Before I had kids, I LOVED to shop! I rarely shopped online because I enjoyed the experience of going to the store, trying on clothes and shoes and taking as much time as I wanted. Once you have a child, that all goes out the window. Once you have two children, shopping definitely becomes a challenge. You’ll spend as much time pulling your child out from the middle of the shopping racks as you will actually shopping!
However, there is a way to get your shopping done without totally losing your mind. Here are some things you’ll need if you want to get your mission accomplished.
This is the No. 1 necessity if you want to stay in the store long enough to actually buy something. Bring plenty … you’ll need it!
The last thing you want is a hungry or thirsty child. It just makes them cranky and pretty much brings your shopping to a screeching halt. Bring plenty of snacks and juice boxes to buy yourself some extra time.
For some reason, toys are easily lost so I find that books are a better option. I can’t think of the last time we’ve left one behind. Try to find the books that your child hasn’t seen for a while, the ones buried way in the back of the book box. Tell them you bought them a new book and the younger ones might even fall for it.
Of course, if your child 12, they’re probably not going to want to sit in a stroller! However, if your child is younger, you should definitely bring it. My youngest rarely uses her stroller anymore but we always bring it to the mall … otherwise I end up carrying her half the time and it’s hard to browse the racks with a toddler on your hip. Plus, it’s a great place to store those extra snacks and books.
You’ll most likely have this handy anyway and if you’re a parent, I know you already have all the kid-friendly apps installed. This works especially well if you’re in the dressing room and your child has somewhere to sit quietly. Now you should have enough time to try on that huge stack of clothes you brought in.
Some stores keep the thermostat so low that it can be a pretty chilly place. My oldest is very sensitive to cold and makes it known (again and again and again!) if she’s cold. I try to keep one of her sweaters on hand just for these occasions. Otherwise I have to listen to “when are we going to leave” on that same repeat cycle.
If you are lucky enough to live near a mall that has an inside playground, you can usually bribe your kid into giving you extra shopping time by letting them play when you’re finished. If your mall has an area with the ride-on trucks and trains, that’s even better bribery material! Raid your piggy bank and bring plenty of quarters!
If you have a friend with children, you may want to consider timing your shopping trips so that you can go together. That way you can tag team. One of you can entertain the kids while the other gets some much needed time alone time in the dressing room.
That’s for you, not the kids … you’ll need it! When I bring both my kids to the mall, they already know that mommy’s first stop is the Starbucks! I just find it easier to make it through the shopping trip when I’ve had that extra jolt (or two) of caffeine.
Shopping with kids can definitely be trying … I know firsthand! However, you can make it a little more bearable (and shockingly, sometimes even pleasant) by using some of the tactics above. What tips do you use to help keep your sanity when shopping with the kids?
Lisa O’Driscoll is a wife, mom, and former Kindergarten teacher turned blogger. You can find her writing about everything from saving money, adventures in parenting and her hot guy Fantasy Football team at FunMoneyMom.com. You can also check her out on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram & Twitter.
Lisa O'Driscoll is a wife, mom, and former Kindergarten teacher turned blogger. You can find her writing about everything from saving money, adventures in parenting and her hot guy Fantasy Football team at FunMoneyMom.com.
