We have a shopping cart cover that we started using when my daughter could sit independently. We used the cover to add a bit of cushioning, to be a barrier if there was water from the rain on the shopping cart seat, and we often found that shopping carts had broken seat belts our shopping cart cover had its own belt we could use. My biggest issue with this cover was that it always felt way too loose.
I was extremely excited to give The Kanga Boo, thanks to Mandy Braselton (creator), a try because it was a whole other concept when it comes to your child and the shopping cart. I loved that it was a massive seat belt, basically, that can aid in holding your child in one place.
It arrived in November, and we put this thing through a whole lot of testing before sharing this review. We put The Kanga Boo to hard work with all of our Christmas and birthday party shopping. We tried the standard shopping carts you find at Walmart, the jumbo carts at Costco, and the odd carts at Target. We even used it in the mini shopping carts at a few different stores. Every time we were extremely pleased with The Kanga Boo.
With younger children it is great to help support them and hold them in one place, as it fits snug around a child’s waist, and up near their armpits. Because of the large Velcro surface area you can get it as tight as you need, and it can be used from 4 or 5 months old to even 2 years or more. For our daughter we have found this to be great at preventing her from trying to climb out of the cart, or even from grabbing items off shelves.
It became obvious to me that other parents were also liking what they saw when I passed them in the stores with my daughter in the shopping cart, held secure with The Kanga Boo on. Much more secure than just the little belts that come standard on shopping carts. Without fail, every time I went shopping and used this I would be asked by at least 2 people per store what it was called and where I got it from. The most I had ask me about it, were 8 people when we went into Costco. It got to the point where I contacted Mandy back asking if she had business cards and if I could please have some so I could hand them out when I was asked about it.
The Kanga Boo wraps around the back of the shopping cart seat, and is held in place by a large section of Velcro. You then place your child into the seat, and wrap another large Velcro belt around their waist. My first run of using this was with the “complicated” Target shopping cart, it took a second more than regular carts to figure out how to get the one piece down between the seat and back of the cart so I could secure it in place. But I got it on my first try!
The Kanga Boo is brilliant! It folds up into a neat rectangle that is easy to fit into the diaper bag, or keep tucked in the car so its always available when out shopping. This product has so many possibilities. I know of one family who uses The Kanga Boo with their daughter who has cerebral palsy. I love that this product has now provided opportunities for families that may not have been there before.
If The Kanga Boo is something you may be interested in ordering, be sure to check it out at the Etsy shop https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheKangaBoo there are many wonderful fabrics to select from. If you have twins, there is even a “Twins Double Trouble Package”. If you use the code: DISCOVER you will get 10% off.
The Kanga Boo can also be found on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TheKangaBoo
Disclosure: I received a sample of this product in order to facilitate this review. The words and opinions shared are 100% my own.