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Home › Articles › Holiday: Winter › Mall Madness

Mall Madness

Tackling Shopping With a Baby or Toddler

By Lisa A. Goldstein

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(1stBooks Library, 2003). "After changing so many diapers, location isn't really important," he says. "The child's comfort comes before dignity."

To avoid hunger meltdowns, feed the baby before you leave. Bring a bottle with room temperature water, recommends Pinsky. Brott says to bring enough to last longer than you'll be out. If you're using powdered formula and there's clean water where you're going, then you can put powder in bottles without the water, which eliminates potential spoilage. If the baby is receiving breast milk, bring a small cooler pack to keep the milk fresh.

Toddlers in Tow
The scariest thing about shopping with a toddler is the meltdown factor. The best way to avoid this is to teach the child about behavior long before you go shopping. "You want to train the child that you say things once and then there will be a consequence," says Randel. "We don't start these lessons on a shopping trip." He also recommends teaching them what "do not touch" means.

Pinsky takes the opposite tack. "Any effort to make the kids behave is pointless," he says. "Just understand that you are taking highly susceptible and impressionable beings into an invasive environment that has been designed by scientists to stimulate their little animal brains into a frenzy of desire."

Work from a carefully edited shopping list and don't stop to browse, says Pinsky. Avoid the aisles that carry tempting food items, such as the prepackaged snack aisle. "Either that, or substitute a crowbar for the diaper bag so you can pry items from Junior

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