Guide

10 handy shopping cart fillers for parents

There are things you need on a daily basis when you have kids. Things you always have at hand or in stock at home. So go ahead and fill your shopping cart with the following products – you’ll need them sooner or later.

The first time you take your baby out for more than two hours, you’ll come to a shocking realisation that half your household’s joining, too. Diapers, wet wipes, bottles, water, spare clothes, security blanket, sunscreen, gum gel, you name it. Your pushchair and diaper bag are bursting at the seams.

The good news? You get faster at packing with practice. You’ll develop a pro-level at knowing what to bring and what can be left at home. And as your child grows, the weight you’re lugging around in your backpack shrinks.

What remains are essentials. Things you use almost every day and you wouldn’t want to live without. They’re also the things you can’t really have too much of. That’s why they’re great to fill your shopping cart with and dodge the minimum order surcharge. Here come ten typical shopping cart fillers for families.

1. Wet wipes

In the beginning, they’re to wipe your baby’s bum. Next, they clean sticky fingers and messy mouths. At least when there are no flannels at hand. You’ll occasionally need a wet wipe just to clean a dirty chair. Or wipe down a doll that’s been scribbled on. The Swiss Army knife of cleaning.

dm babylove Wet wipes (80 Piece)
Wet wipes
CHF5.10 CHF0.06/1Piece

dm babylove Wet wipes

80 Piece

dm babylove Hand cleaning wipes (20 Piece)
Wet wipes
CHF2.05 CHF0.11/1Piece

dm babylove Hand cleaning wipes

20 Piece

dm babylove Wet wipes (80 Piece)
CHF5.10 CHF0.06/1Piece

dm babylove Wet wipes

dm babylove Hand cleaning wipes (20 Piece)
CHF2.05 CHF0.11/1Piece

dm babylove Hand cleaning wipes

2. Paper

Painting, crafting, writing and cutting. Paper’s always in high demand with children. Ideally, you should have at least one pack of white sheets and one pack of coloured sheets on hand at home. Plus a pack of extra-thick crafting paper.

Rico Design Construction paper 1 block of 30 sheets, pastel colours (180 g/m², 1 x)
Construction paper
Quantity discount
CHF12.30 per piece for 2 units

Rico Design Construction paper 1 block of 30 sheets, pastel colours

180 g/m², 1 x

Rico Design Construction paper 1 block of 30 sheets, pastel colours (180 g/m², 1 x)
Quantity discount
CHF12.30 per piece for 2 units

Rico Design Construction paper 1 block of 30 sheets, pastel colours

3. Colouring books, puzzle books and crayons

If you’re at a restaurant that doesn’t have a kids’ corner, you’ll soon miss them: colouring or puzzle books and crayons to keep the wee ones occupied. Some establishments know this and will have some ready for their tiny guests. But by no means all of them. To be on the safe side, you’re best off packing a set before you go out to eat. The same applies to journeys by plane or train. Every time your kids need to sit still for a bit.

Herlitz Coloured pencil assorted colours 12 pcs./pack. (Assorted colours, 12 x)
Pencils
Quantity discount
CHF2.95 per piece for 4 units

Herlitz Coloured pencil assorted colours 12 pcs./pack.

Assorted colours, 12 x

Herlitz Coloured pencil assorted colours 12 pcs./pack. (Assorted colours, 12 x)
Quantity discount
CHF2.95 per piece for 4 units

Herlitz Coloured pencil assorted colours 12 pcs./pack.

4. Snacks

Speaking of keeping the kids happy. Snacks have saved many an outing. If you forget them, you’ll soon appreciate their importance. Cereal bars, dried fruit or nuts. Go ahead and pop them in your shopping cart. I promise they will be eaten.

Nectaflor mango (100 g)
Snacks + Chips
Quantity discount
CHF6.25 per piece for 3 units CHF69.–/1kg

Nectaflor mango

100 g

Seeberger Cashew Cranberry Mix 150g (150 g)
Snacks + Chips
Quantity discount
CHF4.70 per piece for 4 units CHF36.66/1kg

Seeberger Cashew Cranberry Mix 150g

150 g

Nectaflor mango (100 g)
Quantity discount
CHF6.25 per piece for 3 units CHF69.–/1kg

Nectaflor mango

Seeberger Cashew Cranberry Mix 150g (150 g)
Quantity discount
CHF4.70 per piece for 4 units CHF36.66/1kg

Seeberger Cashew Cranberry Mix 150g

5. Lunchboxes

How many lunchboxes do you think you’ll prepare for your kids over the years? A ton! The boxes will grow with your offspring. At some point, the kids no longer want the Paw Patrol one and soon you’ll have to fit a whole carrot instead of just one stick. In other words, you need many lunchboxes and tupperware. A ton!

Emsa Clip & Micro
Lunch boxes
Quantity discount
CHF13.30 per piece for 2 units

Emsa Clip & Micro

Stor Minnie Mouse flowers - lunch box with compartments
Lunch boxes
Quantity discount
CHF6.30 per piece for 3 units

Stor Minnie Mouse flowers - lunch box with compartments

Emsa Clip & Micro
Quantity discount
CHF13.30 per piece for 2 units

Emsa Clip & Micro

Stor Minnie Mouse flowers - lunch box with compartments
Quantity discount
CHF6.30 per piece for 3 units

Stor Minnie Mouse flowers - lunch box with compartments

6. Water bottle

Always needed. Always at hand. And often left behind somewhere. Sure, there’s no need for a whole water bottle arsenal at home. However, one, two or three of them per age have proven practical. At least in my experience.

7. Small tube of sun cream

You might be out and about, when the sun comes out unexpectedly. Great if you’ve remembered to pack a sun hat. Even better if you have sun cream, too. The easiest thing to do is keep a small tube of it in your rucksack or handbag. But remember to replace it every year to ensure UV protection.

Skinnies Sun Gel (Sun gel, SPF 50, 35 ml, 41 g)
Sunscreen
CHF22.70 CHF648.57/1l

Skinnies Sun Gel

Sun gel, SPF 50, 35 ml, 41 g

Naïf Baby & Kids Suncream (Suntan cream, SPF 50, 30 ml, 1 g)
Sunscreen
Quantity discount
CHF7.85 per piece for 3 units CHF290.–/1l

Naïf Baby & Kids Suncream

Suntan cream, SPF 50, 30 ml, 1 g

Surface Zinc Oxide Facestick (Suntan cream, SPF 45, 15 ml, 14.17 g)
Sunscreen

Surface Zinc Oxide Facestick

Suntan cream, SPF 45, 15 ml, 14.17 g

Skinnies Sun Gel (Sun gel, SPF 50, 35 ml, 41 g)
CHF22.70 CHF648.57/1l

Skinnies Sun Gel

Naïf Baby & Kids Suncream (Suntan cream, SPF 50, 30 ml, 1 g)
Quantity discount
CHF7.85 per piece for 3 units CHF290.–/1l

Naïf Baby & Kids Suncream

8. Bib

Bibs are ready to be machine washed after every meal. After all, their main job is to get dirty. If you don’t do laundry every day, you’re going to need several of them. It’s also handy to have one for outings. A plasticised one is your best bet, as you can wipe it clean and pop it back in your bag.

Badabulle Sleeve Bib (0 months)
Bibs
Quantity discount
CHF7.60 per piece for 3 units

Badabulle Sleeve Bib

0 months

Kushies without sleeves CleanBib, airplanes (12 months)
Bibs

Kushies without sleeves CleanBib, airplanes

12 months

Zewi Esslatz plasticized (0 months)
Bibs
CHF19.90

Zewi Esslatz plasticized

0 months

Badabulle Sleeve Bib (0 months)
Quantity discount
CHF7.60 per piece for 3 units

Badabulle Sleeve Bib

Kushies without sleeves CleanBib, airplanes (12 months)

Kushies without sleeves CleanBib, airplanes

Zewi Esslatz plasticized (0 months)
CHF19.90

Zewi Esslatz plasticized

9. Hair bands

Admittedly, they’re less in use for parents of boys. But all the more popular in families with girls. Hair bands are like socks. They mysteriously disappear on a regular basis, so you’re permanently short of them. And that’s why you could always do with some.

DailyGo Hair tie (Hair tie)
Hair ties
Quantity discount
CHF5.80 per piece for 3 units

DailyGo Hair tie

Hair tie

Body Mind Soul Hair tie scrunchie yoga old pink 1 piece (Hair tie)
Hair ties
CHF10.65

Body Mind Soul Hair tie scrunchie yoga old pink 1 piece

Hair tie

DailyGo Hair tie (Hair tie)
Quantity discount
CHF5.80 per piece for 3 units

DailyGo Hair tie

Body Mind Soul Hair tie scrunchie yoga old pink 1 piece (Hair tie)
CHF10.65

Body Mind Soul Hair tie scrunchie yoga old pink 1 piece

10. Plasters

Plasters are more than just little first aiders after a fall. They can even dry tears when there’s no wound to be protected. Plus, they’re a popular prop for role-playing games involving medical professionals. In other words, a true all-rounder for families with kids.

Lutz Mauder Children plaster unicorn (10 x)
Plasters + Bandages
Quantity discount
CHF4.70 per piece for 4 units

Lutz Mauder Children plaster unicorn

10 x

Lutz Mauder Children plaster unicorn (10 x)
Quantity discount
CHF4.70 per piece for 4 units

Lutz Mauder Children plaster unicorn

Do you use other small but indispensable essentials in your family routine? Let us know about your shopping cart fillers in the comments.

Header image: Katja Fischer

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Mom of Anna and Elsa, aperitif expert, group fitness fanatic, aspiring dancer and gossip lover. Often a multitasker and a person who wants it all, sometimes a chocolate chef and queen of the couch.


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