DS used to be quite content to sit in the pram at the shops. Now, he grizzles the entire time (unless he is eating or asleep). It's the same if I put him in the trolley. All he wants to do is walk!! Trouble is, he doesn't walk in the same direction as me - he just wants to run around and explore. That's fine - if we stay in the playground the whole time - but if I actually want to get the shopping done...
Don't take him to the shops! LOL. I leave DS at home with DH, even though it means shopping on a Saturday morning. I'd rather go early Saturday than take DS most days!
Here's what I've done this last year:
- Take my camera. As soon as DS knows he is getting a picture taken he stops screaming and poses. (Didn't last past 18m as now he wants to take the pictures.)
- Buy a new book every trip. DS sits in the trolley and reads the book happily.
- Give DS a job. That's only been the last 3-4 months or so, but I ask DS to help me find something very close to us, praise him when he finds it and put it in the trolley, then move on to the next item.
- Let him run around. Then once he's tired pop him in the trolley and shop.
- Take a toy or some food with you and let him have that as you shop.
Maybe make a picture list for him of what you need to shop for (draw a picture of eggs, milk, bread, carrots...whatever) and he can make sure that you get everything on his list.
Like one of those scavengar hunts...except in real life. :-)
Ezz- we are having the same issues with Dd. she used to sit in a pram for hours at the shops, now it is 10 mins and she wants out. Like you, just to walk and wander and also to eat stuff off the floor. My only solution is to take my Ergo baby carrier along in the pram or the trolley and use it when she gets tetchy. Strangely enough she loves the sling and will stay in it for ages. Problem is you can't have a coffee wearing it or try on clothes! Nothing will distract DD is she wants out of the pram/trolley- no books, toys, snacks...but the sling is great.
hmm 14 months... well at that age one thing was my saviour and that was a wrist strap. I had a new born when Jaidan was 14 months so there was no way I was pushing the new bub in a pram and trying to control a 14 month old so he had his strap which was attached to me.
When Chase was 14 months old he had been walking for 6 months so was used to walking with me. With Ashton is will be carriers all the way. I have my wraps and Mei Tai for then
Hi Ezz, my 17 month old Hannah is the same. If I have to take her to the shops (which seems to be everyday lately ) I just have to make sure that i have lots of little snacks for her. When she starts getting cranky, I start singing her favourite songs, or play peekaboo. On line shopping might be a way to go too. Sometimes i get my fruit delivered. Good luck
Both Sara and Loren have proven not like being confined to a pram or stroller!!! It makes shopping really hard and tiring.
I use distraction via food, toys, singing to them, talking. I make my trips short and sweet, and I usually time them around morning tea or lunch so that Loren eats in the trolly as we are moving. Where ever possible I leave both at home..That doesn't happen often.
To be honest I used to dread shopping with Sara at that age but instead of avoiding the whole process I used it as a learning opportunity. Instead of taking her less I used to take her to the shops at least once per week. Now at 3 years old she is excellent.
When Claire was that age, she was quite content to stand up in the trolley. She wouldnt have a bar of the seat thing, but was happy to stand in the main bit of the trolley, or sit in there with a book or one of her toys.
Now, she isnt as keen on it, so she walks next to me but I also ask her to find me things on the shelves. Just stuff that we are standing right in front of anyway. It keeos her busy, although she does end up getting a bunch of extra stuff that we have to put back onto the shelves.
It is painful. Esp when you put them down, because that's what they wanted and then they go in the other direction. So you put them back in the pram and they scream. I once had DS scream all the way around Woollies. I got to the last isle and my mum (who must have recognised DS' scream) came racing around and grabbed him. She entertained him until I'd finished.
DH now does the shopping on a Thursday night and I stay home with DS. We don't go shopping and we don't go out for tea. We used to, but between 18 months and now we have become hermits.
I never thought of the chup-a-chup idea though. I like that one.
Ezz, my DD is 13.5months and exactly the same, she wants to run the opposite way and she grizzles at the moment in the trolley and stroller I have no advice to give sorry but hugs to you, know how you feel xx
Argh I hear you too Ezz. I try to time my shopping with ds's lunch so he will munch his way around Woolies. After that I hand him boxes or packets of stuff I'm going to buy to scrunch or bang on till we get through the checkout.
Wow - so many replies. Thanks everybody! Now I understand why there are always so many grizzly toddlers at the shops - they are all like this
Well, this week I have decided to just go with it & let him walk! We have done 3 shopping trips this way now & he is getting much better at staying with me. I hold his hand and he walks next to me. If he tries to run off, I pick him up and carry him for a minute (that seems to be punishment enough that he is getting much better at staying with me now!). When we do the supermarket, I have been letting him stand up in the trolley (great idea Karina!) & he loves this! He actually did the whole of Kmart & supermarket shopping standing in the trolley today (only hiccup was that he stepped on the milk - I just need to be more careful where I put stuff in the trolley!).
lestypuss - Now that I'm not BF'ing DS to sleep anymore, I'm going to start doing the Thurs night shop too. I'll do the "big" shop then - that way DS & I will just have to get bits and pieces through the week.
14 month old at the shops?
- but if I actually want to get the shopping done...
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Just feeling your pain 
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