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?

IKEA is not a playground. This is why it’s hell on earth to visit

My two used to love a visit to Go Outdoors to look at the tents on a rainy day. We could only afford camping holidays so they liked to play at camping at the ‘indoor campsite’. Our nearest Ikea was two hours away but we did stop there to break up the journey on the 5 hour journey to the in-laws. I’m surprised you are only just aware of this amazing ‘hack’ OP.

They don't need to buy a flat ffs. A few bits from ikea can make a student room in Halls or a shared house feel like home snd at some point they'll get a home of their own even if it's rented.

Thats why they get sold as ex display!

When my dc were little I would regularly take them to IKEA just for the sake of getting them out of the house, they'd spend ages in the children's part where they had tents and such set up, and the best part was it was free. Our local IKEA also had a creche where you could have your dc for an hour or so but that's now closed down. The cafe at the end was cheap as well which is a big bonus.

These posts explain why I find shopping in IKEA to be a nightmare. Large numbers of unsupervised children and parents who aren’t taking responsibility.

I got talking to someone in the queue in the cafe once who said she would pick the kids up from school, drop them in the creche, have a coffee with the other school mums then fetch the kids and feed them their tea and then take them home. £1 for the coffee and less than a fiver for tea and happy play date with no mess. I wish we'd lived that close when ours were little! Now they are teenagers and it's a very expensive place to take them 😂

When we moved in my worst nightmare was my Bengal getting into the show home and knocking over all the glasses on the dining table.

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.

My daughter also loved the asda fish counter when she was little. She was fascinated looking at all the fish 😄

If you think IKEA is ‘hell on earth’ you must lead a very sheltered life, or your local area must be well rough.

I loved going to B&Q, Wickes, and MFI as a kid, looking at the kitchens and bathroom displays. I remember once looking around a show home and wishing I could have done it more often. Now I love Ikea and go quite regularly as I live pretty much slap bang between Warrington's and Manchester's. I've even been to ones in Europe, Japan, Australia and last year I went to the biggest in the world in Manila. A couple of times 🙈

I was a strange kid and now I'm a strange adult! 😆 You do run the risk of your child growing up like me! 🙈 just messing. My sons are 18 and nearly 15 and hate the place! Some people love shoes, clothes and hand bag shopping, I don't. I love looking at home interiors. I'm not really as obsessed as I sound though, honestly.

I never really let my kids run around in them though. There's often a lot glassware out and people carrying young babies. Start them young! ;) But I always loved "Wendy houses" and hide and seek. And even to me, the thought of losing a 3 year old in Ikea gives me the fear.

I know Manchester doesn't have a Småland creche anymore, but from 3ish they can go in there if they are potty-trained. If your local one has one :)

Mine are 24,18 and 15 and all still love a trip to IKEA and costco! Might plan a visit next weekend 😆

This has reminded me that mine also loved a trip to Morrisons to do the weekly shop. I cant drive so my mum used to take us. They'd get to create a pizza each and visit the salad bar. When we'd done the shop we'd get dinner in the Morrisons cafe which used to cost less than a tenner for the 4 of us. Good times.

Took ds when he was early 20’s when one opened in our city. He loved opening and shutting the soft close doors and drawers and admiring the different room layouts etc.

tbf he’d not been since he was a small child 😁

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.

Can we go back now to the lighthearted-ness and memory sharing? 😅

Also we all live in a world with children and parenting is not easy. Some people need to go to shops and take their children with them and their children might end up being loud/tantruming/annoying etc. I don’t love it either but just put up with it for 5 mins because it’s not easy and the parents prob have that going on for most of their day yeah?

Yeah but they can't afford them at 30 either 🙁

IKEA is a lovely day out with kids. When I lived in China and it was 40 degrees in the summer holidays dd and I would go for a couple of hours as they had superb air con.
grandparents would take their grandchildren there and tuck them up in the beds for an afternoon sleep. One of my favourite China memories!

My kids did too! Took them to the Blue Planet in Ellesmere Port and they were not bothered at all. Money down the drain. The Sea Life Centre opened near us, they didn't want to go. But they would stare at dead frozen fish in supermarkets and begged to go into Pets At Home to see the fish in there. 🙈

As ababy, my now teenager loved the Lights section at B&Q.

My 12yo loves the fish bait section in Go Outdoors. Now that is a wierd one...

When my DS was 2 - 3 we lived close to a second hand car showroom that had a very large indoor display room - so when it was raining DH used to take him a wander around there where he could look at the cars (he was quite obsessed)
Ikea was fabulous for that as well

This is now on my bucket list to hope to see. It sounds so cute! ❤️🥹

Free in theory but I've never made it through an IKEA without buying something or stopping for lunch tbh

I have. Went to have a look and had a free coffee. I went back later in the week after having a think.
It only works if you have self-discipline. It's hard to not at least pick up some
Food Bag - Food Bag Clips - Food Cover - Freezer Bag - IKEA UK