Two questions ...

#1
For those of you that have switched from infant car seats to the rear-facing, when did you do so, at what age were they? I know it's based on weight but I was just curious when you all hit that milestone. We have made the switch because one of our boys does not fit the infant one anymore (surpassed the weight recommendations ... ) so we switched the other one too. The new car seat is rear-facing to 35 and transforms into a booster too, so we're set till they reach 100 pounds! YAH!

#2
I went to wal-mart today by myself with my LO's and found it very challenging to be able to actually purchase anything because I didn't have anywhere to put it. What do you do when you venture to the stores by yourself?

Thanks!

 

QUOTE(silver_stardust @ Jun 2 2009, 10:56 PM) [snapback]1338737[/snapback]
#1
For those of you that have switched from infant car seats to the rear-facing, when did you do so, at what age were they? I know it's based on weight but I was just curious when you all hit that milestone. We have made the switch because one of our boys does not fit the infant one anymore (surpassed the weight recommendations ... ) so we switched the other one too. The new car seat is rear-facing to 35 and transforms into a booster too, so we're set till they reach 100 pounds! YAH!


My two were around 6/7 months when I switched them into rear facing carseats. :good: That was a sad, sad day. :cry: I loved my snap n' go!

QUOTE(silver_stardust @ Jun 2 2009, 10:56 PM) [snapback]1338737[/snapback]
#2
I went to wal-mart today by myself with my LO's and found it very challenging to be able to actually purchase anything because I didn't have anywhere to put it. What do you do when you venture to the stores by yourself?


First off, I did try to either make more trips through out the week and get less stuff at a time. :good: But if I didn't have a choice, I was pushing the stroller and pulling a cart behind me. Did I get alot of "poor her" stares, yes. Was it hard to do? At times. But it got the job done. :good:

Good luck!

 

I have nothing about your first question.

But your second, I put them in the double stroller and pull a cart to put stuff in. I've tried putting one in the top of the cart and the other in the basket, but I'm too short and can't see! The best part about pushing and pulling is people usually get out of your way!!

Good luck!

 

We put ours in at about 5-6 months in rear facing seats.

I did the same as Liz, either pushed the stroller and pulled a cart or just got a few things that I could throw in the bottom of the stroller.

 

I switched my first son at about 10 months, my first daughter at about 5 months (she outgrew the weight), and am planning to switch the babes this week. Mostly because we aren't taking the infant seats in and out of the truck anymore (too heavy to carry both into the house by myself), and my older kids have trouble getting into the backseat with the infant seats still in. The convertible seat is higher so it should make it easier for them to get underneath it. I have a britax marathon and a graco comfortsport right now, getting a second marathon in about 2 months from a friend

As for shopping myself, it's much easier when I have my 7 yr old, he pushes the stroller while I push the cart, but if necessary I can push the stroller and pull the cart myself!

 

#1 -- DS got switched right at a 1 year and DD around 13 months
#2 -- depends on how much I need. when mine were your age I would more than likely take my stroller, load the bottom with groceries and I also had stroller hooks...I would hang reusable shopping bags on the hooks and fill those up as well. If I needed to add onto all that I could hand carry a basket too.

Another option is pay a teen or preteen to go with you Sure you wont leave them home with your babies but they can accompany you to the store!

 

We had carseats that were given to us used (by people I trusted and knew how they treated things) but they were at the end of their 5 year expiration date. We switched the boys at 5 months and they are still rear facing now.

I always push the stroller and pull the cart. Tarin is right...people get out of your way! You will get a lot of "hands full" comments and I just tell people I'm doing my daily exercise routine. If I'm going into a store for a quick errand (and they have carts) I fit them both in the seat together (yes still). I don't do this for long trips though b/c I need to occupy them with snacks to get all the way through the store.

 

I haven't had to switch to bigger carseats yet, but on the matter of how to shop. I put one baby in a Baby Bjorn and the other in the top part of the cart in her carseat (where an older child would sit and put his/her legs through). It's as if I'm a 'regular mom', shopping with one baby, like I see all the time! I put the baby in the Baby Bjorn front facing so that she can see her sister and they talk to eachother and keep amused this way too! That way the entire basket of my cart is free, as well as the bottom rack. I've never even taken my stroller in a store before :-/

 

We just switched car seats yesterday! (7 months, 1 week). The boys haven't sat in them yet, so I'm a little nervous about that.

Shopping: I try to only take trips with them if I need stuff that can fit in a hand basket. My stroller does not have hooks, so I bring a couple of bungee cords and bungee the basket to the stroller. If I've gone when I need more stuff, I push the stoller and pull the cart.

 

For Q #2, I always went early in the morning because there were less people out and had two carts. I usually took the babies with me because my husband worked days and I just refused to wait for him to get home. I put the babies in one cart and pulled that cart while I pushed the cart with the food in it. I always had a list so I didn't stay in the store too long and if the girls got too fussy, then I stopped and just checked out. I was lucky, though, the girls were usually pretty good for me because we went early in the morning, which was their best time of day. I got lots of poor you looks too! But, heck, I still get those because I still take them shopping with me, now they help me push...it's truly a sight.

 

As a dad I've done the "train" thing too at Home Depot. Push the stroller and pull the cart...you actually be to be really good at it. I'd get up some momentum between isles with the cart so I could push more too.

 

QUOTE(mom2identicaltwingirls @ Jun 3 2009, 04:41 AM) [snapback]1338935[/snapback]
I haven't had to switch to bigger carseats yet, but on the matter of how to shop. I put one baby in a Baby Bjorn and the other in the top part of the cart in her carseat (where an older child would sit and put his/her legs through). It's as if I'm a 'regular mom', shopping with one baby, like I see all the time! I put the baby in the Baby Bjorn front facing so that she can see her sister and they talk to eachother and keep amused this way too! That way the entire basket of my cart is free, as well as the bottom rack. I've never even taken my stroller in a store before :-/


great idea! Thank you! Way easier than the push/pull method. I was mortified at the thought of having to push a stroller and pull a cart.

 

i'm surprised so many people switched so soon. what do you do if you're just running in somewhere so the stroller is impractical and they can't walk yet?

i'm contemplating switching soon due to length, not weight.

 

For question #2: So far, I've only gone to the store with them if I need a few things. If I need to do a lot of grocery shopping, I do it online! I don't know if you live in an area that offers this, but I usually go to Safeway.com or Albertsons.com. It is super quick and easy! The delivery fee is between $10-13, but for me, it's totally worth it. I too refuse to wait until my husband gets home.

 

I switched car seats at 6 months, couldn't carry them in them anymore....too heavy....
and I use our double stroller for small things, I use the basket, for big things I ask for help or pull a cart behind me...

 

QUOTE(silver_stardust @ Jun 2 2009, 09:56 PM) [snapback]1338737[/snapback]
#1
For those of you that have switched from infant car seats to the rear-facing, when did you do so, at what age were they? I know it's based on weight but I was just curious when you all hit that milestone. We have made the switch because one of our boys does not fit the infant one anymore (surpassed the weight recommendations ... ) so we switched the other one too. The new car seat is rear-facing to 35 and transforms into a booster too, so we're set till they reach 100 pounds! YAH!

#2
I went to wal-mart today by myself with my LO's and found it very challenging to be able to actually purchase anything because I didn't have anywhere to put it. What do you do when you venture to the stores by yourself?

Thanks!


We switched our girls a little after 12 months. They were outgrowing the infant seats lengthwise but weightwise, they still technically should be in the infant seat (they are 15 and 18 lbs each). They just couldn't continue on in those seats. They do great in the "big girl" seats considering how little they are.

As for shopping alone, I won't lie...I did not go anywhere alone until my girls were close to a year. It just wasn't feasible for me, for a lot of reasons (truck tailgate was broke, could hardly get the heavy double stroller out of it alone, had no where to put things like you said...too stressful for me.) All the grocery shopping, etc. was done with my husband on weekends. Luckily he also was able to get time off work for all the doctor appts. I know this isnt the case for most people though. So I guess I'm not much help...lol, the logistics of shopping with twins are just so complicated! Now that they are bigger/older though and can sit up by themselves I can do some outings by myself. Only for small stuff though, nothing major like monthly grocery shopping!

 

I also use baby carrier on me and one in the seat for shopping. I dont carry the babies, I use their stroller to and from the car. Its just so much easier to push them inside along w/ the diaper bag and any purchases.

 

QUOTE(mom2identicaltwingirls @ Jun 3 2009, 12:41 PM) [snapback]1338935[/snapback]
I haven't had to switch to bigger carseats yet, but on the matter of how to shop. I put one baby in a Baby Bjorn and the other in the top part of the cart in her carseat (where an older child would sit and put his/her legs through). It's as if I'm a 'regular mom', shopping with one baby, like I see all the time! I put the baby in the Baby Bjorn front facing so that she can see her sister and they talk to eachother and keep amused this way too! That way the entire basket of my cart is free, as well as the bottom rack. I've never even taken my stroller in a store before :-/



I combine the "one-baby-in-the-moby-one-in-the-carseat" and the "push-and-pull" strategy depending on whether my back is hurting that day. (Also, if I go in the afternoons, right after school, Owen is on cart duty and I push the babies. You need an older kid! )

 

I too am contemplating switching because they are just too heavy but we haven't done it yet. We no longer use the snap-n-go since they like the side by side stroller best but I am finding it hard to get over the ease of the carriers!

I must admit that I have never done the stroller, pull a cart method. We either do the Baby Bjorn with another carseat in the front method or I use the basket underneath the stroller (and look like I am trying to steal stuff) combined with a carry basket and only get that much!