Whether they are babies, toddlers, preschoolers or school aged children, shopping with them can be challenging.
Here are a few things to make each stage easier:
Babies:
- Take them directly after a feeding if possible. Who knows maybe they’ll nap!
- Make your list at home during nap time, so you can focus on what you need
- Schedule your groceries to be picked up or even delivered. Sure having them picked up or delivered is fine most of the time, but when your babies are little the more you force yourself to go out the easier it will be.
- For the first few weeks if you need groceries have someone else get them. Delivering a baby is hard on your whole body.
- I found baby carriers can make shopping a little easier
- Remember infant carrier carseats are safer in the basket not on top where smaller children sit.
Toddlers:
- Bring snacks, no really bring snacks with an extra ziplock for the snacks they drop on the floor
- Bring a few toys for distracting also get your hands on some of these rings if you don’t have them yet.
- Make your list at home
- Get cup strap which works on soppy cups, bottles, and some toys, for those moments when your little one wants to throw their cup.
- If you have a lengthy list try to take some breaks, bonus points to the stores with fish! Kids love fish.
- If you have a “helpful” toddler encourage them to grab something off the shelf and “put” it in the cart.
Preschoolers:
- Preschoolers (most) like to be independent and not ride in the cart, which means chasing them down when they decide to run. When I first encountered my own runner, I took the time to teach him why we couldn’t just run off from mom.
- Bring snacks, no really bring snacks with an extra ziplock for the snacks they drop on the floor
- Make your list at home
- Try to teach them about the produce you are picking out even if its just practicing how to say it
- Have them count items you are buying more than one of
- Read a few things off of your list to them before heading in, have them grab those items.
School aged:
- This is the perfect age to teach them how to pick produce, how to watch out for the dented cans and check expiration dates on the dairy.
- Have your child help you make your list at home.
- Depending on the age, have them read the list to you
- Try a new food with them, this will encourage them to be more adventurous with their food.
- As they become older challenge them to find the best price on an item, remember the whole grocery list, or even pick all of the ingredients for a meal.
From the moment they were born they have craved knowledge.
They need to spread their wings and learn with their whole body. Shopping with children won’t always be terrible. If you only have a baby now and its currently easy to shop with your little one, it may continue to be easy or it could get harder. With every age know that there can be a melt down. Its how you handle it that makes a difference.
When your little one is having a melt down and someone, like me, stops and says: I’ve been there and it gets better know that they mean it!
It takes a village to raise kids, really it does! Lastly on rare occasions you find someone who stops and tries to distract your little one briefly. They see you on the brink of a melt down yourself and they speak to your child with a kind soft voice.
I have been on both ends of this spectrum. When I encounter this situation I do not get too close to the child as that may seem life threatening. I try to talk to the kiddo who is most likely at check out with his/her parent and district them with “hey thats a cool shirt or toy!” Sometimes its the little things that help other moms out. Happy shopping!
~ The Nurturing Doula, LLC
Katy Schmidt
805-791-8325
http://www.thenurturingdoula.com
thenurturingdoula@hotmail.com
The Nurturing Doula, LLC 