Trust, I never did that, if the surface was something they could potentially fall off. I have been shopping for over 45 years, have observed so many parents with their babies, and I stand by my statement.
The only place where I have ever done what you describe is on a changing table, where I had to reach for a diaper. But even though my baby could not yet turn over, I DID place my hand firmly on him for the LITERAL second it took. I have never seen anyone do that while shopping. A relative of mine had the same type of scenario with the changing table, but she did not hold onto her baby for “just a second,” who chose that moment to turn over from his back for the first time. He fell off the table onto the carpet. B”H he was not injured, just scared, and so was she. Never happened again.
I sense that you feel chauvinistic on behalf of these mothers, and think they are unfairly being criticized. I wish that were the case. Their actions could potentially have serious consequences for their children. I said this earlier, I am beginning to think it is a generational thing, this difference of opinion. In any case, isn’t the main objective for the children to be safe? Does it really matter who is right and who is wrong, as long as we are all aware of the need to be vigilant with our children? Though we cannot protect them from every bump and bruise, certain actions are guaranteed to be a potential sakana to them. IMO, this was one such action.