As new parents, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the constant demands of your little one. Your relatively carefree former lifestyle quickly changes into a frenzy of nappy changing, feeding around the clock and broken sleep, and finding the time to fit in all the extra washing, household chores and shopping can seem like an anxiety. You may feel that essential tasks such as doing the weekly food shop become logistically more difficult with a baby in tow, and those who don’t already do their grocery shopping online may choose to convert once they become parents, in order to save time and hassle. This is a perfectly understandable decision, but before you dismiss the idea of braving the supermarket, stop and consider the benefits!
Supermarket Sensory Heaven!
Whilst traipsing round the supermarket can feel like a tiresome ritual to many parents, for babies it represents a fascinating new world of bright colours, shapes, lights, sounds and aromas – ideal for stimulating their senses!
Grab a Bargain and Save Time
Shopping at the larger supermarkets (whether it be in person or online) also means you can pick up other essentials your baby needs, such as bibs, toys and baby clothes, at a really affordable price and without needing to make extra visits to the shops; hence saving you time and money. Check out George at Asda’s baby clothes for a superb range at a price you will find hard to beat. Take advantage of promotional baby and toddler events too, where you can grab some great bargains on things like nappies, highchairs and car seats. For slightly older children you can buy some great value dress up outfits, fantastic for sparking their imagination in roleplay. Dress as a book character day is a breeze, if you use a supermarket, as they offer so many options that are at an affordable and stress free too!
A Learning Experience
As your baby grows into a toddler, the supermarket can become a more interactive learning experience which they will enjoy and look forward to each week. Use the opportunity to teach them about different foods and the range of other items in store and test them on these as you go along. Your child is more likely to be open-minded about trying different foods if they have been involved in choosing them.
Distraction
It’s true that toddlers can sometimes get restless when out shopping and try to climb out of the trolley, but this can be avoided by offering a distraction. Try giving them a small toy or tactile object such as a set of old keys (not your car keys!) Or they could be playing up because they’re hungry, so offer a snack like dried fruit before they try to help themselves to something off the shelves! Let them take charge of your shopping list and ask them to look out for things as you read off the list. Kids love to feel involved and have a purpose. If you’re shopping for baby clothes in Asda, let your tot pick out things they like from the George range and discover their own taste in clothes (as well as food!)
All the big supermarkets cater well for babies and toddlers nowadays. There are designated parking spaces close to the store entrance and trolleys which accommodate car seats (for young babies) and fold-out seats for when they get a bit bigger. Why not save the online shopping for when you’re feeling tired and mix it up with a trip to the store every now and again? This will keep things interesting for baby and give you a change of routine. Something that all parents need from time to time.
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