Sainsburys health & safety rules

[SloeGinRocks]

So it was a really hot day and Ineeded to have a quick nip round our local Sainsbury's the other day with DS age 4 who had just woken up....He likes to sit in the big basket. But is too big for the baby seat. He helps me unpack the shopping...

Making him walk round the supermarket when he's hot and tired is a nightmare so I let him hop in.

I'm pushing the trolley it's not overloaded, we have a nice chat and get what we need.

I get to the guy on the check out and this conversation unfolds:

"Hi how are you?"... "children are not allowed in the trolleys" he informs me... "right fine thanks for letting me know - can I have some bags please?".... "it's health and safety in case they hurt themselves" ... " yes well he's fine and its a nightmare to go shopping with him otherwise "

The man kept looking at he like I'd murdered someone and grumpily took my money from me. I thanked him very politely and went ok my way...

I couldn't help thinking that this is a ridiculous rule? The trolley is not going to tip up, I'm not going to put my child in danger, the food is not touching the trolley where he's sitting..... I spend a lot of money with Sainsbury's, as do lots of parents - why are they trying to make life harder (1st world problem I realise)

Was IBU?

Yabu and he is 4 not 1. Walk and help you shop. Ds can you see the bananas can you help mummy put the bananas in the trolley etc

I think it is reasonable to stop kids getting in the trolley. But, if any of you do suspect that 'Health and Safety' is just being used as an excuse for poor customer service or being a killjoy e.g. cafes refusing to warm baby milk, workplaces stopping you putting up the Christmas decorations, you can ask the Health and Safety Executive for an unbiased opinion:
www.hse.gov.uk/contact/contact-myth-busting.htm

If someone runs into my kid with a trolley, he will be hurt, even if he is walking next to me. The problem is not children sitting in trolley, but children misbehaving, jumping around, climbing shelves and pushing other people.

My kids are fine in the trolley when they sit in it, it's such a non-issue.

Soup

With that analogy are you saying that no-one should ever drive in case their car is going to crash?

Anyway, until someone can provide me with actual data showing the risk factor of children in trolleys, I will carry on making my own risk assessment on the full understanding that anecdote isn't data but that's all I've actually got to go on, which in my case is :
children safe in trolleys: 100%, children falling out of trolleys: 0.

I put my kids in the trolley. Shopping with a 2 and 3 year old is tedious, lots of stores don't have two seat trolleys, lots of trolleys don't have seat belts.

The trolleys are unsanitary in the first place and kids shoes aren't going to make them worse!

The horror at a child's sitting in a trolley, not just because of the shoes, but their bum is hilarious. People lean their trousered bums against desks all the time, and we survive the proximity of arse.

**

You should Addley, there's clearly a market for it

proximity of arse.

Did you know that Victorian ladies were not meant to sit on a seat that had just been vacated by a gentleman's bum because it would still have been warm from his bum cheeks?
Proximity of arse - it's a problem

YABU - I once saw a kid flip over the back of the trolley and land on his head. His screams were horrifying. You are irresponsible for not assessing the risk.

waiting for people demanding the prohibition of trampolines/scooters/ bicycles/ stairs/ shelves/sofa/bath tubs/ bunk beds etc.. which can really injure a child if parents are not parenting properly and allow their kids to misbehave.

The trolley is not going to tip up

I worked in big shop for years and saw trolleys tip over many many times with a child in it. Ambulances had to be called on several occasions. Heads and faces smashing onto the tiled floor - cuts. Teeth being lost or going through the lip. Most times the child was injured and bleeding. Screaming in pain.

So I imagine the Sainsbury's shop worker has seen similar incidents.

And when these incidents happen the parents are quick to start placing the blame on the shop - getting angry at shop workers whose fault it most definitely wasn't.

So yes you are putting your child in danger.

At the end of the day it's up to Sainsbury's, its their shop and their trolley. If you don't like it, shop elsewhere.

I tipped a trolley in Waitrose when I was little, it was pre-sibling so I'd have been under 5, my mum had walked out of eye sight and I tipped it looking for her, someone came to my rescue but i remember how scary it was.

Well I have twins and the supermarkets around here don't have twin trolleys so one in the child seat and the other in the trolley is the only solution I have really.
Yes it is dangerous but is it really more dangerous than most things with small children? Crossing the street, scooting, climbing frames, ...
Re the hygiene side of it, as trolleys and food packaging are already disgusting I fail to see the isse.

waiting for people demanding the prohibition of trampolines/scooters/ bicycles/ stairs/ shelves/sofa/bath tubs/ bunk beds etc..

All of which are completely irrelevant given they are not in a shop or business premises which is likely to be held accountable.

A 4 year old is perfectly capable of walking around a supermarket, disabilities aside. Does he not walk to and from school?

you can find shelves and stairs and vary dangerous items in a supermarket and other shop or business premises you know.

Children sitting nicely in a trolley will not tip it over any more than my case of wine will. I haven't seen one reason on this thread so far to stop sitting my kids in a trolley. Never seen any sign or heard any comment in my local Sainsbury either.

A 4 year old is perfectly capable of walking around a supermarket, disabilities aside. Does he not walk to and from school?

you are completely missing the point

If children won't walk round nicely why would they sit nicely in the trolley?

What if he took his shoes off next time would that be ok?

No, because then his sweaty socks will be where I put my fruit and veg.

Kids muck about. If he climbs up and falls head first out, he will be hurt. So you have been warned. Don't sue.

Children sitting nicely in a trolley will not tip it over any more than my case of wine will. I haven't seen one reason on this thread so far to stop sitting my kids in a trolley. Never seen any sign or heard any comment in my local Sainsbury either.

Why do you think all the supermarkets have this rule? Are they just being unhelpful? They don't like children?

They do it because they have all seen accidents caused by heavy children in trolleys. Your PFB may be beautifully behaved and never lean over the trolley or grab something as they are pushed past a shelf, but others have. There is good reason for it.

Who on earth puts food directly on to the bottom of the trolley?

I do. Veg goes straight i to the trolley because I hate the use of too many plastic bags.

People move/knock trolleys all the time, it is easy for a small child to fall over or out or for the trolley to tip up.

waiting for people demanding the prohibition of trampolines/scooters/ bicycles/ stairs/ shelves/sofa/bath tubs/ bunk beds etc..

Ikea put plastic over the ladders of bunk beds to stop children climbing them in the store.