Shopping-cart covers
Grocery store shopping cart handles have more germs than public restrooms, making them one of the worst public places for germs, according to researchers and you touch them probably two or three times a week, but so do thousands of others.
How germy could shopping carts really be? Very, according to researchers at the University of Arizona who tested all kinds of public surfaces. They found that shopping carts were loaded with more saliva, bacteria and even fecal matter than escalators, public telephones, and even public bathrooms. The only surfaces that had more germs were playground equipment and bus rails.
"Every kid in America teethes on shopping cart handles," said Dr. Chuck Gerba at the University of Arizona. "They don't have the best sanitary habits. I mean, you're putting your broccoli where their butt was."
Shopping-cart covers are part of the growing "germ defense" niche in the baby product industry. Besides cart covers, you'll now find disposable changing pads, toilet seat covers, disposable placemats, and combination bibs/placemats designed to help keep little hands on--not under--the table when you're dining on the go.
Falls from shopping carts most often occur when children stand up in the child seat or the cart basket. Since the cart cover you buy probably will override the built-in safety belt on the shopping-cart seat, be sure to buy a cover that has its own durable safety belt--one that's easy to use, so you'll be more likely to strap your baby in every time.
Check for ease. Before you buy, find out how the cover attaches to the cart--with Velcro, a buckle, or elastic. Since inserting a cart cover while holding your baby will be a challenge, you'll want to be able to do it quickly with one hand. Some brands claim their covers can be installed in 30 seconds. Read the instructions before you buy. Once you buy the cover, try it out at home so you'll know exactly what to do in the store. The cover also should be easy to store in your car.
A shopping-cart cover isn't necessary to protect your baby from bacteria and viruses. In our opinion, this product is purely optional. What has been proven to guard against spreading germs is ordinary hand-washing, so help your baby wash her hands often with soap and water, hand sanitizer or disposable baby wipes. Pay particular attention to her hygiene before and after each meal and after she plays outside, handles pets, blows her nose, uses the bathroom, and arrives home from day care, or anyplace else, for that matter. When you're out, carry disposable wipes or hand sanitizer with you for quick cleanups.
Check for coverage. If your main concern is "germ defense," look for a cart cover that encases the entire seating area--the handlebar, sides, back, and front. Consider comfort. Cleanliness aside, shopping-cart covers can make for a cozy ride. If that's important to you, look for a deluxe model, which usually has extra cushioning and maybe even an attachable pillow.
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