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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

How do you take a baby to a supermarket?

75 replies

Carolina24 · 08/03/2021 14:01

I know this is a stupid question - be gentle with me.

My baby is three months old and to date I haven’t had to take him to a supermarket, but this afternoon I do. What’s the best way to manage this? I can’t push a pram and a trolley. Do I use the sling and reach around him to push the trolley? What is the preferred method for other parents?
Help a sleep deprived and clearly somewhat stupid mother out 😬

OP posts:

LividLiving · 08/03/2021 14:52

My baby is almost 1 and has never been inside a shop.

I’m now even sadder for the “normal” we’ve missed together #LoserMumAlert

linerforlife · 08/03/2021 14:59

I would also add to all of this - don't be phased if baby starts to scream. Mine did at that age in shops. Just leave if you need to! But obviously try to feed and nappy change before you go in if needed!

Inthevirtualwaitingroom · 08/03/2021 14:59

i remember getting very confused, drove to the supermarket, took the pram out, and then realise, no i dont use the pram while shopping.

are you walking or driving op?

NotFabulousDarling · 08/03/2021 14:59

I usually put the baby in his pram, and now his pushchair (as he's a bit older) because he's very wiggly and I take around one of those giant baskets with the long handles and the wheels, but I have a one-handed pram so this works for me. I have never managed to get him to settle in his baby carrier for more than about two minutes. It's also better for if I need to change him as I can do it straight in the pram instead of having to use that hard plastic baby changer thing that was cleaned God knows when ago.

SplendidSuns1000 · 08/03/2021 15:01

Slings are excellent if you feel comfortable and confident using one (perhaps you could practice at home or go for a walk pushing the pram with LO in a sling to practice).

Get one of the big trolleys and pop him in his car seat in the main part of the trolley, you can put the shopping in around him quite nicely. The trolleys with newborn seats can be a little solid so if you use them bring a muslin or thin blanket to pop down underneath him.

Don't do a big shop (as in buying a lot) for your first attempt, do a few little shops first so you don't feel rushed or like you have 5000 bags and a baby to put in the car.

When putting things in the car, keep baby in the trolley, put bags in boot, put car seat/ carrier in car, take trolley back whilst carrying baby and then get in the car normally.

The first time I took a tiny baby shopping with me I had a mad panic of 'where do I put the baby??' and very nearly plopped her in the boot with her cereal

daisyjgrey · 08/03/2021 15:02

Sling. Unless you have wildly short arms you won't need to go out of your way to reach around her.

WeeFae · 08/03/2021 15:03

@Happycat1212

I can’t use a trolley and can’t use car seat as I don’t drive so I always put the basket on the pram.

This is exactly what I had to do, it was such a pain!

RoseLimeade · 08/03/2021 15:25

At three months he’ll be about the right size for those trollies with a laid back baby seat in :)

Definitely don’t just put the car seat into a compatible trolley, babies should be taken out of the car seat as soon as possible, it’s not ideal or safe for them to be in that position any longer than necessary.

Kokosrieksts · 08/03/2021 15:27

I found sling to be the most convenient as baby is close to you and less likely to cry.

Second preference was trolley that you put car seat on.

And for little top up shops I just went in with the pram and used the under pram storage for products.

RoseLimeade · 08/03/2021 15:27

@LividLiving

My baby is almost 1 and has never been inside a shop.

I’m now even sadder for the “normal” we’ve missed together #LoserMumAlert

Mine is 14m and he’s always come with me to the supermarket! Is there a reason you haven’t taken him? Maybe you’re shielding and can’t safely go the shops. DH works long hours and I do the food shopping so DS ends up in the shops pretty often. With nothing else to do atm it’s the most fun we have all day to be honest, we don’t hover longer than necessary but I do try make it fun by getting him to point to the bananas or whatever. It’s the only social interaction except for his parents he has really had for months, I’m pathetically grateful for every single person in the shops who has ever waved at him.

firstimemamma · 08/03/2021 15:29

I did buggy / pram with basket but clearly lots of alternatives as this thread shows!

Potterythrowdown · 08/03/2021 15:36

Sling for me. I haven't seen the car seat trolley or infant seat trolley in the last few months at any of the supermarkets I go to - I guess you need to ask for one but that seems like a lot more hassle! I found the car seat trolleys impossible to steer with DC1 - I'm only 5'3 so couldn't see over the top.

Original poster

Carolina24 · 08/03/2021 15:49

Thank you so much everyone ❤️ Helpful and non-judgmental advice! I’m going to use the sling today and check out the trolleys so I know what to expect for future use. Wish me luck...

OP posts:

NoIDontWatchLoveIsland · 08/03/2021 15:51

Trolleys with baby seats, or a sling/carrier. I never found this difficult even with a toddler alongside too. You just may not be able to manage a massive two week shop etc.

NoIDontWatchLoveIsland · 08/03/2021 15:52

I use to get the sling ready and strapped on to my front before leaving home, then all I had to do was lift baby in when we arrived at the supermarket x

B33Fr33 · 08/03/2021 15:56

Good luck! I hope it was ok x I used to use the sling but I know it's not for everyone.

allfurcoatnoknickers · 08/03/2021 16:08

I used a sling and loved it. I live in a city so used to pop him in and walk to the supermarket, and he usually fell asleep while I shopped.

WendyTestaburger · 08/03/2021 16:19

My favourite method is pushchair and using the self scanner. That way I can cram the pushchair full as I walk around and "helping" scan the items keeps my toddler happy. There's usually no queue to pay and no need to unpack /repack as you've already done it on the way around.

Yorkshirepudding1987 · 08/03/2021 16:21

I change what I do depending on what I need. If its just a few bits I put him in the pram (hes 5 months) and I use the self scan app at sainsburys so throw everything in a bag and pay.

If I need a trolley I put him in the sling as I aren't keen on the plastic baby seats.

I have used the car seat trolleys as well of hes been asleep and I'm going to be in and out.

poppycat10 · 08/03/2021 16:27

I used to find it all such a faff but I used to take a car seat and put it in the trolley until he was big enough to put in shop-provided ones.

If I was walking I used to "hang" a basket on the side of the buggy - I didn't generally do big shops on foot.

Now that online shopping exists, I would do that now if I had a small baby or toddler. Much easier.

NameChange30 · 08/03/2021 16:36

This is assuming you go to the supermarket in the car - for a small shop within walking distance I just take the pushchair and use the basket.

For a 3 month old I think it's easiest to take them in a sling/carrier. I've used the ergobaby for mine although both fatties so they get a bit heavy for carrying around the supermarket - DD is 6 months old and 8kg and I did take her in the ergobaby the other day, it was fine but I didn't do a huge shop.

If baby falls asleep in the car seat, I leave her in it and put the seat in a trolley - some supermarkets have trolleys for car seats and if not you can put the car seat in a shallow trolley (although it doesn't leave a huge amount of room for shopping!)

There are sometimes trolleys with baby seats but I'd rather keep baby in the carrier as she's at the stage of chewing everything and I don't want her chewing the trolley seat But once they're a bit older the child seats are handy.

Bouncebacker · 08/03/2021 16:41

Sling works well - by the time I got to baby two I could do a full breast feed in a sling whilst slowly drifting round sainsburys...

Original poster

Carolina24 · 08/03/2021 18:33

We made it! Sling worked really well (thank goodness he napped the whole time) but I was hot and tired by the end so next time I’ll use the trolley with the baby seat (but might give it a quick disinfectant spray first!). I have a great car seat blanket with holes for the straps that I could use to line it so it’s not too hard.

I really appreciate everyone’s kind and gentle advice

OP posts:

Caspianberg · 08/03/2021 18:54

Yes a sling can make you warm indoors, a definitely try and leave the warm layers in the car, or put a cardigan/ jacket over the top of the sling so you can remove easily if hot

BertieBotts · 08/03/2021 19:00

I never liked putting the car seat in the trolley - I'm not that short but I couldn't see properly over the top of it.

Using one of those shallow trolleys works OK if you're not doing a big shop. Or just go in with the pram and hang/balance a basket on the handles. I found with a two handled one I could hang it off, with a one handled one if the handle is at the right angle I could wedge the basket inside it.

The plastic baby cradle seats work well, especially with a blanket on to soften it.

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