Play kitchen help

[ilovehotsauce]

HI all I know it's been done before but I'd like some help.

We've got dd the Ikea kitchen for Christmas, I'm struggling with choosing accessories. What is actually essential? I got some ikea kids plates, dugkit pans & utensils sets before I realised I could spend a small fortune on play kitchen accessories!

I've fallen in love with a lot of the GLTC things so before spend ££££ are they worth it? What have your children actually played with?

I'm also looking at the dolls cradle so again is it worth the money?

We have the IKEA utensils and the soft fruit and veg - all played with daily. We have Sainsbos kettle and toaster - another hit!

Wilkos.do excellent wooden cutting food too.

We started out with the ikea pans and utensils. I avoided the ikea plates and cups because they looked a bit breakable, we already had a plastic peterkin teaset which has done fine. We also got the melissa and doug food groups set of food, and have picked up different extra bits and pieces since.

My dd has got some Melissa and Doug saucepans and Sandwich set, she's also got an ELC tea set and then she's got some proper kitchen accessories, like a mini sieve, mixing bowl and chopping board, but her favourite things are some little silicone cake cases and a jelly mould.

Get yourself to Lidl! They have lots of wooden toys in this week - from memory a coffee machine, breakfast set, baking set, fruit/veg set and meat/fish set. 2 for £10 I think.

In her toy kitchen my dd enjoys:

• Janod wooden food mixer (we bake quite a lot so no surprise)
• ELC breakfast set (a boiled egg and soldiers, very cute)
• Hape pasta set (FIL got her this and it's probably her most played with toy! She loves it)

I want to get her the ELC Christmas Dinner set so I can play with it.

Lidl was the plan but it all sold out by yesterday lunch time! I was gutted!

You definitely need play food. ELC used to do a good range. DD always made egg and chips, no idea why as it isn't something we ate!

She also liked a pop up toaster, but don't remember where I got it from.

You could ask any relatives who buy her a gift to get something kitchen related too.

DS is getting the Ikea kitchen. He has already got the ELC pots and pans and a tea set. For Christmas he is getting utensils, play food(from ILs so not sure what) plus I was thinking about getting him the sainsburys kettle/toaster.

If you have a Hema near you they have really nice wooden play food and prices are reasonable. They hav an online shop too.

Ahhh I was going to visit Lidl tomorrow for their wooden toys.....will it be a wasted trip?

It might depend I call ahead unless you are going anyway.

Hemna has just rocked my world!!! I love it we are moving into our first home (not rented) in the next few weeks and I've been dreading it looking like ikea as we are to broke for anything fancier! thank you ladies

Oooh ive just ordered stuff from Hema - free delivery too!

Our dc loved the Ikea pots and pans and utensils. We have the Ikea glasses and ELC tea set. We went for a kettle and toaster as well (realistic looking ones rather than coloured so they looked like the ones in our kitchen). I think getting stuff that replicates what you use in your own kitchen regularly is the best thing to do.

We started with the John Lewis food bag but have added to it with things we pick up things with Cbeebies magazines so there's plenty of 'menu options'.

But some of the things you can't buy as toys have been the biggest hits: a small chopping board (we got in Ikea), a washing up sponge cut into three to fit little hands, a small microfibre cloth and a tea towel, cut into two and hemmed.