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Original poster

Does it need 7 people (3 adults and 4 kids) to do a food shop?

130 replies

rhomb · 23/12/2025 18:31

Braved today at 7am. Saw entire families shopping. One example was two parents, 4 DC and one of the parents’ DM. Kids were, guessing between 4-12.

Why couldn’t at least one of the adults stayed at home looking after the kids? Two were bored (think being dragged out of bed didn’t help them) and the other two were demanding “can we have this?”.

Please keep shopping numbers to a minimum. It will help you, other shoppers and staff.

OP posts:
Netcurtainnelly · 23/12/2025 20:42

Daft thread. There's loads of reasons why children are out shopping with their parents.

Anyway what's wrong with kids. Some adults are worse and more bad mannered.

I8toys · 23/12/2025 20:41

Agree - shopping's a chore not a pastime and especially at this time of year. Go do something more interesting instead.

BlackCatFanClub · 23/12/2025 20:38

I saw a dad shopping with 2 kids yesterday, one in the trolley and one doing the list. It was nice to see.
The issue is when both parents are there and obviously the children are hating it/getting in the way etc. it’s bad enough having DH with me (yes he was getting in the way of people) so no way would I also inflict DC on the public too.

MissyB1 · 23/12/2025 20:37

They will be the same people that take the entire extended family to A&E or a GP appointment with them, they can’t leave the house on their own.

Papyrophile · 23/12/2025 20:31

Food shopping is a one person operation, as long as the list has everyone's input.

CeciliaMars · 23/12/2025 20:28

My kids love coming to Aldi. I’m not going to make them stay at home to please you.

Goinggreymammy · 23/12/2025 20:28

Moonnstarz · 23/12/2025 18:36

I always find it bizarre too when the whole family goes as if it is a fun day out. I find it much easier to do the shop when DH is home so I don't have to take the children with me.

Hmm..... all well and good as long as its not then counted up as "i minded the kids so you could have time to yourself". I mostly shop online or when they are in school (work part time) but if I need to i take them with me.... i never use up precious time my DH takes off work (self employed works far too much) to have him sit home and me trail around the supermarket.

Pineapplewaves · 23/12/2025 20:14

My DC love doing the food shop, they don’t get to go very often as they’re usually at school when I do it and it does cost us more money as they pick up things we wouldn’t usually notice but why not? There’s no rule limiting the number of people per trolley.

drspouse · 23/12/2025 20:11

I worry about the mums in these families - if their P is controlling them/their spending but too incompetent on purpose to go himself.

RedToothBrush · 23/12/2025 20:09

Please keep shopping numbers to a minimum. It will help you, other shoppers and staff.

Please keep your lecturing to a minimum. It will help me and other shoppers just get on with it.

BernardButlersBra · 23/12/2025 20:07

No. It makes no sense to me. I left my toddler twins at home with my husband

DeftGoldHedgehog · 23/12/2025 20:05

I reckon it's because some men are so useless with the kids that they can't be at home alone with them, or refuse to, and are also so useless at shopping that they can't be trusted to do that either. Just a waste of space.

DeftGoldHedgehog · 23/12/2025 20:00

I saw so many people dragging tired, bored and cranky little kids round Bluewater a couple of weeks ago. Some people seem to have no sense at all.

Applespearsandpeaches · 23/12/2025 19:57

You can’t start policing who’s allowed in a supermarket. Just go at a non family friendly time. Far fewer families and kids at 7am or 9pm - I hate having to work around the multiple kids, the people who bring their bored DH and shout at him about cheese, the people for whom a trip to the supermarket is some kind of novelty experience instead of a weekly drudge, the people comparing the dates on a dozen different packets of ham… so I shop when they aren’t there. Sainsbury’s first thing this morning was quiet and the only shoppers there were lone middle aged women with a list, moving purposefully and making fast choices. Much easier.

ChangeIsDue · 23/12/2025 19:54

tiredofchristmas · 23/12/2025 18:45

My other half was working so I had to take 2 toddlers with me. If you think I did it for fun you are very much mistaken!

I think you have misunderstood the post. The OP wasn’t complaining about lone parents shopping with the kids because there was no other option. It was that Uncle Tom Cobley & All came along too.

Tryingatleast · 23/12/2025 19:50

tiredofchristmas
My other half was working so I had to take 2 toddlers with me. If you think I did it for fun you are very much mistaken!

Id guess op means mum, dad and all the kids!!

I work in a supermarket. the only thing I don’t get is families shopping, a child starts being loud (special mention for small child who spent five minutes squeezing a pet toy while her parents sang how much is that doggy in the window loudly) or crying, one doesn’t take them out. Soul destroying listening to a child crying in a crowded supermarket at this time of the year (happened today, we were all near the end of a twelve hour shift and I honestly felt like saying it to them- just take her out!!!!!!!!)

NotForTheMoneyandNotForTheApplause · 23/12/2025 19:49

hotchocandtwosmokybacon · 23/12/2025 19:36

It’s a public place, surely people can do what they want?

And surely other people can have a view on it, don't you ever have an opinion on anything?

MrsSkylerWhite · 23/12/2025 19:48

Not quite sure why you care?

NotForTheMoneyandNotForTheApplause · 23/12/2025 19:47

Goldeh · 23/12/2025 19:10

We went to the supermarket en masse this morning, three adults and four DC. Teenagers were sent around with granny to push her trolley and do any lifting. DH was there to do the same for me. Other DC stayed with us and took it in turns to fetch things and tick off the list. It's part of Christmas tradition, they enjoy throwing treats in the trolley and feeling helpful, and they get given a tenner to go buy each other a little gift too.

We were parked, in, shopped, and out within 90 minutes. My DC are well-behaved in the shops, they don't scream, they don't run around, and they help. Maybe it's because I've always taken them with me so they've learned how...?

90 minutes?!? And you think that's quick, I think you'd get a parking ticket in my local supermarkets if you took that long 😂

Parker231 · 23/12/2025 19:45

Thank goodness for online shopping - I’ve not been in a single shop this Christmas.

Evaka · 23/12/2025 19:44

What a bizarre thing to give a fuck about.

WhitegreeNcandle · 23/12/2025 19:43

Agree but only because I took my 11 yo with me to Waitrose. She was fabulous at helping to the point where a couple of other shoppers asked me if I’d hire her out.

However, she was also fabulous at finding yummy little extras that made my trolley come to a whopping £350!!!!

gogomomo2 · 23/12/2025 19:40

Really, perhaps they don’t have a car and needed extra hands to carry the shopping!! We shop on foot together

lazyarse123 · 23/12/2025 19:40

00Platinum · 23/12/2025 19:35

Intervening because a dad said ‘shit’ in the presence of a child is bonkers, very Mumsnet

Show quote history

I didn't because a lot of people think it's fine. My prerogative not to like it.

usedtobeaylis · 23/12/2025 19:38

Maybe going to the shop wasn't the only thing they were doing? Apart from that who gives a fuck, you don't own the supermarket.

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