December 2015 Moms

Shopping Carts & Car Seats

I finally ventured out shopping alone with LO yesterday. I kind of freaked when I saw how much room her car seat took up in the shopping cart (Target). I didn't need a whole lot, so the space wasn't an issue but it made me wonder how to deal with the cart and car seat at the grocery store. I know it's considered unsafe to put the seat on top of the cart but when they are this little, not moving around much, and supervised is it still terrible to do? Other than baby wearing while shopping what have you done with LO when shopping alone with them? DD only handles her carrier for like 10 mins at home before screaming bloody murder....so that's out.

Re: Shopping Carts & Car Seats

  • We put her car seat on the top of the cart if we're going to be purchasing lots of stuff. We put her in the actual cart if it's just a few items.
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  • I can't drive so I always have someone with me. With DS we would take a stroller and one person had him in the stroller while the other took the cart. A few times I would push the stroller in front of me and pull the cart behind if I had to. To me the thinking is the same with a changing table at this age. Even if they aren't moving much you still don't leave them unattended because you never know when they will start moving.
  • If it's a big grocery shop, I have my mom or dh come and push a second cart.

    I'm going to echo that it's very dangerous to put the car seat on the top basket. Please do not do that. Toilet paper is not worth your child getting hurt over.
  • I use a sling when I have to take him with me and need cart space. It's freezing here so I've been carrying him in the car seat until I get inside then move him to the sling and keep the empty seat on top of the cart. It would definitely be more convenient to be able to keep babies in their seats and on top of the cart, but convenience doesn't always equal safety. It won't be long until it is warm and they can ride in the cart without being held :)
  • I second a sling or soft carrier if you're alone. If someone is with you, you can put him in a stroller or separate cart.
  • One of the reasons it's dangerous to put the car seat on the top of the cart is because it can damage the locking mechanism that locks into the base in your car and that mechanism can malfunction during a crash. So it's not just an immediate danger.
  • I just stack around seat and under the cart or baby wear.
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  • rgzrgz member
    Thanks for the input. I will just plan make more frequent trips so I can keep the seat in the cart. Or start practicing baby wearing when I don't need much or anything to see if we can get the hang of it outside the house. Might hold her attention longer if it's not just her & me!
  • I will baby wear or put the car seat in the shopping cart. Our local grocery store though has certain shopping carts specifically made for you to put a car seat on top of so when I shop there what's what I use.
  • I just stack around seat and under the cart or baby wear.
    I got very good at this and using the shelf under the cart. My daughter hated baby wearing. I haven't had to figure this out with the new LO yet since DH is still on paternity leave. 

    Jamie


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  • JulieK79JulieK79 member
    edited January 2016
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