Thoughts on children Black Friday shopping?

[MariahA]

I know this has been discussed in past years but thought it'd be a good discussion.

 

What are your thoughts on children Black Friday shopping?

 

Personally, my opinion depends on several factors;

 

1. Where are you shopping? Is it a fairly calm place or one of the places we see on the news because someone got pepper sprayed?

 

2. When are you shopping? Big difference in shopping at Walmart or many stores at the moment the sale starts vs late Friday morning.

 

3. Weather. Obviously not if it's extremely cold or icy. And only if children are properly dressed; no socks with snow is not okay.

 

4. Age and maturity of the child. Older kid to help stay with a cart or hold a spot in line, doesn't bother me. Newborn at any store no way. Runner? No way.

 

That's my opinion. My DS (will be 9 months) will be going out with me Black Friday morning about 8ish. He's staying home with his Daddy Thanksgiving night and I won't go out till the morning after he wakes up on his own so he's well rested. Weather is looking like highs in the 50s lows in the upper 20s so he'll be appropriately bundled up.

 

We're going to Bass Pro, the mall, and maybe TRU. At that time of day those places are busy but not crazy. DS will be in his stroller or I'm babywearing him. If he gets tired or overstimulated we're going home. No sale is worth him being miserable.

 

Thoughts and experiences with children on Thanksgiving/Black Friday?

[Bopeep]

I agree with all of your points.  And your plan to take your baby out on Friday sounds like a good one to me. Like you say, the crazy happens when the sales start. He'll be safe and warm waiting until Friday morning.

 

One of my biggest Black Friday pet peeves is people that take their small children to Walmart on Thursday evening at the beginning of the sale, then by the time they are in the line to check out they are yelling at the kids for acting up.  The children never should have been put in that situation in the first place. And to have a child anywhere near where fights are likely to break out, really ticks me off. 

 

I could go on and on, but I'll step down and mind my own business now. 

[abentley]

I realize many people have to take their children with them shopping or else they cannot go. I have witnessed some pretty bad situations with people shopping with kids. I have seen one newborn being cradled in a mothers are as she reaches into a bin of towels at Walmart getting struck in the head several times. I have seen many children getting yelled at because parents are stressed and tired but desperate to get their needed items. The presents don't seem to be that fun to me at that point, or a fun experience.

The first year I took my youngest he was 16 and 6' tall and he came out of the video display with a black eye. Yes, I was standing with him. This is small town Utah.....not a larger city with many more people.

To each their own, but I was so grateful to have a husband that wanted to stay home with our kids!

[Elmck]

DD14 started going with me when she was 10 I think maybe 11, but she has always stayed with me and we have had no problems.She loves to shop and wants a good deal too. 

[starbeck96]

My daughter was allowed to go with my husband, me, and one of my sons last year.  For two months, she had saved her birthday money, chore money, and money the grandparents had given her.  She wanted a trampoline.  So, we allowed her to go with us.  We got there three hours early so during that time we allowed her to walk around with either her brother or dad.  But, about 45 minutes before the chaos started she had to come stand in line with me.  

Last year she wanted to go spend the night with her cousin that night.  This year she is 11 and she has asked to go BF shopping with me.  I believe she is mature enough and I know she will enjoy it.  That being said, we live in a small town.  Although Walmart will be our first stop, so far we've had hardly any trouble in the past there.  There was a little trouble one year and the police escorted the woman out.  

After Walmart, I am hoping that we will be able to come home and sleep for a while and then get up early the next morning.  But, that depends on the ads. 

When my boys were younger (age 5) I took them BF shopping.  My friend also took her kids (age 4 and 5 at the time).  They stayed in the buggy at all times.  I will say that this was 14 years ago.   So, I don't think it was quite as bad back then since back in those days BF happened on BF and not on Thanksgiving evening. 

I think that your points are right on. 

[tracy0504]

I took my grown children with me years ago once or twice, but they stayed in a cart the entire time...it was different 15+ years ago...in 2015 I was checjing out @ Wal-Mart and they shut the whole store down, no one in or out registers were down for a minute even, because a child was lost in the store...turns out this child was a 12 yo girl...when I found this out I was like at that age she should know to stay with her mom, dad, guardian and they should know not to allow her to venture off in this chaos by herself...its hard to keep one eye on you child and another on that deal you just have to have...by 8am BF it will be busy, but most stores will have been open for a couple hours by then so you won't be fighting to get in the door... my 17 yo son went with me a couple years ago and he said never again, the crowds and long lines were too much for him...

 

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[jaymacfla]

I believe that most people would agree that taking your child to Walmart without a ticketing system is an invitation to trouble. Walmart still maintains a pallet mentality and door rushing is still common in many places. I still remember the Razor scooter Fiasco in which two children were nearly crushed in Walmart years ago and I would never put a child in that position.

 

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[mommy2twingles]

My daughter was 11 when she first started going out.  That year she went to some of the stores with us Thursday night and then we dropped her home to go to bed around midnight.  She is 13 now and hopes to go the whole night with us.  I would ever take a younger child out with me.  I have seen to many kids throwing tantrums because they are young and just want to be in bed.  No deal is worth keeping a little kid out all night.  

[len_mullen]

I have only shopped on BF with another person on two occasions.  One year I shopped with my sister.  I guess it was fun, but she lacked the preparation and urgency to maximize yield, if you know what I mean.  On another occasion, I took my oldest son.  He was a teenager and that worked out great as we split the list and met at the register at each store.

 

This year, I purchased two GD shirts for me and my youngest (who is 20).  I won a third and will invite #1 to join us.  Should be fun.  

 

I never shopped BF with my wife.  She watched the kids and put up the tree while I was taking care of business.  I think this is ideal.

 

I have seen my share of other peoples' children out on BF and I generally do not think it is a good idea.  For starters, how do you shop for them with them?  You cannot send them away into the throng while you shop for them.  Weather is a problem.  Cold toes for me is part of the fun.  Do not want to see kids uncomfortable.  Then there is the up too late behavior.  No one needs to be around someone else's kids who should have been tucked in three hours ago.  Get a sitter or shop online until your kids are old enough to enjoy the mayhem.

[mamat2011]

If you can leaves those babies with a caregiver, but if not try to think of how to get around croweded stores and carry your items.  At our walmart you can't use a cart.  I didn't take my girls until they were about 10 and then they stayed in groups.  We were constantly in contact.  Since "Black Friday" starts around 6pm and I was finished by 8PM last year I don't think the bedtime is an issue.  People need to use their best judgement for where they need to go and what they are purchasing.

[tyreejames]

I’ve never taken my kids shopping. The areas I shop in don’t generally have issues but there are tons of people; I’d consider taking DD14 and/or DS21 with me but definitely not my younger two.

 

I’ve seen the younger, crankier kids and I just would not want to do that to my children. Luckily, I am in a position where I don’t have to.

 

 

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[jaymacfla]

My daughter was 11 when she first started going out. That year she went to some of the stores with us Thursday night and then we dropped her home to go to bed around midnight. She is 13 now and hopes to go the whole night with us. I would ever take a younger child out with me. I have seen to many kids throwing tantrums because they are young and just want to be in bed. No deal is worth keeping a little kid out all night.

It sounds like you have a pretty responsible schedule and with the right planning a 13 year old can certainly handle the stress of that day

 

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[jaymacfla]

If you can leaves those babies with a caregiver, but if not try to think of how to get around croweded stores and carry your items. At our walmart you can't use a cart. I didn't take my girls until they were about 10 and then they stayed in groups. We were constantly in contact. Since "Black Friday" starts around 6pm and I was finished by 8PM last year I don't think the bedtime is an issue. People need to use their best judgement for where they need to go and what they are purchasing.

If you are going to take children over 10 with you I would recommend two-way radios for all in your party

 

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[Peppermint]

My youngest is 9. I don't take him because my BFFs and I make a day of it (10 hrs+). One Bf in the past I did my first round and went home for lunch and back out to Walmart with him later in the afternoon. You know your kid and what they can handle.

 

 

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[nicole20]

I go shopping for my kids on black Friday so I wouldn't want to bring them with me. I always go to Wal-Mart, Kohls, and target for sure then anywhere else that had a good deal on anything I'm looking for. My DD who is 9 begs to go and honestly I have never seen anyone get crazy where I would be against taking her with me If I wasn't shopping for her.

 

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[TazErase]

There are many things to think about if you are planning to bring any children. KNOW what it is going to be like at the location. If there is ANY chance of them getting harmed, don't be stupid, leave them home. My kids have begged me every year to stay with me when I camp out at Best Buy. Being New York, it can get pretty cold. We have blankets, a propane heater, and if all else fails, they can sit in the car and warm up. Usually the car is the first in the parking lot and within 20 - 30 feet from where we set up camp. Now that they are older, they help out and either grab items that I can't get tickets for or get on the line. We always heavily coordinate everything and I have been going to the same location for about 13 years. When they were younger things were harder and they would stay with their grand parents. The first year they went it was because they kept bugging me because they wanted to go. As long as we were able to find ways for it to be safe, we gave them that chance but they often stayed either in the carriage or right next to it. It has to be a personal decision that only the parents can make. What really bothers me is an unprepared parent that has a child crying because they are cold. I have been known to invite the child (not the adults in the their group) to join us and stay warm. Problem is, for many years, many of the items I bought on Black Friday were upgrades to make camping out easier, lol. My wife has often complained "how much can you be saving when you buy all this stuff to camp out on line" lol. I have tents, tables, chairs, extra chairs, a canopy, blankets, heater, plenty of food, water, drinks, and coffee... Where we go they are usually pretty nice about it and if we leave to go to the bathroom (they do not have porta potties available) or if someone needs to warm up in their car, or even get something to eat, as long as they are not gone for too long they will hold their spot for them. Many of those that arrive early are the same ones every year and we all help each other out and often will grab items for each other and meet up at the register and hand them to each other. 

[Kash]

I have only shopped on BF with another person on two occasions.  One year I shopped with my sister.  I guess it was fun, but she lacked the preparation and urgency to maximize yield, if you know what I mean.  On another occasion, I took my oldest son.  He was a teenager and that worked out great as we split the list and met at the register at each store.

 

This year, I purchased two GD shirts for me and my youngest (who is 20).  I won a third and will invite #1 to join us.  Should be fun.  

 

I never shopped BF with my wife.  She watched the kids and put up the tree while I was taking care of business.  I think this is ideal.

 

I have seen my share of other peoples' children out on BF and I generally do not think it is a good idea.  For starters, how do you shop for them with them?  You cannot send them away into the throng while you shop for them.  Weather is a problem.  Cold toes for me is part of the fun.  Do not want to see kids uncomfortable.  Then there is the up too late behavior.  No one needs to be around someone else's kids who should have been tucked in three hours ago.  Get a sitter or shop online until your kids are old enough to enjoy the mayhem.

 

I have only shopped on BF with another person on two occasions.  One year I shopped with my sister.  I guess it was fun, but she lacked the preparation and urgency to maximize yield, if you know what I mean.  On another occasion, I took my oldest son.  He was a teenager and that worked out great as we split the list and met at the register at each store.

 

This year, I purchased two GD shirts for me and my youngest (who is 20).  I won a third and will invite #1 to join us.  Should be fun.  

 

I never shopped BF with my wife.  She watched the kids and put up the tree while I was taking care of business.  I think this is ideal.

 

I have seen my share of other peoples' children out on BF and I generally do not think it is a good idea.  For starters, how do you shop for them with them?  You cannot send them away into the throng while you shop for them.  Weather is a problem.  Cold toes for me is part of the fun.  Do not want to see kids uncomfortable.  Then there is the up too late behavior.  No one needs to be around someone else's kids who should have been tucked in three hours ago.  Get a sitter or shop online until your kids are old enough to enjoy the mayhem.

I only took my sister once because of the same reasons you posted!

 

My kids stayed home with dad until they were old enough to be ok if we got separated and not whine and complain all day (night).

Now the grandpa gets the grandbaby too   He hates to shop (even grocery shop) he'd rather change a diaper than deal with stupid people, so this works well.

[MariahA]

No sitter so it's either take him or skip it. And he's EBF so where I go he goes for the most part. I'd never take him at opening but honestly with all the sales starting on Thursday, most places are like any other shopping day on Black Friday, albeit busy.

 

Not taking him when he hits old enough to remember what I buy, so this year and next year are probably it til he's older.

[MusicMama]

My oldest nieces and nephews were always along with us (their mom/my sister, our mother, our younger sister) if they wanted to be, back in the days when sales were reasonable.  We got in line at 4am, wound our way through KBToys, checked out, went to more stores in the mall and then went to breakfast.  And then went to the next mall.  Went to lunch.   Kids knew that things might be for cousins, etc. and they kept secrets well and helped by getting items or standing in line.  Usually got a small reward as well :-)

Started taking my daughter along when she was 6 months old, in her stroller, sleeping peacefully.  Got hateful looks.   She protested one year at the age of 6 or 7 that she didn't want to get up early, so hubby took her to daycare on his way to work.   I got a call about 2 hours later that she was heartbroken and sobbing uncontrollably that she had been 'deserted by mommy' (not daddy, just mommy).   Luckily the staff knew me and hubby had told them why she was there.   I picked her up in time for late breakfast and she never protested again.   The year she turned 12, took her and a friend with me to Walmart because there were things they wanted, and they were the most civilized people there.   She and I still go out.

My younger sister never took her kids along and neither did my sister-in-law.   That was OK because those kids were brats with a capital B.   Finally started taking them out when they hit high school and it didn't matter if they had to hang out in the food court for awhile.

[jesusluvu]

I have never been one for this. One of the biggest reasons was safety. I know how things can get out there and have seen plenty of fights and never wanted them to see that especially over a toy. Secondly, I was mostly shopping for them.

[jewleyp]

My DD who was 12 at the time asked to go with me but I was hesitant as I don’t agree with kids being out in the chaos. We decided that she would “man” the cart and stay in the lingerie section at WalMart. Lol. I got to get what I needed and brought it back to her instead of having the cart with me and she got to see what it’s all about. She has no desire to go back! Loll

 

 

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[Angelus]

3 or 4 years ago I went to Target BF shopping. I was in a massive long line in Electronics and there was a woman who was a couple of shoppers ahead of me with 4 of her children with her. The youngest had to be 3 years old. Those children were rowdy. Running all over the place. The woman had to ask the people behind her to hold her spot while she goes and gets them. Now this is the part I don't get. One of the children had to go to the bathroom. The mother asked a complete stranger if she would take her daughter to the bathroom. Is a sale that important that you would let your child go off with a total stranger? The other woman was nice about it and took the child and brought her back but still. I don't have any children but I would not just hand my child over to someone I don't know. I'm sure the person behind her would hold her spot because of that circumstance since they held it prior. Also when she was at the cashier counter she was holding up line with all her demands.

[BFgrl79]

Having no kids myself I’d say it’s up to the parent as to whether their kiddo can handle the possible craziness. Older children will likely not have issues and can even be helpful at getting in those hard to reach spots with many people in them. However I can’t understand the ones who bring itty bitty babies out to the stores, the ones who are barely a few months old and are so delicate and really susceptible to germs and illness. I always worry when I see them out like that.

[Illinoismom]

My oldest who is 30 has been shopping with me since she was 10, she comes home every Thanksgiving so we can go BF shopping, My next is 27 and he has been going since 12 he wont make it this year as he is in Tech school for the air-force, my next is 20 and she has also been going since she was 10, Now my youngest has been going since he was 9 he is now 18. So we have done hard openings 5 am mad dashes and the black Friday as it is now a day's. The only issue we ever had was at Target when the third child was experiencing her first ever black Friday and was behind me holding my coat and her older brother behind her and a security guard pulled them out of line thought they had cut the line. I can tell you no one entered that store until they released my children. My older daughter blocked the door and every one around us was laying into them. I didn't shop that night there as I waited on the police as no one puts their hands on my child, This guy scared the u know what out of my child. This was 10 years ago and I have not gone back to Target. They can give things away and I would never cross through their doors, No a day's I have worry about same child and her service dog. Last year was great no issues hope this year the same.

[TazErase]

I have only shopped on BF with another person on two occasions.  One year I shopped with my sister.  I guess it was fun, but she lacked the preparation and urgency to maximize yield, if you know what I mean.  On another occasion, I took my oldest son.  He was a teenager and that worked out great as we split the list and met at the register at each store.

 

This year, I purchased two GD shirts for me and my youngest (who is 20).  I won a third and will invite #1 to join us.  Should be fun.  

 

I never shopped BF with my wife.  She watched the kids and put up the tree while I was taking care of business.  I think this is ideal.

 

I have seen my share of other peoples' children out on BF and I generally do not think it is a good idea.  For starters, how do you shop for them with them?  You cannot send them away into the throng while you shop for them.  Weather is a problem.  Cold toes for me is part of the fun.  Do not want to see kids uncomfortable.  Then there is the up too late behavior.  No one needs to be around someone else's kids who should have been tucked in three hours ago.  Get a sitter or shop online until your kids are old enough to enjoy the mayhem.

I train my family early. I will walk fast, and if they can't keep up and stay with me... I will not take them on Black Friday. Believe me, they have learned to move fast and stay with me, lol. Even my wife who is usually very slow knows that on Black Friday she better pick up the pace. Been doing this since before I was married or had any kids. Nothing will keep me from going, and no one will slow me down. This is probably about 23 or 24 years that I have been doing Black Friday shopping, and for the past 14 years in the area I now live in. Sorry, but I will never reveal what locations in order to keep from anyone beating me on the lines, lol. 

[berry1014]

Years ago I took my daughter who just a baby at the time with me BF shopping but that was later in the morning well after the 6 am openings and the stores were pretty calm. She is now 16 and went shopping with us last year and loves it. She is already planning on going with us again this year. No way I would bring a baby or a little one with me when the stores open. 

Edited October 31, 2017 by berry1014

[msyves]

I don't take my boys BF shopping with me. They're 10 and 13 but I know they would complain about all the people and the lines. I did take my stepdaughter with me one year when she was 16. She thoroughly enjoyed herself. It's now been a tradition whenever she comes home from college for the Thanksgiving break.

Edited October 31, 2017 by msyves

[Kanyon71]

We had to take our daughter with us a couple years ago. The person who was supposed to watch her flaked out at the last minute so we loaded her up and took her with us. She had fun for the most part but was worn out. I think somewhere my wife has a picture of her sleeping in a shopping cart surrounded by stuff. We had pre-ordered a couple of things for her from Toy's R Us so when we went to the store my wife dealt with the things for others and then I went and got her stuff and took it out of the store before rejoining them.

[Giraffe34]

I have always left my little ones at home.  This is what I consider my "me" time, and I know how much of a handful they are even when I take them shopping on normal days.  I don't judge people who do take their children, you never know someone's else reasons or situations, just as long they are making sure the children aren't in any unwanted dangers since people can get unruly during this time.

[mgreen]

Generally, I say leave the kids at home if at all possible until they are ready to "handle the situation" both mentally and physically. My daughter still tells stories of how I had her diving for those Wal-Mart pajamas! I think she's scarred for life. LOL

 

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