How to Grocery Shop with a Toddler

It seems as though it wasn't that long ago that I could just wear my son in a baby carrier, while I grocery shopped. Nowadays, at two-years-old, he doesn't use the baby carrier anymore and instead sits in the front of the shopping cart. We have a major grocery shopping trip every week and a couple of small ones from time to time too. During these grocery shopping trips I have learned a thing or two about how to shop with a toddler and thought I would share what I've learned.

Usually I just carry my son when we walk to the grocery store, he walks part of the way too. Other times I'll bring him in the stroller. Once we are in the grocery store I put him into the cart. It is much easier to just collapse my umbrella stroller and stick it on the bottom of the shopping cart than to try and push both. Even if we only need what would fit in a basket I still use a cart because it is just easier. I have found that the key to a smooth grocery store trip when you are shopping with a toddler is keep things as easy and quick as possible. If your toddler insist on being out of the cart give them the duty of pushing the cart. They can stand in front of you, where you know they will not be knocked over by other carts or people and you'll have a hand on the cart at all time to ensure that your little one doesn't steer the cart into someone else or something. I am glad that my little one seldom wants to be out of the shopping cart, but there are a few things that I do that aid to that.

I always bring a snack for my toddler son to have while we are grocery shopping. My toddler has a big appetite and it doesn't matter if we had something right before we walked out the door, he always wants to eat when we enter a grocery store. If I forget to bring a snack I'll try and find something that isn't rung up based on weight that I planned on getting that he can snack on. I find that when my toddler is eating while I am shopping he is less board. Keeping my toddler from being board after he is done eating is accomplished by giving him a book or toy to look at. I always bring a toy or book of his for him to hold and play with while we are grocery shopping. If he isn't interested in a toy or book I try my best to include my toddler in the grocery shopping process. I find that this really makes grocery shopping a lot more fun for the both of us.

If there is an item that is not too fragile or heavy I will hand it to my toddler to add to the cart. I let him hold the grocery list and I'll read off the different items I have listed to him. My son recently started saying letters so he enjoys being told what the letters are, what the words spell and saying letters himself. Honestly the hardest part of the grocery shopping trip is when we come to a halt and are waiting in line. During this time I usually will try and encourage my son to wait by doing some of the things that I have listed above and by letting him hold my debit card, it is something that he hasn't seen the whole shopping trip and is usually eager to look it over. I've also brought a fake debit card for him to hold before but I don't always remember it. If we can place items on the conveyor belt and there is anything that my son can lift I'll let him place items on to it. This often includes our reusable cloth bags.

Over all I really try and keep out grocery shopping quick and provide my toddler with something to do the whole time. I have my list in front of me and go from aisle to aisle getting just what I need and moving on. My toddler enjoys seeing the different things and different people but even he is happy when we get back home.