Children in shopping trolleys

Having on occasions had to go shopping with our children, my main concern was getting out of the shop without losing my temper, my sanity or a child, putting one in the main part of the trolley was the least of my worries!

I've probably been guilty of this in the past. Not in supermarkets but going around d b&q or similar. My reasoning would have been that the 3 or 4 year old would have been safer there than loose in the aisle.

I don't think the hygiene aspect would have crossed my mind. Slightly older children on scooters or kicking a ball around bother me more.

I think the tiny trolleys that children can take round the supermarket look fun but quite often they scoot quickly in front of other shoppers nearly causing collisions, also I saw one mother finding it really hard to convince her small child that all the groceries wouldn’t fit in her tiny trolley, a tantrum ensued of course.
Fun but perhaps not practical when doing a big shop.

@OP, do you actually put any uncovered food into your trolley? Even fresh fruit and veg should be in one of those (usually) biodegradable bags provided in the shop.
I really can’t see why anybody would get too worked up about a toddler in the trolley- once out of it they probably sit in their buggy anyway, so what dreadful germs are they going to impart to a trolley? Most trolleys live outside the shop too at least prior to being collected and taken back inside. Are you similarly worried about pigeons or other birds who might poo on a trolley?
Let’s not get too precious or fussy especially in regard to (probably) young mums/parents with more than enough to worry about with a toddler and the shopping to do.
Sympathetic rather than judgemental would be a nice change.

I have been guilty of this in desperation to keep a toddler under control that was too big for the seat or refused to go in it 🙈 I agree not ideal and my grandchildren are all too big now!

If our four year old GS is having an off day and I need to go into a supermarket he goes in the trolley, safer for him and all other shoppers…

I loved putting a toddler in a trolley.

You would be ok if they didnt have their shoes on, in it?

While putting my little grandson into the trolley, he put both his chubby little legs into one of the openings - he panicked, I panicked, until a kind and clever fellow shopper helped to gently release his legs …. thanks 🙏

I've done it with my kids and my GC .....just for an easy life...get round the shops quicker

I worry about children in the trollies, not because of hygiene. I worry that if the trolly stops suddenly the child will go headfirst onto a concrete floor!

but actually IN the trolly with their shoes on
Nooooooo, 😱 whatever next 🤦🏼‍♀️

Mogsmaw

I worry about children in the trollies, not because of hygiene. I worry that if the trolly stops suddenly the child will go headfirst onto a concrete floor!

I have witnessed this...........the child was standing on the trolley and leaned too far over, mum was oblivious as she was browsing the shelves, she pushed the trolley and the child fell head first onto the floor. It was dreadful - mum was screaming hysterically and the child was seriously injured. Makes me shudder now when I see children in trolleys.

Those trolleys are so dirty anyway!

I agree with rosiesmaw2 comment

I have seen quite big children in trolleys, school age I would think, the same goes for pushchairs. Not sure why big kids are allowed to do this, never fails to surprise me.

I agree with you op. Kids should not be sitting in trollies that are meant for shoppers to put their food in.

No way! If they are small enough to sit in the seat fair enough. Otherwise it’s against health and safety anyway. These mums or dads would be the first to shout ‘compensation’ if their little dears were injured.

I’m sure even from a distance of time we can remember the stresses of shopping with children, so perhaps we could cut today’s parents some slack over a relatively minor issue of hygiene

I don't mind toddlers in trolley seats. What upsets me is a toddler screaming his/her head off in a trolley. Seems to happen quite often - usually because Mum/Dad has temporarily gone out of sight while getting things off the shelves.

I’ve done this with my own children, 3 under 5!

They were clean, as were their shoes!

But then again I’m also not bothered by dogs in cafes (or children! Even though they, said children, are less hygienic than the dogs!)

Most food has protective packaging nowadays, pandapatch and fruit or veg that doesn't is usually scrubbed, peeled, cooked in boiling water (etc) so not hygienically endangering.

Hygiene where it matters is important but I think cleanliness is often over-rated in places where dirt isn't really an issue.

The safety and containment of children is more important than a squeaky clean trolley.

Babs03

I have seen quite big children in trolleys, school age I would think, the same goes for pushchairs. Not sure why big kids are allowed to do this, never fails to surprise me.

Some children are very big for their age, my grandson was, he was nearly 12lbs at birth and always tall for his age.

Anyone remember when there were no trolleys. I certainly can. How were toddler children managed then when in stores, posdibly had been controlled and taught to stay beside the adult. Having twins and a toddler and certainly no double seated trolleys I had to take a twin pushchair/pram into the stores with shopping baskets filled and placed underneath before the checkouts. As the twins sat side by side and unknown to me had grown enough to both reach to the sides and touch the shelves. Discovered this one day when I had looked away and they started clearing the shelves. Of course I hurriedly moved the pushchair but that meant they just kept their arms out until I reached the end of the aisle clearing more stuff off. Store staff were great clearing up the mess. Store manager suggested I phone ahead and he would assign an assistant to stand guard near entrance and watch the children to enable me to shop without a disaster. Shopping trolley would have been great. If people fill a trolley with a child, where do they put to the shopping? I'm horrified when I see a child in a trolley sitting eating food that hasn't been paid for. Yes people will intend to pay but it's still theft until it is paid for. And the mess in the trolley, bits of food,sticky fingers, dribbling saliva. Lovely.

I get cross from a health and safety point…