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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU to think IKEA is a top parenting hack?

338 replies

Wallasey123 · 18/01/2026 13:26

DS2 is 3 and we went to IKEA yesterday not because we needed anything but just to get out of the house (and tbh I couldn’t face soft play).

He ran around loads, looked at all the rooms, climbed on the sofas and beds and I didn’t need to be on red alert every second like I am at the park.

I don’t know why I’d never considered it as a day out before! I think when it’s too busy it’s prob not great but we went at opening time and it was great. Also obvs helps that there’s something in it for me - I get to mooch, get ideas and pretend I’m being productive.

Ofc ended up buying a few bits and pieces and hotdogs in the end but I feel like I’ve provided an enriching outing, even though I mostly just walked in circles looking at storage 😅

Any other unexpected places that are actually fun for kids AND adults (and don’t cost the earth) that I might not have considered?

OP posts:
Original poster
Wallasey123 · 18/01/2026 18:20

Vivi0 · 18/01/2026 18:14

Don’t listen to those trying to piss all over your fun day out!

You’ve inspired me. I’ll be taking my kids to IKEA next weekend. Might even invite some friends and their children too 😂

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Just don’t run / climb / speak. Maybe don’t even touch anything. If you must take kids, put them in a blue IKEA bag with a couple of meatballs

OP posts:
Needmorelego · 18/01/2026 18:18

If people think small children are bad then don't go to the new (ish) branch at Oxford Circus in central London.... it's full of tourists. Urrgh 🤣🤣🤣🤣

Vivi0 · 18/01/2026 18:14

Wallasey123 · 18/01/2026 18:11

It’s gone full 🍿😅

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Don’t listen to those trying to piss all over your fun day out!

You’ve inspired me. I’ll be taking my kids to IKEA next weekend. Might even invite some friends and their children too 😂

Original poster
Wallasey123 · 18/01/2026 18:11

Vivi0 · 18/01/2026 17:59

I love this thread.

It’s so funny hearing all the seemingly mundane places that little kids find fun.

And what’s even funnier are the usual comments by people getting their knickers in a twist about it.

“It’s irresponsible parenting”
”So entitled”
”Feral children trashing the place”

Take a day off 😂

It’s gone full 🍿😅

OP posts:
Original poster
Wallasey123 · 18/01/2026 18:10

ClaraThePigeon · 18/01/2026 18:02

That’s because literally is usually how saying that climbing furniture and running around is normally used especially in regards to small children, as it’s something they tend to do. Hence why I left Furniture Village recently after 10 minutes because there were multiple children doing exactly that. Unlike saying that you could have killed someone which is rarely used literally.

Your original post gives a completely different impression from your subsequent ones.

Edited
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Noted. I’ll rewrite and cross examine all my posts going forward. My ‘running around and climbing’ was meant in the normal parent shorthand way, not ‘security called’ way. It was actually a really lovely day.

I’m sorry your visit to FV didn’t go well. Thoughts and prayers.

OP posts:
AWellReadWoman · 18/01/2026 18:09

Did exactly the same thing today!

Green2013 · 18/01/2026 18:05

Viviennemary · 18/01/2026 17:44

I was going to buy some storage units. Didnt realise it was a free for all let the kids run riot session!

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Not necessarily about them running riot, but it is packed. Families have to go on the weekend. Not a good time to go if you’re child free, it will do your head in.

willstarttomorrow · 18/01/2026 18:02

@Greeniscalming We are close to the Go Outdoors in West Leeds and agree.

It is not so much taking children to shops but using a shop as a playground without respecting other shoppers. I am 50 and have great memories of being on the family shop once a week- I remember Bejams! We had one car and we had to tag along but were expected to behave. There is nothing new about taking children shopping, we enjoyed it. The difference seems to be around parental management of their children. And just to add, we were not managed by fear or physical chastisement, just an expectation of how to behave!

ClaraThePigeon · 18/01/2026 18:02

Wallasey123 · 18/01/2026 17:56

I’ve just explained as carefully as possible. Everything is very LITERAL for some people here ^ I wonder if this is what it’s like in court 🤔

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That’s because literally is usually how saying that climbing furniture and running around is normally used especially in regards to small children, as it’s something they tend to do. Hence why I left Furniture Village recently after 10 minutes because there were multiple children doing exactly that. Unlike saying that you could have killed someone which is rarely used literally.

Your original post gives a completely different impression from your subsequent ones.

Needmorelego · 18/01/2026 18:00

Wallasey123 · 18/01/2026 17:56

I’ve just explained as carefully as possible. Everything is very LITERAL for some people here ^ I wonder if this is what it’s like in court 🤔

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Some folks are also just so serious about everything 🤣🤣

Obeseandashamed · 18/01/2026 18:00

KitKat1985 · 18/01/2026 13:31

When the kids were younger and I was skint we often used to go to 'Pets at Home' and look at all the pets and fish and treated it like a trip to the zoo.

Garden centres are great too. There's one near us with a huge choice of sheds and playhouses which the kids like to look at, as well as all of the plants and outdoor fish.

Great free day trips!

My mum used to do this with us - you could also feed the koi for 50p. I have so many fond memories of those days x

Vivi0 · 18/01/2026 17:59

I love this thread.

It’s so funny hearing all the seemingly mundane places that little kids find fun.

And what’s even funnier are the usual comments by people getting their knickers in a twist about it.

“It’s irresponsible parenting”
”So entitled”
”Feral children trashing the place”

Take a day off 😂

Original poster
Wallasey123 · 18/01/2026 17:56

Needmorelego · 18/01/2026 17:52

You're allowed to climb (ie test out) on the sofas and beds in IKEA.... that's the whole point of their stores.

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I’ve just explained as carefully as possible. Everything is very LITERAL for some people here ^ I wonder if this is what it’s like in court 🤔

OP posts:
Clafoutie · 18/01/2026 17:55

Needmorelego · 18/01/2026 17:06

Ok apologies....missed that.
But it doesn't mean in a dangerous way.
No more than some of the adults in the way they manically push the trolleys around or ram them into other people.
Some adults need to learn better behaviour in shops before I'm going to get annoyed by a happy toddler.

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That’s very true!

Original poster
Wallasey123 · 18/01/2026 17:55

miguelgorbachev · 18/01/2026 17:51

Is climbed all over the sofas and beds also a figure of speech and not meant to be taken literally?

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He climbed because he is small in size. He put his knee on the horizontal bit of the bed and / or chair then swiveled and put his bum on it with his legs hanging off the side. He then said “mama mia” because he loves Mario and hopped off to look at something else

OP posts:
Needmorelego · 18/01/2026 17:52

miguelgorbachev · 18/01/2026 17:51

Is climbed all over the sofas and beds also a figure of speech and not meant to be taken literally?

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You're allowed to climb (ie test out) on the sofas and beds in IKEA.... that's the whole point of their stores.

Mabiscuit · 18/01/2026 17:52

We used to go all the time especially for the treasure hunts. They're always fun and take a while to do during school hols. The ice-cream machines at the exit were all out of order so there was no usual reward as advertised on the worksheet. IKEA don't seem to give the free ice-cream anymore! I guess there must have been a few tantrums and not just from the kids.

Sparrowandblackbird · 18/01/2026 17:52

ClaraThePigeon · 18/01/2026 17:51

Crèches used to be be very common when I was a child.(I’m 41) It wasn’t unusual for larger supermarkets and department stores, among other places, to have one. This one only closed in 2002.

https://www.greenocktelegraph.co.uk/news/13985152.parents-outrage-as-store-closes-creche/

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I’m 45 - I remember them too!

landlordhell · 18/01/2026 17:51

Wallasey123 · 18/01/2026 17:49

Yes! Back in the 90s. It was the Safeway in Camden which then became a Morrisons and now no idea as not lived there in years. Probably flats or something

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Think it’s still a supermarket.

blondlygoshferatus · 18/01/2026 17:51

I loved it as a kid.

Please supervise closely as DS once started being questioned and cornered a bit by two grown men in the rug area. Only meters from me so I could hear them.
Very inappropriate as he looked alone.

I also saw a horrible robbery with violence in an ikea once with woman screaming.

miguelgorbachev · 18/01/2026 17:51

Needmorelego · 18/01/2026 17:43

Yes I apologised upthread about missing it but the OP has also followed up with saying it's more a figure of speech not actually charging around.

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Is climbed all over the sofas and beds also a figure of speech and not meant to be taken literally?

ClaraThePigeon · 18/01/2026 17:51

ABeerInTheSunshineMakesMeHappy · 18/01/2026 17:46

A supermarket with its own crèche ??

Show quote history

Crèches used to be be very common when I was a child.(I’m 41) It wasn’t unusual for larger supermarkets and department stores, among other places, to have one. This one only closed in 2002.

https://www.greenocktelegraph.co.uk/news/13985152.parents-outrage-as-store-closes-creche/

Parent"s outrage as store closes creche

A MUM and dad-of-three who spend £13,000 a year on shopping are angry because their supermarket is closing its creche. Bill and Vivienne…

https://www.greenocktelegraph.co.uk/news/13985152.parents-outrage-as-store-closes-creche/

Sparrowandblackbird · 18/01/2026 17:49

ABeerInTheSunshineMakesMeHappy · 18/01/2026 17:46

A supermarket with its own crèche ??

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It used to be fairly common-ish for some big stores to have a play area (usually coloured balls.)

Brother and I used to love a trip to carpet world.

Original poster
Wallasey123 · 18/01/2026 17:49

ABeerInTheSunshineMakesMeHappy · 18/01/2026 17:46

A supermarket with its own crèche ??

Show quote history

Yes! Back in the 90s. It was the Safeway in Camden which then became a Morrisons and now no idea as not lived there in years. Probably flats or something

OP posts:
ABeerInTheSunshineMakesMeHappy · 18/01/2026 17:46

Wallasey123 · 18/01/2026 13:58

They do! But sadly mine refuse to be left in there. My mum used to leave me in the Safeways one back in the 90s - another excellent day out for me 😁

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A supermarket with its own crèche ??

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