moving to london. how do you shop and go out with your toddler?

[ashleey2012]

This may sound like a silly question, but we are moving to London at the end of next month from the US, and are curious how moms do grocery shopping with their toddlers in London.

What kind of strollers do most people use? Or do you use the carts at the stores? And how do you bring all your groceries home? Do most moms of 3 year olds still use a stroller, or do your toddlers walk and moms carry groceries by hand?

Similarly, when you go out and take the tube, does your 3 year old walk happily by your side? Or are you still using some kind of stroller?

Lots to learn! I know I can deal with the change- just hope my active child will make the adjustment easily too. I envision my son sitting in the middle of a busy street because he is tired of walking--and pulling at his arm and later having to pick him up! That may be us for a while... :P

I tend to do only small supermarket shops on my own with DD (2.8) as cannot carry lots home being heavily pregnant. I use the stroller to get to shop then DD walks around shop whilst I put the basket in the buggy (reclined back) so I do not have to carry it. I then put as much as I can under the buggy and hang the rest off a hook attached to handle, I also have a backpack for lighter bits too.

You can also get delivery from most supermarkets now, which is good apart from for the fresh foods (they tend to put items that will be going out of date soon in if fresh).

For the tube, it would depend on the journey to and from the station as to whether I would take the buggy as I cannot carry DD if she gets tired. I get the bus more than the tube as not all stations have escalators/lifts so getting buggy plus toddler to platform not so easy.

We get the groceries delivered weekly. But we do buy nik naks and small items on many a shopping trip. I walk everywhere and my toddler either walks with me or goes in bugaboo though she's 18mos. We have the bee which is very lightweight and easy to manoeuvre one handed. If you have a bolter I would buy reins or a backpack with reins. I would never get the weekly shop with my toddler as I don't have parking next to my house and I can't carry her and groceries at once.

Grocery home delivery is my best friend. I can't imagine going to the supermarket with my 2.5 yo. I do pop into the shop with him most days but only for a few bits and bobs.

We don't use the tube much - it is hard with small children still in buggies. But when I have had to use it, I take my maclaren, fold it up, sling it over my bag and hold my son's hand on the escalators. Would not be able to manage that and shopping as well so tube use only for essential journeys. We use the buses a lot - easier although you have to run the gauntlet of grumpy bus drivers who can't wait to throw you off the bus if you dare to get on when there's another mother and baby on board.

For my DD (now 5) had a bugaboo gecko which is great if you are walking long distances but hopeless for - eg, folding up and hopping on the tube. For my son I just have the cheapest, foldable maclaren. Not great for walking long distances but easier for buses etc.

I think it really depends on your 3 year old. My son wasn't keen at hiding my hand, so would often feel safer strapping into buggy on tube. Had a lightweight Maclaren and would either bump ds down steps or ask for help. Ds lives the tube and trains in general so went on lots. By the time he was nearer 4 I did ditch the buggy, as for shopping - do it online

That should say holding my hand

Online shopping as much as possible. When I need to go to the supermarket, DD1 has to walk, she's 3.6. We had to gradually build up the distance she could manage when she hit 3 and DD2 needed the pushchair.

DD1 is also fine on the tube, you do need to make the rules very clear about hand-holding etc. And if I was going into town for a big day out I'd either be prepared to carry her for a bit or would take a pushchair.

It also depends where you live. I can get by on buses and we can drive to the supermarket

All of my American friends were amazed by the internet shopping - it was the main thing they said they would miss when moving home - give it a go

Buses rather than tubes if I can. I have a cheap folding buggy I can take on the tube and then just hold DS's hand. He keeps poking everything tho and the tube is flithy so bring wipes. I also have an iCandy cherry which is very manoverable (can turn in it's own length like a London taxi) but has a huge basket - I can fit the bulk of my weekly shop in that and a backpack. the worst thing is all the stairs at stations but this is improving you will soon find out which are accessible and which are not!

Online everything! Big weekly supermarket shop online, milkman and veg box covers everything. Plus you are never more than a few mins away from a corner shop in most of London for emergencies. I have a big supermarket 5 mins walk away so we sometimes go and have a nose around for a little outing if it's raining as going to a shop still has novelty value Taking my 1 and 2 year old for proper food shopping is my idea of hell though!

Agree - DD and I take little excursions to the local shops (2 min walk) daily and pick things up (if we wait until the afternoon there is loads discounted!!)

It depends where you are moving to but you'll find there are places you can buy food that are very close and open all hours

I shop daily - sometimes a big 3 wheeler, sometimes a umbrella fold stroller

Some shops you can scan the goods as you go round so you can load the groceries straight into your stroller
It's normal to see people with 3 year olds in buggies or with 3 year olds walking and the buggy full of groceries

Every few weeks I get a big order delivered - heavy stuff like drinks, cleaning stuff etc - I'd do this weekly if I was more organised

Usually I would take a stroller on the tube/bus but sometimes I'd just have reins on the kid

Scooters are quite handy for the kids - once they are trained to stop for roads

We live in London with DD 3.5yo. She walks everywhere with us, no stroller, she's used to walking with us and using buses and the Tube to go into central London. We do most of our shopping online and shop for things here and there from small, local shops which DD finds less stressful and more fun than supermarkets.

London is gigantic and made up of hundreds of smaller suburbs with their own high streets. I nearly always drive to the shops with my dc, we have big supermarkets with big carparks. In what way exactly do you think shopping in London will be different to shopping wherever you shop in the States?

I assume you won't be driving? You can easily do a weekly shop at waitrose Nd then get them to deliver it home. Or do it online (ocado.com) take a look t how much choice and how easy it is. Ten you can just wander to your nearest butcher etc if you prefer to choose fresh produce yourself. I don't drive so walk to nearest shop for milk, bread, veg etc but order the rest online. I'd suggest buying a MacLaren pushchair for those days when you have a tired toddler on your hands. They fold very small and are easy to store.

All the best for the big move. Once you're here it will all just work out, but I know how hard it is to picture a new life before you arrive! Unlike some us cities I have been to, we have a lot of convenience stores just a few minutes walk away from home, even in the smallest of areas. So you'll always be able to pick up basics at last minute.

One thing I would bring is medication from the US. We have nowhere near as much choice in pain relief! Haha

Finally, you might find London easier to navigate by bus on days you have your pushchair with you.

Where did you end up moving to?

If you are close to Paddington, then you have the delights of Waitrose (Bayswater and Edgware Road) which is pretty good, also scattering of M&S and Tescos. I am sure you will be interested in the flagship WholeFoods in Kensington High Street.

I would second getting the basics and heavy stuff delivered and pick up the rest locally. Try Portobello Market (during the week) for fruit and veg - its a great place to see life and meet other mums.

Don't tube it - it is a nightmare and I had problems with bus drivers deciding not to stop for me when I had the pram!

Scooters a good for smaller children on shopping trips.

It very much depends on specifically where you live. Check out the nearest supermarket to where you live - it may well be walkable (mine is) and then I put my DC in the trolley to go round, and cart it home in a rucksack. The bulky stuff I do over the internet. Check out the bus routes and also your nearest tube station, where you are likely to go, and the lift/escalator provision at each station.

My DS has been commuting on the tube (in a sling) since he was tiny, and luckily the main stops we use have glass covering the tunnel so there is no danger of him accidentally falling onto the track. If your toddler is not used to tubes/escalators etc I would consider using reins maybe until they get used to it.

If you post some specific journeys I am sure we can give tips.

Welcome to London - you will love it, there is loads to do with a toddler.

Welcome! London is a brilliant place to be with kids although you need a bit of a tolerance for hassle and lugging things about. I think the things on offer here make the hassle well worthwhile though.

On shopping: online shopping is the best way to go for weekly shops. Seriously. I never ever consider doing a big shop with my 2 under 3s. Depending on where you live there are loads of neighbourhood-style smaller supermarkets to pop into for top up shops. If you shop around and are flexible about when you get your delivery then delivery prices can be very low indeed.

On travelling around: I find buses generally easier than trains/tubes if you're going with a buggy but it entirely depends on where you live and when you travel. Buses can only carry two unfolded buggies at a time so if you're in a rush and the only buses that pass don't have space it can be seriously annoying! However in three years of doing this it's only been a problem a handful of times. Very few tube stations are step free. Personally I'm happy to take a buggy on escalators but some people aren't - this will limit where you can go on the tube. You also have to be prepared to ask people for help on stairs - no one has ever declined a request, but don't expect people to offer!! The trains are getting much easier as many/most of the main stations in central London and surrounding areas are now step free or moving in that direction.

I still use a buggy as have a baby as well as a toddler, but you'll soon learn whether the journeys you do most often are best done with a stroller (e.g. if longish, or at times when your DC might be tired and emotional!) or all of you walking. I am training my son to ride his microscooter safely (some way off yet!) as I enviously look at people travelling around with a semi-independent toddler rather than a double-loaded buggy!

Thanks everyone! We are looking forward to our shopping adventures in London (and using public transportation)! I will definitely have to try the online shopping once we arrive, and it looks like I will go to the store every other day or so to pick up some fresh fruits/veggies with my DS. Seems like it will be similar to the US. veryworried29, the main difference between my shopping now and the shopping I will do in London is because I will not be driving my car (and stroller space is limited). Good to know that the bus system is what I will be using more often than the tube - I'll make sure we keep that in mind when we do our housing search. And wow, it looks like our Combi stroller (our only stroller. similar to umbrella stroller) was one of our best purchases for DS! May need to invest in new wheels though. ;)

where are you looking?

You can get fresh fruit and veg delivered from online shopping too!
Check out riverford.co.uk or abelandcole for organic weekly fruit and veg delivery.
Ocado (which is waitrose) best online shops, mote expensive but great quality Otherwise try sainsburys or tesco (also fine )
Marks and spencers does nice food - you can shop in the actual shop and they will deliver your shop to you if you want