Going out to do the food shop with a newborn

[owltrousers]

So today is my first day on my own with my 2 week old baby. My DH is back at work. I need to go to aldi to do the food shop and for some reason I am really stressing about it.

My question is, how do you make it easy on yourself? Do you put baby in the car seat and then in a trolley or do they have special trolleys for car seats? What if baby has a meltdown halfway round?

I'd like to know how others do it, it might put me at ease. I know its a silly thing to get worked up about.

[Womble75]

Aldi have thr trolleys that you can just pop the car seat in. Dead easy. For this reason and the fact I can whizz round Aldi quick it was the only place I shopped with newborn DS!
Good luck!

[Womble75]

PS Pop the hood up on the car seat so the lights don't blind them. They are hellish bright in our Aldi.
Don't worry about a meltdown - the staff in ours were fab when it happened to me at the checkout- even packed my bags

[sourpatchkid]

Sling is the easiest

1. Plan what you're going for
2. Do as small a shop as possible
3. Prepare for the Manic Aldi packing at the end
4. Make sure the baby is fed before you go

[BroccoliOnTheFloor]

Good luck.

If the baby starts crying, stay calm (easier said than done). Babies cry. Other shoppers better deal with it, it is not your job to think of them right now. Your baby will be fine crying for 10min it takes you to finish your shop calmly.

I would usuall walk to the shop, and for a long time this would send DS to sleep and give me a calm uninterrupted supermarketing experience. Sometimes I'd even treat myself to a coffee and cake next to a sleeping baby afterwards. These days are over, DS now gets super excited about seeing all the food and wonders why he can't have all of it right now.

[WindyScales]

There’s only the small trollies at our Aldi. Do you have a sling? If not and they don’t have the big trollies put your baby in it’s buggy and use a basket and a big shopping bag (hanging off buggy) to put your groceries. Then go home and set up a home delivery service to do online shopping in the future! Good luck 🍀

[Jaxtellerswife]

Just wanted to say congratulations
Just try not to get too flustered, I used to get hot and bothered and it doesn't help

[CAAKE]

That's what Ocado is for!

[MagicFajita]

I get my shopping delivered. Takes five minutes to put it away when baby is napping.

Ocado are very good.

[owltrousers]

Thanks everyone - I think they do have those big trolleys you can put the car seat on top of, only thing is I'm 5'2 so can't see over the top, haha.

I'm waiting for baby to wake for his feed and then I'll take him straight afterwards so hopefully that should keep him happy for at least an hour which will be enough time. I've made a list too! in order that the aisles run and everything...

@WindyScales we used to use tesco grocery delivery but aldi saves us £20 every week so its well worth going, I feel its good to get out of the house as well!

[MagicFajita]

@CAAKE

[GrumpyOldBagFace]

I'm 5'8" and I can't see over the top of those car seat trolleys!

Good luck.

[statetrooperstacey]

Ooh how exciting! First trip out alone! If they don't have the proper trolleys for the car seat just put the seat inside a normal trolley and balance a basket in top. Browse the special aisles and show off your baby, make sure they have a cute hat on.

[owltrousers]

We survived!

It was impossible to see over the carseat but I did lots of side winding. Meltdown didnt happen until we were in the car on the way home and he managed to settle himself within 5 mins. Hurray!

[sourpatchkid]

Yay!!! You're so brave, I think the supermarket shop is one of the hardest you can do.

[owltrousers]

Thank you @sourpatchkid ! Now to conquer the garden centre

[Jenijena]

Garden centre is easier, they often have somewhere selling CAKE!

[winterwonderly]

I know what you mean about getting out but online grocery shopping has been my best decision since having kids! Still go out and get a few things during the week but get the majority delivered including all those bulky items.

[sycamore54321]

I agree you should crack on with it - having a tiny baby can be socially isolating so things like needing to go to the supermarket can be the incentive you need. Then you will be well versed in getting out and about with the baby by the time you want to do something more social. Skip the online delivery if you can.

If all comes to all and the baby really is very upset, you simply abandon the trolley and leave. But you will almost certainly be fine. Infant car seats can fit inside normal large trolleys, but this leaves surprisingly little room for the groceries. You could consider using your pram either and filling the basket, even if you have driven there and back. Or a sling as someone suggested but it can be a nuisance to carry lots of shopping bags with a sling.

When it comes to returning the trolley, if you've had the baby in the car seat in it, what I do is being trolley to car, unpack groceries. Wheel trolley with baby in it back to trolley bay. Unload baby and at this point you will almost certainly need to put he car seat on the ground for a few seconds while you dock the trolley and get your coin back. It will seem like the worst thing ever but it's fine, just obviously make sure you don't deposit the car seat in a parking space or something! Then pick up the car seat, return to your car and off you go. It sounds way more convoluted than it actually is. I only mention it because the first time I did this, I carefully strapped the baby back into the car first and was then left with the groceries and trolley so I had to take him back out again.

[sirlee66]

Ahhh well done OP!! This will be me in 10 weeks when my DS arrives so I have taken everyone's suggestions too!!!

[owltrousers]

Thanks @sycamore54321 its all about the logistics isn't it?

[gluteustothemaximus]

Well done OP.

To be fair, a 2 week old having a meltdown is kinda cute. The cry isn’t deafening and for other shoppers like me, I love looking at newborns. So tiny!

A 2 year old having a meltdown. Everyone stares at you. No one thinks they’re cute.

That’s where I’m at!

Congratulations on your little one x

[MaGratgarlik1983]

Glad it went well. I do mine online now as toddler DS would bankrupt me putting everything he wants in the the trolley!