Going to the store can be stressful in its own right, and having children with you only makes things more challenging. Not only do you have to navigate the shop to find the things you’re looking for, but you also have to keep tabs on your kids to make sure they’re safe, comfortable, and well-behaved during the trip.

Depending on your child’s age and abilities, you may prefer that they walk beside you as you shop. Smaller children, however, are often best placed directly in front of you. Shopping carts can provide the perfect vehicle for your child, saving you the headache of carrying them or constantly looking behind you. Even if you’re only grabbing a few items, you might still grab a cart at the entrance so your child has a safe place to sit.

Customer experience is growing more important by the day in determining a business’ success. If you own or manage a store, you must consider those customers who shop with little ones and provide them with not only enough shopping carts, but with the right shopping carts for their needs. Otherwise, you may lose business or find yourself dealing with an increased number of frustrated shoppers.

The Best Shopping Carts for Children

Key Features of Shopping Carts for Kids

Whether you’re a shop owner, a parent, or both, it’s important to know what to look for in the best shopping carts for kids. Let’s go over some key features that ensure the health, safety, and comfort of your children as you shop together.

Bigger is Usually Better

Sometimes small shopping carts and baskets are all you need to store your items. Better yet, they’re much lighter and easier to maneuver between aisles and obstacles. However, you need to think a bit differently when shopping with your kids on board. For one thing, you won’t be zipping around the store at high speeds when your kid’s in the cart. And for another, the more space your child has, the more comfortable they’ll be. You’ll have more breathing room to add items to your cart should you need the space, and you won’t have to worry about crowding their bubble. Even if large shopping carts aren’t your favorite option, the bigger the better when you’re carting kids around.

Space for Feet

Speaking of space, shopping carts for kids need an opening near the handle area for their legs to hang down. Without these holes, your kids’ feet and legs will be crammed in an uncomfortable position the whole time. These carts should have a little adjustable flap that folds out from the cart, providing both a seat and an empty space for dangling legs.

Back Support

That little flap mentioned above also serves as a support for the child’s back. If the flap’s angle is adjustable, all the better. But if it’s fixed in one position once lowered, it should be at a slightly acute angle, leaning towards the front of the cart and away from the handle so your child’s back isn’t forced forward or held too tightly upward. A little room to recline is more comfortable.

Safe and Comfortable Seat Belts

When you have your kids in the car, the first thing you’ll tell them is to latch their seatbelts, if you don’t have to do it for them. The same rule should apply for riding around in a shopping cart. Sure, you won’t be moving as fast as you would in your car, but you want your kids to be as secure as possible in case you hit any bumps (or they try to climb out). For the most part, a simple belt around the waist should do the trick. These straps should be adjustable as well to accommodate kids of different sizes.

Sturdy Frame and Smooth, Working Wheels

While all shopping carts should be well-maintained and fully operational, these things matter even more when children are in the seat. Broken down frames and rusty, sticking wheels won’t just make shopping a pain, but can make it dangerous for your child. A sturdy cart with smooth wheels, on the other hand, will ensure an easy ride devoid of excessive wobbling or jerking around.

Provide Sanitary Stations

Safety isn’t just about preventing your kids from exiting the cart, but also keeping them safe from germs and other harmful materials. Considering the number of people that go shopping each day and share carts and shopping baskets, germs run rampant in these spaces. Grocery stores and retailers should provide all customers with easily accessible stations for sanitizing hands and wiping down carts. This will minimize the risk of spreading germs, especially for kids who are often more susceptible to disease and less knowledgeable about how germs travel.

Consider Selling Accessories

Ideally, if you run a store, you’ll be able to provide your customers with enough unique shopping carts designed for kids. However, this might not be possible for all businesses. Fortunately, you can still provide your customers with options should they enter your store with a small child. Many standard shopping carts can still provide enough space for a child to sit if you have the right attachment or accessory. Some parents will come prepared and have these baby shopping cart seats at the ready. For those who don’t, consider selling these accessories near the entrance of your store so parents can pick up a comfortable seat for their child as they shop. Just make sure these accessories properly fit the carts you offer.

As a parent or guardian, you want your children to be safe and comfortable during your shopping trip. As a business owner or manager, you want to keep your customers happy by providing them with the tools they need to shop hassle-free. Comfortable and safe shopping carts for kids are the answer to both of these concerns.

Good L Corporation delivers innovative shopping cart and basket solutions for retailers on a global scale. From a fleet of new custom carts to launch your store opening to replacement baskets that supplement your existing shop supply, Good L Corp can configure the right carryall strategy to boost your retail business. Let’s get started! Contact us today for a no-pressure sales quote.