Grocery story with infant

Today was my 2nd attempt at going out with DS alone. He's almost a month old and I took him to a restaurant last week just to get a gift certificate for a friend and I was stressed the entire time.
This morning I took him to Stop and Shop and he cried the entire time! And I mean CRIED. So hard that he was almost purple. I tried to time it right so that he had just been fed and changed, then I drove him to the store. I thought he was asleep but when i tried to take him out of the car and put his infant carrier on the wagon he started crying. I put him back in the car and drove around until I thought he was asleep but the same thing happened. If I drove him around again, I would not have had enough time to shop before he needed to be fed again so we went inside and as soon as we hit produce he screamed. I gave him a pacifier (which we're using only for emergencies) but he still cried the whole time.

I've never gone through stop and shop so fast! How do you girls do it? I know it will get better, but I felt so bad having him out when he was so upset!
Maybe he just hates his infant carrier. Next time I'll switch him to the baby sling so he'll be close to my body while I do the shopping...

Re: Grocery story with infant

I would definitely try a sling next time. My boys always slept through shopping. I would cover the carrier with a blanket to keep the light out and muffle any noise.


It will get easier going out with DC.

Re: Grocery story with infant

I'm right there with you... Kristina hates her carrier right now, and hates her sling just as much.... So I'm at a loss....

Re: Grocery story with infant

never did it...always did it on weekends or at night. Its sad but grocery shopping has become part of my "me" time.

Re: Grocery story with infant

I completely understand saving the pacifier for emergencies but if you do that, then it may not be fair to your child for you to expect it to have a calming influence as soon as you give it to your baby. The baby does not know to associate it with calming. I feel that we are using the paci in moderation but we do give it to my son enough that if he wants it, he quiets down before it is even in his mouth. He does not need to keep it in for very long in order to calm down, so that's a plus.

Re: Grocery story with infant

never did it...I use Peapod

Re: Grocery story with infant

Mine does his fair share of crying, but usually not much at all while he's out, as long as we keep moving. If we stop in anyplace for too long, he can start to cry. If I start moving again, he's usually fine.

He seems to really like looking around the store and seeing new things. Maybe it was overwhelming for your DC? Mine seems to like it (he doesn't cyr), but he's not himself either in places like this--I think he's very distracted taking everything in.

Re: Grocery story with infant

I use PeaPod now, its a lifesaver at times with 2 kids who don't want to spend an hour in Stop and Shop with me.

I used to go when DH was home, even if it meant at 9 p.m. at night. It was quiet in the store and I got a little time to think to myself. I started taking my son when he was older and could sit in the cart seat and snack on Cheerios. So not until about 7 months old.

Re: Grocery story with infant

It gets so much easier!!!

Re: Grocery story with infant

I've never taken DD grocery shopping. I order Peapod or go when I have someone to leave her with.

Re: Grocery story with infant

mine was a horror. I had to hold him with one arm and push the cart with the other. It took forever.

When he turned 3 months old, he would then sit in carrier.

It will get easier

Re: Grocery story with infant

Re: Grocery story with infant

My children always loved their car seats so food shopping was never a problem, but I would suggest the baby back-pack which you hold the baby in front of you (not really sure what it's called). Or sometimes I would go when ds needed to be fed and I would prop the bottle while I was pushing the cart, he would eat then fall a sleep. (not sure how you feel about proping bottles) Anyhow good luck and it will get easier