Supermarket trolleys - what do you do?

[Wispabarsareback]

I've been doing so well recently, I thought - coping with DD2, being rational and positive about our situation, not losing my rag all the time, etc. But my trip to Sainsbury's today prompted an unexpected emotional collapse.

I spent a while looking for our 'normal' trolley, before realising that they had clearly all been replaced by a new design - which was wider. So I put DD2 in one of the new trolleys. But little DD2 (two years old) has Rett syndrome and has problems with her balance, and isn't great at sitting unsupported - and she couldn't manage this trolley at all. I did a bit of shopping, but then realised that it just wasn't possible to go round holding her hands the whole time (and what would we have done at the check-out - yikes). So we abandoned the whole thing. I went to customer services - upset rather than angry - to ask if the new trolleys were wider (rhetorical question) and to explain the situation. They were clearly taken aback, and wanted to help, but there wasn't much they could do. DD2 and I were both pretty frazzled, so we just left.

But it precipitated an enormous panic on my part - I drove home in floods of tears, as it seemed to symbolise all kinds of doors that are closed to us. I now can't take DD2 to the supermarket, unless I know that an 'old' style of trolley will be available. I am so fearful that as she gets older we will experience more and more things like this, and we will become so confined in terms of what we can do and where we can go.

Leaving aside the wider issues about society in general - what do you all do about supermarkets? Kids that can't sit up reliably are obviously going to have difficulties in these trolleys - are there any aids or devices available to help support them? Or should I resort to online shopping for my own sanity?

Any thoughts or suggestions welcome. I have since recovered from my emotional collapse with the help of a lovely friend who took DD2 and me out to lunch - DD2 can just about manage in a highchair in Pizza Express if she's got a jacket or something shoved behind her to help keep her upright!

sorry it's been a difficult day with the shopping - supermarkets and young kids are hellish at the best of times! DS has different issues - so no diffiulties with seating, but at that age I would just do child in buggy and carry basket. Possibly if you write in they might be able to provide a more suitable trolley/seat arrangement for kids with disabilities, as I guess there's likely to be other parents affected.

Hi-Cerebra have just done a seat for supermafket trolleys-it's in their latest bulletin. It looks great and would have been suitable for my son when he was younger- he also couldn't sit unsupported etc. It should be on the website or you could contact the Cerebra Innovation Centre. Sorry can't do links on my iPod!!

sorry shopping was nightmare .I tend do most of mine online as hate dragging kids with me.

I would write in did and our 2 big local stores have trolleys with seats in for older children but no help if problems with balance other than they do have a 5 point harness on them

Thanks monstermansmum - will take a look.

Was going to mention the cerebra seat too. I totally sympathise, we have supermarket/trolley issues too.

I'd consider contacting HQ and asking for their input.Most of these big firms are really keen on doing the right thing by people with special needs.

Or...ask if someone can come with you to push the trolley.Again, with a little forewarning ,they'd be happy to help. most peopel are if they are told specifically what they can do to make things easier for peopel.

Really sorry it was such a nightmare. My dds and 8 and 4 now, so I shop when they are at school, or do online shopping. Shopping with either of them, especially a Major using 8 year old, is v stressful.

Oh I sympathise! We had this for ages, I used to prop DS up with towels etc, however eventually he got too big and stiff for me to get into the seat and after lots of complaints and asking for SN trollies with never materialised I went over to online shopping. It's much easier and I find saves me money as I shop religiously to the list!

If I ever need to pop in he either goes in his wheelchair and I take a basket or if I have DS2 as well they stand in the trolley. DS1 can now stand well if he holds on to the side. I have had comments about this but just counter them with saying that they don't provide SN trollies so I have taken the majority of my custom elsewhere!

Wispa, I totally sympathise - every now and again something happens which seems to underline the differences between out lives and those of the "normal" people. Its sometimes very hard but you do get a thicker skin eventually.

The answers are not easy:
Shop alone when you have help with dd2,
Ask an assistant to push the trolley or the child,
Have more children and get them to help (I have 2 others, they have jobs: push your sister or the trolley!)
Do the conga with one in front and one behind, and smile soooo sweetly at all the people you bump into and apologise sooo profusely, explaining that she can't sit up in the trolley

Oh this is a nightmare isn't it?! Some supermarkets have sn trolleys which you can book for your shopping trip - might be worth asking if they can order you one to use?

What about using a harness? I used to strap dd up with reins when she couldn't sit up that well - we used the baby seats for ages!

How blardy hard can it be to design a trolly that goes around a wheelchair somehow or one with a decent supportive seat for an older child. Mind you it would be a bit like parking spaces wouldn't it...people would no doubt put their nt kids in

Hi all

I know this is an old thread, I was going to start a new one but thought I'd do a search to see if it had come up before. My local sainsburys now has a selection of different trolleys which maybe useful to some of you. They are very well hidden in my store but definitely worth asking about if they would be useful. They have one which attaches to a normal buggy. The basket bit is slightly bigger than the baskets you carry. It takes a bit of getting used to pushing, but I went round our store with one today and it was great, saved me trying to carry a heavy basket and push a buggy, knocking into people and getting frazzled! They also have quite a few trolleys which I assume are designed for older children with special needs. They have a full-size seat with harness which faces you as you push.

there is also this new trolley
BBC report here

Hi, i had a lady from cerebra come over today and in one of the booklets was the seat/support for a shopping trolly, it looked great these are the people that designed it (can't find a picture of it though), it might be worth contacting them.

I would second the writing idea - but take it to the top. Write direct to Justin? chief exec(sorry surname escapes me just now) - he will then have to come back to you.

Have to say, i found the switch over to new trolleys a nightmare several years ago with my NT child. Trolleys obviously designed by men - lifting car seat onto much higher trolley a nightmare (problems with back after birth). Got fed up and switched supermarket.

online shopping the wheelchair adapted trolleys do not fit on a childs wheelchair

I only plucked up the courage to take DS to supermarket two years ago (he's 14), due to his behaviour. Went to ASDA last week as they have large disabled trolleys (big seat facing backwards with shopping trolley bit attached). They only have two and the man said that one had been nicked. He said that 'when this one goes, that will be it'. I replied, 'in that case, when this one goes, I will go to another shop'. Don't these giant supermarkets have enough money to buy more trolleys or an insurance policy to cover theft?

I'm so glad this thread was resurrected as it's such a problem.

We still use baby seat trolleys with DS who is 2.5 but he still fits in it even though I know it says they should only be used for up to 9kgs. It's not good for his posture though.

We have tried him a couple of times in 'normal' trolley and although he can hold on to bar for a few minutes to steady himself, he keeps falling over and clattering his head off the trolley - it's really no good as you can't let go of him.

I'd seen the campaign on BBc report above about getting SN trolleys in supermarkets (she also has a facebook page)and want to do that in my town but I'm afraid I haven't had the time to organise that yet. Our biggest Tesco does have trolleys which are supposed to be for SN children - but it's just a large seat with flimsy straps - no use at all for children who can't sit unsupported. It really does conform to the stereotype that 'disabled' just means uses a wheelchair but everything else is the same as the 'normal people'.

It's a shame because DS loves the supermarket because there's so much to see and look at. I am pregnant and just don't see how it will be possible to go with him and another one.

you can see the Cerebra one on page 18 of the Autumn 09 newsletter the only thing i dont like about it is that it looks very upright

feel very sorry for you, we had exactly the same problem; we did use the special forward facing seat s n trolley and when she was younger I used to sit her propped up in the actual shopping bit of a big trolley and just pile up the shopping round her. Now in own wheelchair so problem gone to an extent! The cerebra seat sounds brilliant.