[Sam-N-Tony]

I now have 2 - 2 year olds, 3 yr old and a 8 yr old, how do you go out shopping etc.? I certaintly cannot take 3 kids without being in a stroller, the kids would be running all over the place.

Do you suggest I look into buying a 3 kiddie stroller, or would the 2 seater wagon and a stroller be sufficient. it would be kinda hard to drag the wagon everywhere. Or do you just not go out, ha.

[mom2behappy]

id suggest just a twin stroller and those cute lil straps that babies r us sell its actually a book bag with a exteding strap that you put around your wrist that way the three yr old could walk but wouldn't be able to stray to far away from you. and if the 3 yr old got sleepy or just tired you could switch or they could take turns walking/riding

[FullQuiverMamma]

This too shall pass!!!!!!

BTDT and wouldn't trade the teeshirt.

Be joyful, be creative and be thankful, these days go by so quickly...

When shopping, I used to have all four of my kids put their hand on the shopping cart and hold on.

Best wishes,
fqm

[meshsgrl]

how do you remember what you went to the store for? I have never done it with more then 2 or 3 with atleast one being over 4 and I always forget things, I cant imagine trying to do it will 2 - 2 yrs olds and a 3 yr old....
maybe make the 8 yr old responsible for watching one of the kids and putting the other 2 into a stroller?,

[Kat-L]

Originally Posted by Sam-N-Tony

I now have 2 - 2 year olds, 3 yr old and a 8 yr old, how do you go out shopping etc.? I certaintly cannot take 3 kids without being in a stroller, the kids would be running all over the place.

Do you suggest I look into buying a 3 kiddie stroller, or would the 2 seater wagon and a stroller be sufficient. it would be kinda hard to drag the wagon everywhere. Or do you just not go out, ha.

I use a double stroller for the little ones. And Eddie Bauer makes these little back packs with a handle for Mom & Dad to hold. It looks better than a traditional child harness and keeps the kids from running off.

I've had 4 kids under age 4 many times over the last six months. You have to be super organized. But it's manageable.

[liveurlife]

I currently have two almost two year olds, a five year old and and eight year old. I have cut down on grocery trips by shopping at B.J's and Costco both places have carts that fit two children. I try to go to one of them on the weekend during nap time. My husband stays home with the babies and I take the two older children with me. A double stroller is helpful for places where you don't need to buy things. I do sometimes drag the wagon out. It is a pain! Maya wrap slings are great you can carry a child up to 35 pound on your hip with one. I also do a buddy system with the big girls and the babies. I always repeat hold hands stay close to mommy. The little ones are happy to hold hands with anyone in the family. Good Luck!
I buy cloths online

[ranoutofnames]

I've had nearly the same scenario and this is what my weekends often look like when I do respite!

Places like Wal-Mart or Super Target, where I can buy underwear and chicken nuggets all at the same place are about all I'll shop.

I harness any child close to 3yrs old to the cart up to the age of 5yrs. I will harness them when their older if they won't behave and stay with me. N is a good example of that, she's an unmedicated ADHD child. At 6.5yrs I still harness her, the wrist strap irritates her and she'll take it off when I'm not watching.

I do have to walk through the store slower when we're like this so I don't go shopping at a busy time or near the kids nap time.

It's not unusual to see me taking two carts if I don't use the harnesses. I'll put an infant and toddler in one cart I pull, with another toddler in the cart I'm pushing.

I don't take a stroller or wagon shopping. The stroller is too hard to navigate along with a cart. A wagon is too easy for the kids to get out of. With a wagon I spend a lot of time telling them to get back in or pulling stuff out they got ahold of along the way

I will also invite along another child that is around 10yrs old. They are old enough at that point to usually push a cart and such... and they are cheap labor. They are thrilled with $5 and it is SOOO worth it.

Window shopping and pleasure shopping do not happen when I have three or more young children.

[jjjjmom]

I take my teenage daugheter with me. She can't stay home and babysit, but she sure can push a shopping cart with one of the 3 year olds. My 5 year old doesn't run from me because he thinks that I will leave him if he does. Mean mommy!

[Sam-N-Tony]

Are you saying, I can't window shop anymore!!!! LOL.

I just picture me in the mall etc. with 3 little ones with the backpack leashes, and them getting all tangled (I would look like a dog walker) the kids tripping all over the floor, it can go wrong in so many ways. I guess my husband is going to have to go with me at all times, I'm sure he will be thrilled.

My 8yr old, will help with the little ones but he's usually to busy with the Gameboy to pay attention to anything.

[tvs4]

Depending on the size of the two year olds... you could put two kids in a stroller and one in a baby backpack. Our 2 yr foster son was still small enough for a backpack (and light enough).
We have a sit-n-stand stroller that is great for a kid (like a 3 year old) who can mostly walk but will sometiems get tired and need a ride and a smaller kid.

Most double strollers are hard to handle.

I recommend looking on craigslist to find a used stroller. They are very expensive new but a used one can be pretty inexpensive and you can resell it when you are done with it.

[vegaschristina]

We have a sit & stand stroller that has 2 seats and a place for my oldest to stand.

[Withay]

I have 3 little ones - 15 mo, 12 mo and 9 mo. I know that most states have the rule of no more than 2 under the age of 3. Believe me when I say that there are very good reasons that I have these 3 together at these ages. It has also been ok'd by the 'high-ups' of DHS.

Since none of my little ones walk, all are medically fragile and delayed, I use 2 carts. One trick I use is to dress the kids in bib-overalls. Simply put the child in the basket, undo the straps and loop them over the bars and then refasten them. Works wonders and the kids can't stand up. The harder they try to undo the straps the more they lean forward and make them tighter.

For window shopping I use a fantastic stroller that can go from a single to a quad in just a few moments. If you want info on it, please pm me.

[luvmykids4]

At the risk of being outnumbered, I would look into a 3 seat stroller, or something comparable. If you like to get out alot, you want your younger kids to be comfortable. Even six year olds want to stroll rather than walk sometimes. It should make life much easier that way. You would be amazed at what you can do with some planning, and routine. My kids loved riding in the strollers and I could get 'some' shopping in. Good luck. And remember, it does go quickly, so enjoy them!!

[Mystik]

I only have 2 little ones and find that complicated enough for grocery shopping. They're both too young to put in the big area of the cart and only 1 will fit in the top portion of the cart. So I just do all my grocery shopping when *A* is at a visit or else I wait till DH comes home to stay with them and go out to get what we need then. For Costco type trips we do them on weekends when both of us can go and one of us pushes the double stroller while the other pushes the cart.

[Mommytinkerbell]

At one point we had a newborn, a 4 month old, an 18 month old and a 2.5 yr old. I only went out when DH was there to watch them! LOL!!! I'm not that brave!!!!

We also lived in a second story apartment at the time!! You should have seen me climbing two flights several times when I got back to bring up all the groceries, tons of diapers and wipes, etc. LOL!!! I think I was going thru almost 200 diapers a week or so.