Anyone who has tried going shopping with a baby knows how stressful and difficult the trip will be without proper planning. While it’s best to shop without the baby, sometimes that’s just not an option for most stay-at-home mums.
Most don’t have babysitters to watch their babies while they leave the house for an hour or two to grab some groceries. The solution is to plan ahead before shopping with babies. Here are some useful tips for mums to shop efficiently when they bring their infants along.
Plan the Shopping Trip
Ideally, shop only at baby-friendly places. Make sure the supermarket or mall has parents’ rooms, parking bays designated for parents with prams, wider checkouts to accommodate prams and trolleys with a baby seat and harness.
Then, plan what to bring. Some diapers, wet wipes, spare clothing, a change mat, food and drinks and toys for distractions are items that must be included in the baby bag.
Feed Baby First Before Going to the Shops
A hungry baby is a grumpy baby. That’s why it’s important to feed the baby first or try to fit the shopping trip in between meals. However, do remember to pack some milk and baby snacks whether the baby has been fed or not.
Bring a Friend Along to Help Mum
Whenever possible, ask a friend or the spouse to come along. Another pair of hands can be very useful when Mum has to push the pram, calm the crying baby, change her diaper, feed and burp her – all while trying to buy groceries for the family.
Drive to the Shops
Avoid using public transport while shopping with babies. It’s best to drive to the shops. With a car, Mum can put the foldable pram in the boot and even use the opened boot of the car to change her baby’s diaper after she has lined it with a blanket or a change mat.
Choose the Right Time to Shop With Infants
The best thing about being a stay-at-home mum is that she can avoid peak hours while shopping. This is particularly important when there is a baby to push around in a pram. Go to the supermarket or shops early when there are fewer shoppers and distractions. Babies can get very cranky when there are too many people and too much noise around them.
Walk Down the Center of the Aisle
Try not to go too near the shelves when pushing a baby in a pram or a supermarket trolley. Wheel the pram or trolley down the center of the aisle to prevent the baby from trying to grab tins, jars and packets on the shelves.
Consider Using a Baby Sling or Backpack
Instead of pushing the baby in a pram, try using a baby sling. For a bigger baby who can sit up well, a backpack is a good alternative. The use of a baby sling or a backpack is great because it leaves Mum’s hands free, allowing her to shop with more ease. Plus, the close body contact will make the baby feel more secure.
It is possible for mums to shop efficiently when infants come along. But they do need to plan ahead. Try to shop only at places with baby facilities, feed the baby before leaving the house, bring a friend along, drive instead of relying on public transport, shop early, walk down the center of the aisle and consider using a baby sling or backpack to leave the hands free.
Found this article useful? Read also Shopping With Toddlers, Shopping With Older Children and How to Prevent Supermarket Tantrums.
Reference:
Dr. Stoppard, Miriam. First-time Parents. London: Dorling Kindersley, 2009.
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