Shopping with a child - how to prepare for it?

When your baby is born, your whole world turns upside down. That's not a bad thing - but especially in the early days, simple tasks like taking a shower or calmly reading product labels can be harder than climbing a mountain.

One of such examples is shopping - as the child gets older it is easy to feel the rhythm of their day and take a shower or eat breakfast together with the child in peace, however shopping with a toddler can be very stressful for parents. In this article, we will advise you how to do the shopping with the child so that neither of you gets stressed :)

Shopping with a child - what to take?

When it comes to shopping with your child and what to take with you, a lot depends on the age of your child. Therefore, at the very beginning take care of your comfort and your convenience first.

A backpack is a must have

It doesn't matter whether your baby is a month old, six months old or a few years old - always take your own bags or carrier bags and a spacious backpack with you. We especially recommend durable, fabric bags - not only are they more eco-friendly, but there's no risk of a handle breaking down and you ending up with a crying baby in your arms and scattered apples in the street.

A good idea for women will be to give up a handbag for a backpack, such as MOONPACK or MOLLY. The more pockets the better - the main compartment, where you can fit all the bigger items, will surely be crucial, but don't forget about the other compartments as well. Thanks to them, jars and other glass items will not break inside.

Use the basket under the seat

If you're used to doing a lot of shopping, it's a good idea to start with a pushchair that will take some of the strain off your back.  EVERYDAY 2 in 1 is made for this purpose - the basket has a load capacity of up to 5 kg. You should also make sure that you have access to the basket from all sides or at least from 3 sides, like in the VESTO stroller.

Shopping list

Let's face it - shopping with a child is often tiring for both the toddler and the parent. In the case of babies, who do not have fully developed immunity, it is necessary to do the shopping fast, so that the toddler does not get infected by others. In addition, harsh lighting, noise or simply constant changes of temperature can irritate the child, providing them with too many stimuli. Then the infant becomes fretful, and the parent - stressed.

That's why the shopping list you make before you go out is crucial. It will ensure you don't have to walk down random aisles looking for "something for dinner" with a crying toddler in the stroller.

Shopping lists are also useful for older children - as a rule, toddlers like to cross off or tick off subsequent items from the list. Thanks to this your child will be more focused on shopping and will start to develop good habits. And you will introduce them to helping with the household chores. You will also avoid running through the aisles and unwittingly entering the toy department.

How to keep safe while shopping with a child?

This is not just about the current pandemic situation - but about general safety rules. Above all, never go alone with your child to large markets with forklifts! Especially if you have a child who is just a few years old, they can easily run away, bump into things or trip over things.

Apart from that, make sure to boost your child's immunity. This is crucial - while shopping, the toddler touches toys, food and other objects that other people, not necessarily healthy, have touched before. You can also ask your toddler to wear disposable gloves - especially if they are choosing fruit, vegetables or bread. Try to explain to them why they need to maintain hygiene and wash their hands frequently.

Keep an eye on your little one - use shopping trolleys with special seats so that the child cannot escape. This advice is especially for parents whose children like to run away. Remember that in a crowd a child can easily get lost - especially if you fix your eyes on two different sauces or prices of similar products.

Encourage your child to help you put groceries in the cart or pick out fruits and vegetables.

Hysterics while shopping with a child - how to deal with it?

When it comes to small children, it is usually enough to feed them, cuddle them, change them and rock them. However, in the case of toddlers who are a few years old, the situation is completely different. Such toddlers are just learning to control their emotions - just as it's often difficult for us, adults, to control ourselves, it's even more difficult for children.

Don't get angry - although we all know that is easier said than done ;) A good idea is to look at one point and breathe calmly. This way you "switch off" to the screams and cries of your child, but at the same time you are next to them and you can always react. Also, try not to rush the toddler, pull them by the hand or scream, because this will only make things worse.

Children going through their rebellious period (that's everyone from about 2 years of age) will try to trick you into buying sweets, toys, or completely unnecessary things that catch their eye. If you don't want or can't afford such a purchase, you need to be consistent. If you have said no, then as soon as you change your mind after your child's hysterics, your toddler will know that it works.

So what to do? How do you not give in? Explain to your child why you won't buy them that lollipop this time. Be there for them when they need it. Speak in a low voice (the very tone of voice will calm down both the child and you), squat down by the toddler. Take them somewhere to the side and above all - don't pay attention to the surroundings.

People like to meddle in the upbringing of other people's children - but that doesn't mean you should listen to them. Do not enter into discussions with people who try to give you advice. You can firmly refuse them, e.g. by saying "thank you, I can manage" or "thank you for your opinion, but it's my child and I make the decision". Never accept anything from a stranger - it happens that older people, wanting to do the right thing, buy the child the lollipop that started the fight. Don't accept these kinds of gifts, because not only do they undermine your authority as a parent, but most importantly they are sweets from strangers, which children are always warned against.

Breathing exercises, counting in your mind, cuddling, or trying to entertain your child (with a favorite teddy bear, for example) are all good ways to do this. And really don't worry - every parent goes through this. Those looks that other moms and dads throw you are looks of understanding. Look around and you'll see supportive smiles that say "you can do it. Because you can - it's a matter of organization and... time :)