How do you deal with a 1 year in the stores?

Question

My daughter is 17 months and she doesn't like to stay in the cart. The straps don't work, she will wiggles out of them then she’ll stand up and try to jump out, it's very frustrating (she wants me to hold her or she wants to run around). How do I keep her busy in the cart while I shop?

Answer 1

get her to help you; sounds too simple, but really does work!

we'd put the list together before we went; my kids had their own 'special' lists with things like grapes, biscuits etc (easy things for them to draw on their lists). i'd keep the other boring (the proper) list separate!

when we got to the supermarket the kids had their own lists, so one would have the picture of apples - so would get the apples 'on their own' (supervised at a small distance) and put then in the trolley themselves. then the other would have bread, so would go and fetch the bread 'by themselves' and put it in the trolley. in between all that you put the other stuff in.

maybe a little reward at the end for a job well done . . . piece of fruit or a sweetie?

Answer 2

Would it be possible for you to "wear" her in a sling or backpack?

They are more "wiggle free" proof and she may feel more secure and part of the action being close to you.  

This also keeps your hands free and allows you to talk with her and engage her in your shopping.

Mom of 6

Answer 3

You need to be consistent, sit her back down and explain that she cannot stand in the cart because she can get hurt.  My son is just turning 1 this month and rarely tries standing because we stopped him from doing it in his high chair at home.  If he even starts to stand we say "sit on your butt" and he sits right back down.  Do not lift her out of the cart if she stands.  She will continue to do it, because she is getting what she wants.

You can always have her "help you" push the cart.  My son loves to do that, and he will do it as long as we are moving.  As soon as we stop moving he tries to run off or cries.  I also just bought one of those backpack harnesses.  It is a monkey and the tail is the so called "leash" as some people say.  I see no problem with these to teach a child to stay near you.  And once you no longer need the tail, it comes off and your daughter has a cute little backpack.  Once my son is old enough to understand me, I will be teaching him to hang on to the cart at all times, but until then I don't mind using a "leash" so I can get things done a little quicker.

Answer 4

I have a 20 month old that does the same thing. I try to give him a snack or a book to occupy him. He also likes to try and hook and unhook the straps, so that tends to keep him busy a while.

Answer 5

that is the same age as my daughter. I know what its like. If I do bring her w/ me I hit the toy isle first and let her play with a few things. When she is bored of those, we use up the snacks. lol...after that I engage her in my shopping as much as possible, ex. "wow look at all those cans of soup, what kind do you like." Or "what color is that plum" etc. It seems to work but it also exhausts me. I usually take one night a week where I leave an hour before her bedtime to do groceries, my husband gets her ready for bed. Much easier and I only miss out on an hour. It is also Great for my husband and her to have some alone time. Good luck.

Answer 6

okay now before i had kids I said I would NEVER but it works for me and my 2 always running in stores boys... you know those straps... kinda looks like a leash.  everytime i use it people without kids look at me and say how can you use that thing but parents ask where they can get one.  it may look bad but the kids have their freedom.... well sort of!

Answer 7

I don't know if your local store offers the "special" carts...race car or firetruck shaped, with a special seat for the kids and a basket behind it...but those worked wonders for me at that age with my daughter...she actually (and call me bad mum till you're blue in the face) fell out of a regular cart at walmart once and I avoid regular carts now. The kid ones generally have a steering wheel  for them to play with and a better buckle system (some even have 5 point harnesses like carseats) for kids. Plus, the cabin is generally very low to the ground and comes with cup holders and such.

I also recommend as you're shopping, plan out a route of "stops" for her...generally speaking, most grocery stores will offer tastes and/or cookies at the deli/bakery/meat counters, just ask if they have anything you can try, then feed it to her slowly as you shop. I am NO fan of bribery, but if you offer it before they start to misbehave, it's not a bribe, it's a reward for good behavior. Picks her favorite snack (or one she doesn't get often) and let her have a little at a time through the store. I used gummy snacks myself, and my daughter rarely gets those at home. Plus, they come in a box with small packets and you can give her a packet at a time. Other things I've used are string cheese, deli meats rolled up, granola bars, and strawberries. The key is slowly dispensing the goods! LOL

Good luck!

Answer 8

My daughter is the exact same way! I have learned that if she grabs something off the shelf or if I do and she seems to want it, I just give it to her until we are all done shopping lol. It keeps her busy while I shop.  

Answer 9

My 20 month old has a low tolerance to riding in a shopping cart these days.  Have you tried one of those monkey back packs with a leash?  (I found one at Walmart) It helps me a lot and my son normally doesn't mind it.  He prefers walking and this way he can't wander off.  And I get a lot of compliments on how cute he is when he has it on.

Answer 10

The backpack leash thing are great for this.  I have one for all three of my kids.  The three year old loves it and the twins think it is great too.  When the twins are using it they like the fact that if they trip they don't fall.  I know a lot of people frown on them but I have gotten more positive feed back than negative when I am out shopping.  Plus I put my money in the oldest ones backpack so I don't have to worry about my purse along with the kids.  

Answer 11

try putting her in the larger part of the cart and when you get something she will just play with that just make sure she doesn't try to open to much stuff.  

Answer 12

Just tell her if she doesn't behave and stay close to you, you'll have to go back home (or wait in the car, if you're with someone else who can finish the errands). If she misbehave, do go back home so she'll know next time you are serious. Come back for your errands later on.

You could also bring little toys such as books or else for her to look at while you do your groceries.

Answer 13

I have 14 month old twins and it's hard!

My husband and I do our grocery shopping together so one of us pushes them in a stroller and the other one pushes the cart.  More often than not one of them ends up getting carried and the other ends up in the cart by the end of it.

It's just something we have to do as quickly as possible.

I don't like shopping with toddlers... that's for sure!  Any way you can do your shopping when someone else is watching her?  Pretty soon I'm going to start shopping alone while my husband stays home with our daughters.