Image: MomJunction Design Team
Children love pretend-play and like imitating how adults behave or talk. So, make their dream come true by immersing them in real-life grocery shopping experiences and get them the best shopping carts for kids.
They will love taking an interest in helping you out and learn to get their own things from the shopping aisle. How cute would it be to see them sprint and grab their favorite snack or put things in their carts as you instruct them what to do! Using these carts during playtime helps with motor skills and cognitive development. Keep scrolling to find a durable shopping cart that your child will absolutely love.
Top Picks
11 Best Kids Shopping Carts
1. Best Realistic:Melissa & Doug Toy Shopping Cart
Are you looking for a shopping cart that looks practical? This is close to a realistic shopping cart with many child-friendly features. It is suitable for children aged three to six years and is made of heavy-gauge steel construction that makes it long-lasting and durable enough to withstand the test of time. The kid-friendly shopping cart has three main components — a basket, a base piece, and a fold-in seat for dolls. To make an informed decision before buying, you can check out a tester’s experience in this video.
Pros
- Spring-loaded safety wheels with 360° pivot
- Easy-to-grip handle
- Support rods to keep the cart from tipping over
- Helps children build independence and responsibility
- Comes with an installation manual
Cons
- Wheels may be slightly noisy
- May have sharp edges
"After watching my grandkids zoom around with their little shopping cart, I'm convinced of its durability and charm. Assembling was a breeze, too. It's proved to be a good choice, adding more fun to their adventures."
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
The 8,113 positive customer reviews on Amazon are a testament to its quality and reliability.
Trivia2. Best Spacious: Little Tikes Shopping Cart
Let your child experience the fun of shopping with the Little Tikes portable toy cart. The trusted grocery box cart has sturdy basket walls to keep all the items in the basket secure. Its deep basket design ensures your child can load as many items as they can. It doubles as an educational toy and helps enhance your child’s language skills and confidence as they engage in pretend play with other children.
Pros
- Has a doll seat inside the basket
- Comes with a separate storage space underneath
- Features secure handlebar
- Bright colors
Cons
- Rear wheels may not stay in place
- May tip over if loaded excessively
3. Best For Role-Play:The New York Doll Collection Toy Shopping Cart
Made with a metal frame, this toy shopping cart is close to the real one, thus providing children a realistic grocery shopping experience. It comes with a 24-piece grocery set of fruits and vegetables, all of which are made of safe, non-toxic plastic, making them an ideal set of role-play toys. The folding shopping cart is easy to store and recommended for children aged three years and above.
Pros
- Made of durable metal
- Wheels are large and can pivot 360 degrees
- Has a bulky plastic handle for a good grip while pushing
- Includes a flip-open seat for dolls
- Spacious basket and lower compartment for storage
- Foldable frames for easy storage
- Encourages role-play
Cons
- May be smaller than you expect
- Basket may not be very sturdy
"I got this cart for its easy assembly and child-friendly design. While its sturdiness with groceries is impressive, it isn't strong enough to support a child's weight. However, its charming appeal keeps my little ones engaged."
4. Best Lightweight: Step2 Little Helper’s Shopping Cart
Boost your child’s motor skills as they pretend to stock the goods in the Step2 Little Helper’s shopping cart. The lightweight design of the shopping cart allows your child to maneuver it easily. Moreover, the smooth molded wheels and the long handle help your child push the kids shopping cart easily on even surfaces. In addition, the additional space underneath the basket allows your child to store more pretend groceries.
Pros
- Has a large basket space
- Includes a doll seat
- Develops motor skills
- Compact design
Cons
- Assembling the wheels can be challenging
- May attract dirt easily
"My grandkids love this shopping cart. While construction is mostly solid, some elements could be better designed. But overall, it brings joy, aids in walking confidence, and even helps the kids in tidying up toys; it is a smart pick for active little ones who love to push and go."
5. Best Educational:Boley My First Shopping Cart
Gift your child the Boley’s My First toddler shopping cart to encourage imaginative play. The cart comes with an easy-to-assemble design with no additional tools required. Crafted per ASTM and Sedex standards with high-quality lab-tested plastic, it not only assures durability but also allows safe playtime. This shopping cart for toddlers offers spacious storage with a doll seat, allowing your child to place their favorite doll. It also has a handlebar to push or pull the cart conveniently.
Pros
- Includes pretend food accessories
- Bright colors
- Easy-to-push and -pull handlebar
- Available in two colors
Cons
- May not come with storage space underneath
- Wheels may not be wide enough
"I gifted this shopping cart to my niece, and she loves playing with it. It's light enough, though you might need to weigh it down for those just finding their feet. Overall, I love the quality construction and easy assembly."
6. Best Plastic-Free:Hape Kids Wooden Shopping Cart
For those who prefer plastic-free toys, this could be the best kids’ shopping cart. The grocery store playset is recommended for kids aged three years and up. The size of this toy shopping cart is compact for kids to handle it easily.
Features
- Sturdy construction to give stability.
- Wooden frame polished with child-safe polish.
- Blue-colored wooden wheels rimmed with rubber.
- Not big enough for older kids.
7. Best Stable:Casdon Toy Shopping Cart Trolley
This kid’s shopping cart is built to resemble a real shopping cart and comes with realistic-looking food items to facilitate kid’s pretend shopping. It is recommended for ages three and up. This cart also has a key deposit to give your child a real-life grocery shopping experience.
Features
- Wide wheelbase, which provides stability.
- Has a chunky handle that is comfortable to hold and also gives a better grip.
- Comes in bright colors that catch your child’s attention.
- Promotes hand-to-eye coordination.
Quick tip8. Best Safety Compliant:The Learning Journey Play And Learn Shopping Cart
Colorful and lightweight, this award-winning kids shopping cart can be easily used by children aged three years and up. Including 21 miniature plastic grocery food items that are detailed to look realistic, this pretend grocery shopping cart is the ideal representation of an entertaining, educational, and developmental playset. This pretend grocery shopping cart comes with a spacious basket for children to collect and place as many items as they want.
Pros
- Large wheelbase for extra stability and to push easily
- Easy-to-push wheels do not scratch any surface
- Easy-to-hold handle
- Comes with a spacious basket and a lower compartment
- Tested to comply with all domestic and international toy safety regulations
Cons
- Some accessories may look flimsy
- Handles may not stay put for long
"This shopping cart has its charms and functions well for my toddlers, who enjoy pretend play. It's relatively sturdy and moves smoothly on different surfaces. While the material isn't top-notch, it holds up fine once assembled carefully. It's not designed for climbing or heavy loads, but for lightweight play, it serves its purpose."
9. Best Sturdy:Battat Toy Shopping Cart
Loaded with pretend food items and other child-friendly features, this is a toy that your children would enjoy playing with. Along with the toy groceries–vegetables and fruits–this durable kid-friendly shopping cart also comes with knives and cutting boards. So, encourage social skills and let your children pretend to cook after shopping.
Pros
- Large wheels and a sturdy base to provide stability
- Comes with two baskets
- Rounded edges and perfect shapes
- Bulky handle for a good grip
Cons
- May be a little too lightweight
- Plastic veggies may not last long
"This shopping cart toy works well for keeping my toddler occupied, and the few pieces prevent overwhelming clean-up. It offers a fun experience with virtually sliceable fruit and veggies, enhancing motor skills. However, it can tip over, and cardboard boxes don't last long. Still, I would recommend it."
10. Best With Swivel Wheels:Kookamunga Kids 2-in-1 Shopping Cart
The tried-and-tested cart comes with a durable steel frame to prevent tipping when loaded with groceries. It also has spring-loaded swivel wheels for easy maneuverability. The removable basket encourages your child to use it independently for fewer goods and attach it to the frame for more goods. In addition, a separate doll seat enables your child to place large-size dolls as it is secured with a protective rail.
Pros
- Includes a wide storage space underneath
- Comes with an easy-grip handle
- Helps stimulate your child’s imagination
- Easy to set up
Cons
- Frame may not be rust-resistant
- Some pieces may not stay in place
"It's a hit with the little ones in the family—ideal for acting out grocery shopping or strolling with dolls. The rotating wheels and removable basket enhance play, though assembly posed a slight challenge. Given its size and structure, I found it perfect for my toddlers."
Do remember11. Best Adjustable: Playkidz Mini Shopping Cart
If you want a cart that is simple and easy to carry for your children, then this might be the right pick for you. This mini shopping cart has a single basket with wheels and a handle to drag and push the kid-friendly shopping cart along. The trusted toy shopping cart comes in bright red with 24 pieces of toy groceries, food items, fruits, and vegetables.
Pros
- Easy-grip, ring-shaped, and adjustable handle
- Two large plastic wheels to support the basket
- Smooth wheel texture for maneuverability
- Fake currency and a card to give the child a real-time shopping experience
Cons
- Cart may be smaller than expected
- Has some tiny pieces
"My toddlers love this cart for its easy maneuverability and compact size. Though it's a bit flimsy, it's been a joy for the kids to play with. Indeed, it is a cherished addition to my children's toy collection."
How To Choose The Right Kid’s Play Shopping Cart?
Here are some important points to keep in mind while buying your child a shopping cart.
- Safety: This should be the topmost point to check. Make sure you check the product features for safety information. Choose a shopping cart for toddlers that has a sturdy base and rounded edges. It should be made of child-friendly, non-toxic materials.
- Material: Usually, these carts are made of metal, plastic, wood, or a combination of two. So, choose the one that is best suited for your kid. Metal and wooden shopping carts with non-toxic finish are apt for older children, whereas plastic carts are suitable for younger kids.
- Add-ons:Many carts come with accessories such as plastic pieces of pretend food items like fruits, vegetables, and food cans, toy currency, lockable doors, and fixed wheels. Check out the features and choose the one that fits your requirements.
Why Trust MomJunction?
Priti Bose is a product writer and likes to review and write about toys and gifts. She writes her articles after researching trustworthy sources. To put together this post on the best kids’ shopping carts, she has referred to various reviews online and chosen the ones that have been highly recommended to bring your childs’ grocery store fantasies to life. She added features of every product in the list to help you make the right choice.
The Bottom Line
Right from selecting healthy products to doing mental math, introducing your child to the best kids’ shopping carts and taking them shopping with you can teach them many practical lessons. These carts can hold multiple products and be pushed around easily. Our top picks include the Melissa and Doug Toy Shopping Cart for its realistic design and the Little Tikes Shopping Cart, featuring multiple storage areas. We also like the easy-to-maneuver Step2 Little Helper’s Shopping Cart. However, before buying a shopping cart, check if it is durable and made from non-toxic materials. Also, check if the cart can be adjusted to suit your child’s height. For extra fun, you could pick a shopping cart with accessories such as toy currency and plastic food items.
Infographic: Buying The Right Shopping Cart For Your Child
Giving your child a shopping cart can help improve their motor skills. In addition, shopping for their essentials can make children feel more independent and confident. Read through the infographic to find an appropriate shopping cart for your little one. Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
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