What do u do when u go 2 the store w/ more than 1 young child & u cant fit them all in 1 shopping cart?

Question

I dont have a babysitter, and my husband works so I have to take my kids with me. My 7 mo old sits up front in the infant seat and I have to put my 22 mo old in the basket part. He somewhat enjoys sitting there and "helping" mommy put things in the cart but can get a little out of hand somtimes and refuses to sit down. For the 1st time, which I knew would happen sooner or later, he fell out. Hes okay, dont worry, but scared me to death! Its the only way I can shop, I cant let him walk beside me because I will be chasing him all over and never get any shopping done. Our store does not have the carts with the 2 seats up front for 2 kids. And I DO NOT have the luxury of a babysitter because everyone works. Any suggestions? I distract him the best I can but Im running out of options. Hes almost 2 and doesnt quite grasp the fact of "doing what he is told" quite yet. Thanks for your help.

And its not easy dragging a second cart aroud either, tried that once. I hate putting him in the basket cuase I know its not safe unless I can keep him seated. My mom said I fell out when I was his age but I wriggled out of the belt up front!

And my 7 mo old is too big to put in an infant carrier seat ant put it over the basket part and my oldest ride up front. Thats what I used to do. She fits just right in the infant seat attached to the cart.

Answer 1

When mine were that little, I grocery shopped at night when they were asleep, and my husband was home.

Could you enlist a friend to do a trade, like either swap days or take turns the same day, you go and she watches your kids, then she goes and you watch her kids?

Does a nearby church offer a Mother's Day Out program you could do for 1-3 days a week, 9a-12n, depending on what you need? You'll really appreciate this time to do lots of things, like dr appts, hair cuts, working out, cleaning house, or whatever.

Answer 2

You could try putting the 7 month old in a Baby Bjorn carrier and put the 22 month old in the seat.

My only other suggestion would be to get your husband/boyfriend/baby-father or neighbor to watch the the kids while you do your shopping at a 24 hour store late at night or early in the morning. It will take 1/3 of the time and give you a little outside personal time.

Unfortunately the best way to work around these situations is scheduling everything and trying to be prepared in advance. Which of course is the hardest thing to do as a parent. Take a deep breathe. Good luck

Answer 3

Here's some ideas. Shop at night after the kids go to bed and your husband is home. Or carry your 7 month old in a carrier on your back and put the 22 month old in the cart seat. Or take a friend with you shopping and tell them why you need thier help.

Answer 4

My aunt had twins when her daughter was only 15 monhs old making shopping alone almost impossible. She used what we called the push pull method where you use two carts so both children are safely in the seat and you push one with one hand and pull with the other it is hard so this may not help. Also what about putting the baby in a front or back carrier. Don't know if this will help you at all but i hope it does. Good luck!

Answer 5

I don't think a lot of people realize it, but if you need any kind of help shopping (even for something like this), most of the time all you need to do is ask the store to get one of their employees to help. If you were in a wheelchair and needed someone to follow you while you shopped, they would do it. I bet if you just ask for help, they would have one of the baggers follow you in a separate cart and watch your child while you shop. Try it. I know WalMart helps and Fred Meyer usually has a play area where you can leave your children with a sitter while you shop. It couldn't hurt to ask. Or you could wait until your husband is home and leave the kids with him while you go shopping. People have been doing that for years.

Answer 6

I definitely know where you are coming from, kids challenge their parents on a daily basis. My children are now 11,6,5 and the youngest just turned 2. I have learned to not show my frustration or let them know they are overwhelming me, cause then they win. Try to make a game out of your shopping, or while driving or when ever. Kids love to play and have our attention. Another thing that might help is to get one of those cloth carriers that strap to you to put the infant in while the older one sits in the front of the cart. yes it gets hard but it will help you stay in shape.

Answer 7

ok sounds harsh but get a baby leash its a harness thatthe baby wears and a handel mommy holds baby can walk mommy can regulate OR the 7 month old put in a carrier ar seat and set in or on top of the basket part not the seat and put the 2 yr old in the seat graco car seats fit perfectly on walmart shoping carts

Answer 8

I remember those days! You could get a harness for the 22 month old and let him walk outside the cart. (The type that attaches to the child's middle and then to your hand) Also you could trade a friend with kids, you go grocery shopping, you shop kid less, one day, she the next. Another way is that you could offer to do a family member or friend's grocery shopping if they watch your children. Most of the time when I went grocery shopping, I would try at get out of there as fast as I could when I had the children with me. I would also plan out my grocery list before hand. Then I would time myself and then see if I could get out of the store, before that time.

Answer 9

infant backpack you Carrie the 7 m/o in the backpack or front carrier and put the 22 m/o in the shopping cart where you can seat belt him in

Answer 10

Goodness that sounds very stressful. My sister is going through the same thing except for her children are 4 and 5 and they'll run around the store like crazy. You can try using those strollers for toddlers, you know just to keep them still while you are shopping. My sister had bought one when the kids were younger and it helped her so much when she would go shopping.

she bought it here: http://www.babyuniverse.com/cat/toddler/115/DoubleStrollers.html