This Mom’s Ridiculously Simple Shopping Cart Hack Will Change Your Life

by Shahrzad WarkentinOctober 4, 2018

Breezing through a quick grocery run is so much easier when your kids are contained in a shopping cart, but hoisting big toddlers into those carts can be killer for your back (especially if you have have baby in a carrier, too). One mom’s viral shopping cart hack is an unbelievably simple way to get your kids into them with ease.

Houston, Texas mom Laura Castrillo recently took to Facebook to share her clever parenting hack for getting her son into the shopping cart without throwing her back out. Instead of lifting him up and over the shopping cart handle and putting him in, she simply lifts the front panel of the cart up so he can crawl in on his own. Um, genius.

Castillo explained that she learned the hack from another mom with a special needs son. “I started doing it with my own kids because lifting them into a shopping cart can be difficult,” she told POPSUGAR. “They’re heavy, and I’m very short in comparison to a shopping cart, since I’m only 5 feet tall.”

We hate to be the Debbie Downers here, but while this hack is incredibly clever, we’d be remiss if we didn’t say that it might not necessarily be the safest hack. According to an American Academy of Pediatrics policy statement on shopping cart safety, kids should not ride in the basket section of a cart.

It’s also impossible not to point out the obvious fact that with your kids in the cart, there’s less room for food. Plus, if your tots get antsy, that hack might not prove as handy when your toddler inevitably wants to get out halfway through the store with a fully-loaded cart.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

Featured photo: Rawpixels via Unsplash

This Mom’s Lunch Bag Hack for Her Kids Is an Inspiration to Us All

This Sneaky Costco Hack Lets You Skip the Line at the Food Court

5 Questions Parents Should Consider When Planning a Family Beach Vacation

By Richard Remick

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

February 14, 2018

If you haven’t planned for a family beach vacation before, or it has been a while, you might have some questions as to how to get started. Here are the top five questions that parents have when taking their family on a beach vacation.

When should I start planning?

It is important to start planning for your beach vacation as far in advance as possible. The longer you have to plan for the budget, the activities, and everything else that goes into a beach vacation, the smoother the trip will go. It also gives you time to plan for anything that might come up unexpectedly.

It is always a good idea to have a Plan B, especially when planning a vacation with the kids. Plus, with less stress right before you leave, you won’t be as flustered when you actually get there so you can enjoy your time at the beach.

How do I find the right beach?

When planning a vacation with the whole family, it is best to try to find a destination that is closer to home. This way, if something comes up, it isn’t as much of a hassle to turn around and come back home.

Start by looking up beaches that are not too far from home. You can look up what amenities they have as well as what accommodations are nearby. Plus, with a short drive, the kids won’t get antsy in the car which is less stress on you.

What are some of the beach essentials?

It is important to have sun screen, especially with the kids. Make sure the sun screen has a high SPF rating, is made for sensitive skin, and is water resistant so you don’t have to apply it as often. Having beach towels, some kind of shade, as well as bags that don’t accumulate sand is very important. Bringing snacks and beverages is also a good idea when having kids at the beach.

Do we need to plan for safety?

Before you leave for your vacation, go over the safety rules with everyone. Everyone should know how to get themselves out of an undertow, not to go too far out, to listen and look for lifeguards, etc.

Parents should make sure they always have one on watch and that all kids are visible at all times. Kids should be escorted to bathrooms or snack bars.

What kind of beach activities are there?

There are a ton of activities to participate in at the beach and not just the basic ones that come to mind like beach volleyball, surfing and building sand castles, although you are free to do those as well if you’d like.

If you are looking for a list of activities to plan for when you get to the beach with the family, check out this list of family beach activities and make sure you pack what you need to keep everyone busy.

A family beach vacation is the perfect way to make lasting memories with the kids. Make sure you plan everything from the sun screen to the entertainment, have the perfect accommodations and take a lot of pictures. Who knows, the family beach vacation might just become a summertime tradition.

Featured Photo Courtesy: jill111 via Pixabay

Richard Remick

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

Im an active Dad who like to take his son into the great outsoors to learn and connect with nature.

Root For the Other Home Team: Quakes Baseball

by LeTania Kirkland SmithJuly 12, 2015

If you have die-hard baseball fans in your house, this is the most wonderful time of the year. While Dodgers Stadium is the obvious choice for a game, there is another option. The Quakes are a minor league team based in Rancho Cucamonga where you can see future (and rehabbing current) major league stars. The intimacy of sitting behind home plate, the joy of meeting mascots and the inexpensive ticket prices make seeing the Quakes a home run.