Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5

Original poster

Toddlers and shopping centres

123 replies

Thurlow · 30/12/2013 16:25

I went sales shopping the other day to one of those big 'event' shopping centres Milton sodding Keynes, and the place was full of toddlers in puschairs.

Now I have a 2yo, and I can't imagine anything worse than taking them around a hot, crowded, noisy shopping centre in a pushchair for hours on end. And it seemed most of the toddlers I saw thought pretty similar, given how cheerful and happy they were...

Now babies, fine, they tend to sleep through anything. Older children too, they are presumably interested enough in some shops and eating in a restaurant. But toddlers? I was trying to think of a reason for it. Now I know that some toddlers enjoy shops and might have loved several hours in a shopping centre. And also some people won't have anyone to leave the toddler with (though most toddlers I saw seemed to be with groups of both parents and some grandparents, though actually not many that I could see with older siblings). And of course there will be some people who really need to sales shop for clothes etc because of their budget, and so it's worth the hassle.

Also, I know toddlers have to fit in with the rest of family life, so mine has to do the odd short clothes shop, the food shopping etc, but the shopping centre really is one you sort of 'go' to for half a day, not pop to because you need something.

But AIBU to think that probably with so many of these kids - and there were hundreds of 'em, I swear - it really isn't a good idea to take a toddler around a shopping centre for several hours? I'm not judging people who do, I'm just... bemused. If I didn't have my parents to look after DC on that day, I wouldn't have gone sales shopping, I would have done it online.

OP posts:

ashamedoverthinker · 30/12/2013 16:43

I like a good browse with DD who is nearly two in buggy.

She will sleep for some of the time (1 hours)

Awake for some of it and likes to look about. We point and 'chat'.

Quitehappy to sit for 30 mins in coffee shop or longer for lunch with a pack of crayons and her notebook.

I wouldnt take her to full on packed out sale shopping as I would be going for longer and I want my hands free to look at stuff.

If I'm in town for the day i find a bit for her to walk a little and we go to the library.

Original poster

Thurlow · 30/12/2013 16:43

Sorry, what I've probably not explained well enough was the difference between needing to go to M&S and Clarks in the local town for knickers and shoes, which I know pretty much all parents, myself regularly included, have to do, and going to Bluewater for a day's shopping with a very young DC.

OP posts:

ExcuseTypos · 30/12/2013 16:44

Just a thought, maybe they went "on mass," as all the sales were on.

Original poster

Thurlow · 30/12/2013 16:46

X-posting, sorry. Yes, duckie, the Christmas display was fantastic this year and definitely a great place to take young DC. And a mix of shopping, lunch is great and most kids probably enjoy it. But the queues for the lunch places at the weekend were insane!

Normally going to MK shopping centre for the morning would probably be fine. Just two days into the sales... I love a bargain as much as the next person, just not enough to have a tired, overwhelmed toddler. Couldn't give a sod about the pushchairs in the way, that wasn't remotely what bothered me.

OP posts:

iamusuallybeingunreasonable · 30/12/2013 16:47

But if you have no one to leave dc with and I mean no one, when do you shop? Or should those without sitters on tap never buy anything new and look like tramps until their kids grow up, I wouldn't worry yourself about what others do, if I choose to go to Westfield for a family day out that's my business, I wouldn't expect others to sneer at me, it's not like people do it all the time and as one poster said, if the weather is bad better that than staying in the house all day

Original poster

Thurlow · 30/12/2013 16:48

Aargh It's not shopping per se, of course you have to shop. 99% of my life I don't have anyone to watch DD either so I take her to the shops. It's the Bluewater/MK sales shopping. I'm not sneering at anyone. I'm just surprised.

OP posts:

iamusuallybeingunreasonable · 30/12/2013 16:49

Yes but it sounds like it bothered you more than it bothered them, oddly

formerbabe · 30/12/2013 16:50

My kids quite enjoy it...I let them have a mooch round the disney store usually and a cake and juice in a coffee shop and they are pretty happy.

MrTumblesBavarianFanbase · 30/12/2013 16:52

I'm with you Therlow - you aren't talking about people with no grandparents or child's other parent involved - you are talking about extended family groups making a day out of shopping with stroppy, bored toddlers strapped into their buggies for hours.

Bemuses me too, and I also have a toddler home full time (youngest of 3). We have helpful grandparents but they are an hour away, and DH has a very long commute so gone from home 12+ hours a day 5 days a week - I supermarket shop with the toddler (no online grocery shopping available where we live) and would do a dash for something essential - but I am utterly mystified by people who make a day out or an outing out of shopping with a toddler for fun

Binkyridesagain · 30/12/2013 16:53

Xmas day was five days ago, the toys have all been played with, the DVDs have worn very thin, TV is endless repeats, the kids are bored with everything you suggest, the weather is bloody awful.

Everyone going out to somewhere warm and dry for a change of scenery, that can cost nothing, for a few hours for a change of scenery, could be heaven to a lot of parents.

DuchessFanny · 30/12/2013 16:55

It might be because it IS the sales ? Bargains to be had, so no one in that family wants to miss out and stay at home with the toddler , They all go together ..

ashamedoverthinker · 30/12/2013 16:56

Actually I get fed up when there are whole families - you know Rita Sue and Bob too walking about the supermarket - all abreast clogging up the aisle (should post that on supermarket rage thread)

FixItUpChappie · 30/12/2013 17:01

I don't really get your concern. Family's out with their toddler shopping...? They are out of the house, there is lots to look at, maybe they get a little treat, maybe they get to use one of those motorized coin operated baby rides. I don't see an issue. I live in a cold place - there is a lot of taking the kids to the mall.

How do you know they are in a pushchair for hours? Mine are in and out of the pushchair when they get tired or want a snack. When they are walking/toddling in a busy place they hold my hand. Mine are both young and go everywhere we go for the most part. Doesn't do them any harm. We time it to our best advantage, bring lots of snacks and let them look at the toys sections for a bit, play I spy, make sure they get some walking in....no problem.

bakingaddict · 30/12/2013 17:02

My DS (6) loves a days shopping in Westfield. As long as he gets a toy from the Entertainer or the Lego shop and lunch at Wagamama he's a happy boy. DD (2) doesnt seem too bothered either way and both were well behaved sales shopping on Friday.

As long as you time your lunch correctly, we went to TGI's at 12 midday and had absolutely no problem getting a table but by 1pm people were experiencing 10-20 min wait for a table. We don't have GP's on tap for babysitting so what else are you supposed to do if you fancy a bit of sales shopping. Funnily enough it was me that desperate to get home by 4pm not the kids

jacks365 · 30/12/2013 17:04

I've offered to take my dd clothes shopping in the sales, can't be done online as she's a fussy so and so and needs to try on and try on lots before she finds the right thing somewhere like bluewater is better as it gives far more choice but with us will be her toddler sister, what we will look like is a family group of toddler mum and grandma so you'd be wondering why I couldn't have just babysat but the situation isn't how it appears. I do also sometimes meet my parents somewhere and look round shops but again its to do with being practical as in we are both reaching the same destination from different directions so meeting up is sensible but my parents coming and babysitting for me isn't.

I'm another whose toddler loves looking at all the decorations, she'll be the one waving to everyone.

Toocold · 30/12/2013 17:09

It is my local town shopping centre and I and others who live in or around Mk do just pop in for the shoe shop or chemists etc, we just know when and where to park to avoid rt he crowds. Mk has becom bigger and a lot of people that shop there will just be popping in with their toddlers, its ideal as its covered and the library is across the road with a big kid space with computers, people will be combining the two if local

flipchart · 30/12/2013 17:12

It is for this very reason why I avoid shopping centres!

Too many people, too many children, too much stuff I don't need.

Original poster

Thurlow · 30/12/2013 17:15

I don't have GP on tap either. I get that. When I went shopping on my own the other day it was the first time all year I have been able to go proper shopping, rather than a quick nip in to one of the few stores we have where I live.

Normally I'd agree that MKC would be fine - I grew up there, I know it very well - but on Saturday it was absolutely heaving, it would have been genuinely dangerous to let a toddler out in most of the centre because it was so busy.

I'm not saying that no young kids like shopping, I'm sure plenty do. Mine loves the supermarket, though hates other shops. And I wasn't bothered - like I said, I was just surprised as it would be my idea of hell on earth to take my particular toddler shopping for that long. And so I posted about it here as a conversation, not because I spent the experience as a "miserable old bat"

OP posts:

Original poster

Thurlow · 30/12/2013 17:19

MrTumbles, yy - extended family groups making a day out of shopping with stroppy, bored toddlers strapped into their buggies for hours. That's what a lot seemed like and it struck me that it didn't look like an enjoyable time for anyone, parents, toddlers or other siblings.

But that's just picking up on one comment - apparently IABU...

OP posts:

lastnightopenedmyeyes · 30/12/2013 17:21

My DS has always loved coming shopping with us. We always made sure he had breaks from being in his pushchair and he just enjoyed looking at all the shops and sights.

Sirzy · 30/12/2013 17:22

I am going to the trafford centre tomorrow, DS is 4 and is coming with me. He stragely likes the place for some reason anyway but I need clothes, he needs clothes. We are going shopping and if he doesnt like it then tough!

Not everything in the world needs to be child friendly and a few hours of being bored never killed anyone

Sirzy · 30/12/2013 17:23

Just because something is your idea of hell on earth doesn't mean that is the same for everyone though

CombineBananaFister · 30/12/2013 17:26

Am on the fence on this one sorry
As some have said, some people don't have a choice - personally I used to pop out for an hour shopping/coffee because DH worked a lot and I was a bit lonely/wanted change of scenery and weather too bad for the park but wouldn't have done the sales AND not for long.

On the other hand, there can't be many toddlers who enjoy shopping or many adults who enjoy taking them shopping if they don't have to. Also bemused as shopping now being an actual 'pastime'/family day out but that's just me.

The sales make me feel a bit 'ick' atm, not sure why. Just too much 'stuff' and buying for the sake of it, and the scrabbling for things and the stress and the bad manners - can you tell I've been working in retail this xmas? Am becoming anti-consumerist in my old age

GogoGobo · 30/12/2013 17:29

Not judging, just bemused OP? Really??

Original poster

Thurlow · 30/12/2013 17:38

Yes, not judging, just bemused. As I have repeatedly said it didn't annoy me and I don't think anyone will die from the experience. Just chatting about it, which is what I someday mistakenly thought MN was for...

Happy to take that iabu if more toddlers than not are happy in their.pushchair for several hours (which was also my point, sales shopping was so busy it wasn't very safe for the usual shop, walk, play that most people do while shopping with kids) than mine is. Personal experience at the moment for me is about a 30 min limit of toddler happily sitting in a pushchair in shops before getting grumpy

OP posts:

Flip

1 2 3 4 5

Swipe left for the next trending thread