joining blame culture or genuine case?

[CurtainTwitcher]

On tuesday my DD3 was in shopping trolley which tipped over when my 3+4yr olds tried to stand on one side. The 4yr old did stand on it but 3yr old was just trying to. Between them they probably weigh around 4 1/2 stone. Anyways the trolley tipped over with DD3 sitting in the seat strapped in and resulted in her knocking her head on the floor. Obviously carted off by ambulance and spending around 30hrs on a ward due to them being concerned about bleeding on the brain.
Anyways since telling people when asking about huge bruising around 90% have said that they dont think the trolley should have tipped. The store have phoned last night and said they will be conducting an investigation with it being such a serious incident. So what I am asking is whether there is any responsibility with the store or whether it is just one of those things? I am wondering if people are all on this band wagon of claiming for money or it if it is something that shouldnt have happened considering how many children will be in the store probably doing similair.

How on earth could the store be to blame? Stores have notices displayed telling parents/carers how to use trolleys safely and correctly. I can't see how it's their 'fault' if this is ignored.

It sounds a horrible thing to happen, and I hope your dd is on the mend now. But in all honesty, I don't see how you could try to apportion blame anywhere - and I speak as a mum of 3 who often had to do the supermarket shop with 3 pre schoolers

I am very sorry about your dd and hope she's fine but every supermarket has signs telling us not to allow children to climb in or onto trolleys. I think the responsibility begins and ends with you and your children.

Horrible thing to happen but no blame on the store. You were in charge of your children who caused the accident to happen.

It is neither the stores responsibility nor 'just one of those things'. It is an irresponsible parent allowing their children to do something which shops are constantly warning about. I hope your dd will recover fully and you will use more common sense in future.

Thanks all to be honest I completely agree hence the joining the blame culture title..just wondered if it was just opinion of some.

greenfly bit harsh about irresponsible parenting. You know nothing about me or how I parent. The girls are 3 and 4 and yes I had told them not to stand on trolley every single time we shop. On this occasion I turned to pick up a punnet of strawberries.
God help you if anything ever happens to one of yours where you turn your back for 2 seconds.

What a horrible thing to happen, and I hope she fully recovers.
That said, a trolley is safe if used appropriately and it wasn't. The store do have warnings and disclaimers as to how they should be used appropriately.
I've seen younger children not just try to hang on one side, but doing it with a real pull or jerk that has wobbled the trolley to one side significantly.
So there's a difference between balancing and yanking the trolley towards you, enough to destabilize it.
I'd write it off as a horrible accident, and be very strict in the future about what's OK and what isn't.

How are your older DC's? They must have got a horrible fright.

Gosh, I'm really sorry for your children, but letting them climb on the side like that is just asking for trouble!

Mine go on the sides, but they have to be one either side, and they have to get off if I'm not holding it. The trolleys are just too unbalanced otherwise. And if it did fall over, it would be me I would be blaming, not the store.

five thanks for asking.
The 4yr old was very remorseful and shook up, 3yr old rather blaise about it all. They were more impressed with being taken for slush puppies while we were being carted off in the ambulance.

can I just say
I DID NOT LET THEM CLIMB ON IT
I turned to pick up strawberries and they both stood on one side.

Well done for not screaming 'You've killed your sister!'
Slushpuppies to cope with scary stuff sounds like a good response. Training later, comfort now.

To me, it is obvious trolleys will tip, because they are fairly light. To this end, I don't allow dd1 to climb on them at all, not just for dd2's (in the seat of the trolley) sake, but for hers too, as she could get hurt too.

I think in these cases parental supervision is a must. It isn't the stored fault & I fail to see what good their investigation will do.

The main point here is that your dd is OK. Yes, it was scary & she was hurt, but imo that is more your fault than the stores.

Curtaintwitcher - my post was a x-post. No need to shout. And it's still your fault, not the stores, even if it was one of those horrible 'back turned for one second' things.

Sorry, CT but if they insist on ignoring you & climbing on the trolley, you need to keep them next to YOU, not the trolley.

mrs wobble not just directed to you just generally stating I agree that they shouldnt stand on the trolley and it is not something I have ever allowed.

And also, although I know this is going to sound very smug, my 3yo knows not to do things that I have explained to her are dangerous and why they are dangerous. She's not stupid - she knows if she runs out in a road she might get squashed like the coke can we saw the other day. And they know that a trolley needs to be balanced in order not to tip, because I've shown them.

You should do your shopping online - far safer and less stress anyway!

Dont worry about greenfly op. She's in a bad mood and dripping venom over every thread she looks at this morning.

Sorry for your little one but I think it would be harsh to blame the store. It is one of those things, if you're vigilant and educate your DD's then hopefully it won't happen again but we all know of times when accidents happen as they do.

mrswobble
they do know not to stand on it but being young children they sometimes get impulsive especially if you have 2 and it is a case of monkey see monkey do.
Obviously I know they shouldnt and I have 4 children age 6 and under and its never happened before because they are constantly told not to do things that are dangerous. I do explain why and consequences.

sorry, i realise you must be terribly distressed at what your dc has done, but its really not the shops fault. hope all ok with dc.

I have four too, all close like yours.

There there Alousyleg, now you've broken two 'rules' - 'thread about thread' and 'hijacking' and I thought you were so keen on rules. Funnily enough the OP has broken your precious rule by starting off sounding pretty blase about her dc on the trolly 'considering how many children...wil be doing similar' and then goes on to post how adamant she has been in telling them not to do this. If you aren't keeping a close enough eye on your kids to keep them safe then the proper word for that is irresponsible.

greenfly then you best call social services for my irresponsible parenting. Evidently nothing has happened or will ever happen to your children I assume.