to put my son in the back of a trolley

[sodit]

at our local tesco they seem to be replacing the double toddler trolley with the shite lean back baby & 1 toddler seat ones. ds1's enormous bottom barely fits in it and ds2 starts crying cos he wants to sit up then he starts annoying ds1. So ds1 goes in the bit at the back and ds2 goes in the seat and they are bribed with food. Apparently not allowed on health and safety the trolley police told me today. My only option then is to let ds1 run wild in the aisles -he has asd by the way so walking nicely with mummy aint gonna happen [hgin]. Next they will make me buy the food before they eat arrgghh!!!

[TotallyAndUtterlyPaninied]

My mum used to look after my DS and my two nieces. She had to put the two baby girls in the baby seats and my DS in the trolley. He could sit up and enjoyed eating grapes and playing with toys so I never questioned it. I think it's fine. It's not like you're throwing the trolley around with baby in it.

[abra1d]

Hmm. I put my carton of cream or yoghurt in the trolley. Your child has stepped in a small amount of dog poo. My yoghurt carton has contact with the bacteria on the bottom of the trolley.

Then I put the carton in my fridge...

Yes, I can see why I don't like this habit.

[qwertpoiuy]

Years ago, i let my DS then aged 2 sit in the back of the trolley. He was looking over the edge of the trolley, next thing without warning he tumbled out and landed head first on the floor! He had a nasty bruise that lasted a few days.

So i can understand the store's policy.

[borderslass]

on a safety issue I wouldn't recommend it as I did it in b&q when my youngest was a week old and my son was 14 months couldn't get him in the seat as had baby in sling my son tried to climb out and fell we don't know if it was coincidence but he has severe learning disabilities now.I hate seeing it now.

[cloelia]

i was going to say the same as tibni above: all the supermarkets (should) have the trolley with the larger seat at the front; it should have lap belt too; sometimes you have to ask for it but it does make life easier and could solve your problem.

[SHRIIIEEEKPoolingBearBlood]

yes, i think it's known as 'poo cube'

[lucykate]

talking about the hygiene issue, where is the thread from a while back about the child who had pooed while in a trolley, and it fell through the bars which trimmed it into the exact same size and shape as an oxo cube? anyone else remember that?!

[SHRIIIEEEKPoolingBearBlood]

"god only knows what sort of bacteria they already carry from seeping meat containers, spilled milk"
I agree, also feel like this about carrier bags, amazed noone else seems to care. Use a bag that 6 months ago had leaky milk in it...nice!
before i get flamed, i re-use my bags as bin liners,

[hanaboo]

my dd is allowed to sit where she likes as long as she SITS... in which case i don't see a problem

[PeedOffWithNits]

that BMJ report is interseting reading, as it was BEFORE many trolleys had restraints in them

SUMMARY - in a 6 month period 10 children aged 9 to 50 months were taken to hospital after falling from a trolley. 2 had lost consciousness, one had a fractured skull. the report recommends that these accidents could be minimised by getting supermarkets to have seatbelt - which they now do - and still we parents risk our children travelling in the wrong way in the trolley, how ironic is that!

[PeedOffWithNits]

maybe I am just lucky but I had a just 5yo, 3yo and newborn at one point and have never ever had a problem shopping with any or all of them. from day one i have always babbled to them, asked them questions, got them looking for things - in general i think they live up to what we expect. if shopping is normal and a pleasant activity, they will be OK. If they get the idea from you it is stressful and you expect them to be naughty, and indeed, that they are an inconvenience, or you give them no attention, then of course they will play up. Mine have WANTEd to walk and "help" from age 2, and have been fine.

(not said to anyone in particular, and before I get flamed, of course SEN is another matter)

[PeedOffWithNits]

BMJ article on head injuries in children falling from trolleys - it is not as umcommon as you might think

[Kizzipoppet]

I'm with Sodit, there should be ideally plenty of double toddler trollys. I have a baby and nearly 3 year old, and I only do brief shops when I have both. DS2 runs wild in the aisles and I try to get the hell outta there ASAP before he 1) gets lost 2) knocks someone over. 3) I am sent over the edge in the bread aisle. Reins and slings are good in theory, although I find the call of online shopping much less stressfull...!

[PeedOffWithNits]

MamaG - the point is that a toddler of the correct weight correctly restrained in the seat would not be able to topple the trolley. One jumping around in the wrong part and able to lean out when parent not looking could, very easily

[MamaGoblin]

Some supermarkets are introducing toddler trailers, like Zebramummy said - they're big in America, and some of them there even play dvds (if you pay)!

Not sure what the answer is, although I'm sure if you're taking extreme care, the chances of your trolley toppling are remote. Perhaps not worth the risk, though. As a matter of interest, is a toddler in one of those front seats (with belt on) really less likely to be injured if the trolley falls over than one in the back? I can't imagine it not being pretty devastating either way.

The hygiene argument is crapola - I have NEVER seen anyone washing down or disinfecting trolleys and god only knows what sort of bacteria they already carry from seeping meat containers, spilled milk, mud splashed from cars in the car park, etc. Can't imagine that a toddler's feet add much significant to that mix!

[PeedOffWithNits]

a few months ago a small child died after climbing on and falling off railings outside a supermarket. It will not be long before tragedy strikes someone who has their child improperly restrained in a trolley. they could easily either topple out or tip it up while you are not looking. when you are doing something mundane and seemingly "safe" as shopping, and you are stressed by uncooperative DC or in a hurry, your guard is down - but as a parent SAFETY should be foremost in your mind. Blantantly ignore the laws of physics and common sense at your peril!

what really annoyed me yesterday in tesco was that i saw one boy of about 8 lying face down UNDER a trolley, like a star fish ontop of the wheels,I almost ran over his hands when he was messing around grabbing at things - mother totally oblivious - and another trolley with a baby in the front and girl of 5 or so sat right on the end with her bum wedged into the small section. She could have really hurt herself or the baby if that tipped - but NONE of the several staff they passed said ANYTHING about it, and i would have thought they had a duty to point out it was not correct use to avoid possible legal action being taken in the event of an accident happening to "I always shop like this and noone ever told me not to"-parents

[zebramummy]

our tesco has the crazy coupe style plastic car attached to the front of the trolley - though you may have to tie the dooe shut with string if they are liable to escape

[crokky]

I would either

-ask in tesco if there are any double toddler ones (there are still loads in my tesco) and if not, ask them to consider getting some. Loads of people in my tesco have 2 toddlers in these seats (including me!)

-drive to a different supermarket

My DS also has a probable ASD and I wouldn't go to the supermarket without both DCs in a double toddler trolley.

[HopeForTheBestExpectTheWorst]

How old are the children? I don't understand why they can't just walk around the shop. They will have to do this sooner or later anyway, no? So why not start early and get them used to it.

[madamearcati]

When I was a sixthformer I worked P/T in a supermarket and saw a nasty trolley-toppling incident where a child broke his arm and dislocated some fingers. It was a 999 job because there was no blood getting to his fingers

[famishedass]

Please don't let children sit in the back of the trolley. If they stand up it could topple over

I saw a 4 year old boy get his front teeth knock out when the trolley overbalanced and smacked him in the face

[lilyjen]

I let my 6 yr old sit in the trolley. I don't see the big deal. I never of thought of the hygiene issue but all food is packed in boxes, bags and packets anyway right?

[sodit]

ds2 is 16months so too big for sling, I also believe ds1 benefits from trips out and these are short trips i would not dream of doing a weekly shop with him. He comes out of the trolley at the tills and helps me put things on the belt, waves at chechout lady etc. I will ask about the double toddler ones though as they will do for now.

[BertieBotts]

How old is your youngest, too big for a sling? If not that could be an option. Some slings go on your back so he could see out (though you'd have to pre-empt the grabbing things off shelves issue!)

I would definitely have a word at customer services one time when they are not busy and say that you would prefer more double toddler seats. These must be the most useful anyway because you can use the seats from about 6 months.