Going shopping

Hi there!

Just a quick question...

When going out shopping alone how do you manage with your twins? Usually I wait for the weekends to go do the grocery shopping or even to go clothes shopping. But for those of you who have done it alone with your twins, please share how you do it? Is there a way? One can't push the stroller & also a cart or basket....or am I missing something here?

Thanks for sharing!

Denise

 

I don't! At least whenever possible! But when I have to take my 3 girls I try to find a cart with the things attached so they can both sit and leave the basket open for stuff.

What I used to do was to put Ellie's carrier in the bottom of one cart, sit Joey in the other, and bunge cord them together. Sometimes It didn't work so well, but it got me though on a short trip! (Until I came to my senses and waited until DH came home from work.) Then I'd go after dinner with just one kid!!

 

I never took the twins and ds shopping to larger trips, but did do other shopping for smaller trips. I would just bring in the double stroller and ds would walk. That means you can't get much though. Now they are two and ds is four, I put everyone in the cart and get them a treat from the start. Many times I don't take the kids, but if I am doing a day trip while dh works, then I will just juggle it all.

 

I usually don't, except for Costco. They have the great carts they both fit in. Once in a while I'll take them to Target, Walmart, or Meijer. Target and Walmart have those double seat carts, and our Meijer has a car cart they can both sit in.

But I usually go on my lunch hour (I work from home) while I have childcare, or when DH is home to stay with them.

 

I used stroller with basket and another basket in my hand. now they are both in a cart or one of them is on the leash but anyway is not "relaxing" time

 

Thanks for the replies!

I should try it one day & see how stressed out I can get! :blink:

A mother always makes a plan!

Denise

 

I've been taking the girls out alone since they were 6 weeks old. Once they got out of the snap n go, I love my combi side-by-side. That's our mall and shopping stroller since it's so lightweight and can fit almost anywhere, even into dressing rooms.

I can do some minimal clothes shopping for myself at the mall with them. I go to one store that I really like (or one with a good sale) and spend a few minutes picking things out and then ask for the biggest dressing room. The girls usually entertain each other in the mirror while I quickly try on. I double check the return policy and check-out. By this time the girls are on to me and if I try to head into another store, they start to whine. If I really need to find something specific to wear, I wait until DH has the girls so I can go alone.

If I go somewhere that has a shopping cart I put a floppy seat cover in the front and put both girls in it. Each girl has one leg hanging out a leg hole and the other just bent. I give them a couple toys to play with (fight over) and besides some minor refeering, it goes pretty well. If I get desperate then I open a bag of goldfish.

I have also folded up a blanket and put Breena in the cart (because she doesn't move around much) and Baylinn strapped in the front but that limits what I can buy. (I stopped doing this when Breena chewed off the barcode on a prescription and I had to go back to the pharmacy and explain what happened and have them print me a new barcode so I could pay up front! ) I used to push the stroller and pull the cart, which works in some stores with wider aisles and less people. But I like putting them both in the cart the best.

I find that mid-week and after their lunch is the best time for us. It's mostly just other sahm's out too. I limit the times in and out of their carseats to 1 or 2. Like I might hit the mall one day and go to the craft store and Super Target on another day. It gets us out but also gives me time to get them home for most meals and naps.

Sorry this was so long....I hope it helped!

 

I used to be able to do it when they were younger. When dd was smaller & not walking or climbing yet I could put her in the back of the cart (only a larger one) and kind of walk along the side. But since she's gotten stronger & they've both discovered what the toy aisle is - I don't go by myself unless I have to. Yesterday I had dd by herself so we made a couple stops......at Target we stopped & got some popcorn 1st, which really helped. Most of the time I find it's hard just b/c they get bored.

Only once did I try 2 shopping carts; I'll never do it again!

 

I always took the boys with me when shopping. I would either find those carts that look like a car or spaceship (when they were a little older) or used their double stroller and a cart. Pushed one, pulled the other. I also did that with two carts (push one, pull the other). I made sure to go when it was not super busy and made sure I talked to them most of the time. Played little games...like "who can find the tomatos" that way they did not get bored.

 

Thanks for the replies!

I guess I've just been plain 'chicken'!
I don't have the only BUSY twins out there...and if you mom's can do it..I can too!
Although waiting on dh to be home really does help a great deal!!!

Denise

 

Shopping is one of the ways I keep us sane and get out of the house. I have kept the twins in the stroller and pushed a cart when the twins were younger. At the mall, I just keep the twins in the stroller, and bribe DD1 with a soft pretzel if she's good. :blush:

You can do it! The first time is the hardest.

 

When I have the boys with me I only go to grocery stores where 2 children can fit in that top child area on the cart. Two stores near us have this option. Otherwise, I bring the stroller and just buy the essentials. As for clothing shopping, etc. I avoid it whenever possible. Too much trouble.

 

I do it all the time...otherwise I would go crazy since DH works long hours.

I keep it one or 2 stops max and bring a large 'carry bag' and use the stroller. I usually dont buy more than I can carry and if so I shove it in the stroller storage.

We go to Target, the mall, Walgreens, and Walmart weekly....short trips (under an hour) but long enough to get prescriptions, small items, and a few groceries or clothes. At Walgreens, they both sit in a cart together- squishy, but they like it and those are really fast trips.

You can do it! I usually go at snack time and they get a snack or they have a small book, toy, etc to play with.

KC

 

I do 99% of my grocery, Walgreens, BJ's, and other shopping at night ALONE. My kids are AWFUL in the store. DS SCREAMS when he sees food because he wants it; DD is super wiggly and whiny; and they hate riding in the grocery cart with the 2-seater car at the bottom (they FIGHT the entire time).
The ONLY way I can get through a once-in-a-blue-moon-emergency-only-market-trip is snacks. Snacks keep 'em quiet for a good 20 minutes if it's small pretzels sticks. (they take a long time to eat).
I see other kids acting like angels in the store; mine are embarassing. Try it; your kids may be terrific!

 

I guess I am lucky, my Safeway has the double carts (two seats up top) that also has the car upfront, so 4 kids can sit in the cart. So we go almost daily, lol!!!! I can keep them contained and I get out!

If we go to a store that does not have a double cart I either, take the stroller and attach a basket with these hooks and can get quite a bit between that and the baskets under the stroller (I have the combi).
Or I put one in the seat and one in the cart and hope the one in the cart does not throw everything out, obviously my least favorite method, lol!

 

QUOTE(Denise&Twins @ Jun 4 2008, 05:29 PM) [snapback]810304[/snapback]
if you mom's can do it..I can too!


:good: That's the attitude you need to have! You can do it Denise!!

I've always gone alone because I hate sitting in the house. :blush: I've done the pushing their stroller and pulling the cart way {that's a pain in the butt!!} but prefer to use the carts that have the car in the front for the kids and the cart attached for shopping. One of our grocery stores in the area now has the car attachment with a TV inside for them. They have Dora playing, so it helps!! Other things I've done is make multiple trips during the week. It gets me out more and I can use only the bottom of the stroller for food.

Good luck!!!!