Before I let Andrea tell you how much she liked taking her 18-month old twins to IKEA, I want to mention her new business, little uni. She is selling handmade baby clothes that are simple and sweet, with modern appliques. Her babies Mira and Will are modeling for us in these pictures.
Andrea lives in Chicago, where its been freezing and snowing for the past few months. Her kids just moved to one nap a day, so they are always looking for good morning activities. She writes:
My husband and I planned a trip Saturday morning to IKEA to buy a kid-sized table and chairs. I was not looking forward to a day in the suburbs at a crowded IKEA. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find that if you get to IKEA early, it is not crowded at all.
We put each kid in one of their odd stroller/shopping bag holder contraptions. The kids loved being pushed around in them, and we loved not pushing a heavy double stroller or 2 cumbersome full-sized shopping carts.
The kids section is really amazing. Besides the unique, colorful toys, bedding and furniture, they have a play
area set up in a maze of child-sized, completely furnished rooms. I bought a great set of plastic, colored plates. We also let each kid pick out a stuffed animal. The kids loved riding the glass elevators, and saying “Hi” every time they heard the beep of the doors opening. Because it wasn’t crowded, we could really see and appreciate the well-designed room displays. The kids pointed out lights, doors, windows, balls, beds as we walked around.Lunch in the café was excellent. The modern, white highchairs were neatly stacked and easy to find. There was plenty of space at the table for 2 toddlers and 2 adults. I set up the kids and my husband went to get the food. He got mac and cheese and Swedish meatballs from the kids menu, of course served on the wonderful plastic plates. I think the mac and cheese was $.99. The kids gobbled down every bite.
After a couple of awkward trips to the car carrying table parts and babies, we headed home just in time for their naps.
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I want to add that our Ikea in Emeryville has a bottle warming station and sells baby food right at the cafeteria. Sweet!
I remember being REALLY REALLY excited about going to IKEA when I was little (and it really hasn’t worn off over the last 25 years
).
I was only introduced to IKEA when it came to Atlanta, a couple of years ago. But oh my how I love that place. It is totally kid friendly. My five year old loves going to the play center. You can actually drop your kids off for about 30 minutes at the time, and they have movies and an awesome play room. You have a pager in case they need you for anything.
I actually bought their high chair, and what i love most is it is easy to clean, and transport. When we are going to someone’s home that does not have a high chair, you just pop the lgs off, and load it in. It is great! My sister had bought an expensive cushiony high chair, but got tired of the cleaning, so she bought her an IKEA one for 25$. You can’t beat the price or the convenience.
BTW! GORGEOUS babies!
I used to go to the same IKEA when we lived in Illinois. I just can’t wait until ours opens down here in FL. My little guys nursery will be started after it opens. I’ve really been waiting…the little boy baby is just about a year and still living in the spare room with pink walls. I know IKEA will solve that problem!!
Dude, I love Ikea but I love those tees even more!
I do love IKEA for the reasons listed — but also because our IKEA has a really great momma’s lounge for nursing and for diaper changes. Our daughter loves to roam around the set up rooms and then we go “play” in their kid’s section. You can try out all their tables, tents, toys, etc as samples of everything are out for the kiddies to fiddle around with.
And YES - that 99 cent Mac and Cheese rocks!
While we don’t have an IKEA yet in Portland, we own 3 little uni tees and absolutely love them!
Is it normal for a child to play at IKEA play center, trip over a stool, bang head into a metal post in the play area, no workers take notice until the child is crying and bleeding all over and finds a worker. Is it normal that NO ONE could tell mom and dad what happened, how the child got hurt? Is it normal to drop the child off to play for one hour and have an ambulance rush child to ER where MRI, xrays and stitches to frontal lobe, layers, at least 10 stitches on top, scar for sure for life above eye brow…
This happened today on a Sunday afternoon to our five year old! To my husband and I it doesnt seem acceptable for this to have taken place but it did. Is IKEA not responsible despite the form they make each and every parent sign “kids play at own risk”
I’m an IKEA fan. In fact, Nicholas and I were there for breakfast this morning - $0.99 each!!! Always a great deal to be found!
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