Trips To The Store w/ an Infant, How Do You Manage It?

Rebel - posted on 01/02/2010

I cant do it! Haha for me it is so stressful. I have a 7 yr old, a 5 yr old and a 3 month old. I've taken them all to the store a couple times and my blood pressure and anxiety went through the roof! I cant think straight with all them with me. I dont know how people do it! Then dragging just the baby when the kids are at school is even difficult cause you got to pack his stuff, drag his heavy carseat and half the time it doesnt sit right on a shopping cart! Ugh I try to leave them home with daddy whenever possible. I went to the mall with just the baby for the 1st time and it was awful. If he wasnt screaming, I was running into racks and sweating and stressing! Will not be doing that again! Haha

Emily - posted on 01/02/2010

Try not to stress! I swear by having a full tummy & a sling, like most of the other moms. I nurse my daughter before we leave and then pop her in the sling while we shop. She is usually either very content to look around or takes a snooze while I cruise through and get the items on my list.

Rukaya - posted on 12/30/2009

just feed before you leave, give her a diaper change, i would go when it almost her nap time that way once she is fed and with a clean diaper, she will sleep in the car and while im shopping. that my routine! it works. also if she is a wake bring hanging toys for her to play with as well.

Amy - posted on 12/30/2009

I go right before she gets hungry, leave her in her carrier, and let her have a bottle while we shop, that way she is content, doesnt cry and will fall asleep by the time i check out lol

Kathryn - posted on 12/17/2009

Go right after they have eaten and talk to them the whole time and smile at the baby and then get in and out lol

Becky - posted on 12/17/2009

I have a 22 month old and my 3 month old, and I take them everywhere with me. I always feed baby before we go, and try not to be out during Cole's (the older one's) naptime. Zach will usually fall asleep in his carseat if he's been fed, and I just leave him in there and either pop it in the stroller (we have a double one) or in the back of the cart if we're grocery shopping. I prefer to leave him in the carseat, especially in the winter because I don't want to be transferring him back and forth in the cold. But I always bring my sling along in case he gets tired of the carseat and gets fussy. I'm also comfortable nursing pretty much wherever, which helps. I'll just find a place to sit down and feed him if he's hungry.

If we're going to be out for awhile, I bring a drink and snack for Cole, and sometimes a toy. In the grocery store, he likes to help me pick things out, and I usually let him keep a couple of things (that he can't get open, of course) up front with him. I end up picking them up a lot, but oh well. I am very lucky that he loves going out and is VERY well behaved when we're out. I don't think I've ever had to deal with a tantrum while we've been shopping. (knock on wood!)

Katy - posted on 12/11/2009

I have an 11 week old boy and a five year old daughter. I felt exactly like you when I had my daughter, and yes it is stressful and such a pain to cart all the baby gear around. But someone said to me that this is the time when they are most portable, in a few months it will be solid foods and bibs and highchairs to deal with too. The more you go out the more confident you will feel about it. I myself have to go out to get food etc all the time, it drives me nuts. But you will get used to it, and it will get easier for you I promise! P.S And don't give a rats about people judging and looking if your kid cry!

Jenette - posted on 12/11/2009

When I was a new mom, my daughter started crying in the middle of one of my shopping trips. I found a quiet place in the store and ended up singing her to sleep. I got lots of sympathy smiles from moms as they passed by. We all understand because believe it or not, all of our children act up in public at some time.

Now when I go shopping with both of my kids, I have a list and I hurry. My daughter gets to hold the list and has one of her own. So, when I cross something off of my list, she writes on hers too. I also let her help put things in the cart. I'll grab cereal off of the shelf and put it on the ground and she will run around after me and put them in the cart (kind of like leaving a trail of bread crumbs). Of course, you can't do that with all food items.

But I find it best to go shopping when I'm in a good mood because I will have more patience. I shop for the things I really need first and do the browsing last in case we need to leave.

Susan - posted on 12/10/2009

Hi Kole - i agree with the ladies! i use a moby for my little guy and he's happy as a clam. normally he falls asleep while shopping...that is, of course, after making sure he's fed and changed. the tough part is getting him soundly back into the carseat without a huge upset.

good luck!

Jessica - posted on 12/08/2009

i take my 2 month old to town all the time.of course my fiancee always goes with me.i never go alone because it is hard 2 handle a baby(or babys) at home alone,much less in public.but it is hard and i wish u the best to finding a solution for this problem.

Trinity - posted on 12/08/2009

Hi.
I have 2 kiddos, 2 1/2 year old and a 2 1/2 month old. I take both to the grocery store alot since my husband is in the Navy and gone alot. at first I thought it was gonna be hard but usually it isnt. If I have just a few things to grab then I leave the baby in her car seat and place it on the front of the cart and put the 2 year old in the back of the cart. OI always try to feed the baby before we leave and have a paci close by. Giving my 2 year old a snack or special drink while we are there helps keep her entertained or i give her a special toy. Now if I have a full grocery trip planned I put the baby in a carrier and the toddler in the cart. Also just a suggestion, some grocery stores will do your shopping for you! a few near me in VA allow you to go online and pick your items and for a $5 charge they will shop for you and then load your groceries in your car when you get there. No getting the baby out of your car! Hope this helps!

Katie - posted on 12/08/2009

hey Kole,
I am a single mum of 4 kids aged 6, 5, 19 months and 11 weeks. Being a single parent i have no choice but to take the tribe with me so i plan it all out. Before i leave the house i make sure the older kids have had a drink and a snack, been to the toilet and r clean, the younger 2 i make sure they are fed with fresh nappies on right before i leave. i have a pram always in the car for my toddler and i have a sling in my car for the baby which is very convenient. my point is if u have all ur things organised before each trip and planned out u can generally get in and out without too much fuss unless little one is just having a rotten day...days like that i avoid going anywhere lol.

Vanessa - posted on 12/07/2009

i'm a big fan of the car seat/stroller combo..it's not quick but, the transition is smooth..i usually give her a bottle (i pump so she can always eat without distracting me) and she usually passes out..it's a pain to load and unload but it works for me..i have a bjorn but, personally i like keeping her enclosed in such public enviroments..it's nice to have a semi sneeze guard against all the h1n1 frenzy ;)

Diana - posted on 12/07/2009

There is no more quick trips. :)
At the moment i put the baby in a baby bjorn and my toddler in a pram straped up or put the toddler a shopping trolley.

Going to the shops for one item takes me about an hour. the baby bjorn is great but as they get heavier it's not that great.

Stacey - posted on 12/07/2009

I have 4 that I have to take with me (3 months, 19months, 3 and 5). One: I put my babe in a carrier and the others in the trolley. Two: I alway try to feed them before hand. Three: I never think it is going to be a SHORT trip. Its all in the mental attitude. Understand that it will get a little hard at times and that it won't be as short as you like and it all seems to be ok.. There are times when I would like to dump and run but its just not possible. Patricia I love you statement about feeling like super mum its so true.

Patricia - posted on 12/06/2009

I have a MOBY wrap and also a hotsling...My daughter LOVES the sling! She immediately falls asleep in it...Same with my moby, but she tends to sleep longer for me in the sling. Maybe try some type of carrier. I always go on trips right after she eats as well...also to save on the time so she wont have to be fed while we are out.

I always feel like "supermom" when I am wearing the sling and she's asleep. It makes it look so effortless, when really I am still learning with her and still get anxious taking her places, but to my surprise she exceeds my expectations every time! Whenever she starts getting fussy anywhere, I put her in the sling and its all over :)

Stephanie - posted on 12/06/2009

MOBY WRAP! Enough said.

Sara - posted on 12/06/2009

I do the same thing - I use the baby bjorn and go just after she's fed. Makes it MUCH easier!

Tamara - posted on 12/06/2009

Kole,



I take Zahara shopping all the time. i plan to go after she has had a feed. i either use my baby born harness to take her or use one of the shopping trolleys for infants. i usually find that she goes to sleep.