Help! I Can't Even Go to the Grocery Store!!

When I'm stuck taking my son to the store I try to give him something to do. Drive the car shopping car, put the food in the basket, or I give him food to eat-a cookie, some crackers, etc. If that all fails I grab a toy from the store he can play with till it's time to leave.

Good Luck!

You HAVE to be consistent here. That means, he doesn't get to walk in the store one day and have to ride in the cart the next. I have a 3yo son and in my opinion behaves very well but letting him walk in a grocery store/Target/Costco, etc.. is sort of setting him up to fail. Just too much to look at and do. So, since day one, he has either been on my back in my Ergo Baby carrier or in the cart (with a floppy seat so it is nice and comfy). I always have a drink and a snack or two and I have never asked him to ride in the cart. I just put him there and there he goes. He has asked if he could walk and instead of saying no. I say something like,"you want to walk? that would be fun, but Mommy has a lot of things to get and it just isn't safe, maybe sometime when we are just getting one thing, we can walk, OK?" When we shop at Trader Joes, we go straight for the fruit snacks and he picks one out. Sometimes, I now let him walk if we just have one or two things to grab at Target or even the store but it just depends on the time of day, his mood, my mood, etc..Also, I don't take him shopping if he is tired or hungry unless I know he'll crash comfortably in the cart or bring food/drink if he is hungry.

Sorry, that was way too wordy but I can't make it shorter now! LOL. Make the cart comfortable (get a floppy seat if you don't already have one), always have something to eat/drink, bring a toy, maybe a notepad and crayon for him to scribble on, and redirect as much as possible. As soon as you pull the cart to the side of the car and he starts to panic, just talk to him and tell him the plans. We are grocery shopping and I need you to sit in the cart so you can help me, today I need you to tell me when you see the apples, or ?? Whatever works. You CAN run errands with him during the day and get your nights back!

P.S. I just read the other responses and although I think having groceries delivered sounds wonderful, it is a great place for kids to learn about food. Grocery shopping can be FUN! It's actually one of my favoriet things to do with my kids. They learn what grow food is and what junk food is. They can have some control and help pick out a cereal, veggie or fruit, etc.. You can do it! (-:

Best of luck,
M.

During this brief period (even though it may seem long to you). I would recommend buying groceries (and everything else) online. I rareley go shopping or out to eat with my 2 year old son because its not fun for either of us. I focus our outings on playdates, parks, the beach, Disneyland, etc. I know at some point we'll be able to run errands and go out to eat (since I am able to do this with my 5-year old), but who wants to spend all day doing those things anyway?

I have two boys 3 and 2, they behave at the store just like your son (x 2) I just started this "game" and cut out pics of the stuf we will be purchasing and split it between the two of them so they can find it themselves! This helps alot! But I leave them at home on big visits. I do a MAJOR Costco trip when all the kids are with Grandma every two weeks. So the trips I have to take with the kids are small and fast! I do feel that kids need to get out in the public ( gorcery stores, meals, and such) for this is a learning experience and they need to be taught how to behave out side of the home. Good luck

Vons.com! It's not even worth the gas to go to the store anymore, their delivery fee is really reasonable! Then you can always run to the market at night as needed for a couple things, but not a full cart of groceries!

Give him some responsibilities. He's not too young to help you gather foods from the lower shelves and pick out bananas or something. If he's helping you he's less likely to act a fool! :)

Two things have worked with my 5yo and 3yo. First, is if the store has "Customer in training" carts - child-sized carts. I let my kids get the carts and I load them up. (Better for short trips.) I set ground rules with the carts or they get taken away. No running, no running into people or things, stay with mommy, etc. One day my son didn't follow the rules, so I took the cart away. That made a big impression and he hasn't broken the rules in the store since. The second thing is letting them pick out a treat at the check out line if they have behaved while we have been shopping. This worked like a charm! My daughter spent the whole time in the store throwing a fit one day, while my son behaved like a little angel. I didn't let her pick out a treat, but I let him. Of course, she was more angry, but it also left a big impression! Now she is a well behaved little person in the store. The key is that being a good parent isn't always convenient. I get embarassed when my children misbehave in public. But I stick to my discipline. I'd rather have people stare at me than let my children act like brats. It's just the choice I made. But those things will work. Good luck

Here is a google search on "grocery delivery services" in Utah, your state.

Here's the link:
http://www.google.com/search?q=grocery+delivery+services+...

Many times, there will be other kinds of delivery services, for errands and such. Check it out. I did that when my baby was young and my oldest child was younger. It's so great for Mom's who can't get out to do errands.

I can so relate.

The only other thing is to go grocery shopping at night, when the kids are sleeping. Safeway has 24 hour open hours for example.

It's not easy with a child to runs off and can't stay by Mommy. My friend was like that as well, she had 2 boys who were like that, and they would run away, not stop, not listen, not come back, and THEN they would hide from her. She lost them several times and brought her to tears. Scary. Besides using a "toddler-leash"... delivery service would be great and handy.

Good luck!
~Susan
www.cafepress.com/littlegoogoo

I can so relate. Imagine grocery shopping by yourself with a 2 and 1 year old. Have to make a list and quickly rush through the isles.

Our 2 year old just loves sitting in the grocery carts that have a car attachment, where she rides in front of the cart inside the car. It's pretty big, but does fit through the isles. Best to shop early before the crowds. These carts can be found at some grocery stores like Vons, Ralphs, Albertsons.

I let her pick a snack and hold onto it, if she's good, she gets to open the snack at the end of our purchase.

She always looks out for these carts and sometimes cries if she sees a cart, but we are not in the area for grocery shopping.

Other than this, she refuses to sit in any cart. Therfore, I sometimes prefer to do our grocery shopping first thing Saturday morning when daddy can stay home with the kids and watch cartoons, I return within 2 hours.

go to www.loveandlogic.com and check out some of their suggestions.

I am a SAHM of 5 oldest 16 youngest almost 2. She is my most independent and wants to do everything herself, she also thinks that she can do anything her older sisters do. I give her choices does she want to sit with the seat belt on or off, does she want to hold her baby or a toy? I also let her help pick out things she can't squish too hard :-) It's made shopping almost fun.

Hi K.-

I have two small children (22 months and 10 weeks). After having my second, I decided it was too much to go to the store, get everything I needed, load it in the car, unload it at home, etc...

Then I discovered Vons online. You go to vons.com and place your order, pick a delivery time/day that works for you and they deliver your groceries to your home. They even bring them right inside to your kitchen.

Sometimes it is not worth the fight or the wasted energy to take them to the store...just order online!!!