5 Things You MUST Have if Shopping With Children

If you have even one child you know how much of a challenge that it can be to take children with you as you go shopping. Infants may or may not sit quietly in the carriers while you shop. But once your kids become independently mobile, all is lost. If you have more than one child you may have given up on taking them shopping all together. In fact, it is not a bad idea to find a sitter so that you can get your shopping done in peace. Yet for some mothers, taking their children shopping with them is unavoidable. For moms everywhere, these are the five things you have to have if shopping with little ones.

1.Wet wipes – Wet wipes can be a mom’s best friend at the store. Especially when at a grocery store, those carts can get pretty gross. Even stores that provide sanitary wipes are often out of them. Brining your own wipes will also com in handy if your kids grab something that you would rather not have them touch. As you know, your kids will find ways to make a mess out of even the cleanest of situations so be prepared.

2.Snacks – Bringing healthy snacks for your kids to nibble on while they are at the store with you will not only keep them occupied but it will also help them to be on their best behavior. When kids are hungry they get grumpy. Avoid as much unnecessary angst as possible by first making sure that your kids are fed before you leave home and that you bring snacks that are not full of sugar (this will only excite them more) with you to the store. If you have more than one child, make sure that each one of your children has a snack bag of their own. The last thing that you need is a fight over whose snack bag is biggest or best.

3.Well-organized shopping list – Preparation can do wonders for making sure that you get in and out of the store as soon as possible. Window shopping is reserved for the times when the kids are at Grandma’s house, not when you are with them alone. When going to the grocery store, organize your list depending on the layout of the grocery store.

Have all your produce, dairy, dry foods, etc. items together so that you spend less time interpreting your list and more time efficiently getting your shopping done. No mother with children should be wandering up and down the isles aimlessly grabbing whatever looks good from off the shelves.

4.Spare diaper – Chances are that even if you think that you are only going to be gone for a little bit one of your kids is going to dirty his diaper and you will have to deal with it. Some stores offer complimentary diapers from the service desk. If you know that your local market offers this service you may not have to always remember to bring a fresh diaper. But if you are not 100% sure that there will be a free diaper at your disposal, make sure that you bring your own.

5.Wallet – It may sound silly that one of the five most important things to make sure that you take with you when shopping with little ones is your wallet, but chances are you have been stuck in line behind a frazzled mother at the grocery store who cannot find her wallet or you have been that frazzled woman who has either left her wallet in the car or even back at home. I can think of few things more embarrassing and inconvenient as having to push your cart out of everyone else’s way and negotiate how you will have to return to the store in order to provide payment. Do yourself a favor and make sure that that one thing that you do not forget is your wallet.