How To Grocery Shop With A Newborn (because we all know it’s insanely nerve-wracking)

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As if there aren’t already a million thoughts and worries running through a mom’s head, she now has to wonder, ‘how to grocery shop with a newborn’. And truth be told, you’re likely discovering that even a simple trip to the grocery store requires a bit more planning and finesse now that there’s a baby involved. But fear not! I’m here to dish the best tips to help you get in and out of the grocery store without the stress and overwhelm that comes with being a new mama. 

I’ll never forget the first day my husband went back to work and we needed groceries. My heart started to beat faster, my breathing got heavier — here I was, a new mom about to take my precious little newborn out into the world all by myself. The nerves hit hard.

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I began to worry about things like, “What if my baby cries?!” or “What if he gets hungry and I’m not able to breastfeed him since I’m still figuring it out”, trust me mama, I understand the worries about taking your newborn and honestly, most babies to public places. 

Thankfully, we braved and survived our first grocery trip together, but I learned a few key tips that you’ll likely find very helpful.

10 Tips to Make Grocery Shopping With a Newborn Less Overwhelming

1) Timing Is Everything

Taking your new baby out into the world can be so scary, especially if they’re fussing, your breast milk is leaking down your shirt — and stress levels are at an all-time high. That’s why you’ve gotta get these errands done at the best time for you and baby. 

So, what’s the ideal time to take your baby grocery shopping?

• After a nap
• After they’ve been fed and burped
• After they’ve been wiped up and had a diaper change

Don’t worry new parents, getting out with your newborn for the first time won’t be so bad, I promise!

2) Bring Backup Clothing

If you’re planning to take your baby out shopping for an errand that might not be too quick, make sure you diaper and change them before you leave. Think of it like having a fresh start. 

Now, with babies, you never know when they’ll surprise you with a big blowout. My babies were both amazing at pooping on a schedule, but I will NEVER forget the one time I had to run to the store early in the morning right after my 3 month old woke up. I fed him, burped him, changed him, and headed out. No more than 30 minutes later, I’m pushing the stroller and I get a whiff on a horrendous smell.

After it didn’t go away, I started to feel my son’s body in the car seat and sure enough, he had a massive blowout. He was covered from butt to back in poop. We rushed to the car so I could get him cleaned up and I’m just glad I had all my baby supplies to make the ordeal much less stressful. So, be sure to have a backup set of clothing and all your diapering supplies with you. 

3) Know How to Safely Shop With Your Infant Car Seat

If you’re planning to bring your infant car seat, you’ll want to use it safely while shopping. Believe it or not, shopping carts were not made to safely hold car seats. Yes, we’ve all seen the parents with their car seat hooked onto the child seat part of the shopping cart, but really, it’s not safe. 

Use a Safe Dock:

According to Safe-Strap and Shopping Cart Safety, “nearly 24,000 children are in accidents involving shopping carts each year”. Knowing that you should opt for using a safe dock if you’re planning to place your car seat on top of the grocery basker. A safe dock provides a safe and stable base for parents to strap their car seat into. You can locate stores that offer a safe dock here.

Bring a Shopping Cart Hammock:

Shopping cart hammocks are becoming much more popular and for a great reason! This particular shopping care hammock is compliant with the US Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) and has passed numerous safety tests and certifications. In addition to its excellent safety measurements, it’s made from 97% cotton and sewn with double layer upholstery fabric to provide comfort, support + hold up to 50 lbs, and has adorable color/pattern options. Meaning, you can place your baby directly into the shopping hammock or safely secure your car seat inside as well. 

4) Opt For Baby Wearing

Using an infant carrier is always a good idea when it comes to shopping with babies. In fact, it was the best option for me with my first baby as he strongly disliked being in his car seat. Plus, what I loved about using a baby carrier is that it minimized the amount of attention we’d get from strangers. 

You always hear those stories about the sweet old lady wanting to touch and hug your baby, but when the baby is in a carrier against your body, it’s pretty hard for anyone to get the courage to get THAT close. Hence, I think it’s one of the best choices. 

Plus, if you’re a breastfeeding mother, you can easily nurse your baby in their carrier (especially if you use a ring sling carrier like this one — which happens to be my favorite baby carrier) in the event your little one needs to eat. Baby carriers, they’re a win-win all around.

5) Use a Baby Stroller

If you happen to have a travel system baby stroller with decent storage space, you can also use that when you take your baby shopping. With my second baby, we often used our double stroller as the shopping cart. It made grocery runs so much easier with two young children. 

This was pretty much my go-to when my babies were fast asleep in their car seats. If you’re worried about people trying to peek in and say hi to your adorable little baby, keep the shade covers pulled up during your shopping trip — works like a charm.

If you are planning to bring a stroller, try to get a good spot in the parking lot to make loading and unloading a little bit easier.

6) Avoid The Crowded Stores

If you’re someone who feels some anxiety about going shopping with your baby, it’s best to avoid crowded and busy stores. Is it a big deal? Probably not, but with a newborn you can never be too careful. Especially when it comes to protecting your own mental health. Start small, keep your grocery run short, and then work up to bigger ventures. 

7) Stock Your Diaper Bag

We talked about this one a little bit earlier, but when it comes to taking a newborn out anywhere, you’ve got to have your diaper bag stocked and ready. You can even keep it in your car if it makes it easier to not forget. 

Here are my absolute essential items when packing a diaper bag:

• Diapers 
• Baby Wipes
• Changing Pad
• Diaper Rash Cream
• Baby Bottles or Feeding Supplies – this only applies if you’re bottle-feeding your newborn. If you’re nursing your baby, you likely won’t need bottles.
• Backup Pacifier
• Change of Clothes
• Hand Sanitizer
• Portable White Noise Machine (if your baby missed a nap or is having a fussy episode, sometimes a little white noise can bring the calm)
• Sunscreen – we love love love the Earth Mama Organics Baby Face Mineral Sunscreen Stick. It’s easy to apply on the littlest of babies. 
• Ring Sling Baby Carrier – ring slings are travel-friendly, and great for breastfeeding moms because they’re easy to nurse in and you can use the extra fabric that hangs down as a nursing cover.
• Waterproof Bag – these come in handy in the event your child has a blowout or ends up with soiled clothing.

8) Go With a Shopping List

In an effort to keep your grocery shopping experience with your newborn a positive one, try to make yourself a shopping list to help you get in and out of the store. Even if you’re dealing with a fussy baby, having a list will help you stay focused on the things you need while staying attentive to your baby.

9) Consider Online Shopping

Don’t forget about the easiest option there is, online shopping. If you truly aren’t able to bring your newborn baby out to the store, you can opt for grocery pickup or delivery. This option can be really helpful when you have other small children at home and lugging everyone around is just not in the cards. 

I personally find pick-up shopping to be so convenient on those busy days when I have lots of things to get done. I place my orders first thing in the morning that way I can swing by before lunchtime for my curbside pickup. I wish more stores were doing this back when my first was born, but it 100% has its place and is a great option to get whatever important items you need for the day.

10) Go With A Friend or Family Member

You can never have too many hands on deck when you’re running errands with a newborn. Plus, you’ll be able to give your baby your undivided attention in case anything pops up. Shopping with a friend when you have a newborn truly proves to be an enjoyable experience for all.

How to Grocery Shop With a Newborn: Bonus Tips

Keep in mind, that there is no right way or best way to go shopping with your newborn. You’re bound to feel a little nervous when taking your baby for their first outing, but whats most important is that you find what works for you and you gain a little more confidence each and every time. 

However, if those 10 tips weren’t enough, here are a few more bonus tips to help you have a successful trip running errands with your baby:

• If you have older kids, bring a shopping cart cover so they can sit in the grocery cart seat while your baby comfortably lays in the shopping cart hammock.

• If you have serious anxiety around going out with your newborn, talk to a therapist. They can help you feel validated and also provide tools to help you come up with a game plan to work through those anxieties. 

• Try to park near the grocery basket stalls so it’s easy to grab and put away during your shopping trip. 

I can’t promise you a 100% stress-free experience when you take your newborn shopping for the first time, but I hope the tips above help you prepare and minimize the overwhelm around taking your newborn grocery shopping for the first time. You got this mamas!