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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think that Tesco ought to have a trolley I can use?

69 replies

FedUpWithRainyDevon · 07/08/2009 14:12

I have a 2.5 year old and am pregnant. My son is big for his age, and heavy, so I can't lift him up, let alone put him in a trolley (I don't even want to think about getting him out). He's a good boy but it would be a nightmare trying to go round with him walking.

So at the moment I have to go to Tesco without him which means going in the evening, which is a real pain.

Their customer service took all my details 2 months ago and I haven't heard a thing.

Am I unreasonable thinking they ought to have a trolley that children can climb in themselves, with some kind of harness that comes down over their head like on a rollercoaster? (That was my idea!) I can't be the only pregnant woman with a small child going to Tesco? AIBU? Should I take it further?

OP posts:

Pixel · 07/08/2009 18:10

I don't remember having a problem but then dd has always been small for her age so that's possibly why.
Riven, do you mean those trolleys with the big padded seat for older/SN kids? Our Tesco has those but I never see people using them either. I found out why when I tried to put ds in one, the harness is completely useless and ds (ASD) got out in no time. I tried putting dd in the seat next to him to wedge him in (she didn't object - she is very lazy ) and when I took my eyes off them to do the checkout he head-butted her and knocked her tooth out!
Anyway, they are really hard to push/steer, if you were pregnant you'd probably do yourself less damage just lifting your toddler in and out of a normal one. I've asked passers by to hold the trolley still while I got their legs through which makes it a lot easier.

squeaver · 07/08/2009 18:14

The other week, my dd managed to convince my gullible mother that she still got to sit in a trolley at Tesco.

Dd is:

4.5 years old

3foot 10

3 stone.

My mother is:

Clearly an idiot.

juuule · 07/08/2009 18:15

I've put mine over my shoulder while I've manoevred their legs through.

squeaver · 07/08/2009 18:16

Actually my Mum's 71 - doing her a slight disservice there.

juuule · 07/08/2009 18:18

I'm an idiot too, then

I've put older children in those seats. Just because they enjoyed it.

But then I'm not 76yo.

TrinityRhinoIsInDetention · 07/08/2009 18:20

I think your hormones are making you a little irrational

ksut ask a member of staff to help you put him in and out

msled · 07/08/2009 18:21

I just lifted mine in the trolley when I was pregnant and had a large three year old with some special needs. I don't really understand what you think might happen if you do this? You won't spontaneously combust or crumble into dust you know!

KatyS36 · 07/08/2009 18:35

Just ask someone nicely, either a member of staff or a bloke who is there with his family?

I've had back problems throughout this pregnancy and there have been occasions where I haven't been able to lift things. I haven't hesitated to ask for help.

My experience is that most people are lovely, and don't mind undertaking a (for them) quick and easy task which helps someone else out. I get something lifted, they get a big smile, a thank you and to be told they're really kind!

desertgirl · 07/08/2009 19:05

funny, I had been thinking when in the UK this summer that Tesco, Waitrose etc seem to have trolleys that almost do the shopping for you.... on a previous visit, found trolleys with a baby seat and a seat for a toddler, this time found twin-toddler seats (which I just had to use because they were there.... DS at just 3 normally just walks and is 'helpful', DD at 20 months would make the whole process take six times as long if allowed to set foot to ground) - and there seemed to be loads of other 'specialised' options.

Do you pick your son up otherwise? does it hurt at all? I think the most important thing with the lifting etc is not the actual weight, but how it makes you feel; if it doesn't feel right, don't do it (I remember getting fussed at at work about carrying round a heavy file or something, while pregnant with DD and having a 13kg toddler at home who still wanted/needed to be picked up and carried round at all opportunities - the thought was kind, but seemed a little out of touch with reality - and this was from another mother)

CarGirl · 07/08/2009 19:11

Well because I'm really short and have a bad back and have huge & tall children (all dh's fault) I ended up having to put my toddlers into the toddler side of the toddler & newborn trolleys because the seat is lower down, the leg slots bigger and it doesn't have a stupid advertisement thing above the handle which means you don't have to lift the child as high.

Staff all ran off when I tried approaching them for help even the time when I got dd stuck.......

oldraver · 07/08/2009 19:38

I have on and off back problems and I have found the easiest way to lift into a trolley is to have one hand under their armpit one between the legs then lift.

Original poster

FedUpWithRainyDevon · 07/08/2009 20:12

Thanks Bamboo, I am seriously trying to take everything on board.

I don't really lift DS at the mo - I let him climb onto me. He seriously weighs a tonne and is as tall as the average 4 year old. He just would be a bit of a nightmare to take round the shop walking as he's not quite at the responsible enough age for a big shop, but he's ok if I just whizz round the local Somerfields etc.

CarGirl I am like you - shortarse but with tall DH!

I am seeing the midwife next week so will ask her to clarify what I'm sure she told me, about avoiding lifting heavy weights.

msled, was just more concerned with bad back, pulling a muscle in my stomach, CS scar bursting (I know, you don't need to tell me it won't) and just generally hurting and straining. DS tends to hold on too long when you put him down too which hurt even before I was pregnant, and now he's 6 months heavier!

Oldraver, I was putting him over one shoulder before Pg, and kind of balancing him while I grappled with his feet, but it all just seems a bit of a daft way of doing it so my orignal idea was just that there ought to be a better type of seat really. Oh well, I'm definitely in a minority.

OP posts:

sarah293 · 07/08/2009 20:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

CarGirl · 07/08/2009 20:44

as soon as I was pregnant I couldn't even reach the bottom of the trolly anymore. Seriously being only 5' does make a difference, I have to lift my dc above my head to get them into a trolley because of there long dangley legs.

Actually getting them in is okay, getting them out is a complete nightmare......

icedgemsrock · 07/08/2009 20:50

no comment - just laughing at Riven's naked children - would have loved to have seen that!!

sarah293 · 08/08/2009 07:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

proverbial · 08/08/2009 10:07

If everybody stopped lifting toddlers when they were pregnant none of us would get anything done! I know you should take it easy and not strain yourself, but isn't it a bit precious to think that we are fragile and dainty just because we are pregnant? I say that as someone 31 weeks prenant with a 2 and 5 year old and a house being remodelled at the moment...if I don't lift things, nothing gets done!

I think YABU to expect Tesco to design, build and deliver a new trolley to your nearest store in 2 months! Is that a serious question? Why not just ask for help if you need it, people never mind. I am always askin random men in the car park to help me get heavy bags of boxes into the car, its not hard to ask someone at the front of the store to put your kid in the seat for you if you actually can't do it (as opposed to thinking you shouldn't do it cos its in a baby book somewhere)

Sorry if you think we're all being harsh, but as much as I'd like that at this stage of pregnancy to lie down all day and be waited on (and god would I!), thats just not real life, and I think most of us are stronger than we know.

gingernutlover · 08/08/2009 10:21

havent read the whole thread so dont know if i am repeating someone but what about getting him one of those play shopping trolleys to push around? Our a buggy with a teddy in it?

i have seen the little trolley thing done the other day and the child had a little list of their own with pictures, and they put what was on thier list in their trolley - was in awe of the mum who had taken the time to do it but it seemed to be working

Original poster

FedUpWithRainyDevon · 08/08/2009 17:58

Gingernutlover that is a great idea! He really loves shopping and having his own little trolley might crack the problem totally, thanks for that!!! x

Proverbial - I know you are right, but again I'll just say that even before I was pregnant it was a real struggle to get DS (95th percentile for height and weight) into the buggy and more importantly out of it, and while I realise and have already acknowledged that I obviously have been too precious about it, I still don't think I could actually get him out on my own (I have really pathetically weak arms anyway) but I will try asking for help and see if I get a better response. I am coming over as a snivelling weakling but honestly I get a lot done, am renovating a house too as well as running a business, so it's not that I am doing nothing and being waited on, (yes I would love that too). It is purely the trolley that I had an issue with. And no, I didn't expect them to solve the issue during my pregnancy, no, definitely not, 2 months is not enough as you say. It just seemed to me that I couldn't be alone with this problem, why should pregnant women have to struggle, or people with bad backs. The trolleys just seemed to have a bit of a design flaw, that's all, so I thought maybe if I pushed it things might change for the future.

I'm obviously a nutter though, judging by the vast majority of posts!

OP posts:

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