A shopping cart cover was a baby item that I had never even heard of, let alone considered buying, before I was pregnant. I mean, can't the baby just sit in the shopping cart without any kind of buffer? The answers I got when I asked my mom-friends this question ranged from 'NO, certainly not when we have swine flu and whooping cough and ebola to worry about! GERMS, Lane, GERMS!' to a milder 'Well sure, they can do without the cover, but they will be more comfortable and less likely to touch something grubby. But you know, whatever you think...it's your baby.'
So essentially, I learned that when it comes to shopping carts or high chairs at restaurants, this cover is an essential.
You can find versions of these everywhere, including Leachco Organic Smart Prop 'R Shopper at Babies'R'Us for $59.99 (pictured at left)...
...but I think you might fall in love with the designs and choices available on Etsy instead! Consider the following:
Turquoise Dot or Houndstooth are just two patterns of the covers made by longlegs7 for $55 each, both gender neutral and understated.
If you are looking for something more bright and bold, check out Tinderdesigns' covers in Giraffe Gardens or Starling in Pink for $60.
Have fun searching for the perfect barrier between your child and the perils of a shopping cart used by the public, and stay tuned for a post suggesting handmade alternatives to nursing covers!
*****************************
Contributing author Lane is an intentionally unemployed social worker who is currently growing a human, following her husband's dream, trying to stay relevant, and practicing her mothering skills on two rescued dogs, Enid and Falcor. Check out her fabulous blog, the Overseas Trapeze.
