When my first born started asking to use the car cart at the grocery store before I had other kids I’d do everything thing I could to distract him. “How about a cookie instead, sweetie?” Those buggers are awkward and difficult to steer, not to mention they have a smaller basket for the groceries. Many of them have broken buckles so every time I’d stop the cart, he’d start to climb out. After bumping into things time and time again because I just couldn’t get the hang of driving it (I swear you should need a special license to operate these things) I flat out told him “NO” to the car cart and dealt instead with the tears that resulted.
Fast forward to today. I now have three children ages 3, 2 and 3 months. Today I NEED that car cart. In fact, just yesterday I actually stalked a mom who had the lone car cart at the grocery store. I am not kidding you. I tracked that woman down then waited until she went through the checkout line and begged her to switch me a regular cart for that previously dreaded car cart. Luckily her kids complied and agreed to take a regular cart of groceries out to the parking lot so it didn’t get ugly.
I know I am not the only mom out there with two children that need to be in a cart. Yes, my two year old has mastered walking but she hasn’t mastered self control over touching anything and everything she wants to. She hasn’t developed any sort of fear–of strangers, of being alone, of other shoppers running her over with their carts or of getting eColi from licking the cold metal rim of the meat counter.
Why don’t grocery stores take into consideration that a large portion of their customers are moms? They try to throw us a bone with their stupid car carts instead of making carts available that will function for everyone. Costco, bless their hearts, has a cart that fits two children right up front, side by side. Their carts are large but not giant by any means. I wish I had my own fold up Costco cart that I could take with me every where I go with my kids. Don’t even get me started on Rite Aid and Walgreens little mini carts. At least with grocery carts I can put the infant carrier in the basket and my two year old up front and if I’m lucky still be able to squeeze in a loaf of bread and a gallon of milk if I’m desperate. Those drug store carts won’t even fit an infant carrier in the basket. I know, I’ve tried. Do you know how hard it is to carry an infant carrier on one arm, hold the hand of a two year old (who sees M&M’s and decides they MUST be hers) and carry the single pack of diapers you went in for?
Yes, I know. I made the decision to have children close together and I wouldn’t have it any other way despite my resentment towards inadequate shopping carts. Whose with me?
You need to wear that baby! I’ve got a 6 year old who walks, a 3 year old who hangs on to the front of the cart, a 2 year old in the seat, and I strap the baby on. I love a Moby wrap for newborn to 5 months or so, then switch to my Mod Mum sling or a ring sling for a hip-sitting baby. I actually have lots of fun grocery shopping, and the kids all have their places. I always say no to the carts. I can’t drive them without knocking over whole shelves of cereal. LOL
Cindy- you are right! I have a BabyHawk and a baby K’tan that I could use. I always forget and have never actually used them for grocery shopping but I’m going to try that next time. I’d like to be more of a baby wearer but it hurts my back. I’ve worn her for things like our trip to the pumpkin patch (she was only 3 weeks old and still hurt my back!) and to the Christmas tree farm. Places where I can’t use a stroller. I’ve also used them on occasion for making dinner. Thanks again for the suggestion!
Absolutely agree with you! I have three kids, 6, 3, and 2. It’s always zany taking them anywhere and the cart dilemma is a big part of it.
Even worse is knowing which carts will fit your infant carrier in the seat area and which won’t–I had them memorized. Now that my youngest is 2, I am coming out of this time of our lives; but I still like to have the two youngest contained!
Wearing the kids in slings never worked well for me either– usually the baby was asleep when we arrived at the grocery store and I didn’t want to disturb her. I had a cool carseat that has since been discontinued that actually had a strap INSTEAD of a handle, and I loved it. It helped immensely, even though it was awkward carrying that while holding a little person’s hand.
My favorite grocery store just started using carts with a seat attachment on the front that seats two kids. Although it’s extremely unwieldy, I still prefer to use it because having three contained kids is awesome.
I feel you on hating the car carts!! I have a 5 year old, 4 year old, 19 month old, and 2 month old. I am lucky to shop at a grocery store that has the same type of carts as Costco, but they also have the car carts! They are not my friend! I do wear my LO most of the time, but during the winter it is just too much work to get him out of the car seat, into a snowsuit, and then into the sling.
My latest structure is as follows… put 1 month old on me in my baby k’tan. put 2.5 years old in front seat of cart. put 4.5 year old inside main area of cart and have him be the “food watcher”!
last time i used the car cart, both climbed out and ran out of the front part. picture me running down grocery aisle with baby strapped on chasing 2 kids!