This parent should’ve been on top of this...

[MaryPoppinsPenguins]

My DD2 is a nightmare. An actual nightmare, I could barely take her anywhere until she was three so I do sympathise when children aren’t exactly perfect.

In sainsburys last night a mother had three children, two around 6/7 and one toddler. The toddler was screaming and walking around the vegetables, taking a bite, putting it back. Throwing on the floor. Etc. She must’ve tasted ten bell peppers just while I was in the aisle.

The mother just kept telling the older children to watch her.

Much as it’s difficult to be a parent, it’s also not the best to bring home a pepper covered in toddler slobber with a bite taken out of it.

Surely if you know your child is like this you sit them in the trolley / bring a buggy... not rely on other children to watch them.

What was she doing if the toddler had time to to all that?

I've never known a Sainsbury's to not have staff and/or a security guard hovering about.

It's a cop out, asking the other children to 'watch her'

Lazy,half assed 'parenting'

She was shopping, in the middle bit of the three vegetable aisle bit, so kind of visible but not in catching distance.

No staff right there, but the vegetable section is right by the door and security stand, and within eyesight of the people who man the self check out. Nothing was said though...

I’m sure my son would do the same if I let him out of his trolley seat but knowing this, I don’t! I have the two and the 1 year old in the trolley and the one who can be trusted not to lick the fresh produce walks beside me.

She should have more control over her for the childs own safety as well as others.

If someone had slipped on the things she was throwing they could be badly hurt.

I think I'd have had to say something. 'Are you aware your DC is taking bites out of the veg?' She must have known.

Sounds like she had her hands full. I really hope sainsburies dont lose too much profits from some bitten peppers, and it must be awful for all you traumatised other customers having to witness children being difficult to handle by someone else for a few moments. You have my sympathy.

How ridiculous branleuse

Same as the parent I saw who watched their child pick up and replace loose bread rolls, no bite out of them though, that was in a Sainsbury's too.

Toddler needs to be in a child seat in the trolley if she was damaging stock. I expect the mum had a lot to deal with. It is difficult shopping with little kids and I avoided it if I possibly could.

Luckily my DC pick up the veg take a bite and then put it in our trolly to have later. I would of said something, either she didnt know and you would help her realise or she did know and was going to ignore it but couldnt if you noticed.

i cant stand all that you watch them nonsense to the other children

its not their job ffs theyre only kids themselves

Im with the others on this. Most toddlers would do the same given a free run..which is why sitting them in the trolly is for the best.. not just for the sake of the produce, but her oen safety. What if she bit into something dangerous to eat uncooked..or even something that could be painful to a child like a hot chilli. 6/7 year olds should never be given the responsibility to look after a small child! Theyre still small children testing boundaries themselves!!

My toddler has done awful things to food in supermarkets on occasion... So I put the food in my trolley and pay for it.
Yes kids do this sort of thing sometimes, but responsible parents take responsibility, not stand back passively and leave others to deal with the consequences.

Was it you Branleuse?

Sarah That sounds veritably awful. I really struggle to understand how the dad can think poking sausage rolls in the hot food hatches is anything other than dangerous and unhygienic.

I particularly dislike the "stunt parenting dads" I see in Waitrose at the weekend, being loudly indulgent. A member of staff swooped in and had to stop one father lifting up his toddler so they could choose a pastry out of the plastic dispensers. The choosing consisted of squashing and biting each one...

Even worse than the father I saw braying, "Josh, over here!" as Josh - I kid you not - rode a bicycle (albeit a small one) round the wine department.

Were there two boys wrestling too?

It does seem some SM encourage people to visit on almost a day out basis. Kids, frazzled Mum and Dad trailing behind looking fed up (Asda!).

Why do they do this? A day out at Asda... Someone will come on soon saying its their right to come to supermarket with 3 kids and also that there is NO ONE IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD who can watch them.

I would ban bikes and scooters in all supermarkets. Its not a playground.

And the alternative is online shopping isn't it if you cannot control your kids.

@Jonsey79 No it wasnt, but could have easily been, as my children are awful when I take them all out together. Sometimes you have no choice though.

Meh. She was having a bad day, the kids were having a bad day. Who knows.

Sometimes shit happens. If I see kids chewing or biting produce and the parent isn't aware/reacting, I put it aside and give a headsup to one of the people in the shop to separate it.

It can be annoying, but it's not the end of the world.

Ladyincement over here Josh! That is hilarious. I thought heelies were bad. Yep I have twin toddlers and if they don't sit in the trolley we don't go in. I don't think they'd eat the veg but they might run off, fall over or whatever, also hate kids being told to look after kids. I do sometimes ask my 7 year old to keep an eye on one twin while I chase the other but I'm right there! Certainly no actual responsibility.

I agree with squishy. Mostly my DC have been ok in the supermarket. The middle one was wild so was in the trolley until he could be trusted. I have purchased a few items that weren’t on the list that DC3 had quietly ‘tested’. You squish it, squash it, open it or nibble it you buy it.