Taking kids out on my own

[lockdownbabyx]

Sounds silly but I really want to go out and get some Xmas bits, decorations and few presents etc. But I have a 2 year old and 10 month old and I just dread doing any kind of shopping and taking them both with me! Just makes me feel anxious. Anyone else?

Only want to go to b&m 🤣
Anyone know if that have 2 seats in their shopping trolleys? Might make it easier

Please dont always find sitters, I think its really important kids learn from a young age that somethings are boring and still need to be done such as shopping/ doctors/ errands etc make it as fun as you can for your 2 year old give him a list of things to look out for and maybe let him have a job to do?

I can imagine B&M will be particularly challenging as it is full of exciting Christmassy things designed to attract a 2 year old. If you don't have some to leave them with do you have someone who would go with you?

@usernother

and it’s dirty too. Who wants someone’s shoes all the trolley they’re going to put their food into?! Gross

I take my 2 year old to B&M all the time, she loves it! Especially with all the Christmassy bits out. I'd put baby in the trolley and let the toddler walk, maybe let them pick out a small treat and hand it over at the counter themselves, tap the credit card etc?

Who wants someone’s shoes all the trolley they’re going to put their food into?! Gross

I have never in my life eaten food that has touched the trolley, so not sure why a pair of shoes would make a difference tbh.

@keye

most food is wrapped but still I don’t want it. A little kid could have dog shit on their shoes or anything

Have you got a double pushchair, I have 15 months between my two and don't know how I would have gone out without mine. I went out with both of mine from when the youngest was around 4 weeks... I would have gone insane staying in all day 😅😅

standing a kid in a trolley is gross - that’s where food goes

This always really makes me laugh. Your tins of tomatoes and bags of pasta etc are already every bit as dirty as a toddler's shoes. Warehouses and lorries are not clean environments and your goods have been handled multiple times by multiple people who work in dirty, dusty conditions.

I'm with you OP. Just get it all delivered if you can? Sounds stressful

Just here to say that I understand! I only have one child but I went out as little as possible with him when he was 2 because it was horrendous and stressful and would usually end in tears (me). So I can see how daunting it would be with a baby as well.

Christmas shopping with two small children is hell ish. My youngest is 5 and we had to go to B&M the other day for something and it was truly hell. Crowded, kids running and screaming everywhere, I ended up having to carry him out kicking and screaming because we didn't have time to wait in the queue and he wanted something that I told him he couldn't have. It's not experience I would repeat if I had other options. I don't take mine food shopping either unless it's an emergency. They have two parents. One of us can do the big tasks and the other can do something fun with them.

do You never go out own your own with them ? I had a 4/2/new born and would do the weekly shop on my own and often pop into town during the week. I would use a sling for the baby and double trolley in the supermarket and sling for baby and pushchair for 2 year old with 4 year old hitching a lift when he got tired !

im not out for medals, I’m just saying it can be done, you just need to go for it

Thanks for all the kinds helpful responses. I went to b&m, it was chaos. I won't be going again anytime soon 🤣

As for the unnecessary, judgey comments.. bore off. Of course I take both my children out most days.

As for the unnecessary, judgey comments.. bore off. Of course I take both my children out most days.

Juts to clear things up, I wasn't judging you when o asked if you ordinarily take them out. I was asking because the answer to that would really point towards any advice I could possibly have offered.
2 of mine are as close in age and I know how hard it is.

I wasn't really Menai g it badly

As for the unnecessary, judgey comments.. bore off.

Rude.

Ok so put your baby in the trolley seat, 2 year old can go in the trolley, if you have an iPad you can give them that to entertain them. A little treat for them both eg chocolate buttons can go a long way... good luck hun you can do this! Xx

I know 2 year olds do sit in trolleys but I have an almost 2 year old who hates sitting in the trolley. She likes to walk around and "help" with the shopping. It's very stressful. I do placate her by giving her snacks but the second she's done eating she wants to walk around again so I totally
Feel you OP. She goes mental in BnM there's so much to do and see so I try and avoid it even tho I love it

I have kids who ran at that age so I got to using reins and clipping the reins onto the trolley otherwise they'd stand out of the seat and jump out.

I take my DCs out with me (all 3 of them) alone and feel like I've been training them. DH works weekends, so I go off places with them. It's tiring but I stand firm. I tell them what my expectations are before we go in. If they have misbehaved I have left the shop and explained why we left, that they didn't get the small treat they wanted because they didn't listen/ screamed/ ran off.

I never took the baby anywhere hungry and lowered my expectations, I knew there would be lots of breaking off for nappy changes and tot would be my helper and given plenty of praise.

I used to use baby carriers a lot and tot in the trolley seat clipped in. DH would walk around with tot standing in the trolley like Jarvis Cocker in the common people video but I made him take DC out and sit DC in the trolley seat. DH thought it was cool and edgy, I thought it was dangerous and the food would get squished.

I used to find it hard but I kept on taking them with me. They are very good now, it gets better with practice.

“Bore off” ! Well said. Much nicer to go into a busy pre Christmas shop without small children in tow and the sheer luxury of a bit of headspace to consider your purchases.

Partner, babysitter, coincide it with a hectic morning, large meal and nap time. Or knock it on the head until they are 14 & 15 and will be thrilled at you popping out without them.

Huge difference between going out and going shopping. If that's obvious don't ask daft questions then. 🙄

Maybe have a look for a second hand double pushchair?

Online shopping is the answer, shopping with little ones is no fun anyway (for you or them).

Since covid hit I am much more aware of the amount of people who will happily be out and about whilst infectious too and wouldn't want to expose my kids to that unnecessarily either. The amount of wet coughs I could hear when I was in Tesco the other day was shocking, of course I was the only one in a mask 🥴

Food doesn’t go in the trolley unpackaged does it?

Of Course she needs a trolley, where else do you think she’s going to put her shopping?

This thread is coming across as very ableist. People assuming that everybody with children takes them out of the house every single day. No, not everyone does because not everyone can. There are things called disabilities and mental health disorders that make it harder.

Firstly can I say to everyone making judgemental comments. Get off your high horse. Just because you can/ or did do it. Not everyone can. Do you want a medal?

secondly, I completely understand you OP. I have 2 boys. 17 months apart both with SEN needs. ITS HARD. SO HARD. Things like b&m trips I tend to leave until I really need to. One will go in the seat and one goes in the main section. Both with the iPad and a snack.

you do things that work for you. Not to please other people. I’ve found that b&m don’t have double trolleys nor do they have seat belt 🙄. I’ve found double trolleys really really rare to come by at any shop.

I do most of my shopping online. Or click and collect and wait until nursery/ time with grandparents to do the big bits. Where I actually want to wander and look at the items.

leaving the house with both alone sends the fear of god into me. So I rarely do it. But we do loads of things at home. I’ve turned the conservatory into a soft play. Role play. Messy play room. Especially now the weather is colder who wants to be stuck in the park to deal with snotty nose and colds for the next two weeks.

Asda have double trolleys and actually have a half decent Christmas section. So we do that a lot. Shop, into the cafe for a fruit shoot and cake and then pay for shopping into the car pretty quick. Before war breaks out.