5 Foolproof Tips For Shopping with a Toddler
When you do not have the right tools in your arsenal, shopping with a toddler can be problematic, to say the least. Even if your little one loves the store, these 5 foolproof tips for shopping with a toddler could come in handy one day! If your little one was born shortly before or during the COVID-19 pandemic, like mine, you most likely did not bring them into public for a long time. My husband affectionately refers to these children as “Coronials.” My daughter was one year old before she ever saw the inside of a supermarket. We ordered most of our groceries online via a delivery service and rarely went to the store ourselves. In fact, we rarely went anywhere.
Like a lot of you, we were doing our part to stop the spread of the virus and keep our family safe. For the aforementioned reason, I did not get to ease my daughter into becoming a happy shopper by bringing her along to the store regularly and making it part of our routine. Below, I have listed the tips for shopping with a toddler that have worked best for our family once we reentered society. Hopefully, they work some magic for you as well!
1. PLAN YOUR TRIP ACCORDINGLY
This is the most important shopping with toddlers tip you will come across, anywhere. Always be mindful of your toddler’s daily routine and overall wellbeing when planning a shopping trip that requires their presence. Taking your child out into the world an hour before they typically go down for a nap is a terrible idea. Going shopping close to mealtime is also a horrible idea. Make sure to change your little one’s diaper or that they are given a potty break before you leave the house. If your child is miserably ill or in the throes of teething, just stay home. However, if you need medicine or some other necessity, that is another situation altogether. Do what you need to do and whatever will be, will be.
When your little one is extremely moody and you have no idea why, that is also a good time to lay low. I have found that the best time of day to take my toddler shopping is after lunch and nap time. After breakfast also works, but afternoons typically work best for us due to our activity schedule. During the week, stores are typically way less busy in the morning and afternoons, making shopping and checking out a smoother process altogether. Less of a crowd always equates to less anxiety for your little one (and probably for you as well).
2. BRING SNACKS
Always have a couple of your toddler’s favorite snacks in the diaper bag or your purse. No one wants to face the repercussions of a hangry toddler while shopping. Also, remember your child’s water cup because a thirsty toddler is just as cantankerous as a hangry toddler! Even if you only plan to make it a quick trip and grab a few items, bring them. You will find that it is better to have them and not need them, then need them and not have them.
I also make sure that I have a snack cup along as well because they are often easier for toddlers to hold than the bag or container that the snacks came in. Lastly, bring a snack that is easy to clean up off of the floor. We are dealing with toddlers, after all. I can tell you from experience, granola is not a good shopping snack (it really shatters once it hits the floor!).
3. BRING TOYS
Make sure you bring two or three small toys that your toddler really enjoys. I recommend bringing toys that they have not played with in a while so it will be like they are brand new toys again and hold their interest. If you have a new toy that they have not played with yet, that will work too. Toys are one of the great ways that you can redirect your toddler’s attention when they are getting impatient in the shopping cart. If you forget to bring toys, try to find something else that might entertain your little one. Car keys, hair ties, your shopping list (take a picture first), and a reusable shopping bag are some examples of alternative entertainment.
Toys are typically a last resort for me because I would rather my little one be more interested in the overall shopping experience. A few toys that I typically have in the shopping trip rotation are ring flashcards (they hook to the cart nicely), small figurines (animals or Little People) and something sensory (pop fidget or squishy ball).
4. BRING STICKERS
Always have stickers ready to bring with you on a shopping trip. Stickers are a necessity in the toddler toolbox. Stickers are one of my Parenting Hacks for Traveling with Toddlers. I keep some in my diaper bag, my purse, my car, and all over my house. If you have a fussy toddler in your shopping cart, stickers are a game changer. Play some games with the stickers as you shop. Talk about the colors of the stickers. Are there animals or other fun things on the stickers? Discuss where your toddler is placing the stickers. Are they on various locations on the shopping cart? Are they on different body parts?
Talk about texture and how sticky they are. Get really silly and decorate each other’s faces. The fun is limitless! I really like the puffy stickers for younger toddlers because they are easier to peel off than their flat counterparts. Not only will your little one enjoy their sticker time, but they will also be honing their fine motor skills and bilateral coordination.
5. GET THEM INVOLVED
Getting your toddler involved in the shopping process is probably the easiest strategy for a successful shopping trip because they want to touch EVERYTHING. Hand nonfragile items to your little one and allow them to put the items in the cart or hold on to them. This can easily be turned into a game. One of the games we play is grocery basketball. I hand my daughter an item and she shoots it through a “hoop” that I made with my arms. Obviously, you should not do this with eggs or items that are easily breakable.
Allow your toddler to choose between several items. For example, I always let my daughter choose which bunch of bananas we will bring home. She also likes choosing her own string cheese. Offering choices (for items you are planning to buy anyway) enables your toddler to feel as if they have some control over the experience and therefore are likely to have a more enjoyable time. Even if you hold up two identical bags of carrots, your toddler will be delighted to choose one over the other.
Talk to your little one the entire shopping trip. Explain what you are putting into your shopping cart and why. Point to pictures on the items and take turns describing what you see. Ask what color they see on a particular package or what letters are on it. Toddlers will only remain engaged and interested in the process if you are also engaged!
It is true that some stores are more kid-friendly than others. Some have precious child-sized shopping carts (more appropriate for older toddlers) that can be used alongside mom or dad. Others have these great shopping cart cars that your toddler can ride in while you push. While these are fantastic opportunities to enhance their shopping experience, the novelty does not last long if you go to the store several times a week with your little one; my recommendation here would be to not take the special cart or car every time so that it remains exciting to your toddler in the long run. Another one of my favorite things to do for my little one on a shopping trip is let her pick out an inflatable balloon from the floral department to carry around the store; to keep this special, I do not do it every time. This always results in a joyful little one!
I have never had to employ all five of these tips during one shopping trip, but each has proven useful at one time or another. As we all know, what works one day may not work another. If you take away anything from this post, let it be that gauging your child’s overall wellbeing is absolutely the most necessary step before embarking upon any adventures. Many meltdowns can be circumvented if we are present and conscious with our little ones. Having a shopping companion is an absolute blessing and hopefully soon your toddler will transform into an engaged and contented shopper!