3 Smart Strategies for Keeping Toddlers Entertained at the Grocery Store


Thanks to Sproutยฎ for sponsoring this conversation.

3 Smart Strategies for Keeping Toddlers Entertained at the Grocery Store

Toddlers and grocery stores aren’t exactly a match made in heaven, now are they?

Taking a toddler to the grocery store is basically the equivalent of taking a 30-pound ball of spastic energy, strapping it into a cart, and asking it to quietly sit still for an hour while you walk up and down aisle after aisle after aisle. 

Repeated requests for toys and candyโ€”plus some whines and wails when they hear the word “no”โ€”are bound to occur.

Nevertheless, the grocery shopping must be done each and every week, and often with a toddler in tow.

That’s why I always go in with a well-developed plan for keeping my kiddo entertained from aisle number one all the way to the checkout line.

Here are three of my fail-proof strategies.

3 Smart Strategies for Keeping Toddlers Entertained at the Grocery Store

I’ve found the key to keeping toddlers entertained at the grocery store is to keep them engagedDistraction in the form of shiny toys might work well for babies, but toddlers want to be part of the action, not separate from it.

Smart Strategy #1: Give them clues.

Giving your toddler hints about what item is next on your shopping list is a fun way to keep him/her engaged and learning at the grocery store. 

“We’re looking for something red and crunchy that tastes great dipped in peanut butter. What do you think it is?”

“APPLES!”

Or, as was the case during our last grocery trip, “We’re looking for one of your favorite kinds of snacks. They’re healthy for your body and fun to squeeze into your mouth.”

“POUCHES!”

Bingo.

3 Smart Strategies for Keeping Toddlers Entertained at the Grocery Store

Specifically Sproutยฎ Organic Toddler Purees, which we picked up at Giant. They’re a favorite in our household because they’re USDA certified organic and non-GMO, don’t contain any additives or fillers, and come in BPA-free packagingโ€”so I can feel good about serving them to my 3-year-old.

Smart Strategy #2: Give them choices.

Toddlers are undergoing a burgeoning sense of independence, so one of the best strategies to ward off tantrums and whining is to give them choices.

In the grocery store, that means letting my son make decisions such as green grapes or red, lean turkey or ham, and which kinds of Sproutยฎ Organic Toddler Foods he wants to take home this week.

This time he went with a Strawberry, Pear & Butternut Squash with Amaranth puree, plus a Multigrain Red Fruit Snack Medley. 

3 Smart Strategies to Keep Your Toddler Entertained at the Grocery Store

We also threw some Sproutยฎ baby food purees in the cart for my baby girl, who is right on the cusp of starting solids. She was intrigued by the bright green caps! 

3 Smart Strategies to Keep Your Toddler Entertained at the Grocery Store

In checking out the baby food options, I was thrilled to see that the flavor names on the front actually match the ingredient list on the back, so I can easily tell exactly what I’ll be feeding my little girl. 

3 Smart Strategies for Keeping Toddlers Entertained at the Grocery Store

Smart Strategy #3: Give them games.

My little guy is an absolute sponge for learning new information. He absorbs it all! 

At the grocery store, I cater to his “spongey-ness” by coming up with little games for him to practice his colors, shapes, letters, and numbers.

On our most recent trip, I asked him to find a big “S” on one of his snacks. 

“Found one, Mommy!”

3 Smart Strategies to Keep Your Toddler Entertained at the Grocery Store

A big thanks to Sproutยฎ Organic baby/toddler food for helping me keep my 3-year-old engaged and entertained while we shopped for our groceries!

3 Smart Strategies for Keeping Toddlers Entertained at the Grocery Store

How do you keep your children entertained at the grocery store?

Want a $2 Sprout coupon? Click here to get it!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Sproutยฎ Organic Baby Foods. The opinions and text are all mine.