Grocery store logistics w/ younger toddlers

raraavis28 · October 2014

Hi ladies! Long time no post....I have a question for you mamas w/ twin toddlers....

My boys are 21 months now, and my usual grocery store routine was to sit L in the seat in the cart and wear N in the carrier. This worked great for awhile, but my little guy is finally starting to get a little heavy so it's making big shopping trips a bit of a pain. Last week I tried putting N in the seat and letting L walk with me holding my hand (he tends to be more willing to cooperate....and at least isn't as fast if he were to run lol). This worked except that N spent the whole trip (well as long as it took me to grab a few packages of meat and go) screaming to get down and walk too. There is no way they are both ready to walk in the store yet (esp if I need to maneuver a cart), but it seems clear that one would object vehemently to needing to sit in the cart. :-/

Any tips? How did you handle grocery store trips when your kiddos were getting too big to be carried but were too young to reliably walk with you in the store? Should I be teaching them now how to walk w/ me in the store? Fwiw the store I go to doesn't have those fancy double car-carts either. :P

TIA!

Ylvelill · October 2014

My experience isn't with twins yet (mine are 3 months) but with being a preschool teacher caring for toddlers.

I would let them take turns walking, giving them a chance to practice. Having them both out can be tricky until they know/follow the rules.

Good luck!

carrotcake06 · October 2014

If I'm alone, I will only go to places that have a spot to buckle two in.

My oldest is 4.5 and I still prefer he sit in the big part of the cart (he's waaaay too heavy for the top part). It just goes faster and I can concentrate on what I need when I don't have to constantly make sure no one is touching/breaking things.

Mine are only 15 mo, but I would've ended up holding one and pushing the other in that case.

pillowass · October 2014

I only take both when I am desperate, and then only to the grocery store that has a couple of double seated carts. I sweat the whole way there, worrying that they will not be available. So far, I have had good luck.

One time I saw this hipster dude walking around the grocery store with a double kid cart and no kids. I wanted to kick him in the shins even though I didn't have my kids with me!

somewhereincali · October 2014

i started going to a different store for the double carts.

Wishing35 · October 2014

If I'm just getting a few things I will either put one in the front of the cart and one in the back, or use out stroller and stick my groceries on the bottom part. If I need a lot and can't wait to go with DH I will order from peapod and either do the free pick up or get them delivered. I love double cart stores but by me only Costco and sometimes target has them.

chrissynena · October 2014

My babies are still inside, but I can't even imagine. My 21 month old is a nightmare right now to grocery shop with, so I can't imagine how it's going to go with two. Either we both have to go so one mans her, or I go and she stays home with H.

raraavis28 · October 2014

LOL I'm glad to hear at least that my struggle is not uncommon. According to my mom, I was walking and holding her hand in stores by 17 months (she couldn't carry me b/c she was super pregnant w/ my sister), but I've also come to the conclusion that I was the most angelic baby ever....

Yeah, for the most part I try to do the biggest grocery trips at night when DH is home, or I'll do quick runs w/ the boys in the stroller and only buy as much as I can fit in a basket or under the stroller. I'm impressed w/ you gals that can do the push-the-stroller-pull-the-cart thing.....not gonna lie I haven't even tried it as I am sooo uncoordinated. :P @AshB62: What are these buggy benches of which you speak?

MIL did mention that there's a Meijer near her w/ the car-carts.....might be work making the 35-minute hike.....

Thanks for your responses, ladies!

raraavis28 · October 2014

AshB62 said:

@raraavis28‌

https://www.buggybench.com

I'm intrigued by these, but it seems like they take up a lot of cart space.

ETA: Plus $$$

Intriguing! I'm w/ you that it doesn't seem like it would allow as much space for groceries as the ad suggests....still might not be a bad "early Christmas present" to ask for.....

Lyndsey13 · October 2014

I let one sit in the seat part and one sits or stands in the basket of the cart. They usually want to trade places before we are finished too. You also have to be careful the one is the cart isn't standing on groceries or even eating them! I can't imagine anything else working without a double cart. I drive 30 minutes one way (when I have the time) just so I can go to a store with double carts. I can't even imagine what it will be like when this next baby comes. I'm hoping I can wear her and keep the same cart arrangement.

meldoo2002 · October 2014

I only shopped at stores with double carts for a long time.

bumpuser924057 · October 2014

In order of preference, and when I'm only out with the twins and not DS1:

Double cart - either the car cart or the Costco/Sam's cart

One in cart seat, one in basket - I use their backpack leashes and tie them to the cart when they're standing in the back so they can't jump out and kill themselves as easily.

Double stroller and use the basket underneath and/or carry a hand basket.

Both standing in the basket with the backpack leashes - I've had to resort to this recently because it's harder for them to climb out than it is when they're in the seat.

Under no circumstances do the babies get to walk in a store with me. That will be a guaranteed shit show.

Millimeter · October 2014

Mine are a little over a year, and it depends on their mood and how busy it is.

Sometimes I have DD in the seat and DS "helps"push and grabs items off the shelf if it isn't busy.

Other times one is in the seat, the other in the basket. Arrangement depends on who is most likely to remain seated.

If it is busy and they are both a little fussy, I push one cart and pull the other with both in seats. I'll switch off who I push depending on who is the most fussy.

Snacks are a must. It keeps then occupied. I love going to Sam's so they can sample all the foods.

99% of the time people are sweet and get out of the way when using two carts.

My husband works long hours and the stores are an hour away, so I always take them on my own. Yesterday we went to 3 different stores and they were exhausted when we finished. Snacks saved the day!

Rynleigh · October 2014

Our dudes are only a month younger than your's, but so far, I have three options:

1) I am alone and doing moderate shopping - both boys sit in the lower main "grocery" part of the cart. I put all stuff they might crush into either the "seat" portion of the cart or the lower bottom shelf of the cart. I put things I'm not worried about being squashed into the main basket with them.

2) I am alone and doing heavy shopping; 2) A: both boys sit in the "seat" of the cart, each with one leg in a leg hole, each with the other leg bent in a "cross legged" position. I extend the lap belt as large as I can, and buckle it around them both. This is a pain in the ass, but has been necessary once or twice. Groceries go in the main basket and the bottom shelf. -OR-

2) B: I do option 1) and have them both sit in the main basket of the cart, do all of my dry/non-perishable shopping, go load that into the car, and then go back in for perishables. It makes shopping take longer, but it's often easier than having both dudes sit on the seat bench together.

3) I am with someone else - the boys sit in their double stroller and the groceries go in the cart.

diz1313 · October 2014

My twins are still inside, but I do have a challenging DS..... I swear this kid has Go Go Gadget arms and is able to swipe things off of shelves from six feet away! Because of this I do NOT take him grocery shopping anymore. If DH is home I either send him or leave the lad with him. More often though I plan well ahead and use Peapod or we get a lot of our non perishables from Amazon.

KDR1979 · October 2014

If I am going to Sam's Club or Costco, I park near a cart corral with a double cart in it. I put them kids right from their car seat to the cart.

My Kroger does not have double carts, so I push them ahead of me in a BJ City Mini stroller and pull a cart behind me. I can steer it pretty well after ~1.5- 2 years of doing this. I always go to the same Kroger and the employees know us. It gets a little tricky at the check out b/c the cart has to go first. Once the cart is loaded with groceries, I have the bagger move the cart out of the way. Once the stroller is in in front, it is easy. Because I have an SUV (and not a minivan with nice rolling doors), I do park kinda far away from the front door and take 2 parking spots b/c maneuvering the cart + double stroller around my car to get the kids, stroller and groceries in the car can take awhile!

Now, DD is getting bored in the stroller and will sometimes move to the seat in the cart. This makes it trickier to steer (and DS gets mad/jealous if he sees her in the cart). I think my days of using the stroller are limited. But, it has worked well for us for awhile now.

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Grocery store logistics w/ younger toddlers

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