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AIBU?

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Original poster

How to survive IKEA with kids

124 replies

oldjacksscrote · 12/04/2016 12:08

Planning a trip to IKEA tomorrow, with a 3 month old and a very spirited naughty 2 year old, I haven't been for years and wondered what tips you guys have for surviving it? I'm starting to stress.

Do they have baby and toddler trollies, baby changing and would you consider It to be BF friendly?

OP posts:

Bodicea · 12/04/2016 12:44

Also I vaguely tenner giving him something from he kids section half way round and paying for it at the end.

Bodicea · 12/04/2016 12:44

*remember

BertieBotts · 12/04/2016 12:45

Decide what sections you're going to look at beforehand, use as many of the shortcuts as you can. Don't get distracted looking at other things. DH and you should make a pact to keep each other on track :)

Yes to meatballs at the end of the upstairs bit. And ice cream as a bribe to dangle at the end of the downstairs bit.

Let DC walk at their own pace and explore stuff if you're broadly on track as long as they aren't breaking things.

FairNotFair · 12/04/2016 12:51

Don't do what my friend did. I was there a few years ago with her and her spirited DS(2).
Halfway around the hellhole that is the Lakeside store, her DS had an extremely explosive nappy.
I looked for the sign for the loos/baby change; however, she proceeded to strip him down on the floor of one of the "show bathrooms", in full view of passers-by.
I tentatively suggested that a real baby-changing room might be better than a fake bathroom with no sanitary facilities (or privacy).
Her response: "Well, they shouldn't make it look so much like a real bathroom if they don't want people to use it"

We are still good friends, but I've never returned to IKEA with her.

plantsitter · 12/04/2016 12:55

Oh if there's two of you it'll be all right. Put OH in charge of the 2 yr old, take earplugs so you don't hear the wake of shattering crockery and mooch around with the baby in a sling. Even better if you're breastfeeding as there's no way OH gets the baby. I'm sure your 2 year old is lovely but there should be a modern day saying equivalent to 'bull in a china shop': toddler in IKEA.

shovetheholly · 12/04/2016 12:55

Every time I go, it's chock full of parents with small kids. You won't be the only one screaming and in need of wine.

achildsjoy · 12/04/2016 12:57

Leave him with your mum then? Why on earth would a grown man not want to go to ikea on his own

zoobaby · 12/04/2016 13:05

If you know what you want, take a note of the product codes then go straight to the computer terminals to find out the location in the warehouse. If you're browsing, send your OH and 2 year old off to the kids room/toy display areas. This is at the end, near the canteen in both my Ikea store options (yes bragging about having 2 ikeas within driving distance - haha) so your OH could also venture in that direction if needed.

I'd say it's BF friendly... lots of comfy lounges scattered around . I do restrict myself to the lounges in the canteen area though.

TheCrumpettyTree · 12/04/2016 13:05

Why won't he go on his own? Surely when you've got children the thought of shopping by yourself is heaven.

ouryve · 12/04/2016 13:07

I tend to hold my breath walking past the glasses with my bouncing, swingy 9 and 12 year olds!

justabigdisco · 12/04/2016 13:08

Only £7.50 for delivery? I love IKEA but surely you'd spend more than that on petrol there and back and shit you don't need?

zoobaby · 12/04/2016 13:08

I would also say, wise move going on a weekday.

goodenoughmum88 · 12/04/2016 13:40

Do you have a sling? For supermarket etc trips i put my now 6 month old in the sling and my spirited 3 year old in the trolley. In ikea there's loads of stuff they can play on too so you could do a combination of playing and shopping with bribery snacks? They're bf friendly and have good changing facilities in ours. Leave loads of time for inevitable faffery!

SquinkiesRule · 12/04/2016 13:45

If it was only £7.50 for delivery I'd order online to avoid all the kids and the loud parenting that I was subject to last week. It's £35 for us no matter how small the order.
I'd leave the kids behind, it isn't an entertaining trip to the zoo or the park. You will get to see and find more things without them helping.
We like many people drive a long way with a shopping list and a finite amount of time to get it all done before the long drive home. Only to find our way blocked by toddlers trying everything out and parents narrating their every move and clapping. 'Can you tell I was very frustrated on my trip to Warrington last week?
In the end we packed the car, and Dh sat in it. can't stand closed in loud places to start with I went back in with 11 yo Dd to check out couches and bring back brochures of the ones we liked. We did manage to buy all the furniture we needed for now.

ThursdayLastWeek · 12/04/2016 13:55

That's weird I live vv far away from an ikea but only pay £7.50 for delivery. Why is it £35 elsewhere?

Honestly, I'd say £7.50 is worth paying not to go under any circumstances. Let alone with a baby and a toddler

nocoffeenouppee · 12/04/2016 14:02

We do it more often than seems reasonable. Toddler in trolley, baby in sling. Snacks for the toddler. If all else fails a soft toy. There's good baby changing at ours. And cafe is BF friendly. There are worse places to have to go.

Lweji · 12/04/2016 14:03

I think the delivery costs depend on distance to the shop. Don't they?

maisiejones · 12/04/2016 14:07

Well if OH is taking you, can't he take your DCs off somewhere, you go into IKEA and call him to collect you when you're done?

Wanderingwondering · 12/04/2016 14:07

That would be £7.50 very well spent imo!

EssentialHummus · 12/04/2016 14:19

If you know what you need, look it up online and get the "Article number" for that store, which tells you where in the final warehouse-y bit to find that item.

(For example, see here for a random wardrobe in Ikea Birmingham: www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/availability/90323604/ )

Then go straight there - in through exit, or shortcut through store.

Pay.

Items to car.

Go eat meatballs.

Hufflepuffin · 12/04/2016 14:21

IKEA is a really pleasant place to go with my 20 month old. I let him play with as many of the kitchen appliances as he wants, hide in all the cupboards etc then put him in the trolley for the marketplace. This only works if your DH is happy to go at child's pace through this bit!

They have really clever seat belts in the trolleys that even my live wire can't escape! I don't know about the baby trolley situation so a sling is a good idea.

We pick a table in the restaurant surrounded by kids so nobody is bothered by his noise.

For breastfeeding, ours has a comfy private area in the restaurant (although a sign encourages you to feed wherever you want!) as well as a feeding chair in the family bathroom.

The main reason I learnt to drive age 33 was so I could take myself to IKEA

waterrat · 12/04/2016 14:23

Pay 7.50 and don't do it.

almostthirty · 12/04/2016 14:26

Don't panic. I've survived ikea on my own with 2yr old and 3 yr old. The secret is bribe with a cake pit stop half way around!

Also let them explore too. It might take an extra couple of hours as you have to look in every drawer and box but it's easier to go with the flow than fight with them to stay in the trolley all the way around.

waitingforsomething · 12/04/2016 14:27

We do this reasonably frequently with 9 month old and 3.5 year old. Baby goes in carrier as he gets whingey otherwise. dd quite likes it as she likes trying out the beds and likes the children's bit at the end and we always buy her a smoothie and a biscuit in the cafe at the end for being good.
Make sure you know what you want before you go so you're not there for ages is my advice!

SavoyCabbage · 12/04/2016 14:31

You will spend much more than £7.50 on extra bits and bobs. Going in person will not be cheaper overall.

I used to take mine to IKEA all the time. It was a good day out as far as I was concerned. They liked following the paths and there are little stations where you can play as you go around. There are meatballs to be eaten and you know you are going to get an antilop high chair in IKEA whereas every where else you just have to hope.

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