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Basket Wars

Tackling the Grocery Store with Little Ones

By Donna Smith

While strolling down the frozen food aisle recently, I overheard a mom telling her two children that they had to be very good and shop fast to keep the frozen juice bars from melting. The toddler immediately stood like a little soldier beside the basket. Even the younger child, sitting in the basket, stopped fidgeting, as if to help Mom navigate the aisles better. What a great trick! I watched in amazement as she pushed the metal basket quickly, but calmly, toward the produce department to begin shopping as her sons kept an eye on those magical juice bars.

We all have our tricks to make the dreaded grocery shopping trip as painless as possible. Beth Hespe, a mother of one in Newtown, Pa., has brought her now 7-year-old to the store with her since he was 2 weeks old. "I found the best way to approach food shopping with a baby, toddler [or] young child was to plan it," she says. Hespe has these rules for grocery shopping with young children:

1. Never go shopping with a hungry baby. Feed him first, but bring snacks such as Cheerios in a baggie to keep the baby occupied. Bring a drink in a bottle or sippy cup, too.
2. Be prepared. Try not to go to the store if you know you'll have to change your baby, and keep wipes and a diaper handy for accidents. For children who are potty training, take them to the bathroom before you get to the store.
3. Bring little things to entertain the children such as rattles, books or stuffed animals (but keep an eye on them so you don't lose them) for smaller kids. As they get older, a book can suffice.
4. Never go shopping with a tired baby – let the baby nap first. Exception to the rule: Some kids can sleep anywhere. If you've got a sleeper, get your shopping done while they sleep.
5. Don't give in and buy toddlers toys or candy while in the store. Those in-store displays at the checkout and toy aisles are a killer (don't go down them). Once you give in, they'll expect it.
6. Make the baby as safe and comfortable as possible. Some stores have baby carts with infant seats or carts on which you can put your infant carrier safely. For older babies who can sit up, you can buy cloth seats that Velcro on to a shopping cart and have safety harnesses/lap belts. It is yours so you can be sure it is clean and it will protect your baby from touching the "yucky, germy cart."

Want to see more?

• Talk about it!
• Hi, Ho, Cheerios: Pleasing Picky Palates
• Are You New? When Does Mom Have to Relinquish the Title?
• Public Scrutiny: Disciplining Your Toddler Outside of the Home