Ikea Play Area

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For those of you who don't use the IKEA Smalland, do you ever hire a babysitter, leave your child with a nanny or in daycare, in cub scouts, with a piano teacher or sports coach, etc.? The reality is that you can't always be 100 percent sure that the people you leave your child with are OK but, personally, I don't want my children to grow up fearful of everyone outside their immediate family. I think the IKEA system is pretty safe and I've used it often.

Yes, we hire babysitters. Older teen girls that my DH knows well and knows their families well (he works at a private high school). We also have our kids in a home daycare. They've both been there since they were 9 weeks old and it's 2 older ladies. One is a retired teacher and the other is a retired pediatric nurse.

My kids are never left alone with any of their other teachers or coaches.

[Anonymous]

Uhm, Protecting the Gift poster in other threads here. I leave my 3yo and 5yo in Smallland. Love the place! Pretty obvious most of you have no idea what the book actually states!

[Anonymous]

Where I grew up there was a furniture store that also had a playroom. I think it was called Homemakers or something (this was in Chicago). My parents would leave me in there to play while they shopped. One time, I was abducted by a stranger and locked in a shed for 3 years.

Oh, wait no. What really happened was I loved going to that store and begged my parents to take me there while they shopped. And we all lived happily ever after.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I get that...I was addressing my comment to common sense dad, who said that people can't shop and adequately watch their kids at the same time. Pathetic, I wonder how he gets through life.

Easily. I don't bring the kids to Ikea unless I'm willing to leave them in Smaland. I have a little more respect for the store and other patrons than to bring kids there and let them run wild like so many other parents do. And apparently there are many people who either can't "shop and adequately watch their kids a the same time" or just don't care that they are inconveniencing staff and other patrons. If you happen to have well behaved children, that's one thing, but there are very many Ikea shoppers who seem to be misjudging how well behaved their children are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP-I don't really care if people drop their kids off at smallland, but, if you can't watch your kid and shop at the same time, you're pretty inept.

I think it's more that kids have a lot more fun going to a play area then tagging along while you're shopping. And you can shop a lot faster (and it is easier) when you don't have children in tow.

I get that...I was addressing my comment to common sense dad, who said that people can't shop and adequately watch their kids at the same time. Pathetic, I wonder how he gets through life.

NP here. I agree with common sense dad. We go to IKEA a few times a year and we are fine with our child when looking at things and when checking out. However, it is invaluable to have some hands-free time when comparing exact specifications of items. It is not possible for us to make reasoned design decisions and properly watch our child at the same time. Maybe you don't care that things fit perfectly and look good, but to us, design and fit are very important, so making a final decision requires more concentration than is possible with a preschooler along.

I have no problem shopping and making my house look good with my preschooler and toddler in tow. Sorry you can't handle such complex tasks. Do you also have issues walking while chewing gum? Maybe if you spent more time with your kid and less time wallowing in "exact specifications" you'd know how to do common daily tasks with your kid around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

NP here. I agree with common sense dad. We go to IKEA a few times a year and we are fine with our child when looking at things and when checking out. However, it is invaluable to have some hands-free time when comparing exact specifications of items. It is not possible for us to make reasoned design decisions and properly watch our child at the same time. Maybe you don't care that things fit perfectly and look good, but to us, design and fit are very important, so making a final decision requires more concentration than is possible with a preschooler along.

I have no problem shopping and making my house look good with my preschooler and toddler in tow. Sorry you can't handle such complex tasks. Do you also have issues walking while chewing gum? Maybe if you spent more time with your kid and less time wallowing in "exact specifications" you'd know how to do common daily tasks with your kid around.

Ugh sounds like a blast for your kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

NP here. I agree with common sense dad. We go to IKEA a few times a year and we are fine with our child when looking at things and when checking out. However, it is invaluable to have some hands-free time when comparing exact specifications of items. It is not possible for us to make reasoned design decisions and properly watch our child at the same time. Maybe you don't care that things fit perfectly and look good, but to us, design and fit are very important, so making a final decision requires more concentration than is possible with a preschooler along.

I have no problem shopping and making my house look good with my preschooler and toddler in tow. Sorry you can't handle such complex tasks. Do you also have issues walking while chewing gum? Maybe if you spent more time with your kid and less time wallowing in "exact specifications" you'd know how to do common daily tasks with your kid around.

Ugh sounds like a blast for your kid.

Ok, so everything always has to be a "blast" for your kids?

I'm beginning to understand why some of you have raging monsters that can't be controlled in an Ikea.

[Anonymous]

I let my kid run wild in Ikea just the other day... still too short for Smalland.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP-I don't really care if people drop their kids off at smallland, but, if you can't watch your kid and shop at the same time, you're pretty inept.

I think it's more that kids have a lot more fun going to a play area then tagging along while you're shopping. And you can shop a lot faster (and it is easier) when you don't have children in tow.

Because your kids should understand that the world revolves around them 24/7....

It doesn't. What does that have to do with going to a play area?

[Anonymous]

This conversation doesn't really make sense to me, since the dc who are the worst to shop with (toddlers) are too young for Smalland.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This conversation doesn't really make sense to me, since the dc who are the worst to shop with (toddlers) are too young for Smalland.

Agreed. Our 3yo and 1yo were dragged to IKEA a few weeks ago... too short.

[Anonymous]

OP here. To answer the actual question asked, I went there yesterday at lunchtime (12.20pm). It was most certainly not deserted at that time. On arrival, they only had space for 2 more children. I just stayed outside Smalland with my infant for the hour and lots of people were waiting for spaces and continualy coming and going, while I was there. Maybe it is just that busy due to the heat?

Question now answered but please let the nonsense continue in true DCUM style.

[Anonymous]

When I went on Sunday, the time limit was 30 minutes. Does the time limit change?

[Anonymous]

The time limit is different for each store, it's on their website.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I get that...I was addressing my comment to common sense dad, who said that people can't shop and adequately watch their kids at the same time. Pathetic, I wonder how he gets through life.

Easily. I don't bring the kids to Ikea unless I'm willing to leave them in Smaland. I have a little more respect for the store and other patrons than to bring kids there and let them run wild like so many other parents do. And apparently there are many people who either can't "shop and adequately watch their kids a the same time" or just don't care that they are inconveniencing staff and other patrons. If you happen to have well behaved children, that's one thing, but there are very many Ikea shoppers who seem to be misjudging how well behaved their children are.

When did taking your children to a store to shop become unacceptable and disrespectful? TEACH you DC how to be respectful!! When do you take the opportunities to teach your DC how to behave? We're not talking the opera or ballet here, we're talking IKEA for god's sake! If you can't handle your DC while shopping at IKEA I seriously think you need to rethink your role as a parent.

This just highlights the parents who have no control over their DC and those that raise DC that believe everything is about them all of the time and should be "fun" for them ALL of the time. Let them be an active part of the family and they may surprise you.