is the chid care center at ikea safe and qualified?

[elaineandmichaelsmommy]

I know what they say on their website but dh and i are thinking of making a day trip to the chicago store (shaumburg)i think. And he was saying-"oh,it'll be ok. The kids'll play and we can shop". Wha!! I only leave my kids w/ mil or sister or my folks. Never strangers. I understand that it's supposed to make shopping easier and kudos to ikea for trying.
So my question is-has anyone had any experience with the child care facilities at ikea. I'd like to know what you thought b4 i refuse it. I'm so nervous about someone i don't know caring for my children. I don't even go to the y because i don't know them. Call me overprotective. I know. We have our reasons.
So let me know what you thought. Thanks



jen

[Mommy_Again]

They have a very strict security process if you want to drop your kids off there, including beepers that they give the parents. But your child has to be potty-trained to be left there. When we went, DS was just learning to use the potty and he was wearing a diaper (a big no-no there), but I lied and told them he was trained (bad mommy, I know). The joke was on me when they sent him in to use the potty by himself and he decided to play in the sink and came out SOAKING wet.

[alexsmommy]

Yep, left DS at the Shaumburg one. It was fine. Remember, you can only leave the kids there for 45 minutes though. I felt good about how they signed him in, how strict they were about signing him out etc. DS was newly potty trained and said, "I have to go pee pee - I want you to take me" right after I signed him in and he had gone through the gate. I had to sign him out and take him to the one right next to the entrance because no adults other than the workers are allowed in the actual play area. DS loved it. We came back after about 10 minutes just to be sure and he didn't even look up from playing. We did get there right when they opened which was nice - quick check in and not packed. By the time we got back after our 45 minutes it was filled to capacity and I had to wait a few minutes or so to check him out b/c they were meticulous with the check out verification process. If both of your kids are potty trained, then I'd say go for it - you can always come back if you are uncomfortable. Also, the store itself is pretty child friendly with little play areas here and there so taking them with you shouldn't be a complete shopping nightmare. Get there early if you want to snag a "car cart" for pushing them around. Have fun.
Alaina
Alex Feb '03

[C99]

It's an hour now. I've left DS there a few times, but he does better if he's with a friend. They are very thorough about check-in/check-out, and their rules are strictly enforced (children must be PTed and between the height minimum and maximum - my friend's kid almost didn't make it in last week when we were there because she's 1/4" away from the height limit). They'll also page you out before the time limit if your child is unhappy and/or asks to leave.

ETA: the Schaumburg store doesn't provide beepers.

[Momof3Labs]

We've used the one in (where the heck is it??? 30 minutes south of the Schaumburg one) and DS loved it. So much that we let him go back after lunch so we could shop a little longer and then get checked out. But he plays happily at DH's fitness center childcare area, and he loves preschool (which is also drop-off), so we're a little more laid back about leaving him with non-family members.

You may not be comfortable with it no matter what, but on the flip side, maybe this is your chance to try leaving your children for a short time so that you can all get used to it (because, presumably, they will eventually have to go to school or somewhere else where they will be cared for by non-family members).

[elaineandmichaelsmommy]

Sorry if i was vague. dd does go to preschool 5 days a week. We're just VERY cautious about leaving the kids at places like store care or ymca care, etc.
You just never know about peoples backgrounds and the like. I'm glad to hear that they have the playgrounds amongst the store and that you can only leave them for an hour
Dh has told me horror stories about parents in europe who drop their dc off at ikea play centers and then leave the store to go shopping elsewhere. Just thinking about it gives me the willies. Apparently there was at least one occasion where the parents didn't return promptly and the store was closed for 2 hours when they returned. OH MY GAWD!!!! From what dh says the police were involved in that one. And even though it supposedly happened in germany. YUCK!!!

What store is 30 min south of shaumberg and is it stocked as well. We plan on doing a lot of shopping and would like the selection to be good. But at the same time. if we can shave off 30 minutes of driving that would be great.

Thanks,Jen

[caheinz]

Bolingbrook is the second Chicago-area store. They're just off of I-355 at the Boughton Rd exit.

It's not as bit as the Schaumberg store, but started out better stocked. (Now it seems like they're both hit-or-miss, so it's worth checking the website for anything you really want to get.)

[Momof3Labs]

Yes, Bolingbrook. And you don't have to deal with the horrendous Woodfield mall traffic in December. Heck, the Ikea at Schaumburg is a zoo on any weekend of the year!

[alexsmommy]

LOL - I was just at a friends house in Bolingbrook this afternoon and as I passed Ikea on 355 I found myself thinking - "Why do I always forget this one is here - this is way better than trying to get through Woodfield traffic!"
Alaina
Alex Feb '03

[C99]

They tell you that you are not allowed to leave the store at both the Bolingbrook and Schaumburg locations. And they page you if you don't show up to claim your kid within 5 minutes of your pick-up time. FWIW, I was less impressed with the folks at the childcare center at the Bolingbrook location - and they have a 45-minute time limit there.

[kransden]

Your child must be potty trained. The Phoenix one has a 90 minute policy. My dd LOVES going there.

One of the things we like to do is have lunch or dinner there. They have a kid dinner area in ours. Then we drop her off at the play area while we shop.

FYI!!! lately ours has had a waiting list to get in the play area. So be prepared jic.


Karin and Katie 10/24/02

[deborah_r]

>(children must be PTed and between the height minimum and
>maximum - my friend's kid almost didn't make it in last week
>when we were there because she's 1/4" away from the height
>limit).

I read this thread with interest a few weeks ago, and did not notice the "minimum" part. We convinced DS that he'd like to go in there today (because we were shopping and he was being really difficult) and he was too short!!! He's 3.5 years old, but they have to be at least 37". I don't even know if he's 36" yet. Poor baby cried and cried. :( I was very disappointed - I really had no clue that they had a height minimum.