How do you grocery shop?

BalancingJane · January 2011

My husband and I have been going together. We'll put LO in the carseat in the bottom of one cart and then one of us will push another one for the groceries. But it isn't always practical for both of us to go, and I hate to send him after he gets home from work since this is the only time we see each other during the week.

So, if you grocery shop by yourself with LO, how do you do it? Putting the carseat on the top part of the cart makes me nervous, and I'm 5'3" so I'm not sure I could see over it anyway. There's no room in the cart if I put the carseat in the bottom. There are so many little challenges to having an infant that I never even thought about!

I'mAcrossThePond · January 2011

When I just had Alex, and he was a baby, I wore him in the Ergo.

Now w/ 2 of them, I order groceries for delivery!

hopkins5 · January 2011

Do you have a stroller? If you and your husband are both going, one pushes the stroller and the other pushes a cart.

spunkyprincessmande · January 2011

My H is a pharmacist so I usually give him a little list to pick up before he comes home. But when I go with LO I put him in the cart and just put the groceries around him. It's a bit difficult, but I can manage. His seat doesn't fit in the front part at the grocery store, but it does at Target so when we go there I put him in the front (I'm also 5'3" and it's a little difficult seeing about the seat, but I can do it). I think I'm going to try putting DS in the Moby next time it's just the two of us, though--he doesn't stay asleep in his seat anymore anyway so it would probably be easier.

HorseyMama08 · January 2011

I grocery shop with two kids, my toddler and the baby. If you are not comfortable putting lo in the top of the cart do you have a sling or carrier? I put my youngest in the ergo or the moby, then my hands are free to shop and baby is safe and comfy.

starlettedir · January 2011

She stays at home with Dad

clayswife · January 2011

I wear DD in my Ergo and put DS in the cart. DD HATES her carseat, and I'm quite short as well, so carseat really isn't an option for us.

LittleGus · January 2011

I love going grocery shopping with DD! I bring the Baby Bjorn and switch her from her car seat to that in the parking lot, run in, and do my business. DD loves looking around at all the stuff, but then about 10-15 mins falls asleep for the rest of the trip. I'm way too nervous to have her seat on top of the cart - looks like a huge accident waiting to happen if you ask me.

roxysurf99 · January 2011

I shop with 2 at least once a week. I either:

1. wear DD and DS sits in the cart. Leaves tons of space to shop but its so cold I hate taking her out of the carseat to put into the ergo or moby.

2. put the bucket in the cart and DS sits in the top part. I usually do this. I just put my stuff all around the carseat and under the cart. People comment all the time about how I will fit my stuff in the cart but I always manage.

Get a wrap or carrier or just go shopping alone.

PunkyBooster · January 2011

Wear him or put his carseat in the basket and put groceries around him. Then get a basket for the bottom and fill that up too?

Do you have one of those high chair covers? You could use that in the car seats built into the shopping cart and strap him in that way. I personally have not tried this.

kspies · January 2011

I use the Ergo for grocery shopping so I can have space for stuff. In it, DD either looks around or goes to sleep immediately. She has yet to make a scene in the Ergo. If it's a small trip, like needing a few things at Target, I usually bring the stroller and either get a hand basket or put my items in the stroller basket. Don't hook the seat onto the top of the cart--not safe!

momofmanyinthemitten · January 2011

I put her in the Moby. She usually sleeps through the whole trip. It's great.

Estellankase · January 2011

I carry LO in the Baby Bjorn. It takes a little practice to get used to taking her in and out of it but after a while it's a piece of cake! I also find people don't have the opportunity to touch her or get in her face since her face is right up against my boobs lol.

This is the one I have: https://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3359095

GL!

BallSox · January 2011

I put him in his car seat in the top part of the cart. I don't see what the concern about it being an accident waiting to happen? Esp not when they are this little. When you push the cart, you're standing right there. Unless you leave the cart for long stretches of time, you should be pretty much within arms reach the entire shopping trip.

Now, if you had older kids I could see where this would maybe be an issue (them pulling on the cart, knocking into the car seat, etc).

When H and I go together, we will use the snugli (or moby, now that I have one), but it's too cold to try and get him into the snugli by myself (in the parking lot). Tag teaming it, we can get him in it and zipped into our coat in about a minute. When I'm buy myself, it's not worth messing with.

jands01 · January 2011

I put the carseat in the cart and put one of the hand baskets underneath and fill that up. Once that's full I try to squeeze in items around the carseat.

I also grocery shop more often so I don't have a long list of items. Plus it gets us out of the house more.

Mama_SAS · January 2011

I agree with pps - use a carrier or leave LO at home with dad at night while you go alone.

Bailey81 · January 2011

Ergo! We have a convertible carseat, so no bucket. I'm also too short to see over one perched on the carriage.

janneann1127 · January 2011

BallSox:
I put him in his car seat in the top part of the cart. I don't see what the concern about it being an accident waiting to happen? Esp not when they are this little. When you push the cart, you're standing right there. Unless you leave the cart for long stretches of time, you should be pretty much within arms reach the entire shopping trip.
Now, if you had older kids I could see where this would maybe be an issue (them pulling on the cart, knocking into the car seat, etc).
When H and I go together, we will use the snugli (or moby, now that I have one), but it's too cold to try and get him into the snugli by myself (in the parking lot). Tag teaming it, we can get him in it and zipped into our coat in about a minute. When I'm buy myself, it's not worth messing with.

This. our carseat seems to fit right along the rails of the shopping cart pretty much perfectly. feels pretty sturdy to me. either way, you can keep one hand on it while you push if that makes you feel better.

Dani.Cherie · January 2011

I am 5' 2", and I still manage to see okay with DS in the carseat on the cart. However, I know which places do not have "sturdy" stroller tops, and I bring my carrier for these. The carrier is great, but I'm petite, and DS is a chunk. Hefting him around for the hour and a half it takes to shop can be a more of a workout than I want sometimes!