The essential coronavirus shopping list for parents to avoid panic buying

Even though President Cyril Ramaphosa declared a national state of disaster as a way to curb the spread of the coronavirus, he inadvertently drove some shoppers in South Africa to scramble to the shops and bulk-buy tissue paper and sanitiser. Avoid being one of these buyers and buy your normal groceries – just buy two of what you would normally only buy one of (NB! this is purely for cutting down regular trips to the store) – don’t bulk buy. Rather take this strategic and smarter approach to your coronavirus grocery buying according to the age of your child:

If you have a baby:

• Buy nappies and formula
• Buy wet wipes
• Buy standard medicines  (Calpol, Paracetamol etc)
• Formula if you are not breastfeeding
• Sanitiser

If you have a toddler:

• Buy activity books
• Buy standard medicines (Calpol, Paracetamol and Allergex)
• Buy healthy snacks (Nuts, sugar free breakfast bars – for a quick breakfast and a break from prepping the morning meal for you)
• Sanitiser

If you have school-going children:

• Buy board games – Monopoly, chess or interactive puzzles
• Buy healthy snacks
• Buy chewable vitamins (for the whole family and to keep the immune defences strong)
• Buy standard medicines (Calpol, Paracetamol and Allergex)
• Sanitiser.

For more news your way, download The Citizen’s app for iOS and Android.