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

I totally get it. I often have to leave my 2 year old with my parents to go shopping as she just loves to scream all the way round the shop. Too unpredictable at that age.

I don't get this. My kids have always enjoyed shopping even as toddlers. My youngest still always asks to come with me at age 8, he loves it!
Additional/sensory needs aside of course, make shopping regular and normal and it shouldn't be an issue.

Ummmmm, I thought exactly the same until my daughter fell out of a trolley when she was stood in it & hit her head on the floor. Happened when she was 18 months old. Luckily she was ok. She’s 20 now

Ugh people are being so judgy. I get this. I think what you really mean is that you want to go to the shops and browse Christmas decorations and gifts, and hum and haa over options, take time choosing things you like and generally enjoy the experience- which isn’t possible when you’re dragging a baby and a toddler around (unless you have some incredibly patient unicorn children)

I don’t think it’s unreasonable to ask a family member to watch your children for a couple of hours to make a dent in your Christmas shopping to do list once a year.

and if you don’t have anyone to watch them, put them in the pram or trolley and bring lots of snacks to buy you extra time.

Totally understandable, I was the same. And actually not even that keen now that they're 10 and 7, although it is manageable now.

Is a 10mth old not a bit big for a sling?

A lot of shops won't let you stand children in trolleys, especially where food is sold. I have seen people stopped by staff and asked to take the child out.

God, B+M, I wouldn't take the kids unless you had to.

That place is full of toys at the best of times, let alone in the run up to Christmas. Can be very stressful with young kids wanting everything they see.

Ugh god it is hard. Shops are designed to be attention grabbing and overwhelming. Taking two young children alone is hard work.
Anyone who is doing the whole sanctimummy outrage of "how do you cope with real life is this is too hard" isn't really helping.

To actual go and look at things etc you do need to leave them with someone else or just accept it might be a short trip.
And maybe limit it yourself to help with your anxiety. Also make a list and cut past the sections that you don't need.

But really I know that going on my own is much more enjoyable. Bnm is open late. Can you go after bedtime when your partner is home instead.

Of course people should be able to do anything with kids but yes it's hard! and no judgement to you not wanting to

however I'm a meanie who's opinion is that 90% of the time I see no reason parents take their kids shopping it's like they just do it together for something to do 🤣
unless you are a single parent surely the other half can have tge kids and one parent goes but I see them all in tesco 2 parents plus all the kids being unruly and disruptive and think Jesus surely one of you could have stayed at home this time! 🤦‍♀️🫣

Mine are 3 and 2 now but I also really hated taking them out by myself at that age. Even now, I will try and avoid it if I can. Taking one is absolutely fine but 2 is another matter! When they were that age, I would take the double buggy and only buy a few bits. It does get easier!

I had a 3 years then 2 year age gap and while mine are getting bigger I still don't take them shopping myself- it's probably the most difficult thing to do. If it's a supermarket though go somewhere that has double seats in the trolley and give them snacks to keep them amused.

Did you not think of this when ttc your second? That kind of tiny age gap is horrendous. Just stump up for online shopping for a few years.

Some of these comments are either idiotic or high and mighty. 🤦‍♀️

I have a 4 month old and I’m starting to dread leaving the house more and more as they’re awake longer and honestly the weather getting colder doesn’t help, it adds a whole other layer of things you have to do/remember and makes being outside more difficult if it’s raining or particularly cold. It is absolutely exhausting and can wear you out for the whole day and the next, especially if you do most of the parenting as one parent tends to.

Do you have a spouse/family member/friend you could go with to split the load and help keep you sane?

Someone else here said take snacks and low expectations and maybe that’s a good way to look at it. Tell yourself you’re just going to go to one shop and if you only get to that one then boom - big achievement. If you manage to get to a few then bloody hell you’ve smashed it!

You can’t hide away forever and things can only get better with practice, if you do it a few times then hopefully you’ll get into a groove. That’s what I keep trying to remind myself anyway.

Best of luck ❤️

I've got a 6 month old and 2.5 year old so I get it. I'm mostly put off by car seats 😂. I have a double but I usually put baby in pram and toddler is generally pretty good walking with a backpack with a lead attached for safety what with having them both. Sometimes he does get tired walking so it's useful having the double. Tried a buggy board which was a firm no..

I remember asking another mum where abouts she’d found her trolley in Asda a few christmases ago as I’d been up and down the car park looking for the same configuration 😂 She prob thought I was mad! For quick trips I used to put my toddler in the trolley seat and baby (in their car set) in the main bit of the trolley. Less room for purchases but the baby slept and my toddler could look around/chat to me. It’ll get easier…and then they’ll start to fight sitting next to each other!

Wasn’t judging, just curious as your post sounded like this would the first time you’d ever taken them both out on my own

Pram and a sling. You just need to get on with it. There will be far greater parenting challenges than this. Imagine how you'll feel once you've done it.

Sure @Daisies12 - we could hear the head tilt and tinkly laugh from here!

Just take your time. I think the biggest mistakes parents with young ones make, is to take the shopping trip too seriously and try to rush it (which I get when your rushing round a supermarket, trying to do a big shop) So let you toddler look at stuff, talk to them and don't panic thinking you have to be quite. Go mid morning when it'll be less busy. If you only manage to get a few bits and you are all still happy when you leave the shop, it'll still have been a success.

People can be absolute arseholes on here, questioning why she didn't think of this when having a second child FFS! I've got a 6yr old and prefer every second of shopping on my own as I'm sure plenty of parents do.

It's hardly surprising the OP dreads taking the two of them out together, it's not like she's going to have a nice peaceful wander round B&M which would be the ideal

I would do this too! 18 months between ours so I would sit eldest in trolley and youngest in trolley seat - no funny looks from anyone either

Hope you get to have a peaceful trip!

Next time, read your comments back to yourself before you hit send.

Ignore the ridiculous nasty comments, some people are so silly. I remember my son was a nightmare in shops at 2, no matter how often I took him out- I can’t imagine the added stress of a baby on top of that!

Wow understanding