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?

i have done it with my kids, and i love seeing kids have fun while there.. just one request. please limit the running around when walking between places.. as someone who uses crutches, i've been kicked/tripped over/bumped into by some many under 5's in that place its a hazard for me.

Definitely- we used to love it when ours were little. Like a big playground for them and then great cheap cafe!

When they were old enough to enjoy it we used to leave them in the crèche and have a miraculous 45 mins to ourselves - we used to head straight for the mattresses dept and lie down 😀😀

I love taking our toddler to ikea. We try out all of the furniture amd have a play with all the appliances. He loves looking at all the different cuddly toys they have. And they have a little play area/kitchen in the cafe.

Thank you! I love my kids but sometimes I just cannot handle another soft play or being cold in the park. This was excellent entertainment for me too

Oh wind your neck in. People will literally try to be superior about anything on here.

It’s set up so that people can try out the furniture. If you’ve got kids literally bouncing on the beds or throwing stuff about then yes, obviously not OK. But if they are playing in the rooms and laying on the beds etc they are doing nothing wrong. It isn’t the actual furniture that people are going to buy, it’s for testing and display.

YANBU OP and you’ve given me a good idea for a day out next weekend 😂

My 14yo still insists on popping into Pets at Home to say hello to the animals.

Used to take my kids then later my dog on trips to pets at home to look at the animals (ddog loved the chinchillas). Anything to wear them out that was free

This!

I'm laughing as I had DN (age 2.5) for the day mid-week. We had an awesome morning at Decathlon (massive sports & outdoor store with tents/ canoes) & then IKEA. He came back, had food & crashed. Woke 2 hours later happy as Larry for some play on the floor before daddy came to collect. I loved it!

Can i also suggest anywhere that sells fish for hobbyists. Mom and Dad used take me and my brother to Shirley Aquatics as dad kept fish. i had a great time nosing around all the tanks.. it's like a whole aquarium for free.

I like sofa 'shopping', think it might have been Furniture Village who used to do freshly baked/ warm cookies and coffee (think they stopped it after covid). People always look at me strangely when I curl up on the sofas but I don't tend to sit bolt upright at home!

You're a right laugh at parties, aren't you?

Who mentioned anything about trashing the place? Weird.

OP - you’ve been living under a rock? Everyone knows IKEA is a top day out for dc’s - then cheap meatballs n chips in the cafe. Mine are grown now and I don’t set foot in the place but yes…fond memories of mine running amok and trying out all the tiny furniture in the kids section. I still have the blue and orange plastic puppy cups and lunchboxes from there - mid-2000’s!

Furniture Village still do coffee and cookies.

My dc used to pretend to live in some of the houses and cook in the kitchens. Sometimes the rooms would be different the next time they went and they would incorporate that into the story. They also worked in an estate agents in the home office department for a good few years.

Pets at home is a good one or any pet shops for that matter.

Aww that’s cute some people are just mean. It gets them off the street as long as their not bothering anyone or damaging stuff their not doing any harm.

Yes, sadly Toys R Us is a bit thin on the ground these days! I have no idea if Smyths is as good?

They also loved the local museum (18 year old asked to go there as our day out last year)

And as others have said Pet shops, garden centres.

Mine also love visiting National Trust properties. Get an annual membership and then it's basically a free day out.

Same!

Yep - IKEA for the kids’ section plus cheap food, or the garden centre (reptiles and fish - practically the zoo!)

Ooh will have to start sofa shopping again!

I think she is being a little tongue in cheek.

Love ikea and so do our kids. They are 13 and 9 and genuinely chuffed when we say we are going there. They still run around like idiots there despite their ages and love picking a candle at the end. Happy days.

I used to drop my kids at smaland (IKEA version of soft play). 45 minutes of me time, whether it was a cuppa and a cake or just a mooch. They still rave about it now and they are 20 and 17 😂😂😂

I used to love going to IKEA, but the kids running around put me off..😀

I obviously have been living under a rock! With my feral children 😂