Grocery Shopping with Your Children Made Easy!

I am the mother of two small children, 2 and 3 years old. From the day my children were infants, I have taken them with me basically everywhere that I go. I rarely ask for babysitting for trips shopping or to the grocery store. I also rarely have help on these trips. My husband works a lot and is not so interested in shopping ventures with the children and I.

Grocery shopping can be a huge task no matter what your age is or whom you take with you. Trying to location everything that you need and then wait in line can be frustrating and tiring. The task is even more complicated when you factor in small children.

Thankfully, there are some measures that you can take to make the experience much easier and happier.

When grocery shopping with small children, timing is everything. The timing must be right for the store and for the children.

Try to go to the grocery store well before or not long after your child's naptime. Never take a tired child with you shopping. Make sure that you child is not hungry when you leave to go to the store.

Also be certain to be smart about when you shop. We all know that there are days when stores are much more crowded. Avoid these days if any way possible. Saturdays are usually a big no-no. Also watch for special days such as senior citizen discount days. Kroger has a senior day the first Wednesday of every month. I do not shop there on that day by myself, much less with my children.

Be certain to have plenty of distractions. It is almost certain that your child will want to eat something in the store. Take along a sippy of juice and snacks from home. These may distract your child for a few moments.

Check for child friendly stores. I for one prefer grocery shopping at Kroger. This is not due to good sales or lower prices or higher quality foods. I prefer shopping there because my children are better entertained. Kroger now has shopping carts in which two children can sit upfront. This is a great plus! They also have carts with cars attached at the front. They are more difficult to maneuver but they hold the children's attention.

Have a plan of what you need. When you are shopping with small children, there is no time for browsing. Have a list and stick with the aisles that you need. Avoid toys aisle and candy aisles unless you either plan on buying something for children there or you absolutely have to purchase something for the home.

Have small goals. Never have expectations of getting too much completed. A successful trip does not last very long. Always praise your child for good behavior and do not accept bad behavior. There is no shame is having to leave a shopping cart full of groceries due to a screaming child. Leaving and addressing the issue is much better than carrying around a child pitching a fit or trying to trade for good behavior by offering to buy something.