AIBU to think IKEA is a top parenting hack?

[Wallasey123]

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?

Used to always take my kids to IKEA for the day in the holidays. So much pretend play to do and then meatballs at the end.

I love our ikea as it has a crèche in it, one hour for free. So I whizz round and get what I need whilst DS is in there

We used to love an outing to ikea as kids too! 😀

My parents used to take use to Ikea every summer. It was like Disney land for us 😂

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!

YABVU for allowing him to climb on the furniture. It always amazes me when I see parents allowing their children to do that and generally run riot in shops. Surely common sense and common decency and consideration for others makes it obvious that you shouldn’t?

Have you been to Ikea? They want you to try out all the furniture and it's very family friendly.

we once took the kids to a large camping store in the winter - it was a massive warehouse with all the tents up on display and they had a great time running in and out of the various tents. i was careful to make sure they didn't damage anything and there was almost no one in the shop.

Some IKEA branches have banned groups of teenagers because they were coming in to play "pretend" at living in the flat mock-ups.
A bit mean if you ask me as it's probably the only chance many teens are going to be able to experience living in their own flat.

The Range at Christmas was great for this, my 3 year old enjoyed it more than the expensive Santa visit

It does get suggested on here a lot. Problem is I absolutely loathe ikea. I really hate it.

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

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

Have I been to Ikea? Yes many times. And yes you can sit on/in it that’s what trying it out means, but you shouldn’t be allowing your child to trample all over it especially with shoes on.

Yes to Pet's at Home and Garden Centres! Both a great way to kill some time.

Out Pets at Home also has times where they get the animals out and you can stroke them/learn about them.

Toy shops and book shops can also be really child friendly.

A big shopping centre like Westfield is also good.

Show homes…. Great day out

Displays of sheds, garden rooms, play houses at the garden centre, discovered it when we were buying one but went back afterwards as well

last summer we went to the garden centre and he had a tantrum cos I wouldn’t let him pluck all the flowers. Keeping him in the shed area is actually a great shout… just need to avoid the blooms

YABU to call it a ‘hack’ lol- why is everything a bloody hack these days!

YANBU to suggest it’s a great place to take a 3 year old 😁

I was at IKEA yesterday... it was gell with lots of children running about while adults were trying to maneuvere heavy trollies or other children being dragged around moaning.

However... put them in the creche on a weekday and get a hot drink on your Family card... dies that hack still work?

We never really went growing up - I feel like I’ve missed out!

Pretty sure the OP's just bored.

Over tired hysterical toddler got a black eye in IKEA when she ran into a bed. All caused because MIL said I was ‘fussy’ for trying to get her to nap on the way so kept waking her up. She was uncontrollable in IKEA and completely ruined the visit for MIL. Worth it. Passed out when we got back in the car, refused to go to bed as she slept late and stayed up all evening and interrupted her watching TV. I think of it every time we go.
Shes 17 and still loves a day out there. Doesn’t run around but costs me a fortune.

I used to take mine years ago ( all grown up now), it was great for rainy winter days when you need something cheap to do.
In those days, they did very cheap lunches for children, don't know if that's still the case, much cheaper than local cafe equivalent. Then they'd try out the toys, any swivel or rocking chairs, and maybe we'd get some of their frozen Swedish meatballs to take home. Dh thought I was mad when I'd tell him we'd had a day trip to IKEA!

Tbf we went at opening time and it wasn’t busy (which I was shocked at cos I thought it would be). I expected we would leave quickly as it would get too much but I was surprised at how fine it was actually so probs a lot of caveats needed ha

Fine until they hide in the closets- had an absolute panic attack years ago when my eldest decided it was a great place to hide. He got out quick enough but we had a panicky few minutes!! Also very easy for them to try to run off because there’s something better over there;) Can you tell I have a love hate thing with ikea?!