Treating the supermarket toy aisle as a toy library

[Peaceflower]

I went to Sainsburys this morning and was browsing in the toy aisle. A woman arrived with a toddler (around 2 years old) and asked him if he would like to choose a toy to play with just for when he was in the supermarket!

Didn't know what to think then, but 2 hours later it's still playing on my mind. This isn't right, is it?

Probably not, but then it's no different to the rows of people standing in Smiths reading the magazines. That really winds me up yet seems to be acceptable behaviour.

No its not, if she wanted a toy to amuse the child she should have bought her own.

I shop online as much as possible though as too many things annoy me in supermarkets - people eating before paying, stopping dead in isles with no regards to people behind, people who block the isles to chat/linger.

I don't see what the big deal is. I've been known to give my two year old daughter a teddy bear or doll to amuse her and stop her from climbing out of the trolley or having a tantrum. Sometimes it's not always possible to be prepared especially if the shopping trip wasn't planned. What really pisses me off are people parking in the mum and toddler bays when they obviously don't have children. Or worse...parents who clearly have children judging by the car seats and 'baby on board' signs but who aren't actually with them. You'd think they'd know better...

Green, have I touched a nerve? Perhaps this is a common practice akin to reading the magazines at WH Smiths after all.....

Green, the big deal is that teddies get worn and shoddy looking if they are played with by toddler after toddler, so the shop will find them more difficult to sell.

Does it really matter?

It's what I (and DH) did when we were children. Our Mums would go do the food shopping and we would look at the toys and read comics.

If it stops them rearranging the bread and hiding on the shelves, I'm all for it.
Problem with people in Smiths is you have to goose them to get them to shift out of the way so you can get to your magazine.

The lady I'm talking about wasn't just letting the child look at the toys, but actually asking him to pick one to go round with. I assume the toy would then join the collection of abandoned toys near the checkout lol

I don't think its an issue really. DS will often latch onto a toy that we let him hold until we get to the till and distract him and then put it back.

YANBU
When you go to ToysRus it's full of ruined toys because people let their children play with them.

Not to mention covered in snot!

Oh hey we do that!
Not purposely, but DS has a few times picked up a toy and I just let him have it until I get to the till like half an hour later and then I will discard of it.
Anything for an easy life at this point :-p