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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

How DO you go to the supermarket with a 4 wk old and 2 year old?

92 replies

margo1974 · 09/01/2007 22:13

Trying to mentally visualise this, and it's just not working. Won't use the internet shops as the veg is always rubbish and sell by dates too soon. When I send DH out, he only buys the minimum. We have run out of nappies for eldest and I have hardly anything in the fridge - will need to shop tomorrow. Will I have to resort to valium?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

KTeePee · 09/01/2007 22:41

Which poster did you think smelt fishy?

Dior · 09/01/2007 22:45

Message withdrawn

SherlockLGJ · 09/01/2007 22:47

Oh that the fish could type.........my e-mail affair with her would be so much easier. I have corresponded with the fish for a long time. Recently it was so bad, my DH had to try and figure it out.

Really hope the family trip to New Zealand helps her relax....and she comes back refreshed.

KTeePee · 09/01/2007 22:48

She's not taking the boys out of school is she?

SherlockLGJ · 09/01/2007 22:50

It is authorised absence.....

Should think the crims down her way are sleeping easy in their beds.

hunkermunker · 09/01/2007 22:50

Christ, you lot are unsympathetic!

I had fledgling PND at this stage with two children of a similar age (DS1 was a bit younger than 2, but still). I literally couldn't work out the order I needed to do things to get out of the house and when DS2 pooed just as I'd got DS1 in the car, I sobbed in a heartbroken fashion.

It was just too hard.

So well done ladies, some of you have been total cunts to this woman.

PinkTulips · 09/01/2007 22:59

wow! i only read through after i'd posted and you lot are being savage tonight

have you all forgotton what it feels like to have a newborn and be learning how to cope with 2?

TrinityRhino · 09/01/2007 23:06

I was standing up for her, thankyou very much

and hunker that burn on your face has sharpened your tongue, thats ruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuude

bettythebuilder · 09/01/2007 23:09

must agree with hunkermunker and pinktulips here - I 'only' have one child but could barely leave the house for a couple of months after she was born. All confidence had gone. I even worried about how to fit the baby car seat into the special trolleys, and thought I should have gone beforehand to 'practice'.

Agree that online shopping for basics with short trips out for fresh fruit/veg may be the way to go at the moment.

Ceolas · 09/01/2007 23:12

It is hard.

But it can be done.

You need a list. If you can visualise the store in your head and write your list roughly in the order you'll meet the aisles that should help.

The trolleys with baby and toddler seats are good. As are snacks for toddler as has been mentioned.

But some valium on ice for when you get back might be a good idea!

NorksBride · 09/01/2007 23:22

I used to put baby in sling and toddler in trolley. Then 'big baby' in double trolley with toddler. (I do believe that toddlers should be restrained in supermarkets for as long as physically possible).

When I got onto baby, small toddler, big toddler - it was not unknown for me to put the toddlers in a double trolley and the baby in it's car seat in the middle and would pile the food around her.

Then Ocado started delivering in my area.

Ceolas · 09/01/2007 23:24

FWIW, I found sling in supermarket quite difficult. I was bending down to get things off shelves and frightened I'd drop the baby.

And unloading onto the conveyor belt at the end was a similar problem.

I would seriously consider online.

lulumama · 10/01/2007 09:39

margo....hope your trip went well..couldn;t offer any advice as my kids 6 years apart ! but i remember breaking journeys down into stages and mentally ticking each one off the list, so i felt i was acheiving something

kids in the car - tick

bags in the car - tick

mummy in the car with handbag - bonus points if hair is brushed - tick

get to wherever we are going - tick

etc.....

it is hard ...and you are tired from the demands of toddler and newborn ! hope it went well xx

belgianmama · 10/01/2007 09:54

This reminds me of the time when a woman I know, who's dc's are exactly the same age as mine, said: 'Oooh, I'm so nervous, my DH is away and I'm taking my 2 shopping for the 1st time.' Her youngest was about 12 weeks at the time and the eldest 2.4y. My DH works away from home and so I had done that same trip I don't know how many times by then and I really couldn't see the fuss. Neither can I see it now. Babies tend to keep sleeping when you're on the move and a toddler sits in the trolley.
What's a lot, lot, lot worse is shopping with 2 toddlers who both keep wanting everything in the shop, now that's scary

Kbear · 10/01/2007 09:55

go when your 2 year old has had a nap and just relax, it'll be fine.

staceym11 · 10/01/2007 10:36

iv recently had similar experience wqith shopping and we have to go in the evenings as i dont drive so have to wait for dh to get home, ds is now 9 weeks and dd is 2, it is hard but can be done. i go when dd is well fed but not yet tired and when ds has had a feed just as we leave or within an hour so he'll last till we get home. both with clean bums. iv never found the need for distraction except talking/singing/distracting the toddler, but i have the support of dh so maybe a small toy/book just for shopping would be good. try not to worry, even if it all goes tits up its not the end of the world!! good luck!

MerlinsBeard · 10/01/2007 10:45

i missed this, sorry

am at the blase posts on here, its hard enough getting dressed in themorning enver mind doing the shopping as well!

Won't post my advice as u have probably been now, hope it went ok. remember that next time u go wil be easier becasue u know what to expect x

oliveoil · 10/01/2007 10:48

Not read all of these but this is what I did:

I walked to the shops, fed dd2 first as she was ALWAYS HUNGRY, then put her in the double buggy asleep at the back. Strapped dd1 in the front and left.

You have to be organised - get your bag, purse, wipes, kitchen sink ready first so you can be off as soon as baby is fed.

I got a bribe for dd1 on the way - biscuit from bakery or give organic apple if that is your wont, anything to make it a 'treat'.

If you drive, do the same, feed then out, but obv in car seat and not buggy.

Take bribes for eldest to get them in the trolley (both mine used to kick off, still do unless Hula Hoops are offered).

KentuckyFreudChicken · 10/01/2007 11:11

I regularly go shopping with 3 year old, 2year old and baby and its fine....just take a list and stay calm. Don't agree with giving snacks all time to toddlers to keep them quiet! Even worse is opening things in the supermarket and giving them treats....really distasteful!

you'll be fine

Original poster

margo1974 · 10/01/2007 11:21

Well, I think I have had a mixture of being taken by my shoulders and shaken until my teeth rattle and given lots of strategies - so thank you.

I was being flippant when I mentioned valium.

Now need to get out of my dressing gown, off of my backside and walk to the shops.

OP posts:

hunkermunker · 10/01/2007 11:25

I'm distasteful to KFC - YAY!

oliveoil · 10/01/2007 11:29

Situation 1: Screaming, bored, wailing child, annoying everyone is sight

Situation 2: Distracted child with treat, charming everyone in sight

Hmmmmmmmmm, now let me see

Hmmmmmmmmmm

bringmeashrubbery · 10/01/2007 11:36

Agree, just get on with it - you'll be doing it a lot over the coming years so best get used to it now ! btw I had to abandon a full trolley of christmas shopping as 2yr ds had a mighty fit in Tesco (wasn't well so he is excused) I went back 3 hours later, sans children, and my trolley was where I'd left it, fewer crowds in the shop, and...they had restocked the shelves with stuff I couldn't get the first time round - result !

sockmonkey · 10/01/2007 12:15

Make a list. That was you shouldn't forget the stuff you went in to get if you have to contend with a noisy toddler. Babies usually like to be out anyway.

If you have them both in the trolly, get the older one to help you put stuff in (not eggs obviously)It works to keep mine amused.

I am sure it won't be as bad as you think

compo · 10/01/2007 12:18

Time it for when baby needs a nap not when he/she might be hungry. My dh is a star and takes my two on a Saturday monring when I'm at work. He seems to get on fine

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