Protecting Kids from Licking the Shopping Cart - Or Killing Germs When They Do

As the mother of two young children of my own, I've become convinced of two things over time:

First, kids are amazing blessings, and they should be cherished every single day, all day long.

Second, kids will taste, snort, inhale and lick just about everything with which they come into contact, no matter how repulsive said things may be. Since shopping carts are high on the list of 'frequently used, infrequently cleaned' items out there, they're most certainly some of the filthiest things we touch each day. I've come up with a number of ways to keep my children safe from the shopping cart germ-factor. Some are creative and some are common sense, so make of them what you will.

Buy a shopping cart cover.
It's a basic idea: Don't want your child coming into contact with something? Don't let him touch it! In recent years, enterprising moms with sewing machines and stitchery know-how and small business owners alike have capitalized on parental germ phobias by offering up for sale a variety of shopping cart covers. These usually handmade fabric covers are available in thousands of prints and designs, and some even feature adjustable straps to ensure maximum child-comfort. They're a great idea for sure, but the frugal parents among us may gasp when they see the price tags of these ingenious creations: Many sell for as much as $75 each. That's a lot for some elastic and fabric, but if you're handy with a sewing machine, you could likely whip up a version of your own in a few hours' time and for significantly less dough.

Go with gloves.
My kids would never allow it, but maybe yours would: Have him wear gloves. Tell him it's part of a fun new game as you slip the gloves over his hands and plunk him into the cart. It won't stop him from bending forward and biting the handle, but it will keep the most frequently-stuffed-into-the-mouth part of his body safely covered. My kids aren't interested in chewing on gloved hands; if yours are, this won't work for you.