Funky Pink Stripes Cover by The Delighted Child

Unless you are suffering from a severe case of mysophobia, you'd be better off without this cart cover.

The idea behind shopping cart covers is nice, certainly. We all want to protect our children from harmful bacteria and viruses, especially during cold and flu season, right?

I'm afraid these covers aren't the way to do it. This specific cover was large and unwieldy. It'd be hard enough if I had just one child in tow, but what if I had two? More? Plus groceries and a diaper bag or purse? Shopping list? Parents have enough to worry about at the store without lugging this around. It came with a bag, which was very nice, but wrestling the cover back into the bag proved more work than necessary.

Part of using a cover like this means keeping it clean. The same bacteria and viruses and other harmful stuff that it's keeping away from your baby end up on the underside of the cover, so it really should be washed after each use. After only a few washes, however, some of the seams on this cover became unraveled and needed to be repaired.

It comes with a very tiny pillow. I'm not sure how that would come into good use and it's just one more thing to manage.

Dealing with this cart cover along with groceries and kids and car seats is just a hassle. A better alternative to this cover would be to wear your baby in a sling while shopping. You can put the sling on before leaving home and keep it on the whole time.

In addition, according to Pediatrics Guide Vincent Iannelli, the AAP is advising parents to find alternatives to the cart anyway. Says Iannelli, "They are basically saying that you really shouldn't place your child in a shopping cart any longer." And it's not because they are unsanitary, it's because they're not safe. Other experts feel that shopping cart covers like this aren't necessary at best and can even be hazardous.

If you feel you must use a shopping cart cover, there are others out there that are better made, less expensive and not so bulky.