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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
FinallyFreeFromItAll · 13/04/2016 09:33

God, the staff in IKEA must get so fed up with people treating a shop like a children's playground and picnic area. What about health and safety? Surely it's not safe to have children charging around in a furniture store were people are probably carrying around heavy items and furniture. Would you go into any other shop and let your children eat and probably wipe there hands all over stuff?

Presumably you've never set foot in an IKEA? They have room layouts to demonstrate products and sitting on sofas, dining chairs etc is expected - they are there to test out. They are very family orientated and have areas for child to play. There are no heavy items being moved about in that part of IKEA, only at the end in the warehouse bit - where's its all boxes.

Personally I don't see why so many seem to find it hard. I don't bribe DS (just turned 4) and DD (just turned 1) is happy in trolley holding on to various cuddly toys. DS loves looking at the room layouts and sitting on various sofas and dining chairs. It just takes longer because DS wants to see every "room" as we go round.

Marynary · 13/04/2016 10:40

Personally I don't see why so many seem to find it hard. I don't bribe DS (just turned 4) and DD (just turned 1) is happy in trolley holding on to various cuddly toys. DS loves looking at the room layouts and sitting on various sofas and dining chairs. It just takes longer because DS wants to see every "room" as we go round.*

I can't see what is hard about it either. My children just liked looking at all the rooms and other items, sitting on sofas etc. They didn't "charge around" or climb things. Nobody is carrying anything around except in the warehouse and so we just walked quickly through that area (DH collected any furniture items we had chosen from the showrooms).

Marynary · 13/04/2016 10:40

Personally I don't see why so many seem to find it hard. I don't bribe DS (just turned 4) and DD (just turned 1) is happy in trolley holding on to various cuddly toys. DS loves looking at the room layouts and sitting on various sofas and dining chairs. It just takes longer because DS wants to see every "room" as we go round.

I can't see what is hard about it either. My children just liked looking at all the rooms and other items, sitting on sofas etc. They didn't "charge around" or climb things. Nobody is carrying anything around except in the warehouse and so we just walked quickly through that area (DH collected any furniture items we had chosen from the showrooms).

MrsHathaway · 13/04/2016 11:32

As an aside, when my two eldest wandered off on their own (they were playing in the playing bit of the children's section, I was mere feet away with my back to them, that apparently made me invisible, they went to catch me up) IKEA staff were absolutely excellent.

Very calmly and discreetly they distributed the children's description to all staff by radio. Security staff were sent to all doors to check/stall any child trying to leave the building. More staff swept the entire store front to back and back to front until they found two sad little boys on a bench looking puzzled.

"Are you DS2?" asked the security guard.

Then they told the children that I was "still in the children's area" and walked back with them, not once taking their arm or touching their back or head or anything at all. We had huge hugs and that was the end of it. I doubt any other customer had any idea that anything was happening. They also said it happens all the time. The whole thing had taken maybe six or seven minutes start to finish.

It was frustrating that all the years of "IF YOU GET LOST STAND STILL OR SIT DOWN AND SHOUT MUMMY MUMMY MUMMY" had been completely discarded in favour of "if you get lost, go for a little wander" but ho hum.

They were only walking round with me because the creche was full. First and last time we've gone and not used it.

[years off my life emoticon]

It's awkward at the moment because DS3 (2) is also a bolter but too heavy and too good at climbing for the trolley seat, but also too young for the creche. We try to outnumber him Grin

ConferencePear · 13/04/2016 11:54

Pippa12 wrote
Me and my DH nearly divorces after an afternoon at IKEA with the kids,

This happened to us without any kids. Don't go.

oldjacksscrote · 13/04/2016 13:20

Well we made it out alive and me and OH only had a small argument in the car on the way, when I forgot to tell him where to turn off on the motorway, ended up taking us nearly 2 hours to get there!

2yo was very well behaved (for a change). We ended up going through the market place 3 times with him in the trolley and we let him out with reins in the show room, where he spent most of his time pretending to be a dinosaur. I over heard 2 negative comments from other customers, one directed at us and another at someone else but considering how much effort IKEA put into making their store family friendly it didn't bother me that these people thought that kids shouldn't be there.

Breastfeeding and changing facilities were great I'd return for that alone.

I downloaded the app, as suggested, which was great when it came to the warehouse and we also used the scanner on the way round which was handy when things didn't have prices on.

2yo got a wind up torch and had hotdog at the end while I changed 3mo who had slept for the entire duration, bar one quick feed when we arrived.

Thanks for the helpful tips and warnings guys I'm currently wedged between two car seats and will join the kids in a post IKEA nap Smile

OP posts:
Donna2tellaM0ss · 13/04/2016 13:34

My kids LOVE Ikea because I allow them to ruin the display furniture but I would never take my husband. I have gone (with 3 DCs in tow) on my own and bought all manner of large bits of furniture in the past- all in the interest of preserving my marriage !Grin
hope your trip went/ is going well....

Donna2tellaM0ss · 13/04/2016 13:35

sorry x posted with you OP! glad you survived.

HumanQualities · 13/04/2016 13:39

I don't know why everyone gets their knickers in a twist about ikea with the kids, my DD loves going so much that she asked if we could go for her birthday. We play houses, she gets to choose something in the kids section, meatballs and princess cake for lunch and having a nosey around the food bit at the end (Bristol store) to choose a packet of sweets for the car.

If you like ikea it'll be fun and fine, if you hate ikea then it won't.

oldjacksscrote · 13/04/2016 13:54

I agree with all who say don't go with dp, we got on ok but I would have been able to buy so much more if he wasn't keeping his beady eye on the trolley.

OP posts:
LookAtAllThesePhucksIGive · 13/04/2016 13:57

I like going but dh hates any kind of shopping so refuses to take me. I'm very organised. If we're going to a shopping centre for anything I make a list and hit the shops I need to with no browsing. I do this because the moment we step out of the car he's a ticking time bomb of simmering rage. It really winds me up. The last time we went ikea he was hurrying me along and tutting at everything. I exploded this time and told him to fuck off back to the car which he refused to do. If planned to go to the cafe afterwards for a hot drink and snack. When I was finished at the checkout and said "let's go for a brew" he says in a loud voice "Are you taking the fucking piss?!" Everyone turned to stare at us. I left all the stuff and walked off outside for a smoke. So now I see if what I want is on Amazon. It's usually a bit dearer but includes delivery. Strangely he's OK in Costco (unless I go down an aisle of stuff he doesn't like, like stuff not aimed at him.

Alasalas2 · 13/04/2016 13:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MewlingQuim · 13/04/2016 14:08

Yes, DH is much more trouble than DD. Mostly because he wants to rush round and get out asap whereas we prefer to sit on all the sofas, look in the kitchen cupboards etc.

IKEA with kids is only hell if you try to do it quickly Grin

TiffanyAtBreakfast · 13/04/2016 14:56

I'm sure I'll be in the minority here but I don't really get why some see IKEA as a family day out, all I've personally ever seen are kids getting tired, bored and frazzled. I know IKEA aims to be family friendly but there's a difference between that and somewhere that welcomes the ruining of displays for fun and its aisles being used as a play area. I'd rather leave kids with a babysitter if possible, or use the creche and whip quickly round to get the bits I need rather than dragging them round looking at sinks and napkins that are of no interest to them whatsoever.

TimeToMuskUp · 13/04/2016 14:58

Last time we went to IKEA DS2 sat in the trolley dressed as a ninja turtle, DS1 ran about dressed as Super Mario and DH spent the whole time running about driving the trolley at 50mph chasing them. It's like taking a menagerie of turds out for the day. They get high just seeing the sign.

I love it though; they go and dick about in wardrobes while I choose endless tat and serenely waft about in the plant/gardening section.

We went once and I overheard a woman telling her DP about a "dreadful" parent playing hide and seek under the beds with his DCs. I know for an absolute fact it was my asshat family she was referring to. I don't even care.

purplevase · 13/04/2016 15:22

Whenever I see threads like this I just think ONLINE SHOPPING. Have you totted up how much it would cost in petrol and treats for the toddler as compared with the £7.50?

Or babysitter.

Don't do it. You'll be miserable, the kids will be miserable - and so will the other customers.

Marynary · 13/04/2016 15:26

I'm sure I'll be in the minority here but I don't really get why some see IKEA as a family day out, all I've personally ever seen are kids getting tired, bored and frazzled.

Plenty of people have said their children love/loved it though including me. They probably know their own children between than you do.

TiffanyAtBreakfast · 13/04/2016 15:42

Marynary I'm not shouting down those people that say their kids enjoy IKEA, simply saying that I personally don't find it much of a day out for a family, and in the past have only seen frazzled kids in the stores I go to. It's okay for me to have a differing opinion to yours without you taking umbridge Grin

Marynary · 13/04/2016 17:05

Marynary I'm not shouting down those people that say their kids enjoy IKEA, simply saying that I personally don't find it much of a day out for a family, and in the past have only seen frazzled kids in the stores I go to. It's okay for me to have a differing opinion to yours without you taking umbridge

I didn't say it wasn't okay for you to have a different opinion. I am just disagreeing with your opinion. That is the nature of this forum. Hmm

SoupDragon · 13/04/2016 17:09

I remember going with the DSs when they were something like 12 and 14. We played hide and seek Blush DS2 managed to hide successfully in a kitchen cupboard.

However, this really isn't what I'd recommend with a toddler!

MrsHathaway · 13/04/2016 17:14

Now I REALLY want to go to Ikea.

I want a £1.50 paper lantern for a craft project I'll be doing with some ten-year-olds. It's going to cost me more like £50 in diesel, meatballs and "ooh that's nice"s. Damn.

laughingGnomette · 13/04/2016 18:58

Has anyone used the SMÅLAND Créche they have? I have a nearly 4 year old and was thinking about using this next time we go.

MrsHathaway · 13/04/2016 19:02

It's called Lilleby at ours, and we use it every time (see above for what happened when we didn't). It's a bit basic - telly and colouring AFAIK - but mine like it (just 5 and 7) and we'll put DC3 in once he's three.

SoupDragon · 13/04/2016 19:13

I used to put mine in the crèche and sit in the restaurant with coffee and a book!

laughingGnomette · 13/04/2016 19:45

Thanks MrsHathaway!
Great idea SoupDragon! Can't argue with free childcare Smile

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