The 5 best shopping cart covers – Guide & Reviews
I’m sure that you think you know everything when it comes to shopping with your baby, but there is one thing you might have missed. Have you ever thought whether it’s wise to use shopping carts, even those designed for infants?
Think about it for a moment. A lot of people push these carts around every day with their bare, dirty hands. You never know what they have touched or whether they are sick.
Moreover, babies are curious little things that love to touch stuff and then put their fingers in their mouths. And a teething toddler even might try to have a taste of the rubber handle of the cart. A mother’s nightmare, for sure.
Does this mean that you have to forget all about shopping with your child and relegate this duty to your husband? Certainly not.
Fortunately for you, there is a simple decision that will make shopping more pleasant for you and your baby. It’s called a cart cover, and I’m going to present to you the five best shopping cart covers for babies that you can find.
The 5 best shopping cart covers for babies
Product Name | Quality and Safety | Our Rating |
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Crocnfrog 2-in-1 Shopping Cart Cover | High Chair Cover for Baby | A | |
A | ||
A- | ||
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A- |
But first, let’s see what to look for in a cart cover
Comfort is important for your baby
Even if you can overlook the hygiene issue, you should think about whether your child will be comfortable in a bare shopping cart. After all, it’s all metal with no padding. Imagine how you would feel if you have to spend a few hours in one. Awful, I’m sure.
The same goes if you choose a cart cover with thin padding. Your child will get fussy very quickly, and you’ll have to cut your shopping trip short.
That’s why you have to look for padded cart covers. Your baby won’t mind spending a little extra time in the cart if he is feeling comfortable and secure. Moreover, he will cause fewer problems for you.
Straps are crucial for shopping safely
When it comes to your baby’s safety, you have to think about all possible situations. If the baby has a fall from the shopping cart, he might get seriously injured or worse. That’s why it’s important to get a shopping cart cover with sturdy, adjustable straps.
In this way, you’ll secure the cover to the cart and strap your child in it at the same time. Make sure that the straps are well-fastened and that they won’t snap, in case your baby decides to lean over the edge.
Of course, shopping cart for babies do have straps, but these straps are as full of bacteria as the rest of the cart, and if you have a teething baby, it’s very likely that he will try to gnaw on them.
Besides, you’ll have a much better shopping trip, if you feel that your little one is as safe in the cart as he can be.
Material to endure
Since you’ll be using the cart cover fairly regularly, you want something that won’t fall apart after the first two trips. Look for covers made of quality material with well-done seams and well-stitched edges.
It’s also crucial that material is eco-friendly and free of potentially harmful chemicals.
Boy or girl color?
You should also consider the color of the cart cover. Do you want something that suits the gender of your baby? Or something that works for both sexes, in case you need to use this cover in the future? It’s entirely up to you and your taste.
No matter what you decide about the color, think about getting a cart cover with a removable pad. What’s the point of that, you ask?
Well, a removable pad is excellent for supporting your baby upright while he is still young. The trick is that when he grows older and needs more space, you can simply remove the pad to make room. In this way, you won’t have to buy a new cover in a few months.
Decide on your budget
Finding the best cart cover doesn’t mean going for the highest priced one. You can find reasonably priced cart covers that are of excellent quality. But there are some things that you should keep in mind.
Low-priced cart covers often don’t have sufficient padding. They simply keep your child from coming into contact with the shopping cart and therefore, they are not very comfortable.
More expensive cart covers, on the other hand, have extra padding and they often come with extras like pockets and straps. And you can also use them as a high chair cover when you go to your favorite restaurant.
If you don’t plan on using the cart cover regularly, you might go for the cheapest option. But for frequent store trips, it will be better if you choose a high-quality shopping cover.
Also, make sure that the cover you buy is machine washable so that you don’t have to wash it by hand. And it’s better if it’s waterproofed so that you can wipe it off in case your child has an accident.
If you are interested, you can also try to make your own cart cover. Watch this video for ideas.
Now, let's see which the best shopping cart covers for babies are and what makes them so unique.
1. Crocnfrog 2-in-1 Shopping Cart Cover | High Chair Cover for Baby
The first thing that you'll notice when you take a look at this shopping cart cover is the cute polka dots design, which is suitable both for boys and girls. But that's not the reason why I have included in the list.
The main advantage of this cart cover is that you can use it for shopping carts and high chairs at the same time. Moreover, it's made of 100% polyester, with a soft padding so that you don't have to worry about allergic reactions.
What's more, the Croncfrog 2-in-1 shopping cart cover has two buckles to secure the cover and the baby and tassels to secure the sides. And you can toss it into the washing machine when it gets dirty.
If that's not enough for you, there is a pouch in the back so that you can store diapers or wipes. And to keep your baby amused there are three toy loops and a bottle strap.
Another great thing about this cart cover is that you can fold it into a pouch and carry it with ease wherever you go.
The Cronfrog cart cover fits most standard shopping carts, and it's an excellent choice for those that want a quality product.
Pros:
- extra padding
- a pouch
- three toy loops
- a bottle strap
- machine washable
- easy to carry
Cons:
- doesn't cover the sides of some shopping carts
2. Infantino Compact Cart Cover
The Infantino compact cart cover is available in three cute colors - pink (for girls), teal (for boys), and neutral (for boys and girls). Thanks to the adjustable harness belt, you don't have to worry that your baby will fall off from the cart.
Moreover, this cart cover is designed with extra padding to provide ultimate comfort for your child. It's made of 100% polyester fiber, which is great because it won't irritate your baby's skin.
Another advantage of this cart cover for babies is that it has a sippy cup strap so that you can keep your child's drink at arm's length.
That's not all. The Infantino cart cover is equipped with a teether and two toy loops to keep your toddler occupied while you're shopping.
When you don't need the cover, it folds into a compact tote bag that you can carry with you wherever you go. Additionally, you can also use it as a high chair cover, and you can wash it in your washing machine or wipe it off with a cloth.
Pros:
- Available in three colors
- An adjustable harness
- Extra padding
- a sippy cup strap
- a teether and toy loops
- folds into a tote bag
Cons:
- too thin for some mothers
- slippery fabric
3. Summer Infant 2-in-1 Cushy Cart Cover
The Summer Infant 2-in-1 shopping cart cover is an excellent choice both for young babies and toddlers. It features an infant positioner that you can use to prop up your child.
This padded booster also offers support on both sides and around the back for maximum comfort. What's more, the positioner is removable so that you will have some extra room when your baby grows up. Sounds good, right?
Another great thing about this cushy cart cover is that it has a vinyl pocket (7.5" x 4 1/4") where you can keep your smartphone. Additionally, there are two loops for attaching toys to keep your child entertained during your shopping trip.
If that's not enough for you, the Summer Infant shopping cart is offered in three colors- clover, dots&diamonds, and diamond links, and it folds into a compact pouch so that it won't take much space when you're not using it.
Moreover, this infant cart cover is a good fit for most standard shopping carts and high chairs, but it's suitable for babies at least six months old.
Pros:
- A removable bolster
- Vinyl pocket
- Two loops
- Available in three colors
- Folds into a pouch
Cons:
- support bolster is not thick enough for some users
- no harness
- baby has to be at least six months old.
4. Lumiere Shopping Cart Cover for Baby
If you want a shopping cart cover that will envelop the handle, the sides and the back of the cart, you might take a look at Lumiere cart cover for babies.
Since Lumiere keeps your baby's safety and comfort in mind, there is an adjustable harness with a Velcro wrap between the leg holes and extra padding for your child's bottom.
Moreover, it has Velcro straps to secure the shopping cover so that you don't have to worry that your toddler will pull it up.
Another great thing about this cover is that it has a bottle strap, so no more digging in the diaper bag for your baby's sippy cup. In addition to this, there is a durable Velcro pocket with a clear screen where you put your smartphone and two toy loops.
Also, thanks to the elastic band and the Velcro straps, it's a piece of cake to fit the cover on the shopping cart. When you don't need it anymore, you can roll it into a compact pouch.
If that's not enough to convince you of the merits of the Lumiere cart cover, you should know that it's backed by a lifetime warranty and a 60-day money back guarantee.
Pros:
- Covers the whole cart
- An adjustable harness with Velcro straps
- A Velcro pocket
- Two loops
- A bottle strap
- Easy to fit
- Rolls into a pouch
- A lifetime warranty
- highchair cover
Cons:
- doesn't fit some high chairs well
5. Leachco Prop 'R Shopper Shopping Cart Cover
Unlike other shopping cart covers, the Leachco cover features two cushioned side props that offer full body support for you baby. These props are also removable so that you can wash them in the washing machine or get rid of them when the baby gets older.
What’s more, this shopping cart cover is offered in a cute green color that will suit both girls and boys, and it’s made of 65% polyester and 35% cotton. It’s designed to cover both the seat and the cart handle.
Another excellent feature of the Leachco Prop cover is that it has an adjustable safety belt to prevent your little one from falling. And that’s not all. It also comes with a storage pouch for all those essential things that you need to keep close.
When you’re done with the shopping, you have just to fold and roll the cover, and you’re ready to be on your way. And thanks to the carrying strap so you can carry it easily back home.
Pros:
- Two removable cushioned props
- Covers the seat and the handle
- An adjustable safety belt
- A storage pouch
- A carrying strap
Cons:
- doesn’t fit high chairs well
Our recommendation
Although all these covers have excellent features, I feel that the best shopping cart cover is the Lumiere cart cover for babies. I prefer it because:
- it has a superior safety harness systemit’s well-padded
- fits most shopping carts
- has toy loops, a bottle strap, and a Velcro pocket
- it’s easy to fit it around the cart thanks to the elastic band
- it has a lifetime warranty
- the color is suitable both for boys and girls
- highchair cover
Shopping cart covers are a necessity for every mom that loves shopping with her baby to keep those nasty germs away. As you can see, there are some amazing options, and I hope that I have been helpful to you in choosing the best shopping cart cover for your baby.