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Original poster

No children allowed in supermarket

678 replies

flashbac · 25/03/2020 11:52

My sister went to Tesco with her toddler and was told no children allowed from next week. Understand this is wise for infection control but what if you're a single parent with tiny kids and can't do online shopping?

OP posts:
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Dishwashersaurous · 25/03/2020 14:13

You need to ask a friend to do your shopping for you. And then leave it on the doorstep.

In my area our local Facebook group is pairing volunteers with people in need like you so you can ask there.

This is not normal and we are all going to have to adapt

Angryrant55 · 25/03/2020 14:14

They mostly be dealing with the 1.5 million ordered to stay at home.

MerryDeath · 25/03/2020 14:14

my DH is a key worker who works away, is away for NINE weeks from next week, i have 2 under 3... soooooo... plenty of friends and family to do childcare but oh... wait...

itsgettingweird · 25/03/2020 14:15

But the 2 cars and putting both kids in car with 1 adult defeats the no households mixing and certainly isn't members of the same family only within 2m of each other.

Al1Langdownthecleghole · 25/03/2020 14:15

Surely the rule should be one ADULT? If there is another adult at home then the one going to the shops isn't going to take them?

That makes sense to me. But then I've never understood the attraction of a day out to the supermarket.

Blackopal · 25/03/2020 14:17

I just called Aldi and Asda head offices.

Both confirmed stores should be letting one adult with children in as long as they adhere to the 2 metre rules etc.

Mumto1girl3boys · 25/03/2020 14:17

I just recieved an email from tesco, it didnt say children werent allowed, it said 'try to shop with no more than 1 person' it didnt exclusively say no children

BeetrootRocks · 25/03/2020 14:17

They restrict the number of things you can buy, dish.

Not everyone has support networks/ friends locally etc

I like the idea that the people who are going to find out hardest to organise are the ones being told just get the fuck on with it

midnightstar66 · 25/03/2020 14:18

Mine are just about old enough to leave in the car while i nip in. I've got a decent stick of cupboard stuff so will just be needing to grab a few basics. No idea what I'd do with younger dc

Dishwashersaurous · 25/03/2020 14:19

For younger children could they be strapped in a buggy so no risk of them touching anything. Even if normally you would let them walk

Wannabangbang · 25/03/2020 14:21

Luckily i have an older teen, but what are single mums to little ones supposed to do. Bloody starve, there isn't any online shopping available round here

cologne4711 · 25/03/2020 14:22

They could insist all shoppers have kids at home or they can't shop

Well then you create another issue. I am in a household of 3 with DH and an almost adult son. So under your system I wouldn't' be allowed to shop either?

If the supermarkets can scale up their click and collect offering (which I know they are doing) it should resolve a lot of issues, though clearly not all.

Willow2017 · 25/03/2020 14:22

You need to ask a friend to do your shopping for you. And then leave it on the doorstep.

My kids are older now but if they were still to young to be left i should ask my friend who lives 10 miles away to go get me shopping while i am perfectly able to get it myself 5 minutes away and deliver it to me? The friend who has lost her job now?

Restricting entry is fine stopping single parents who have no choice is not.

How are people supposed to get shopping for multiple people without going in and out of shops like yo-yos? Why should they be risking thier health for perfectly able other adults. Let them help the people who are actually unable to shop or who are vulberable. There is not an unlimited supply of volunteers in one area.

Lifeisgenerallyfun · 25/03/2020 14:22

It’s a difficult one, maybe kids under 11 allowed in with one adult (kids 11or older should be ok to be left for a couple of hours), with a rule that they should be no more than 2 foot away from the family group (if breached they will be asked to leave). Kids 3 and under need to be in the trolley seat?

But unfortunately if the supermarket has a rule, that’s the rule however stupid. Time for a Facebook plea for help? Can anyone do my shopping?

Fedupandpoor · 25/03/2020 14:23

Lol! I have a few old dogs leads around here somewhere. I'll just tie them up outside while I shop. Ds would probably enjoy it

oakleaffy · 25/03/2020 14:26

I can see why they have done it....A bus driver had to stop her bus to ask a mother to please control her children that were running up and down the aisle sitting next to different people... I have had to tell kids running to ''please keep BACK'' as the adult with them does nothing ....
Kids touch everything as well, and are no respecters of personal space.
It is a nightmare time for us all.

camaleon · 25/03/2020 14:27

This kind of measures have been imposed in other countries (e.g. Spain) and they had to relax it later. It is unbelievable that no country seems to be learning from each other.

LakieLady · 25/03/2020 14:30

Single parents always get a really rough deal and policies that cause extra stress

And the vast majority of lone parents are women. If they were mostly men, this wouldn't be happening because they would realise how stupid it is!

Wannabangbang · 25/03/2020 14:32

But what when a single mum has little babies and toddlers, no help and no online shops should she just bloody starve. Fed up with nucleus families thinking its all so easy!!!!

dayswithaY · 25/03/2020 14:32

Don't blame Tesco, they're trying to follow government advice. Blame the stupid, lazy parents who are allowing their kids out on the streets all day. There was a group of kids who looked about 12 or 13 sitting on bikes outside Sainsbury's Local. They were popping in and out to buy drinks and sweets. Why do their parents not know where they are? Why am I still seeing two parents in the supermarket with a gaggle of kids in tow.

As usual, selfish idiots have caused a problem for law abiding parents trying to be responsible.

dayswithaY · 25/03/2020 14:35

And before anyone piles on, I've been a single parent to three children, I know it's hard.

Leflic · 25/03/2020 14:35

I went to Morrison’s this morning that has a one in one out policy. Security stopped a family with young children coming in and made the parents chose which one wanted to shop and which stayed out to look after the kids.
Couples weren’t allowed in together either. Trolley each, single queue.

JudgeRindersMinder · 25/03/2020 14:36

@MonaLisaDoesntSmile

not a full shop for the week

this is my whole point though, we have to do things differently

Matildathehun77 · 25/03/2020 14:38

I went to Morrison’s this morning that has a one in one out policy. Security stopped a family with young children coming in and made the parents chose which one wanted to shop and which stayed out to look after the kids.
Couples weren’t allowed in together either. Trolley each, single queue.

I think that's completely reasonable, the weekly shop shouldn't be used for a family outing, people do need to stay at home.

QuimJongUn · 25/03/2020 14:40

My Aldi was doing this yesterday. The lady in front of me waiting to get in had to lock her two DC (five/sixish) in the car. On one hand, I can see the logic - OTOH, what the fuck are parents meant to do?

You need to ask a friend to do your shopping for you

Lots of people don't have this luxury. I certainly wouldn't have - no friends, relatives or neighbours to help. Luckily DD is 22 so not a concern for me, but had this happened 15 years ago it would have been.