babies in grocery cart seats - what do you do? - Page 3

[texaspeach]

Originally Posted by sunnygir1

This depends on the situation. Some carts (and car seats) work well to latch the seat on, and if the baby is strapped in it seems quite safe to me. The other option, of course, is to put the car seat inside the big part of the cart; there is then no way the baby could fall out.

inside the cart is one thing, but perched on top is unsafe even if the carseat appears to be latched on. there's info here

[Lauren31]

Originally Posted by texaspeach

inside the cart is one thing, but perched on top is unsafe even if the carseat appears to be latched on. there's info here

wow! Thank you for this. I had NO idea!!! Thank goodness DD is ok! How old does a little one have to be to sit in the cart seat?

[lalemma]

Originally Posted by zinemama

I never used anything, nor did it occur to me that I should. I had no idea so many people used cart covers. They're not common where I live. I wouldn't use one.

I'm surprised by this, too! This is probably a case of me not noticing things I'm not aware of, but I don't think I've seen many families here using cart covers.

Our baby has only been in a cart once, with grandparents. The rest of the time he rides on us with a carrier. (This isn't snottiness about how babywearing is so much better.)

I don't wipe things down or worry about germs. I mean - I practice handwashing hygiene. But otherwise I figure his immune system has to learn how to deal with his environment.

[Sharlla]

Originally Posted by moxygirl

We don't usually take DS (7mo) grocery shopping. DH goes by himself. Whenever we go to other stores we generally take the stroller (DS refuses to be worn) or place his bucket in the seat. Tomorrow DH and I will go grocery shopping together and DH wants to place DS in the cart seat. I agree it's about time but I'm concerned about germs and other yuckiness.

What do you do? Clean the seat? Use a cover? Don't worry about it?

We don't have a cover so that wouldn't work for tomorrow but I'm interested in everyone's opinion so I can decide how paranoid I really need to be.

Thanks!

we use a baby carrier
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[mommy212]

I don't like oversanitizing his world- let his immune system get a workout! I am not a very paranoid mom at all. I just snap him in the seat and go, or put a blanket down under him if it is wet/cold or the corners seem very sharp. the norm, however, is still a sling or wrap about 90% of the time.

[akind1]

We have a hand-me-down cart cover. I don't use it. (it ties, rather than elastics, too much work) It has taken DS some time - I think about 3 weeks - to get used the cart - he didn't like it at first, but now enjoys the freedom of looking around, etc. I put my purse next to him, and he plays with that. FWIW, you can get toys with a c-link and attach them to the cart handle; eliminates the need for the cart cover as a toy attachment. and just wipe it all down later.

we've never wiped down the cart, and yes, DS does put his mouth on the handle, though I don't encourage it and do try to stop him!

[staceychev]

I'm not a germophobe, but I'm a realist. Grocery carts are about as gross as they come, and this comes from a school teacher who touches the door-knobs at school!

I wore DD1 in my mei tai (front, then back) until she was about 18 months to 2 years old. That's what I'm doing with DD2. I do use the wipes at the store for my benefit, but then again, I shop at Whole Foods and I like the wipes they have.

[russsk]

I've never worried about it.

[ecoteat]

I don't think I've ever even seen a cart seat cover in use. No one uses them here. I personally think they are silly. I've never used a sanitizing wipe on anything dd touches--I'm another person here who is more leery of the wipes than the germs. I'm actually really terrible about hand washing (myself--and I'm even worse about washing dd's hands!) and I never think about germs in public. I'm a middle school science teacher and I know I bring all kinds of germs home. And dd always has fewer illnesses than her friends over the course of a year.

[texmati]

Everyone uses cart covers here, but I still feel like thery are bulky and silly DS has taken to chewing on the front bar of highchairs and shopping carts, so I put a prefold/flat over that part-- its gross for him and the next person who uses the car to let hime slobber all over it.

We did wait till DS could sit up really well to put him up front (he used to fall over), and even now prefer the infant seat in the main portion of the cart-- he can look around more, and get into less trouble.

[texmati]

oh! and I wanted to add-- there isn't a 'time' that you have to be in the cart section-- DS in 9 months and we still prefer the infant seat. Why would you want to sit on those metal bars when you could be sitting on a cushy padded seat? Do what works!

[ThisCat]

Originally Posted by texmati

Why would you want to sit on those metal bars when you could be sitting on a cushy padded seat?

That's what the silly cart covers are for.

[Kirsten]

I never worried about it.

[moxygirl]

Originally Posted by texmati

oh! and I wanted to add-- there isn't a 'time' that you have to be in the cart section-- DS in 9 months and we still prefer the infant seat. Why would you want to sit on those metal bars when you could be sitting on a cushy padded seat? Do what works!

LOL! I agree. I know I'D rather be reclining in a nice comfy chair while shopping but DS haaaaates not being able to sit up and look around. He doesn't even like the fact that he's sitting facing us in the shopping cart. He cranes his body around so he can see where we're going. He has excellent head and trunk control so he's definitely capable of sitting in them for prolonged periods of time.

[texmati]

Originally Posted by ThisCat

That's what the silly cart covers are for.

lol! I walked into that one! to each his own-- they just seem like such a unitasker. and expensive. (and one more thing to wash )

Now that I've said that they are silly, I'm sure my DS will be in one by next year.

OP-- how did it go?

[moxygirl]

Originally Posted by texmati

OP-- how did it go?

DS officially loves riding in carts! My DH officially thinks I'm crazy for wiping them down, though he tolerates it. Thanks for asking!

I posted a few responses about our experience above, but I imagine they got lost in all the other responses. I never expected such overwhelming response to my question.

Thanks everyone!

[Ellien C]

Originally Posted by sunnygir1

I use the cart seat when the baby is big enough to sit up. I also use the ergo on front when little and on back when bigger. And I use the "bucket" carseat when tiny or sleeping. I don't find the stroller very useful for collecting the volume of groceries I generally buy, but I have done that too.

I have occasionally wiped the cart handle down and/or used hand sanitizer on me and my lo after shopping, but I rarely do that. I'm not particularly worried about germs, but I'm more likely to do that during cold season when my kids have been sick for 2 months straight.

Were I to grocery shop that's what I'd do! But I'm lucky in that DH does it and often takes a one or both kids!

[angelachristin]

I wear in stores until they are big enough to protest, which with my DS was around 18 months. Still wearing DD. But since yours doesn't like it, I would say cart cover. With DS, we didn't have one and always wiped down the cart, I bring my own wipes for this. I want to get a cart cover once DD gets to the sitting in the cart stage, I think they look so cozy and comfy. I'll probably still wipe down and then place the cart cover, though. Just because I'm sort of crazy like that.

[texmati]

Originally Posted by moxygirl

DS officially loves riding in carts! My DH officially thinks I'm crazy for wiping them down, though he tolerates it. Thanks for asking!

I posted a few responses about our experience above, but I imagine they got lost in all the other responses. I never expected such overwhelming response to my question.

Thanks everyone!

I see them now! I"m sorry, my preggo brain just have just skipped em

[Aufilia]

I just put 'em in the seat, no cover. We owned a cart cover once and I never, not even ONCE, remembered to take it into the store. I use rings to attach a few toys to the bars to keep DS busy.

BTW, if you want to sit them in the seat more securely, I bought a nitfy padded velcro strap thingy on Amazon (called the "Anywhere Safety Strap") when DS was about 5 months old and we use it alot -- it really helped him stay upright when he was just learning to sit, and you don't have to mess with broken straps that are on many carts. PLUS it keeps him from leaning down far enough to get his mouth directly ON the cart.