But now that I've been to B.J.'s wholesale a few times with my 9-month-old twins, and I've done Christmas shopping for all my family, I feel like a veteran. So it's definitely do-able. You just have to decide what's worth it.
Here are some thoughts from my own experiences, practical ideas from author Dagmara Scalise of TWIN SENSE, and a few caveats.
First, it won't be easy. Toss out all ideas of just jumping in the car and dashing in to pick up a few things. There will be no dashing anywhere for a long time!
Whether you have a toddler and a newborn, an older child and 2 young ones, or whatever combination, multiple children mean slowing down the process even on the best day. So I say, don't try to accomplish more than 2 errands with your young children along...it's just not fair to them.
Group together the errands so that you're not wasting precious time driving in multiple directions. Order as many things online for delivery as possible.
Scalise suggests hiring an assistant if your spouse or partner isn't available to help you. That's a great idea, but the cost adds up quickly. I say save the money for a night out with your friends if you can be patient with your young ones doing a few errands.
I usually do one big grocery shopping per month with my twins when my 10-year-old is at school. I put one twin in a Baby Bjorn or frontpack, then I bring a Boppy or cushiony pillow and blanket to put the other twin in the main part of the cart (since they were preemies, they're not sitting up well enough to put them in the child seat of the grocery cart without getting tired or falling over.) But because one twin is now in the base of the grocery cart, and I am putting items next to him, I carefully select things that won't hurt him if they touch him (toilet paper, paper towels, bread, etc.). Heavy canned goods go in the front of the cart where a child would normally sit...large items like cases of soft drinks, laundry detergent boxes, etc. go underneath. On a separate trip when I'm alone, I supplement the mainstay items with fresh fruits and veggies, meats and eggs, etc. every few days without my twins on my way to work.
Other errands, like gift buying, drug store stops, clothing purchases I do on a different day so I don't exhaust my little ones and invite grumpy attitudes or meltdowns unnecessarily.
I never expect my young ones to behave for more than 2 hours at such a young age, including drive time, unless it's urgent. (They're on a 3-hour cycle of eating and napping, so I can squeeze 2 hours of errands in there if I'm organized. Even so, I don't do it more than 3x a week with them.) So I do RiteAid and the computer store the same day, because they're across the street from each other, etc. I do a run to Lowes and Modell's a different day because they're a block apart. You get the idea.
Here are other thoughts to try to make it easier for you to get everything done:
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1. Get a wrist strap or safety harness so your older toddler doesn't wander off while you're maneuvering the cart.
2. Bring toys to distract your older child.
3. Go to stores with drive-thrus.
4. Shop at stores with double shopping carts or oversized ones.
5. Put young babies in a sling (although I was always nervous about the safety of these so I didn't use them.)
6. Write lists and stay focused.
7. Prepare your car beforehand with baby supplies including diapers and wipes, baby food, snacks for you (banana if you missed lunch so you're not grumpy)
8. Use a single stroller to push along with the grocery cart...although I think that's too much to maneuver in some stores that don't have wide aisles.
9. Connect two grocery carts with a bungee cord long ways, but turn corners carefully! Now you know how 18-wheelers' drivers feel.
10. Carry receiving blankets to double as changing mats if you need a quick diaper change and there's not a baby-changing table in the restroom (better than laying your baby on the floor.)
11. Use kid-friendly carts shaped as cars or fire trucks if they're available to make your little ones feel special!
12. Build in time/money for a small treat for your child if all goes well...a ride on a merry-go-round at some Kmarts, Walmarts, or bubble gum out of the gum machine by the door, etc. Never hurts to work towards a reward. Some people call it bribery...I call it an incentive plan.
13. Bring special-treat foods and bring them out one at a time as a pace-setting device. Start with fresh fruit cut in bags...keep a stash of "last resort" treats like cookies, cupcakes if you're desperate.
Good luck!
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