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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:
MayaPinion · 18/01/2026 17:20

WirelessInternet · 18/01/2026 13:34

They want you try it out, not let your children trash the place.

Says a lot about you, I shouldn’t wonder.

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Wait, where did anyone say anything about trashing the place? We go quite regularly (can recommend the breakfast during ‘browsing hour’). We’ve had a lie down on the beds, sat on the sofas and chairs, played in the kids section, argued about cushions, pulled out the extendable table and chairs, etc. I even managed to accidentally break an adjustable desk a few weeks ago. That said, most of my mattresses come from there, lots of our bedding, curtains for the kids rooms, all our bins, most of our kitchen utensils and storage, some our lights and lampshades, and we’re about to buy a full wardrobe system after spending a happy morning after spending a happy thoroughly investigating all the options. IKEA is very family friendly and are happy for their set ups to be used as they’d be used in real life. That’s WHY they’re set up like that - so people can get a feel for how they’d work in their own homes.

(yes, they did manage to fix the desk 😁)

Needmorelego · 18/01/2026 17:20

ThePoshUns · 18/01/2026 17:17

Yes we did this and the Early Learning Centre when they had shops.

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ELC still has shops.... they're part of The Entertainer.

Ireallycantthinkofagoodone · 18/01/2026 17:19

TheNightingalesStarling · 18/01/2026 17:16

And I nearly brought a giraffe home yesterday.

Me too - they were so cute, and my favourite animal

Livelovebehappy · 18/01/2026 17:19

Needmorelego · 18/01/2026 16:18

Adults can try the products too....and they do.
That's the point.

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And that’s okay. Adults trying out a bed, or testing the comfort of a mattress = fine. A child doing bunny jumps from bed to bed = not fine.

Needmorelego · 18/01/2026 17:19

Livelovebehappy · 18/01/2026 17:14

Where do you live/shop!!? I’ve been shopping for decades and never had an adult deliberately ram their trolley into me.

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You're lucky.
Happens a lot.
Not just trollies. I had a women practically push me out the way from getting something out a cabinet in Tesco the other day.
I needed to back out first before she could get in....but no. She couldn't possibly wait the 1.5 seconds for me to actually move.
Cow.
I hope the door pinched her fingers 🤣

flopsyrabbit8 · 18/01/2026 17:18

Oldgoatinaboat · 18/01/2026 15:07

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.

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Op said they went at opening when it was quiet. She doesn’t mention her children tearing about and wrecking the place. But obviously don’t let the facts stop you from using an opportunity to bleat about how high your standards are.

ThePoshUns · 18/01/2026 17:17

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!

Yes we did this and the Early Learning Centre when they had shops.

Needmorelego · 18/01/2026 17:16

Wallasey123 · 18/01/2026 17:12

Ofc not! He wanted the big brown bear but we compromised on a smaller (and cheaper chimp) 😁

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Djungleskog the Bear 🤣
I have one staring at me right now...

TheNightingalesStarling · 18/01/2026 17:16

And I nearly brought a giraffe home yesterday.

TheNightingalesStarling · 18/01/2026 17:15

To be fair, IKEA does barrier any no climbing bits like the top bunks.

(And as to comments why you shouldn't go to ije on a Saturday if you don't have kids... People go on Saturdays without kids as they are at work on other days. Presumably same as parents. Everyone just needs to respect each other. )

Neurodiversitydoctor · 18/01/2026 17:15

TakeTheCuntingQuichePatricia · 18/01/2026 13:51

Mine loved a "day out" at Toys R Us when they were small. Id always set the expectation before we went that we were NOT buying toys, just looking to see what they would like for birthday/Christmas. They'd spent ages looking at the toys, sitting in the ride in cars and so on. Then next door to McDonalds for a 59p ice cream each. Feed the ducks on the way there/home.

Admittedly this is only any good if you have a toy shop next to a McDonald's. The ducks were a bonus.

Yes and ELC ( sadly now closed). Yy to pet sgops especially if they had fish. Luckily we have always had free museums quite close ( my favourite is the garden @ the science museu @ 2pm on a school day, deserted)

Livelovebehappy · 18/01/2026 17:14

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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Where do you live/shop!!? I’ve been shopping for decades and never had an adult deliberately ram their trolley into me.

Original poster
Wallasey123 · 18/01/2026 17:12

Needmorelego · 18/01/2026 17:10

Did you make it out without having to buy a cuddly toy?
(I keep meaning to pop in and buy a meerkat because they're so sweet)
Some people are taking this thread so seriously.....
By the way if you're really brave....Lego Store. They have Lego to play with set up 🙂

Edited
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Ofc not! He wanted the big brown bear but we compromised on a smaller (and cheaper chimp) 😁

OP posts:
shellyleppard · 18/01/2026 17:12

@Puffalicious bless him he was trying to help!!! We used to play hide and seek in the kitchen cupboards 😂

Livelovebehappy · 18/01/2026 17:11

Dragonflytamer · 18/01/2026 16:27

Of course its for kids. Kids bring parents, parents spend money. Ikea spend vast amount of money on behavioural science. If they did want kids climbing on the beds they would put sign up. If it was just for looking at - why would they put stuff in the cupboards and draws for the kids to find.

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Oh come on….you think if stores don’t want children climbing on their furniture that they should put signs up? Surely it’s just consideration and common sense for parents to know it’s not acceptable. Why does the blindingly obvious need to be spelt out on a sign?

Needmorelego · 18/01/2026 17:10

Wallasey123 · 18/01/2026 17:08

I have also said:
To clear things up when I say climbing and running, I don’t mean it in a bad way.
He’s 3, I’m bored of soft play and hadn’t considered IKEA as a nice place we could go together precisely because I was worried it would be too overwhelming/he might not behave. It turns out, when it’s not heaving, it’s actually lovely. He sat on chairs, he picked up cuddly toys, he pretended to cook. He was very respectful and no IKEA products, employees or other customers were bothered, hurt or damaged during our lovely day out (apart from the hotdog at the end). I’m not perfect, but I’m not that much of a knob as to let him destroy the place or annoy others.

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Did you make it out without having to buy a cuddly toy?
(I keep meaning to pop in and buy a meerkat because they're so sweet)
Some people are taking this thread so seriously.....
By the way if you're really brave....Lego Store. They have Lego to play with set up 🙂

Original poster
Wallasey123 · 18/01/2026 17:10

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.

Show quote history

I have tried to clear this up already but I think some people just like to get annoyed at every little thing. He wasn’t going crazy, just meant having a lovely time and no one was bothered or hurt and no damage.
like when people say I’m running to the shops - not everyone is LITERALLY RUNNING

OP posts:
miguelgorbachev · 18/01/2026 17:10

Sounds like a right nuisance. You need to control your child, OP. Take him to soft play or a park or something. Running around, climbing on sofas and beds in a store. . . not on.

LeafyMcLeafFace · 18/01/2026 17:10

Fuck me, I just thought it was to hideous because people couldn’t be arsed to keep their kids under control. It never crossed my mind that people would be so selfish that they encourage their kids to treat it like a playground with absolutely no regard for anyone who actually wants to shop there.

Thatsanotherfinemess1 · 18/01/2026 17:08

We had a lovely day out looking at motorhomes, the sales place has hundreds and leaves them unlocked so you can look round. We started with the cheap ones and worked out way up to the hundreds of thousands ones. Wow! The kids loved looking at the different bed types :)

Original poster
Wallasey123 · 18/01/2026 17:08

Clafoutie · 18/01/2026 17:04

He ran around loads, looked at all the rooms, climbed on the sofas and beds

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I have also said:
To clear things up when I say climbing and running, I don’t mean it in a bad way.
He’s 3, I’m bored of soft play and hadn’t considered IKEA as a nice place we could go together precisely because I was worried it would be too overwhelming/he might not behave. It turns out, when it’s not heaving, it’s actually lovely. He sat on chairs, he picked up cuddly toys, he pretended to cook. He was very respectful and no IKEA products, employees or other customers were bothered, hurt or damaged during our lovely day out (apart from the hotdog at the end). I’m not perfect, but I’m not that much of a knob as to let him destroy the place or annoy others.

OP posts:
EatMoreChocolate44 · 18/01/2026 17:07

Also do IKEA and pet shops are great too! 😂

Needmorelego · 18/01/2026 17:06

LovelyUser · 18/01/2026 17:01

@Needmorelego . In the OP, He ran around loads, .

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.

LBFseBrom · 18/01/2026 17:06

I've heard it said that IKEA is a great outing, sounds like you had a good time.

Some garden centres are very child-friendly, also have a cafe.

Clafoutie · 18/01/2026 17:04

Needmorelego · 18/01/2026 16:57

Why are people translating sitting on some sofas and playing with a (set up so you can try) wooden kitchen as "running around the store"?
Did the OP say her kids were running around?

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He ran around loads, looked at all the rooms, climbed on the sofas and beds

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