Children in shopping trollies

??yuk, after reading REDHEAD56 ive decided to take a black bin liner with me every time I go supermarket shopping and just lay it in the bottom of the trolley to line it before I put my shopping in it. I already wear gloves as the M&S near me doesn’t (much to my disgust) have wipes for the trolley handles but at least by taking a bin bag hopefully my trolley would be a bit more hygienic hopefully!

Maybe just stop trying to fix the problem and just shop where you are happy to do so or online.

I totally agree with you Hithere I’d rather see children in a trolley rather than running around. As you said it’s hard enough for mums as it is without people judging everything they do.

Have you seen the study they have done on the boxes they deliver your food in? They are only cleaned once a week if you are lucky!

I had three children under five in the 80,s and I had the youngest wrapped to my chest in a baby sling , another sitting in the seat of the large trolly attached to it with the walking reins , so not to fall out and the oldest walking next to me holding the side of the trolley . Their safety was my priority and I never once thought they may be spreading germs , they never strayed off like kids often do now touching everything in their reach or even putting certain food items to their mouths and then dropping it back down . It would be near impossible for me back then to go shopping without the aid of a trolly which was obviously made to put a child in the seat . I was very safety aware as when out with my children , we were a forces family and in Germany for four and a half years , during that time someone’s child wandered off and went missing in the NAFFI shop and unfortunately has never been found which is every parents fear . It was awful to think about . If only the child was in the trolly or attached to its mother by reins it may have been a different story . So sad , not ever blaming the parent as it’s very difficult to have eyes in the back of your head as well as the front , and sides while shopping .
Only yesterday I was out shopping and I saw a child of about 3/4 sitting in the actual food part of the trolly quite happily being well behaved and I never once thought germs , my first thought was at least the mother knew where her child was . I would say as we now have options to spray the trolly down before you use it then do so , child safety comes first . Accidents do happen in life but a cut or a bruise is better than a missing , lost child .

TeachKate

I fully agree with your post - boundaries for kids are the key.

Yes, many parents of grown children have forgotten what it is to be 24/7 parents.
It is normal to forget the difficulties of the day to day and remember the best moments

My pet hate is menus. They must be filthy, yet they are often set down on your cutlery.

Don't get me started!! Children sitting in trollies is my pet hate. I heard of a woman who unpacked a packet of bacon to find it had dog poo on it! Like you Molly I have spoken to parents only to be abused or completely ignored, so it's not worth the aggro. I filed a complaint through Tesco's Customer Service a while ago and was told it would be referred to the branch manager who would contact me but they never have. I also wrote to Environmental Health a few years ago but heard nothing back.
I just make sure I wipe my entire trolley not just the handle. Amazing how so many people don't even sanitize their hands either.

I absolutely agree. Really unhygienic. I sat the smallest children in the seats provided and bigger ones walked holding on to the trolley unless sent to fetch something off a shelf. I can’t begin to understand why a 3 year old upwards without a disability can’t walk! Children are so often ferried in vehicles wherever they go and even round supermarkets. I’ve seen 4 or 5 year olds sitting in trolleys having food piled up around them. Parents so often are afraid to say No to their children I suspect.

@Hithere. Kids are the least of trolly problems. Dont kids wear clothes to cover the diapers anyway?

No they’re not. Don’t shoot the messenger but studies have shown that there’s a link to the bacteria found on shopping trolleys, and that of children’s environments - high chairs, toys etc. They may well wear clothes but among other things, faecal matter has been found on trolleys. A while back I approached a young mum in Tesco whose child - and not a toddler either - was wriggling around among the groceries. I approached her and was insulted for my trouble. I complained to Tesco and was told there wasn’t much they could do about it. I don’t shop there any more.

I too don't like this habit of sitting children in a trolley. Isn't it's description a ' shopping' trolley not a child trolley ie for your shopping. Sure the habit of placing children in the trolley is down to people just not being bothered to control their children, its easier to bung them in than to hold on to them and make them behave. Of course a lit if folk need their hands for their mobile phone calls, texting etc when shopping. I cringe when I see children in the trolley eating something they have been given off the shelf and not paid for yet. Another tactic to keep them quiet. I know the supermarket I use for click and collect used crates for collecting the shopping, these are on shelving type trolleys.

Why do parents do this when there are perfectly good seats on the trolleys. It is unhygienic and dangerous.

Because young children are not all the same size and those seats in trolleys are not actually very big or adjustable !!

I also hate to see children sitting in trollies. Another thing I can’t stand is people pulling chunks of fresh bread off and giving it ti the kids as they wander round the store, or eating a sandwich and putting the empty packaging on the counter.

In bigger supermarkets there are usually a couple of trollies for children/young adults with disabilities. It's a bigger seat with a trolley attached. There are also trollies where you can attach a wheelchair to a trolley but they are really difficult to manoeuvre.

I agree with MollyAA12, it's something that always annoys me. Babies and toddlers can go in the designated seats on the trolley but to see older children in heavy outdoor shoes sitting or standing in a trolley is disgusting. Imagine what they could have walked over before reaching the store. Pity the next poor unsuspecting customer putting fresh food into the same trolley. If they are too old to sit on the baby seat then they are old enough to walk properly holding onto the trolley.

It doesn't bother me at all. Once children reach a certain size they don't fit in the front of the trolley. Some children are unable to walk around for various reasons. The alternative is to put them in a wheel chair or to struggle with a pushchair. Until supermarkets are able to provide a way for alternative transport, it seems that trolleys will be used in a way some of you object to.

Mmmm

Have you all forgotten how utterly hideous it is shopping with toddlers and young children !! I had three children under 5, online deliveries were not a thing then and my husband and I both worked full time different shifts to share childcare !!

Children, especially young children, are pretty disgusting at the best of times, our current preoccupation with cleaning everything to within an inch of its life might be great for Covid, but it’s not great for our immune system !

You could simply say anywhere where children or animals have been is “dirty”

I had one in the front part seat of the trolley, one inside and one holding onto the trolley and yes I was one of those awful Mums who gave them food on the way round too !

Thank god when online deliveries were “invented”, I’ve barely been inside a supermarket since and my youngest child is almost 19 !

I presume this is about children sitting in the trolley where the shopping goes and not in the designated seat? If so I agree it is disgusting and needs dealing with at the time seen

Firstly it the guardians who put their children in the trolly in the first place who are to blame,just don't do it.
If anyone really does want to do speak to the boss's buy a share in Tesco and Sainsburys and any other company and you can attend the Annual general meetings which are due to be held very soon,and you can express your views on the subject.

Put the child in the appropriate seat

I always wipe everything from my delivery with a cloth soaked in disinfectant.
The crates don’t look very clean either.

From Hithere -
(I feel as grans, it is harder for you to sympathize with moms with young kids and daily activities - are you aware how hard is to go grocery shopping with a child?

It takes 3 or more times longer than normal, the kid wants everything and tears, wants to run to everywhere, little grabby hands, etc.

Ways easier to put the child inside the trolley - honestly.

I bet if a child is running wild with the parent chasing the kid - posters wouldnt be happy and judge the parent too. No win situation

And yes, a stranger comes to me to tell me my child shouldn't be in the trolley, you would be told politely to mind your own business.)

Do you really think grandparents have forgotten what it’s like to parent? Parents need to realise they’re in charge, they set the boundaries and implement the rules - lack of discipline results in screech kids, tantrums, running around etc. For goodness sake put your child in the appropriate seat or have them walk by your side, it’s not rocket science!

Hithere, I hope you’re using the designated child seat on the trolley, otherwise I’d definitely have a word with you.

I shopped with children and shop with small children now. If they are taught to behave accordingly and given a ""job" during the shop it takes a little more time but that comes with having them. There are seats in trollies for smaller children and absoutely no need for them to be in the section for food. In one store there was a child who must have been 8+ sitting in one eating stock before it had been paid for which is another of my pet hates along with parents who let their children climb and sit on the food packing areas in shops such as Aldi. Children do what they are allowed to do, my 3 Yr old g.c. is more than capable of going shopping without having to be placated with food, or allowed to sit where they want etc because they have been taught they are there to do a job, food shopping. My child had a tantrum once at the end of a food shop as wanted something out of the bags and was told to wait until we got home, he only ever did it once (no smacking was involved) and didn't get the item when he got home either and was told exactly why. Now a parent they do the same explains why they are there, what is going to happen and does not put up with any messing. Gc have learnt quickly they get a much better deal if they behave, no bribery but reward for good behaviour which can be as simple as running race round the garden or getting to watch their favourite film etc. I work in retail (non food) and the amount of parents who let their children wander off touching and messing with stock never telling them no or worse threaten that we the staff will tell them off when it is their job to supervise their own kids. Because of the possibility of accidents we have notices and do remind parents to keep children with them at all times but they look at you like you've asked them something alien and some get quite rude. We now just point out that as they have been asked and there are written signs any accidents will be their responsibility. If they want to storm out in a huff no problem.

I’m not bothered by dirty shoes etc. However there is a serious safety issue. Our local M & S food store had a stone tiled floor. A toddler, about 18mths old, was standing! in a trolley and fell head first onto the hard floor. He was unconscious and had died before the ambulance arrived.
You cannot watch a toddler in this situation and there are so many attractions for the child to reach out to. Could a mother ever forgive herself it it happened to her child?