Shopping with a Toddler

Shopping with Emma has changed over the last year and a half (wow, time flies!)  When she was a little baby, she used to sit in her car seat attached to grocery cart.  She was awake (eyes wide open always!), looking around.  When she fussed, she was nursed and settled back down.  So simple.

When she started sitting up on her own, she graduated to sitting in the grocery cart seat, with one of those multi-colored seat covers.  When she would fuss at that age, I would simply put a grocery item on her lap (an orange, bag of rice, or box of pasta) and she would play with it, feeling the shape and shaking it for noise.  Or better yet, I would give her a piece of produce to munch on.

Now-a-days, she is still sitting in the seat (sometimes), but she no longer uses the seat cover.  Grocery or other stores are more like large playgrounds that need to be explored.  Shopping with Emma the Toddler usually involves the following activities:

• Sitting peacefully in the grocery cart smiling at workers and strangers;
• Crying (with those big, heart-wrenching crocodile tears) while seated because she doesn't want to sit anymore;
• Helping Mama push the grocery cart because sitting in it was no longer an option;
• Walking around the grocery store like she owns it;
• Wanting to eat every food item that is put into the grocery cart, but especially the groceries that come in a crinkly bag (how does she know what junk food is already?);
• Screaming "peese" (please) and "moe" (more) in the baby food aisle when she notices her Mama is buying the handy, on-the-go baby food pouches (the spinach, mango, pear, with chia seeds one is her favorite);
• Watching a movie at our favorite kids clothing/everything shop (Mother & Child);
• Throwing a fit when leaving our favorite shop because she wants to watch the movie; and
• Playing with her new toys (thank you retailers for putting all the bright colored toys at arms-reach for a Toddler - you really know what you are doing).

Running errands with Mama has definitely changed.  It has been amazing to observe Emma's reactions to her environment!!!  It is a balancing act.  I need a certain level of distractions to keep her interested, but not too many that I lose efficiency.  For all the Mamas out there, let me know what distractions have worked with your Toddlers; I would love to hear your advice!

Here are a few pictures of shopping with Emma the Toddler.

"Mom, this is the best trail mix ever!"

"I own this place.  They should call it Emmaford's!"