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You should leave food shopping to your husband or a relative after childbirth. Focus on recovery and taking care of your baby. However, things will not always go the way you want them to. Your husband, relative, or even friends may be unavailable. So, you have to do it yourself. But is it safe to go food shopping with a newborn?
If so, do you need to bring anything, and how to do it while keeping the safety of your baby the priority? Continue reading to find answers to these questions.
Can I Go Food Shopping with a Newborn?
Yes, you can go food shopping with your newborn. In fact, you can take them outside right away. However, pediatricians recommend that you wait a bit before bringing them to crowded places or going on long trips.
Remember that your baby's body is still developing. As such, their protection against germs and viruses - their immune system - is not that strong yet.
The thing is that it is not uncommon for grocery stores, markets, or any food store to become crowded. So, you should plan your trips if you want or need to bring your newborn with you.
What To Do Before Going Food Shopping with a Baby
How to prepare for a food shopping trip with your baby? Here are the things that you need to consider:
Plan Your Carrying Strategy
Before heading out, think about how you’ll transport your baby through the store. The right choice depends on your baby’s age, how long you’ll be shopping, and what keeps them most comfortable. Here are a few go-to options:
The Momcozy WeeSnug Newborn Baby Carrier allows you to "wear" your baby while you are shopping. It allows you to maintain precious skin-to-skin contact with your newborn without keeping your hands busy. Speaking of movement, this product features an ergonomic design that allows you to move freely and comfortably.
Meanwhile, the Momcozy ChangeGo Baby Stroller is great for your back. With it, you don't have to carry your baby. You can put them in the stroller that you can push around. It also features a spacious storage basket where you can put your groceries. It's a great tool to use if the store has no carts with baby seats and it's quite nearby.
Choose the Best Time
As mentioned above, you should try to avoid crowded places. It makes it safer for your baby and also helps you avoid inconveniencing other people. Therefore, you should pick a time when there are usually just a few shoppers in the store.
On top of that, you should make sure your baby is fed and well-rested. Otherwise, they will become cranky and will cry a lot. That will make it difficult for you to grab things or talk to the cashier. It may also cause you to drop some things, and remember, you are shopping for food. Thus, you should avoid that as much as possible.
Create a Shopping List
You should get home before your baby becomes hungry again or before they need a change of diaper. That could be done if you are well-prepared. It would be great if you already have a list of things that you need to buy before heading out. That way, you will know exactly where to go and what to pick up.
Besides that, creating a shopping list will also help you make informed decisions that will make your food shopping trip easier. For example, it will allow you to determine if you need to bring a bag and how big it should be. That will make carrying the food you bought and your newborn more manageable.
Packing Things You Might Need
We also recommend packing things that you might need. For example, you should bring diapers and wet wipes to be prepared if accidents happen. Also, you should bring bottled milk—preferably breast milk, but formula milk is okay in some cases. Breastfeeding can be difficult while you're out and about due to privacy concerns, so having a bottle of milk ensures your newborn stays fed when they get hungry. A great option to make this easier is the Momcozy Breast Pump, which allows you to pump hands-free before your outing and have a bottle ready whenever your baby needs it.
Where Should I Put My Baby When Shopping?
You should use baby carriers or a stroller if possible. The idea many mothers have is putting baby car seats in a cart so their baby can sit on it. That may seem like a brilliant idea, but it can cause accidents. Using strollers or baby carriers is the safer option, and that is what you should do.
Can I Put Baby in the Grocery Cart?
You should not put your baby, especially a newborn, in a grocery cart. They are likely to get hurt while you are pushing the cart around or putting items in it.
Yes, it is tempting because food shopping sounds easier if you are not carrying your baby. You can move more freely, and there is no pressure on your back and shoulders, which causes discomfort. However, according to HealthyChildren.org, more than 20,000 children suffer from grocery-cart-related injuries each year. That said, it is best to avoid putting your newborn in the grocery cart.
How To Grocery Shop with a Newborn
Here are some tips on how to do grocery shopping with a newborn:
Keep It Short
Do not stay in the grocery store for too long. It will make it more likely for your baby to go hungry or poop while you are there. Both scenarios will make them cause a scene. As we have mentioned above, you should create a shopping list before heading out to avoid this.
Consider Curbside Pickup
Many stores allow you to order items in advance. When you get there, you just need to grab your groceries and pay if you haven't yet. They have prepared all the items for you. This will make your shopping trips short, which is ideal.
Go To a Familiar Grocery Store
Go to a grocery store where you usually go to. That way, you will know where the items in your list are located. On top of that, you will know where the bathrooms are. If your baby suddenly needs a diaper change, you know where to go.
Common Challenges
No one will deny it. Food shopping with a newborn is full of challenges. Not only do you need to care about your child's safety, you also have to consider their needs. Knowing the common challenges will help you prepare so you can handle these challenges better:
Unexpected Diaper Changes
You can't control when your baby poops. Remember that you have to feed your baby before leaving home so that they will not get cranky. The downside to that is it increases the chances of them pooping while you're in the grocery store. While it does not always happen, you should be prepared. Bring diapers and baby wipes. Also, bring hand sanitizers or alcohol since you are food shopping.
Feeding Mid-Trip
Suppose your newborn suddenly becomes hungry while you are food shopping. Having a blanket or feeding cover at hand can help. Also, knowing where the feeding station is or knowing if there is none will help you figure out what to do. If both are not available, you may need to leave the store early to feed in your car. Then, you can go back for the rest of the items on your list.
Forgetting Items
Unexpected diaper changes and a crying baby can make you panic. These may make you forget items that you need to buy. Again, this emphasizes the importance of preparing a shopping list. But that's not all. You may also forget things before leaving home. You may forget to bring diapers, baby bottles, or even the shopping list itself if it's not on your phone. That said, you should prepare a bag containing all of these in advance so you won't accidentally leave some at home.
Conclusion
So, can you go food shopping with a newborn? Yes, but you need to be prepared. Changing diapers and feeding a baby mid-trip are common occurrences. Bringing things you might need and a shopping list is a must.
More than that, you should bring a baby carrier or a baby stroller. These will allow you to carry your newborn while you are shopping safely. It will also make things convenient for you. Imagine pushing carts while you are carrying your baby with your arm. That's a recipe for a bad day.
Despite these challenges, shopping with a newborn can be easy if you know what to do. Just keep these reminders in mind, and you won't encounter many problems.
