My littlest was in the cart. The boys walked beside it and had a hold of it. We talked. About everything under the sun. We laughed. We made fun of ridiculous items, style, color etc. They were never bored. They had my attention and knew it. Shopping was always secondary. They even helped shop and pointed out things as we walked the aisles.
Funny, I did that too, except my children were perfectly capable of walking next to the cart, or slightly ahead of it. They were fine.
My youngest is 8 and loves to walk to the next aisle and shop for what is needed there. I guess someone could kidnap him. But I like to encourage his independence.
That's how I shop with my three children, ages 1,2 and 4. When I stop in some sections they let go and pick up toys and things, but then it is right back to the cart. Sometimes my middle child will ride in the big part of the cart until it gets too full.
Perhaps the mom got distracted, I guess the boy was somehow climbing on the mirror, it came unhinged, any way you slice it, it is a tragedy. From the article, it could have all taken place in 5 seconds or less. No parent should ever have to bury a child, even if the child was doing something they shouldn't have. Just terrible, my heart goes out to this family and this little boy.