Trying to navigate shopping with a baby in tow? Let’s talk about how to do it safely.

If you’re a new parent, you’ve probably found yourself in the grocery store, staring at that shopping cart and wondering, “Where the heck do I put this car seat?!” I get it. Your baby’s asleep, you need both hands free to push the grocery cart. But is it really safe?

Spoiler alert: It can be safe, depending on how and where you place the car seat in the cart. This topic gets a bit tricky among Child Passenger Safety Technicians (CPSTs). Some CPSTs firmly believe that car seats should never be placed on shopping carts, while others suggest it's okay if done carefully, specifically by placing the car seat inside the main basket.

I'm here to give you the information so you can make the best decision for your family. Generally, it’s best to avoid having babies nap or spend time in a car seat outside of the car—it’s simply an added risk.

If you need to bring your infant carrier into the store and use a cart, here’s how you can do it safely:

How To Safely Grocery Shop With A Car Seat

If you’re going to put your car seat inside a shopping cart, here’s how to do it as safely as possible:

Place the car seat inside the main basket: The only somewhat safe way to use a car seat with a shopping cart is to place it inside the main basket—not on top. Yes, it will take up space for groceries, but at least there’s no risk of falling from a height.
Keep your baby buckled: I know it might seem easier to just unbuckle your little one for comfort, but it’s super important to keep them buckled up in their car seat. This helps make sure their airways stay clear and they don’t wiggle into a position that could be unsafe. If they aren’t comfy in the car seat, they will let you know haha.
Use the handle to stabilize the car seat: Just as you would if you were setting the car seat on the ground, make sure you stabilize the car seat (no rocking!) with the handle so it’s firm against the bottom of the shopping cart.
Keep it quick: Babies shouldn’t stay in their car seats for more than two hours at a time due to concerns about airflow and positional asphyxiation. This means no marathon grocery trips—keep it short and sweet.
Baby should be facing you: Baby should ALWAYS be facing you when in the car seat outside of the car. Never leave your baby unattended in their car seat while they’re in the cart. It only takes a second for something to go wrong.

Can You Put A Car Seat On A Shopping Cart?

The answer to whether you can put a car seat balanced on the child’s seat of a shopping cart is a firm no. I know—it seems convenient. But here’s why placing your baby’s car seat on top of a shopping cart is a no-go:

Risk of falling: Car seats are not designed to lock securely into any shopping cart. A slight bump, an uneven surface, or an unexpected turn could cause the car seat to slip off the cart, leading to a fall.

Damaging the click-in feature to the base: While you may have seamlessly navigated a shopping trip by balancing your car seat on the cart, there is a much greater likelihood you can damage the bottom click-in feature that allows the seat to snap into the base that’s installed in your car. This makes the entire car seat ineffective and has to be replaced.
Shopping cart injuries are common: According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, over 23,000 children visit the emergency room every year due to injuries related to shopping carts. Many of these injuries involve babies and toddlers who fall from the carts or tip them over.

What About Car Seat Attachments Designed For Shopping Carts?

You might have seen various car seat attachments marketed as “solutions” for safely attaching a car seat to the top of a shopping cart. While these products claim to make it safe to secure a car seat, none of these attachments are regulated, tested, or approved by car seat manufacturers.

No matter how sturdy these products may look, they don’t meet any official safety standards, and the risk of injury remains. As a CPST, I will never test out any of these car seat attachments until they have gone through regulations and have been approved by car seat manufacturers first. Spoiler Alert: That day will never come.

What About The Doona and Evenflo Shyft “Hacks”?

You might have seen “hacks” online suggesting that strollers like the Doona or Evenflo Shyft can be secured to the shopping cart by placing their wheels on the cart grates. Do not do this! Both Doona and Evenflo discourage this practice, as it can damage the stroller’s wheels, arms, and is overall just not a safe method of securing the stroller to a cart.

Kelly, What Should I Use Instead To Carry A Baby While Shopping?

If you can’t use the car seat, what are your options? As a mom of four, I’ve tested out every possible alternative you can imagine. Here is what I recommend:

Baby carrier or sling: Using a baby carrier or sling can keep your child snug against you while allowing your hands to be free for shopping. It’s what I recommend for a typical grocery trip, but can become uncomfortable for longer periods of time.
Stroller: If you only have a few items to grab, using a stroller works great. Many stores also have smaller baskets you can carry along with the stroller.
Grocery pickup options: This is the only option I can recommend works 100% of the time! A ton of grocery stores now offer pickup services where you can order your groceries online and have them delivered directly to your car. This option is a lifesaver and I cannot imagine how parents navigated the weekly grocery shop before this.

When Can My Child Sit In The Child’s Seat Of A Shopping Cart?

Eventually, your child will be able to sit directly in the shopping cart’s child seat—but this doesn’t happen right away. Babies need to have full head and neck control and be able to sit up on their own before this is safe for long periods of time. When they’re ready – you’ll know!

Once your child is ready to sit in the shopping cart’s child seat, make sure to use the built-in straps to secure them and never leave them unattended in the cart.

Grocery Shopping May Feel Difficult Now, But This Stage Is Temporary

It’s easy to see why placing your baby’s car seat on top of a shopping cart might seem like a quick fix, but the risks far outweigh the convenience. The safest approach is to place the car seat inside the main basket of the cart or use alternatives like a baby carrier or stroller.

I know this makes grocery shopping more complicated, but the finagling of the rear-facing car seat is just a short phase. In the meantime, take advantage of grocery pickup options—they’re a lifesaver until your little one can sit safely in the cart on their own!

Do you have any tips you use to make grocery shopping easier? Let us know in the comments! And to keep up with all the latest tips for families when it comes to cars and car seats, check out my latest posts:

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