April 2007
Shopping cart safety for kids
To prevent shopping-cart injuries from falls and tipovers, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that parents
avoid putting kids in shopping carts entirely by:
If food shopping with your children can't be avoided and you decide to use a shopping cart, the Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends that parents always use seatbelts to restrain their child in the cart's seat.
The AAP also issues these guidelines. DON'T:
- Leaving your child home with another adult on your grocery shopping days.
- Having your child walk once he gets older.
- Having another adult come with you to watch your baby while you shop.
- Using a stroller, wagon, or soft carrier instead of a shopping cart.
- Food shopping online so you don't have to trek to the store with your baby.
If food shopping with your children can't be avoided and you decide to use a shopping cart, the Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends that parents always use seatbelts to restrain their child in the cart's seat.
The AAP also issues these guidelines. DON'T:
- Leave your child alone in the shopping cart.
- Let your child stand up in a shopping cart.
- Place an infant carrier on top of the shopping cart.
- Let your child ride in the cart basket.
- Let your child ride or climb on the sides or front of the cart.
- Let older children push the cart when there's another child in it.
