Can I take my kids to the shops yet

[SodOffCovid]

I'm so confused what the advice is and what people are doing. I need some bits for the kids which are basically cheaper than the delivery it would cost to get here (weaning bibs, a potty) . I have a two year old and a five month old. Toddler is well behaved and could be put in a tandem pushchair with the baby to avoid a trolley. My DH is a key worker wfh but works odd hours so atm I am waiting for him to finish work so I can leave him with the kids and dash to the shops. Baby is breastfeeding so I am always in a rush to get back. Its OK but difficult to work around. Annoyingly, I have found though when I've done this, that there are still families, or mums with kids in tow. Is this against 'the rules' or am I making things so much harder for us?

There are kids in supermarkets so if you have to take them, go when it's quiet to minimize stress for others. Both in the trolley is much better than the 2yo wandering around. It's up to you whether a buggy is easier.

People round my way still take the whole family to the supermarket. 1 woman had 5 kids with her in tesco last week.

I saw photos of my local Ikea’s giant queue, entire families (ie both parents, multiple kids of all ages inc teenagers) were proudly waiting in line.

You are only supposed to take children if you have no other option so single parent , partner has dementia so can’t be left alone for example.
Can your dh not go himself after he has changed and showered if necessary.

There are no government rules about this, but your individual supermarket may still have rules barring children. Ask on a local FB group about the store you have in mind.

Thanks, although just to be clear, it's not my idea of a jolly! But it would certainly make out lives easier if I can got to one store to get these bits as a one off. I'm thinking somewhere cheap and cheerful like a home bargains / b&m. I will scope out the place outside before attempting to get in the queue. I have no intention of letting my two year old lose for his own safety.

Click and collect is normally free and much easier.

I'm getting really angry at people's attitude towards children during this crisis. They are the only innocent party and yet are being impacted the most. If a child can sit in a trolley or is old enough to understand social distancing, why on earth should they not be allowed in a shop? We have moved beyond the stricter lockdown of essential trips only. Children need to be out in the world now (with social distancing) so we don't completely mess up a generation.
We took our well-behaved children to a garden centre last weekend, one in a buggy, the other holding my hand, and the number of stares we got from over-70s was ridiculous. They are the ones who should be careful of where they go, not children. Rant over.

Of course you can take your kids to the shop. You always have been able to.
Tesco did have a no kids policy for a while I believe, I expect they dropped it once they realised thar Aldi and Lidl didn't.

I’ve just started taking my dd who’s 9 out with me as she was really missing the normality of just going to a supermarket once a week.
I got a few glares but mainly it was fine and she wore a mask
She’s very sensible and I think it’s important there’s a bit of normality.

I think the problem is that children add to the number of people in a shop. And with still social distancing, and people queuing, for every person that doesn’t need to be in the shop, means it’s someone else in the queue who can’t get in.

Obviously this is completely different for those who have absolutely no choice. But a lot do, and bring their children anyway

I had my 3yo sat in trolley in supermarket today and no one batted an eyelid though thinking about it I didn't see any children walking around only toddlers in trolllies.

I took my two DC ( 9&10) into Tesco to the pharmacy to pick up my prescription.
Dp was at work and I couldn't wait till he got home to go and get it.
People looked at me like I was scum.
It's put me off taking my DC near the shops tbh. Dc both really want to go and buy some new pens and bits with their pocket money in the local b&m. I've said no as I can't cope with feeling like I did that day in Tesco.

I went to M+S and the pound shop and both were fine, other children in both ( I had my youngest with me) I can’t see how else you can do it if you’re a single parent or you need to check something specific such as shoes fitting, it’s the first time I’ve been in a shop since March and no one cared if they did they didn’t say and besides children need to learn how to behave in certain situations and they can’t do that if they’re not allowed anywhere, they’re people as well.

@Scottishgirl85 it’s to reduce the numbers , nobody is going to Tesco’s as a fun activity. A child doesn’t need to do the weekly shop , an adult does.
Some parents have no choice but to take their children . For those that do it’s not fair for others to queue up longer, or much more importantly run the risk of catching Covid19 from a child.
It’s really not about anyone disregarding children

I did today and it was okay. We are both wfh full time, and a solo trip to the shops (which is lovely) takes up 2 work hours.

We went to waitrose, 3 year old daughter was on my back in a sling and all we had were smiles. At one point she said loudly
"I want it to go back to normal" and the entire asile laughed.

It made the shopping a lot harder. We bought a lot of cookies.

I agree with Scottishgirl85. My ‘kids’ are 10 & 15. After spending nearly 10 wks literally being inside the house (apart from the family once a day walk in the local woods, not seeing anyone) we’ve recently started taking them with us to the garden centre on one occasion and to the supermarket the other day. They know not to pick anything up, not to touch anything, keep their social distance. It’s vital for their mental health that they get out & experience this ‘new’ normal - albeit safely for everyone.

I'm a single parent, I've been taking DS to the shops since lockdown started. It's always been allowed. Just discouraged unless you have no other option.

Oh and no one has ever gave me funny looks or said anything about it.

You've always been allowed to take children.

I've taken my toddler with me everytime, she's either in pushchair or trolley. Easy!

There's whole extended families shopping, always has been! I would put them in a trolley or pushchair and go later in the day (after 3pm) as it's quieter (here at least)

Considering non essential shops open from Monday I think that's pretty much a marker to say.. Lockdown over but be sensible and socially distance... You can't claim lockdown is in place when non essential shops are open as it's clearly not an essential journey

I'm getting really angry at people's attitude towards children during this crisis.

Me too. It's completely bizarre.

You’ve always been allowed to. Honestly mn is like a different planet sometimes! My local Tesco has also never banned children so maybe that was store specific. I take all 4 of mine with me as I’m a single mum. No one bats an eyelid and there are plenty of other children. I did see a mum out with a newborn and her partner the other day. I would take what people say on here with a pinch of salt as I also read on here that you can’t use public transport unless you are going to work

@youvegottobekidding

I agree with Scottishgirl85. My ‘kids’ are 10 & 15. After spending nearly 10 wks literally being inside the house (apart from the family once a day walk in the local woods, not seeing anyone) we’ve recently started taking them with us to the garden centre on one occasion and to the supermarket the other day. They know not to pick anything up, not to touch anything, keep their social distance. It’s vital for their mental health that they get out & experience this ‘new’ normal - albeit safely for everyone.

There are limits on how many people can be in a store at one time. If you're going as a group of three you're making other people wait longer.