How do you manage when you can’t find the baby essentials you need in stores? Do you have any tips or alternatives

[mumoftwo0105]

I'm tired of trying to get baby products as a single parent of 2.
Struggling with relying on supermarkets as baby products run out quickly as both my kids feed a lot. I'm having to rely on subscriptions which is very difficult as it takes long to receive orders up to 3-4 working days. Some items are difficult to find in stores, especially if they are popular or in high demand. I have to shop around to find what I need.

So I end up ordering from uber eats or Deliveroo and still the baby foods I want can be sold out. So I order from amazon but they do not have everything I need.

Fed up of limited stock in supermarkets and always struggling to get baby essentials when there is not enough of it. Having to carry my two babies with me to shop is difficult especially as a single mum. So I can't just go from supermarket to supermarket...

Does anyone else have this struggle or am I the only one?

Ok il try this and you're right I'm over complicating things... ill try this and see how I can simplify my routine.. Thanks a lot for your advice

If it’s getting them out and about around the supermarket that’s the problem can you get a double pram or pram and buggy board. I have a just turned one and a two year old as well so appreciate it’s not easy.
We do one meal for everyone, my one year old often will not eat much of it (way pickier than the two year old) but I’m hoping with exposure she will eventually eat normally.

Mainly kendamil and food they specifically like as they are picky. I mainly stick one store closest to me as Its hard to travel around with a 1 year old and 2 year old. I also rarely leave my house as I work 1-10pm 4/5 days a week. But im going to re think my strategy!

its very hard to get them out especially with a very active 2 year old. I can't just go from one supermarket to another to find what they need as I rarely leave my house due to my job and also their age!!! So im guessing I should cook a huge meal for all of us and store it.. I never knew about buggy boards so I'll have a look at this and try it. Thanks a lot!

You are working 36 hours a week with a 1 and 2 yo? No childcare? You need to go onto entitled to and see how much universal credit you'd get for childcare costs. If they were in childcare during the day you could use non working hours to do shopping.

Taking them to the supermarket shouldn't be too hard. Collapsing double buggy- put them in the two seats of a big trolley and fold the buggy into the trolley.

What do you think women did before deliveries?

Who looks after your children whilst you're working? Do they get out and about with lots of fresh air and new experiences?

A 1 year old and a 2 year old absolutely should not be eating jars of purée baby food and have no need for formula.
It sounds like you could really do with reaching out to your health visitor, most areas have feeding clinics and helplines.
This isn’t a healthy or appropriate diet for two growing toddlers.

Ah, I feel bad for suggesting you were doing market research. Sorry @mumoftwo0105 - it sounds like you’ve got a lot on your plate at the moment. Others have made good suggestions about moving from formula to ordinary milk and trying to get the little ones used to eating normal meals with you.

Have you checked that you’re getting everything you’re due - maintenance from the children’s father, child benefit, tax free childcare, universal credit/child tax credits etc etc? What are your childcare arrangements? If you have a sympathetic friend or family member who could sit down with you to help you make a plan of action for your new life as a single parent I’m sure that would help - it must be exhausting having to make all the plans and arrangements yourself.

sorry mainly Kendamil Stage 3, ready made foods mainly spag bowl/fruit pouches/chicken and rice .. and they are 1 and 2 year old... but Yeah I mainly struggle to go out and replenish because of my working hours (1-10pm) 4/5 days a week.

will try this but I mainly work 1-10pm... so that's why I mainly rely online at the moment. ill try a buggy board as I don't have a double buggy Thanks for the advice :)

Can you not go to the shops before you start work? I have a two year old and a 9 month old and they’re absolutely fine in a double trolley.

The milk and diets do sound concerning tbh, even my 9 month old eats pretty much everything we do with some adjustments. Batch cook and freeze portions if you’re finding it hard but even just pasta or a jacket potato is quick to make and suitable for everyone and they can choose their toppings. Blend some veg and stick it into ice cube trays and you then can add these to pasta sauces etc if they really won’t eat solid vegetables.

On the milk my 2 year old only liked oat milk rather than dairy so I found him a fortified one (oatly barista) could you try alternative milks if yours doesn’t like cows milk?

Get a double buggy.

Do you never take them out for long walks?

Do you drive/have a car?

How have you survived without a double buggy? I'm gobsmacked!

I have two picky eaters, have tried cooking variety and variety but they just don't like it. I'll try keep trying I guess. Sometimes for example spaghetti bowl ready made for toddlers can be out of stock and kendamil stage 3 but I rely online because I work from home 1-10pm. So ill try the advice that's been given on here to change my strategy for less stress!

But you must be going out before 1pm? You can get most food delivered easily in uk for any number of stores.
But a 1 and 2 year old need to be out doing stuff. Do you go out between 8-1pm?and can pick up essentials.

If eldest can’t walk easily yet get a cheap double pram secondhand for your sanity. Something like out and about nipper is easy to push with two older toddlers and loads of space for naps out or shopping underneath.

Get online food delivery from a supermarket. They’re not babies so don’t need baby food. They don’t need milk as long as they’re getting 350 mg of calcium which is 3 portions of dairy so cheese blocks as a snack and yogurt at lunchtime and your 2/3 of the way there.

Look at the taming twins website for recipes, especially slow cooker ones. Her meals for 4 while easily last the 3 of you at least 2 meals if not 3. So make a meal on Monday to eat a third Monday, freeze a third for another day and reheat the remaining third on Wed or Thur night.

If you’re trying to work and look after your kids at the same time then you really need to sort childcare.

Honestly if you can afford the huge upcost in still giving 2 toddlers multiple formula bottles every day, along with packaged baby foods ordered on deliveroo then you can afford a double buggy off Facebook market place?

What time do your kids get up that you almost never leave the house because you work at 1pm? Do you not take them for walks? Do they not get to go to the local park? How are they being stimulated and cared for if you are working until 10pm with no childcare?

As a single mum surely you must receive UC which would pay the bulk of your childcare bill so why are you keeping them cooped up indoors and ignored while you work day after day?
This whole set up doesn’t sound very healthy for young kids.

Some of these responses are harsh! @mumoftwo0105 I take my hat off to you with 2 under 3 and no support. With the formula, gradually dilute the formula with cows milk over several days, and they'll get used to the taste.

In terms of meals, I have a fussy eater so I get how hard it can be to sort meals. I think the set up our grandparents had of a schedule of 7 meals, so monday's evening meal was always X and Tuesday's was always Y wasn't such a bad thing. You could then do a food order knowing exactly what items you'll need to buy, and you can tailor meals for you and the toddlers - rice and chicken but you have a sauce and they have cucumber etc.

Is your 2 year old eligible for free nursery hours? if they aren't, it will get easier once they hit 3 and you can go food shopping with one child when they're at nursery. If you're used to 2 children, having just the one feels like a doddle.

How is this question useful or relevant to ops problem

One of the OPs issue is fussy kids, kids need exercise an dmental stimulation to be healthy happy children and then hopefully, eventually less fussy. Children who aren’t happy are more likely to be fussy.

OP is also complaining that she doesn’t get out.

No...I'm in need for an advice but others have understood and helped me as I am genuinely struggling as I work from home 1-10pm so its hard to go to supermarkets to get what I specifically need...

@mumoftwo0105 they do not need cows milk, if they don't like it don't force it. None of my kids ever weaned onto milk, neither did I as a baby. So long as they're getting calcium from other foods just don't bother and give them water. Yogurts and cheese cubes for example.

And if you're struggling financially then stop giving them packaged baby food and make your own. Spend a bit of time trying to get the consistency similar to the jarred stuff and you're buzzing.

Could whoever looks after the kids while you’re working arrive an hour earlier so you could pop to the supermarket?

I'm reading that you and your two toddlers have just had an immense upheaval in becoming a single parent family. I think that the food thing is a minor stress that's standing in for the major one.

Go gently. They probably need some familiar tastes and textures in their lives when everything else has changed. But gradually aim to swap the expensive stuff out for normal, simple food.

And do get them some fresh air and exercise. Knacker them into not knowing what they're eating. (I once managed to get shepherd's pie into my resistant autistic son when he'd had a really long active day. Never before or since, but hey, it was good at the time.)

its really difficult.. I have no child care only sometimes when my family help but it depends on their work schedules. Thats when im able to properly shop and replenish groceries but until then it's a struggle mentally, emotionally and physically. I work heavy hours so it's not that I don't want to go out. I have to work to pay bills of course....

Exactly... Its hard that I cannot go out and I always feel guilty that I do not take them out enough as its hard to and my work hours...