cheap rate. You could put a list together and pay them $20 to go grocery shopping for you once a week. There might even be a teenager in your 'hood (who can drive, of course) that might be willing to do it for you for the extra cash.