Shopping cart covers: necessary or overprotective?

[TonyaLea]

Camp one. Dr. Dennis Woo, chairman of the department of pediatrics at UCLA-Santa Monica and father of 3, says “The fact that children do so well [without extreme protective measures] is a huge testament to the power of our immune systems....Good hand-washing and being a little selective about where you go makes sense to me. But nothing beyond that. Certainly, not a shopping-cart cover."

Camp Two. Dr. Philip Tierno, director of the department of clinical microbiology and diagnostic immunology at New York University Medical Center and the author of "The Secret Lives Of Germs," says anything you can do – including using shopping-cart covers – to reduce your child’s exposure to germs is worthwhile.  â€śIt’s true that nothing you can do will eliminate germs, but you can cut down on them as much as possible,” says Tierno, who uses a cover when he takes his grandson grocery shopping.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6893254/ns/health-childrens_health/t/waging-war-germs/#.UQHdTx1ESB8

Which camp are you in?  Did you use a shopping car cover with your child?

[themissheather]

I have a cover, but I didn't get it because of germs. I got it because DD is a skinny, squirmy 9mo old and the cover helps keeps her upright. Plus, the one I have has a pocket for her dippy cup and her toys attach to it.

[Mom2jngnc]

With two of mine they weren't avail. 

With the younger two I found them unnecessary. 

[TonyaLea]

Do you leave you kids at home, or baby wear? I think the toddler years would be the hardest not using a cart.

Quoting Randi02:

I have never put a child (especially a baby!) in a shopping cart.

[Randi02]

Baby wear :)
My youngest is 4 days old, my oldest is 6. I have 4 kids, and none have ever ridden in a shopping cart.

Quoting TonyaLea:

Do you leave you kids at home, or baby wear? I think the toddler years would be the hardest not using a cart.

Quoting Randi02:

I have never put a child (especially a baby!) in a shopping cart.

[natesmom1228]

I have never used them. I think they are overprotective.

[Rushn311]

I used them with my son. There are some nasty things on those carts, and babies always put their fingers in their mouth...I just wish I wouldn't of gotten rid of mine.

[MamaBear2cubs]

We never used them.

[elle7777]

Eh. I think they're pretty pointless, but if someone wants to take the time to put one on *shrug*

[slw123]

I go both ways on this.  A lot of stores have antibacterial wipes near the carts now, that helps.

[BabyTeki]

I'm in the I don't have enough hands to wrangle my 2.5 to, hold onto my baby, and fix the protector. I had one, but only used it a hand full of times