AIBU to think IKEA is a top parenting hack?

Mine are 24,18 and 15 and all still love a trip to IKEA and costco! Might plan a visit next weekend 😆

I loved going to B&Q, Wickes, and MFI as a kid, looking at the kitchens and bathroom displays. I remember once looking around a show home and wishing I could have done it more often. Now I love Ikea and go quite regularly as I live pretty much slap bang between Warrington's and Manchester's. I've even been to ones in Europe, Japan, Australia and last year I went to the biggest in the world in Manila. A couple of times 🙈

I was a strange kid and now I'm a strange adult! 😆 You do run the risk of your child growing up like me! 🙈 just messing. My sons are 18 and nearly 15 and hate the place! Some people love shoes, clothes and hand bag shopping, I don't. I love looking at home interiors. I'm not really as obsessed as I sound though, honestly.

I never really let my kids run around in them though. There's often a lot glassware out and people carrying young babies. Start them young! ;) But I always loved "Wendy houses" and hide and seek. And even to me, the thought of losing a 3 year old in Ikea gives me the fear.

I know Manchester doesn't have a Småland creche anymore, but from 3ish they can go in there if they are potty-trained. If your local one has one :)

If you think IKEA is ‘hell on earth’ you must lead a very sheltered life, or your local area must be well rough.

My daughter also loved the asda fish counter when she was little. She was fascinated looking at all the fish 😄

Agreed that it is set up for people to try. But it's not there for kids to run around and use as a playground. You're quite right, I'm completely joyless by having standards and considerstion for others around me.

When we moved in my worst nightmare was my Bengal getting into the show home and knocking over all the glasses on the dining table.

I got talking to someone in the queue in the cafe once who said she would pick the kids up from school, drop them in the creche, have a coffee with the other school mums then fetch the kids and feed them their tea and then take them home. £1 for the coffee and less than a fiver for tea and happy play date with no mess. I wish we'd lived that close when ours were little! Now they are teenagers and it's a very expensive place to take them 😂

These posts explain why I find shopping in IKEA to be a nightmare. Large numbers of unsupervised children and parents who aren’t taking responsibility.

When my dc were little I would regularly take them to IKEA just for the sake of getting them out of the house, they'd spend ages in the children's part where they had tents and such set up, and the best part was it was free. Our local IKEA also had a creche where you could have your dc for an hour or so but that's now closed down. The cafe at the end was cheap as well which is a big bonus.

Thats why they get sold as ex display!

They don't need to buy a flat ffs. A few bits from ikea can make a student room in Halls or a shared house feel like home snd at some point they'll get a home of their own even if it's rented.

My two used to love a visit to Go Outdoors to look at the tents on a rainy day. We could only afford camping holidays so they liked to play at camping at the ‘indoor campsite’. Our nearest Ikea was two hours away but we did stop there to break up the journey on the 5 hour journey to the in-laws. I’m surprised you are only just aware of this amazing ‘hack’ OP.

IKEA is not a playground. This is why it’s hell on earth to visit

I remember my colleague telling me that her children's favourite day out with a picnic was to theif local airport.
They would watch the planes landing and taking off and loved it.

PS loved an ikea trip when my kids were small! They still enjoy it now, some more than others, but they all love the meatball reward at the end! 😁

When I was growing up there was a place called Texas Homecare or Homestore (I can’t remember) and when me and my sister used to get taken there it was the best day out! My Mum and Dad used to wander while me and my sister played house! So yadnbu!

Ah, that’s really sad! Drives it home that teenagers are kids too.

almost 3 year old here - all fun and games until there’s a mad panic for the toilet or they just refuse to leave a particular section!

My 3 (8 12 13) love a trip to ikea, something to do on a rainy day and a cheap hotdogs at the end. Winner here 😁

Ikea is great but a parent letting a child run around any shop is just poor parenting. I watched a kid about 8 running up and down aldi aisles. The mum ignored him and other shoppers had to jump out of the way. Take your child shopping but don't let them treat the shop like soft play.

No DC here but I remember bumping into my friend with her wee boy when he was about 3. He was clearly raring to go, and when I asked him where they were going he said "ASDAAAAAAAAAA!"

Apparently standing looking at the fish counter there was the epitome of an excellent day out, and he was easily 'bribed' while she did her shopping by being told to be very quiet and hold mummy's hand all the way round so that he didn't "frighten the fishes"!

Yes it’s a shop but it’s set out in a way that encourages playing/testing things out. Do you think they set up full bedroom displays and expect people not to lay on the bed? It’s a family focused place with kids toys, setups, menus and play areas. You sound very joyless.

I live in Germany. When we used to drive to Austria, or anywhere else for that matter, on holiday, we would always plan our breaks at an IKEA. They are always located close to an Autobahn, there is usually a petrol station close by. Food is cheap, the loos are clean and we could bung the DCs in the crèche while we had a cup of coffee in peace.

My 6 year old DGD likes giving her opinion on the room displays in IKEA. Also, the creche is handy for a playdate.

Not quite free, but cheap, if you have a Hobbycraft near you check out their workshops.

Libraries near us have Bookbug sessions for toddlers and lego after school clubs.

Museums are great for school age kids. You can often find an area they are really interested in. Even drawing the stuffed animals.

Edinburgh in August - couple of street performances and a picnic lunch (bus in as driving and parking is a nightmare).

Mine spent a lot of time in hospital and did love it! They had a huge play area and lots of play therapists. I couldn't say the same!