Going Tampa shopping with your kids is not always the most ideal situation. Whether you’re going to the mall or the grocery store, it is not the best time to bring the kids with you. But if the babysitter is not available and your husband couldn’t make it either, will you have the heart to not bring the kids with you?
Bringing them with you to run your errands should not scare you if you’re organized and well-prepared for the trip.
Car seats and strollers
First thing’s first. Make sure that the car seats are attached correctly on your backseat. No matter how much your kids want to seat in front, you cannot do that. Not only will that cause an accident, the police won’t take kindly to you, too. You don’t want to have a problem with authority, right?
Put the kids on their car seats at the back and make sure you have their strollers with you. The older kids might not need their strollers but if you have a baby, you will have to bring a stroller or a carrier.
Diaper bags
Your kids will have different needs. A baby needs her wet wipes, diapers, milk, and bottles. Your older kids won’t need so much but you should bring a change of clothes because they might play or run around and get all sweaty.
Do not forget the essentials of your trip. Since you’re bringing small kids with you, bring a first aid kit with a couple of band-aids and Betadine.
Toys
Your kids might get bored while you’re looking at dresses or while you’re comparing chicken breasts and chicken thighs. To keep them from throwing a tantrum, you have to bring their favorite toys with you.
No, don’t fall into the temptation of giving them your smartphone. Studies have already shown how watching YouTube videos could prove catastrophic to the kids’ well-being, so don’t fall into that trap.
A lot of patience
If you’re bringing the kids, you’re going to need a lot of patience. They won’t listen to you and they will be cranky at times. Try to understand that this is something new to them and they will be curious about the new surroundings.
Be patient with explaining to them the new things they see. This is a great bonding experience as a family and you should not lose your patience just because they ask too many questions or they are curious about a lot of things.