Have you heard about the newest gadget aimed at making shopping with toddlers easier? It’s called TV Kart and if you’re not familiar with what they are, in a nutshell, they are rolling entertainment carts that you pay $1.00 to rent while you shop. Cabco, the company that makes these carts, claim that parents will be able to shop in peace while their child sits inside the cart and watches a video or listens to songs or stories. Parents simple push the cart around placing items in the attached top basket. From the photos I’ve seen the basket looks smaller but according to the company’s website they hold the same capacity as a standard cart.
The target group for the carts is the 2-5 year-old range and currently features Barney, Bob The Builder and The Wiggles. The videos play for an hour and you can tell which video will play by looking at the emblem on the outside of the cart. The cart will comfortably hold two kids, as long as their combined weight does not exceed 80 lbs.
Kids are fully encased in a polyethylene shell and are almost at ground level. The carts resemble a giant toy car and kids are secured inside the TV Kart with safety belts. The doors are opened from the outside and the carts are braked while not in use.
One major pitfall is the carts must remain inside the store, so you will have to lug your groceries to your car or get a traditional cart once you are finished with your shopping. Some of the retailers who are currently use the TV Cart include Publix and Walmart.
Although this seems like a neat idea and probably will work for some parents, there are two problems I see with the carts. One, if a cart is not available you probably will have a heck of a time getting your toddler into a regular shopping cart. Two, getting them out of the cart might also pose a problem. Still, a good idea that deserves a chance. It’s still too soon to determine if they will be a success.
If you want to see what one looks like go here.