Is it OK to give DS2 his sister's old bicycle?

[Maisiethemorningsidecat]

She had a Ridgeback, not a cheap thing by any stretch of the imagination, but it's pale blue and obviously a girl's bike. DH thinks we should give it to DS2 (who will be 4 soon) in the next few months when he outgrows his current one, and it will last him until he's about 6/7. Up until recently I've been with him, but is it the bike equivalent of a "please kick me" sign taped to DS's back?

[TennisFan]

We have done this twice, but the other way round. My DD has had her big brothers second hand bikes.
First it was a fixed wheel Bob the builder one - which she learnt on.
Then a red & black raleigh boys bike, which we then stripped the bits off, and spray painted it bright pink - looked really good with the black tyres.
Now, age 6 she has moved on to a grey bigger bike with gears.

If your DH knows his way round bikes, or you do, it was an easy job to take all the wheels, brakes, handlebars etc off and spray paint the frame. Then re-assemble.

[throckenholt]

mine happily rode pink bikes for a while. And then at about 6 they decided to get some spray paint and spray them gold !

I think at 4 he should be fine - the stereotypes and teasing won't kick in for a year or so. It is very irritating that certain colours are reserved for one sex of the other. Apparently further back in history pink was a male colour.

[lal123]

Paint it! A friend has just painted their DDs bike green and black (ben 10) and passed it onto their DS - he loves it

[MrsTicklemouse]

A friend of mine had this dilemma so covered it in this which personally I think is still a bit girly and I was worried it would look ridiculous but actually it looks really good! The funny thing is she only did it for the sake of peoples reactions as her son is colour blind so wouldn't have known!

[LostArt]

My DS uses DD old bike. He has his own but DD is (pink) camouflage and I think is easier to ride. He even insists on keeping the pink tassly bits on it. I don't think it will do him any lasting harm.

[Maisiethemorningsidecat]

I had thought of painting it, but doesn't the shape (ie no cross bar) give it away? I'm more worried about when he starts school, rather than now - kids at 5 and 6 can be cruel. Completely agree with the whole colours for boys/girls thing - it drives me mad. It doesn't help that his 13 year old brother and his friends are very willing to point out that certain things are for girls, not boys (DS2's pink nail varnish is a big bone of contention, so I do it to wind DS1 up - great fun )

Love the smartie paper MrsT!

[seeker]

It's OK if he's OK with it. Not if he isn't.

Have you thought of trying to swap it or freecycle it?

[ProfessorLaytonIsMyLoveSlave]

I don't think his friends will notice the different shape at this age.

[gegs73]

Just spray it if your worried but I don't think anyone will say anything at that age.

I was very pleasantly suprised in the summer that DS1 6yo very happily used a pink wheely suitcase for his toys when he went on holiday (it was his cousins). He loved it. I wouldn't do anything unless he mentions it then if he does spray it.

[Danthe4th]

I passed on dd's pink bike to ds it was his favourite colour until he got teased by his mates, so we sprayed it with green hammerite paint and stuck stickers on it, he loved it.

[Maisiethemorningsidecat]

Yes, you're all right - no big deal unless it becomes a big deal for him. Alternatively, we could paint it fuschia to match his fingernails - now that really would upset DS1

[throckenholt]

my ds had pink as his favourite colour until probably midway through Y1 - when he finally gave in to pressure and decided he didn't like it any more.