Tom Thumb Shopping carts get tricked out!

Things have been changing at my local Tom Thumb grocery store! Each time I stop in lately I notice little changes that making the shopping experience a little more relaxing. And yesterday morning I had to get a lot of groceries in the late morning, it was going to be dangerously close to my daughters nap time – so I was anticipating a melt down at some point.

I’d noticed a few times that there were strange looking “kids carts” at this store, but I am a bit of a germa-phobe and I usually opt for a regular cart with my cloth cart insert surrounding the baby. But this time I decided to try out these new fangled carts! So fun! First of all the carts are made to look like cars that the young children can pretend they are driving. There is a seat belt inside, along with a steering wheel. So I whipped out some sanitizing wipes (because I am still me) and wiped the whole inside out- and then let my daughter get in. She was delighted.

(Mom! Mom! I think I’m driving a car!! Am I allowed to do this mom?!)

So these carts also have small video monitors in the child’s portion of the car – and the parent has a control panel at the top of the cart that allows them to either keep the video off- or choose from a selection of child friendly cartoons that play while you shop. I put on Playhouse Disney, and my daughter sang along with Mickey. I could see her at all times because there is a clear window at the back of the car. So I could be sure that she was still sitting, and was safe and happy. The parents computer panel also had the option of watching videos on food preparation, or meal ideas. I didn’t use that, and the only thing that came on my screen was a commercial every 5 or 10 minutes. They were played at a low volume though, and I could easily ignore them if I wasn’t interested. No commercials play on the monitor inside the child’s car, just whatever cartoon the parent chose, or nothing if the parent doesn’t turn it on.

(Mom, would you stop tapping on the window to say hi to me?? I’m busy driving this car!)

And just when I thought the fun was just for the kids, I turned the corner and ran into the STARBUCKS that’s inside the grocery store. Obviously, I had to check out their brew… for quality control reasons. It was pretty yummy ladies. I won’t lie. Plus our tricked out cart had a cup holder so I could shop, and sip my latte. Did you notice the grey cup holder in the previous picture? How could I let that poor cup holder stay empty? It just wouldn’t be right.

(The pumpkin parked patiently at the Starbucks, waiting to get on the road again.)

Overall, I really enjoyed our experience with the TV carts. I wouldn’t use one every shopping trip, because I’d miss interacting with the pumpkin. I like talking to her, and telling her what we are putting in the cart. However, if I was a mom juggling more than one child, this would be a real life saver. And I will still occasionally use these again when I have a lot of shopping to do, and I want to prolong the time that I can safely stay in the store while my daughter is entertained.

Mostly I’m just happy that grocery stores are trying to take the needs of moms into account as they design for the future.Some of the other features I’ve noticed are wider aisles, employees that offer to help you load your groceries in the car, and large common seating area equipped with free wifi. I don’t need a grocery store to have these amenities, I mostly just want fair prices and a safe atmosphere. But it is extra nice to have an errand you have to run, turned into an errand you want to run. And that does keep me coming back!

Has anyone else noticed grocery stores stepping up their game lately??

(kid cart off into the sunset….)

About Shannon Schmid

Shannon traded in her sensible NYC TV producer shoes (they were best for taking the subway), for a pair of Texas Cowboy boots when she married her best friend! He's at fault for making this Yankee a Texan! Shannon writes about all things that make a house a home. Her chief blogging inspiration is being the proud & slightly neurotic mom of a preschool age daughter.

You can find Shannon on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram and her new favorite place to hang out, Google+.

Comments

lifeissweet16 says

January 15, 2010 at 7:49 pm

Those carts are awesome!

I wish we had one of those places here. Not that my only child is going to ride in that cart at 15, but all the other stuff would be nice.

I miss Wegmans.

Nikki says

January 15, 2010 at 10:29 pm

awwww Molly looks adorable!!! she is a little car driver:) wow and I can't believe how big she's getting, its amazing. love yas!!!

ps one day she will be parked at starbucks!!!! hehe

Angelia Sims says

January 15, 2010 at 10:46 pm

Wow!!! Shannon, that is pretty darn incredible! I usually see the beat up, jacked, and cracked kids carts with the broken seat belt. This was like uptown!

What a ride she had. Cute, cute, cute!

🙂

Marilyn (A Lot of Loves) says

January 15, 2010 at 11:18 pm

That is an awesome cart! I wish we had those up here – then maybe my kids wouldn't get bored and start beating each other up in the cart.

Amg-Arts says

January 16, 2010 at 12:54 am

These are fab, and then you see the ones we have here in Tesco's, Ireland and the kids get excited about them and they are brutal!

Chocolate Covered Daydreams says

January 16, 2010 at 6:52 am

Wow! I didn't know that carts with video monitors existed. I sure hope that when I take Baby Boo shopping, I can find my store adopting the same attitude. We spend so much more when she's pointing out all of the stuff we "need".

KK says

January 16, 2010 at 7:55 am

We have those too. You have to pay a couple bucks to use them, but it can be worth it!

Jen says

January 17, 2010 at 8:22 pm

I think those carts would be fabulous but sadly, my kids don't ever get to experience them. They don't come large enough. 😉

Robyn says

January 18, 2010 at 4:38 am

I think I would try and squeeeeeeze myself in there and let someone else do the shopping =). Think it'd work?

Cheryl says

January 19, 2010 at 3:23 am

Makes me wish that I was a kid again! I haven't seen those before, how cool is that. Our local Safeway remodeled last year but they do not have these cool cars.

Marie says

January 19, 2010 at 7:24 pm

Geesshh they didn't have that when I was a kid, would've been nice. 🙂

Kelly at Home says

January 22, 2010 at 6:43 pm

Ahhh! Girl, I'D ride in that thing! Awesome, awesome! We have some cruddy red ones at our food store. Grace usually spies me trying to hide them behind big stacks of soda so that she doesn't see 'em and want to sit in their germ-infested-splendor. I think my grocery store needs an upgrade!

Cute pics of Molly!

Happy weekend, Shannon!

Karin Katherine says

January 23, 2010 at 11:09 pm

I've never seen such a tricked out grocery cart! WOW. I'd have loved to have one of those to use when my twins were 10 months old!

Oh—and slightly off topic but the word verification I have to type in is "spermi"

I just had to tell someone.
Very juvenile, I know.

cocoamommy says

January 25, 2010 at 12:46 am

Wow these are cool and here I was excited about the all plastic, lightweight carts at Target. Our supermarkets needs these soon.

Cara Riggles says

March 18, 2010 at 10:09 pm

Wow! I’ve occasionally used kid carts in the past, but they are primitive compared to that! My 6-year-old is small and could easily fit into one of those. But, around here, I’m usually just happy if I can find a cart that *rolls* instead of going thump, thump, thump…
.-= Cara Riggles´s last blog ..Links to Reynold’s Products @ The Frugality of it All =-.

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