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Parenting

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Original poster

Toddler running away in the Supermarket

114 replies

Trueheart1 · 17/05/2018 15:49

My 2 and a half year old keeps running away from me in the Supermarket. He will shop with me, pushing the trolley and picking up items really well but then he will just start running away. When I stay stop, he will turn back and smile then run more quickly.

He never does this anywhere else and always walks well on the street. I lost him for several minutes today and I found him 5 aisles away. It has scared me deeply.

Any advice? Also does anyone know of a cartoon that I could show him about not running away in shops?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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DragonsAndCakes · 17/05/2018 15:50

I used to make mine sit in the seat. Till they were about five.

TroubledLichen · 17/05/2018 15:50

Online shopping

Wolfiefan · 17/05/2018 15:51

Wrist strap?
Put him in the trolley if he runs off?
How on earth did he manage to get 5 aisles away from you?

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BlueJava · 17/05/2018 15:52

Strapping them into the seat means they can't do it. However, I did once park them at the end of an aisle whilst I ran back and got something only to hear a smash and one had knocked a bottle of vodka onto the floor.

BaronessBomburst · 17/05/2018 15:52

I used reigns on mine.
Does he sit nicely in the trolley seat?

PotteringAlong · 17/05/2018 15:53

Just put him in the trolley seat?

hayli · 17/05/2018 15:53

Put him back in the pushchair and strap him up. Or use wrist strap.

Pseudousername · 17/05/2018 15:53

Little shits sometimes aren't they, you have my sympathy.

Sit him in the trolley? Reigns? Bribery? Snack? Shop online? Take a second adult to tag in?

Bobbybobbins · 17/05/2018 15:54

I didn't get my eldest to walk til he was over 3, too much hassle otherwise. My 2.5 year old is the same as yours. I keep him in the seat at the moment.

TheMonkeysAreMine · 17/05/2018 15:54

Strapped in the trolley and tell him he's there because he runs off.

Want to let him out? Fine.

He runs off....put him back in

Ratbagratty · 17/05/2018 15:58

Give him a chance each time you go shopping but say at the beginning if you don't come back when I say you will go in the seat. First time he runs you either say do it again and it's the seat for the rest of the trip and follow through, or follow through with seat the first. Depends on tollerence level, how far through shopping you are etc!

It's scary but I think boundaries are better than not allowing something he can do and enjoys.

RatherBeRiding · 17/05/2018 15:58

I don't think you need cartoons, I think you need to take charge of him and either use a wrist strap or insist he goes in the trolley seat. He is probably a bit too young to understand that he mustn't run off because it's potentially dangerous - he probably thinks it's a great game!

IHaveBrilloHair · 17/05/2018 15:59

Seat or reins.

SnowGoArea · 17/05/2018 16:00

Slightly controversial but I nipped it in the bud by letting them run off and then hiding so they had a little panic.

It was strategically done at the back corner of the shop so that I could take a position of vantage and cover all ways out.

The chase is just so flipping exciting for them. Watching their mum hare round after them with a trolley whilst screeching at them to stop. I can hear those delighted little yelps and pattering feet just thinking about it!

I keep the..strapped in or on my hip near the shop door for safety but when they get do get down don't chase! As best as possible don't really react. Follow out of the corner of your eye, creep to the end of the aisle in the direction theyre going, and sort of hide at the end whilst peering round. Works a treat if they learn that running off=losing mum instead of running off=fun game.

Sirzy · 17/05/2018 16:01

As others have said this is why supermarket trolleys have seats.

Leaving a 2.5 year old to walk around a supermarket without being strapped in or tightly held at all times is always going to lead to problems unless you have a strangely obedient and understanding two year old

IHaveBrilloHair · 17/05/2018 16:02

Honestly, so many times I've almost hit a toddler accidentally with the trolley, apologised profusely and got a filthy look from the parent because their darling was just helping etc.
It's just not safe.

MaryThorne · 17/05/2018 16:04

Very difficult to reason with a two and a half year old. As others have said, strapped into the trolley seat is your best bet.

EthelBeavers · 17/05/2018 16:06

I have this every time. He hates the trolley seat and climbs out of it while the trolley's moving. Just seems safer to let him walk but he can't resist a set of aisles. Honestly, the only method I've found that worked was basically run down the middle aisle with the trolley while carrying him and then abandon trolley, run and grab and then back to trolley and on again. Did the shopping in five minutes but looked like I was on Supermarket Sweep.

We've had a little success with the scan your own shopping, give him the scanner and he's occupied, but only lasts for ten minutes at most and then I'm scanning my own shopping and chasing a two year old.

You have my sympathies, it makes my life hellish. I'm trying to just avoid the supermarket now and use the local shops for groceries but if you can I'd use online shopping.

I was talking to a gran at playgroup the other day and she reminded me that about twenty years ago it wasn't uncommon for.a supermarket to have a creche. How are we evolving backwards?!

Original poster

Trueheart1 · 17/05/2018 16:08

Wolfie, I assumed he had run down the next aisle, So I ran down there but he hadn’t and while I ran down there he ran further away.

I shop with a pushchair and put the basket in the seat while I shop. I think a wrist strap might be the only answer.

OP posts:

MynameisJune · 17/05/2018 16:08

DD is 2.5 and loves this game. So we mostly shop online but if not then she is sat in the seat with a snack or she sits in the actual trolley and we get her to point stuff out and put it in the trolley for us so she thinks she is helping. Failing that we have a little life backpack that we use to keep her close to us.

No way would I let her run off, it’s annoying to other shoppers having to dodge her and she could get hurt by a trolley or pull something heavy off shelves.

Wolfiefan · 17/05/2018 16:09

You need to keep him in the pushchair or watch him more closely. He shouldn't be able to get out of your sight in a supermarket. What if he had run out of the store?

gamerwidow · 17/05/2018 16:10

I don't remember supermarkets ever having a creche and I'm in my 40s so they can't have been that common.
You have to either put him in the trolley seat the first time he runs off or revert to online shopping.
It's not easy these early years and toddlers pick the worst times to assert their authority.

WeAllHaveWings · 17/05/2018 16:11

ds was confined to the trolley seat after he disappeared once. it is not easy getting them back in there once they have tasted freedom, but if you make it non negotiable they get used to it soon enough.

gamerwidow · 17/05/2018 16:12

I used to fold up my pushchair and stick it in the trolley to i could put DD in the trolley seat and still have room for shopping. Easier than trying to manage a pushchair and a basket.

Original poster

Trueheart1 · 17/05/2018 16:12

Wolfie thanks for stating the obvious. I have explained that it scared me silly. I am asking for advice so that it never happens again. Do you think your last comment is in any way helpful?

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