Twins and a Toddler: Shopping configurations

Someday when my boys are all grown we will go to the store and not need two carts. They will walk next to one cart and we can get in and out of the store relatively painlessly.

These days however we know that there is no such thing as popping into the store really quick with twin babies and a toddler.

As infants, it would take, oh almost an hour to do a Target run to grab some diapers and a few household items. Ideally we would try to keep the babies at home to minimize the chaos that is required in getting out of the house

 But even mama needs to get out of the house and see the light of day sometimes.

So what does it take to go shopping in the store? I know when my babies are grown up we will laugh at these days, but  we have settled onto various configurations for our shopping needs.




2 Carts and 2 baby car seats (Bonus points for an extra adult, usually Auntie);

This is the typical arrangement for when we would go to the store when the babies were infants (read: Not able to sit up in the cart). Usually one or both would be asleep so keeping them in the car seat was a big plus. We would have the babies in their car seats, one in each basket, and the toddler sitting in one of the carts. Now, with the car seats taking up space in both carts, this is only for those times when you are not buying a cart load of stuff. We do try to have at least one baby carrier for those times when one or both babies cry in the store. It is not easy to hold a baby and push a cart...

1 double stroller and 1 cart

We usually use the stroller and the cart when the babies are in good spirits and would like a nice stroll through the store. We are usually able to go at somewhat of a leisurely  pace doing our shopping and since there are no car seats, we can fill our carts. Because we love our stroller so much if it happens that one baby cries, it is usually no problem to push the stroller and hold the baby. Costo is our one exception. The double seater carts make it so that we only need 1 cart and 1 baby carrier! We Love going to Costco!

Chip and Goofy in the cart

2 carts and 1 carrier

Let me tell you, what a feeling it is to go to the store with out any car seats or strollers! By this point the babies are bigger (read: heavier!) and can sit in the cart with no problem. They usually love the perspective from this new vantage point. The toddler  sits in one of the carts and baby is in a baby carrier. Do not try to carry almost 20 lb babies in arms for a shopping trip. Your arms will not last.  This is the stage we are in right now. For the most part shopping trips are not as chaotic as when they were newborns. We no longer need to stop in the middle of the aisle and figure out how to juggle 2 babies, 1 toddler, 2 carseats, and 2 carts. Oh, what a great joy it is.

Mama and chip in a Hotsling

Dale riding in a cart