11 answers

17 Months Won't Sit in a Shopping Cart/a Good Discipline Book

I am 36 weeks pregnant and have a 17 mo. old son. He has been very well behaved up until recently which worries me with our new arrival. He doesn't want to sit in the shopping cart when we go shopping. I can give him a sippy cup, snacks, a toy nothing seems to keep him distracted. He will squirm his way out of the safety belt and stand up. How do I get him to stay sitting? I think I need to start reading some good discipline books. Does anyone have some recommendations?

What can I do next?

Featured Answers

Hi! My best friend swears by the book How to Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk by Faber and Mazlish. It is an older book so you can find used copies of it everywhere. Also, if you are a Dr Sears fan he has The Discipline Book.
Have you tried having him sit in the big part and cover him with groceries? My son still loves that and he's 10 now!
Good Luck!

More Answers

Hey C.-
When my Sarah was little she did not like the cart that much either. She was a little free spirit. So I decided to buy her her own shopping cart. She would help me shop and I would put bananas and apples in her car. She would shop right along side of me. Another idea is have you tried placing him in the cart that had a car front. I know my Publix has them. It is not worth a fight everytime you go shopping. shopping will take longer with him walking next to you but it will be hassel free. Great Luck!

H.
www.workathomeunited.com/enhanceyourgreen

my 15 month does the same thing but usuall I can bribr her with food. if you get any good advice share

Hi C., Happy Anniversary and Congratulations! Your son is smart, he is just bored in the grocery store. In terms of the supermarkets, what works for me is to pass on the grocery list to my husband or do groceries alone while your husband is preparing your son for a bed time like giving him a bath, reading etc.

Hi! My best friend swears by the book How to Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk by Faber and Mazlish. It is an older book so you can find used copies of it everywhere. Also, if you are a Dr Sears fan he has The Discipline Book.
Have you tried having him sit in the big part and cover him with groceries? My son still loves that and he's 10 now!
Good Luck!

I don't think it's a matter of discipline. They really don't have that much impulse control. HAve you read "Happiest Toddler on the Block"?
Toddlers learn by exploring. Maybe you can try the shopping cart that look like cars? I have to entertain my son the entire time in the grocery store. He is a squirmy almost 20month old. Balloons work great.

I am going to agree with the other posters. It's hard at this age to get them to sit. That was around the age my daughter stopped wanting to sit in the cart. She got to where she wanted to run the aisles and I ended up having to have my husband watch her while I shopped for a few months until she got better. The Publix sports car cart worked when she got a little older.
You may find once the baby is here that it will be a lot easier to plan your shopping when hubby is home to watch your son and take the baby with you (not to overwhelm him since the men have a hard time with that! LOL!).
Otherwise, if you must bring him along with the baby, maybe you can promise a special treat if he behaves and stays with you. You could promise special playtime or a movie he likes to watch when you get home. They do have carts with the seats in the back where you can put the baby carrier in the seat part of the cart so you could still keep him buckled in.
Good luck! I am due in January with my 2nd also, so I am going to be figuring out shopping trips then as well!

Sorry C. - but welcome to "I wanna be indepedant" Two's! even at 17 months! My son wouldn't even let me hold his hand if we let him walk by himself. He would hold his own hand! Most grocery stores besides Publix have special carts for kids nowadays - like Walmart (our ONLY grocery store) I've seen the cars or (what we use) the little seats for 2 by the handle. But my kids (now 4 and 2) want out no matter WHAT cart I use. And those things can be like trying to maneuver a semi truck! My 2 yr old daughter sees my son, who is too big now for the carts, walking - okay more like running down the isle as I scream his name to come back - EVERY TIME! LOL, she wants to walk too. My husband and I usually go together and he keeps the kids someplace else in the store or in another cart or keeps one of the two, while I shop. It's an event most times, so I try to alone if I can. It gets better and easier - at 4 my son doesn't pull everything off the shelves like my 2 yr old daughter does. Oh and I try to stay CLEAR of the card isles - or they get rearranged! Best advice - if you can - go by yourself and enjoy it! Hugs... A.

Have you tried the carts that have the stearing wheels for kids to "drive the cart." My daughter is also 17 mo and she loves it. I have just finished reading Dr Karps Happiest Toddler on the Block. It is interesting. I haven't implemented his techniques yet but it is worth a try, right.

HTH,

S.

Required Fields

Our records show that we already have a Mamapedia or Mamasource account created for you under the email address you entered.

Please enter your Mamapedia or Mamasource password to continue signing in.

Required Fields

, you’re almost done...

Since this is the first time you are logging in to Mamapedia with Facebook Connect, please provide the following information so you can participate in the Mamapedia community.

As a member, you’ll receive optional email newsletters and community updates sent to you from Mamapedia, and your email address will never be shared with third parties.

By clicking "Continue to Mamapedia", I agree to the Mamapedia Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.