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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

People taking ridiculous risks with their dc in supermarket trolleys

211 replies

wherewasi · 21/04/2013 16:30

Just done the supermarket run, as always I find I have to avert my eyes and bite my tongue at the sight of so many tiny children standing up in the trolley while it's being pushed round the shop or hanging off the side.

I have seen so many accidents where the trolley gets shunted and the child falls over/off and hurts themselves - bangs their head, bites their tongue, scrapes themselves on the metal. Why do parents do this? Presumably they take the normal precautions in other areas - car seats, road safety awareness, advising dc to take care in the playground or running round the house?

Even saw a really tiny one today slumped in one of the shallow trolleys with his head lolling over the edge, just at the right level to bang it on a shelf.

AIBU or OTT to cringe about this?

OP posts:
DigestivesWithCheese · 21/04/2013 18:52

Fatalities?

Northern Lurker, I'm sure your post wasn't intended to be humorous but I have to admit it really tickled me, thank you Flowers

ShadowStorm · 21/04/2013 18:52

I think trolley surfing is when the child is hanging on the outside of the trolley.

BrittaPie · 21/04/2013 18:53

My FIL does this and it does my head in, plus it means I have to deal with tantrums when I don't let the DC do it.

Sparklingbrook · 21/04/2013 18:54

The signs saying don't let children stand in the trolley are surely there for a reason? Confused

HorryIsUpduffed · 21/04/2013 18:56

Quick question for those who put DC in the main part of the trolley: how the fuck do you fit the actual food in? And do they not stand on the fragile things?

ShadowStorm · 21/04/2013 18:59

Yes, Digestives, fatalities are possible if a child were to fall head first out of a trolley onto a hard floor.

I posted upthread about an incident near us where a child got a fractured skull as a result of falling head first out of a trolley. AFAIK, the child recovered okay, but I'd bet it's possible for a fall serious enough to cause a fractured skull to also cause fatal brain damage.

I appreciate that such a serious trolley accident is rare, though.

Sparklingbrook · 21/04/2013 18:59

Ancient American article but a study was done.

YY Horry grape treading. Grin

DigestivesWithCheese · 21/04/2013 18:59

Horry - in the trolley I use, there is a separate section in the front of the trolley. I've always thought it is meant for putting bottles in so that they don't fall over, I might be wrong about that though. I wouldn't put DD in the actual trolley because she would trample all over the place.

Gentleness · 21/04/2013 18:59

Well trolley surfing clearly carries more risk of tipping (larger children) and falling off (no barriers). Not really to be compared with a small child in a large trolley.

Northernlurker - the supermarkets also try to provide a useful range of trolleys for people with children. Unfortunately, selfish fellow shoppers use those trolleys as they tend not to require a token. Leaving those of us with a baby and a young toddler with a dilemma. Abandon the shop? Go to customer services and wait till they find you a trolley while the kids get bored? Try to manage the shop with a young toddler walking/getting distracted/bolting (as some do, despite even the best parenting)? Or make the best of a bad situation and put the toddler in the trolley with the baby in the seat.

All I'm saying is that you can't make a one-size-fits-all rule without it being ridiculous in some situations. No children in any trolley ever is nonsense. So is any child in any trolley being fine.

Tailtwister · 21/04/2013 18:59

I don't do it with my own DC as I think it's dangerous. Other people doing it doesn't bother me. They obviously think it's ok, they are doing it with their own DC, it's not any of my concern.

I've never seen any trolly accidents btw. DS1 (4 at the time) did get whacked on the head by someone's basket once. He was holding my hand and the guy just came barrelling round the corner, didn't see either of us and DS was just at the right height to get cracked on the head. He was lucky not to end up with a nasty cut. Accidents happen even when you're being careful. I prefer not to raise the odds though.

Sparklingbrook · 21/04/2013 19:01

I am glad DSs are older now, I can send them into the supermarket and they can push the trolley.

HorryIsUpduffed · 21/04/2013 19:04

Ah the front section makes sense. But that's the place to put heavy things to counterbalance the seated toddler. ::clutches pearls::

Mine would grape-stomp on purpose. Hmm

NorthernLurker · 21/04/2013 19:06

'All I'm saying is that you can't make a one-size-fits-all rule without it being ridiculous in some situations. No children in any trolley ever is nonsense.'

I've made a rule. My oldest child is 15. In 15 years of parenting I've survived without doing this reckless and dangerous thing.

And I'm glad you find the potential for life altering head injuries so funny Digestives. That'll give you quite a giggle when you're waiting for a CT scan with your child in A&E.

YouTheCat · 21/04/2013 19:08

I don't care if other people want to take the risk, though why people can't use the seats for their kids I don't know.

What I do object to is having to put my food where other people's dirty shoes have been.

fortyplus · 21/04/2013 19:09

I used to nag my mother about allowing my son to stand in trolleys... until the day that he fell out and landed on his head. Fortunately he didn't suffer life changing injuries.

YoniRanger · 21/04/2013 19:10

I know of two babies that suffered serious head injuries due to trolly falls. It's a stupid risk to take Hmm

FuckThisShit · 21/04/2013 19:14

Meh.

MarvellousYou · 21/04/2013 19:15

I must go to a special supermarket because for my DS to fall out the trolley, I'd have to run and stop doing about 30mph. YANBU but I also think most parents know when something is a bit risky and are very careful.

FWIW we only put our 2 year old in the main bit if he sits down and normally we're going in for milk and strawberries and then leaving.

NorthernLurker · 21/04/2013 19:16

'I also think most parents know when something is a bit risky and are very careful'

This thread suggests otherwise.

mamij · 21/04/2013 19:21

DD1 always stands/sits in the trolley, as DD2 sits in the "proper" seat. If the trolley had two seats, there wouldn't be a problem!

Sparklingbrook · 21/04/2013 19:24

Are the 'trolley standing is ok' people the same ones that take their buggies on escalators?

Original poster
wherewasi · 21/04/2013 19:25

It's not just a question of falling out of the trolley, though of course that would be far the most dangerous thing. Kids can do themselves plenty of nastiness by falling around inside the trolley.

I don't understand why this is seen as 'judgy' either - it's just common sense. I couldn't care less if you give your dc choc buttons to eat round the shop but I really don't want to see yet another poor little kid screaming and bleeding from the mouth while the guilty parent tells them it's their own fault for not sitting down.

OP posts:
YouDontWinFriendsWithSalad · 21/04/2013 19:31

What's wrong with taking a buggy on the escalator??

Sparklingbrook · 21/04/2013 19:35

You aren't supposed to YouDont there's a sign saying not to. Tis dangerous.

neunundneunzigluftballons · 21/04/2013 19:44

This www.thudguard.com/product-info is designed for toddlers who are learning to walk and it just shows the lunacy of taking risk assessment to the extreme. Read all the awful things that could happen to your toddler without it. Northern this wesite should hire you as their risk assessor you did a far better job here.