Shopping carts are icky. They have germs and hard, metal edges. No wonder kids love to ride in them–because it drives mama nuts. (short trip for Mama Luxe)
Same goes double for those restaurant high chairs.
Luckily, some innovative folks have come up with seat covers. You have a ton of options out there but you want to make sure that your choice actually covers the entire surface and keeps baby comfy and safe. These will also work on restaurant high chairs, but the reverse is not true: do not buy a high chair cover and expect it to be a convenient, thoroughly germ protecting shopping cart cover.
Your best budget option is the very functional Eddie Bauer Shopping Cart Seat Cover ($19.99 from Target). Other inexpensive options I found do not cover the entire cart and many lack sufficient padding or a strong enough harness.
When Mama Luxe needs a break from slinging Baby Diva around, or actually gets to go out to a restaurant with Super Dad, this seat cover protects Baby Diva from all sorts of nasty germs. The harness is secure and there are loops for toys and a zipper pocket to store any small items you need, like, oh, say, a diaper and wipes for example. It also looks clean and neat in navy with blue striped accents.
But maybe you are willing to spend a little more for an option with more flair, more whimsy, or something that matches your favorite diaper bag.
I’m a fan of the Infantino ICO Savvy Seat Olive Mod, also available in Candy Paisley (Target, $39.99). It is no secret that Mama Luxe is really into retro prints for Baby Gear this season. A word of advice, however, do not bother trying to fit the less expensive Savvy Seat Jr. on a shopping cart. The Jr. will really only work on restaurant high chairs. You have to go with the more expensive “original” if you want to use this cover on a cart.
Goin’ Cozy also has some more fun and funky options at Baby Age for $39.99: Goin’ Cozy Wild Jungle (pictured), Blue Gingham, Fairies & Flowers, Pink Gingham, and more!
You can even have your cover personalized.
The Goin Cozy Shopping Cart Cover – Wild Jungle is also available from Shop.com for $49.95.
A really sweet option is the Kozy Coach Shopping Cart Cover ($39.95 from Shop.com), available in the perenial baby colors, bubblegum pink and powder blue with a pretty and subtle floral design.
Finally, I have a friend who would never forgive me if I did not mention a product called Cuter Than a Ducks Butt Shopping Cart & Highchair Cover. It really is. A little more than most moms on a budget will pay for a shopping cart and highchair cover. However, if grocery shopping in style is important to you, you can get this ultra-chic chocolate and blue hibiscus cover (also coordinates with the Petunia Pickle Bottom Coco Roll diaper bags and a Hottie Tottie Diaper Bag) and other fabulous hot options from Baby Center for $65. And every time someone asks you about it, you can tell them, “It is ‘Cuter than a Duck’s Butt.'” Isn’t that alone worth it? Oh, and don’t forget to tell them you saw it on Mamanista!
