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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to buy an Ipod for my 5 year old?

35 replies

FanellaFudge · 24/02/2011 13:31

One of the little 'shuffle' ones. Was thinking of putting audio books onto it for him to listen to in the car/before bed.

Is he too young?

I haven't a clue when it comes to things like this... I don't have an MP3 so maybe not the best person to judge this decision!

OP posts:
MrsGravy · 24/02/2011 13:33

Why not start off with a more bog standard MP3 player? You can get them relatively cheaply and if he is too young for an MP3 player and doesn't look after it/can't use it properly you haven't wasted a load of money.

PrettyCandles · 24/02/2011 13:33

why can't he listen to audio books on the car stereo? Then you can remain together, discuss what is playing, talk etc.

An iPod cuts you off. A 5yo doesn't need that.

faverolles · 24/02/2011 13:34

Yanbu - as long as you are responsible for it and give it to your dc at appropriate times.
A friend got their 6 yo dd an iPod, and left them to it. It was lost within a week.

Katz · 24/02/2011 13:34

my 5 year old has one and has done since she was 3. It has audiobooks and some of her favourite songs on it. You can limited the max volume in itunes. We went for an ipod rather than any other mp3 because thats where are songs were as i have an ipod.

We have the older style shuffle which you can't 'see' what your listening too on and my DD now uses my old itouch more.

ItsMeMo · 24/02/2011 13:34

My DD has had one since she was 5 weeks old. I put all of her storybooks and nursery rhymes / songs on it. I use it with an ipod dock though rather than earphones! Grin

Original poster
FanellaFudge · 24/02/2011 13:35

The one I'm looking at is only £39.99. I've figured he won't be taking it out on his own, and will be mostly under supervision when using it, am I being naive? Are they easily breakable?

OP posts:
AngelHMum · 24/02/2011 13:35

If you are going to use it in conjunction with a docking station by the side of his bed, or play it through the stereo in the car then I would say it's fine.
I'm not sure I would let a 5 year old handle one unsupervised (they can be damaged easily) or listen through headphones though.

bupcakesandcunting · 24/02/2011 13:36

DS aged 3 has one to listen to the 50 Cent and podcasts from Frankie Boyle and Jim Davidson he loves it.

tyzer2001 · 24/02/2011 13:38

Grin bupcakes

manicbmc · 24/02/2011 13:38

Lmao @ bup Grin

I wouldn't let a kid that age use earphones - ear infections galore plus can damage hearing if volume too loud.

Original poster
FanellaFudge · 24/02/2011 13:40

The only times it would be used in the car is on long journeys. I'm not sure DH could stomach audio books for that length of time!

He's taken to listening to the radio when he's in his room / going to sleep, which I'm slightly uncomfortable with because I can't always be sure what he's listening to, thought an Ipod with speakers might be better? Can you get speakers for the little shuffle ones? They don't have a screen.

OP posts:
DooinMeCleanin · 24/02/2011 13:46

They plug into most speakers via an audio jack (or headphone wire - in less technical terms) but there aren't many speakers that they will actually dock into (eg. sit on and charge whilst playing)

Dd1 loves music and has had some sort of mp3 player since she was 4 but the cheap imitations kept breaking. She now has a Sony Go Gear mp3 player, which she loves.

The only thing with the shuffle is that you cannot select which book would play without skipping through the lot, as it plays everything on shuffle, obviously Grin which might get annoying if he wants to listen to a certain book each night.

MrsGravy · 24/02/2011 13:47

Well I'd look into the earphones thing, maybe you can get some suitable for kids?? But otherwise it sounds like a good idea, I didn't realise the shuffles were so cheap.

DooinMeCleanin · 24/02/2011 13:50

dd1 wants these but in purple

Original poster
FanellaFudge · 24/02/2011 13:50

I've seen some JVC headphones that are specifically for children, they limit the sound and have big soft padding.

DooinMeCleanin... would you say the shuffle isn't ideal for audio books then? Which would be better?

OP posts:
Original poster
FanellaFudge · 24/02/2011 13:51

They're the ones Dooin!

OP posts:
ChippyMinton · 24/02/2011 13:51

My DC have shuffles, the youngest was 5yo when they were given them by a generous auntie. Saves arguments in the car about what to listen to. They have tried various headphones - the ipod 'bud' ones are too big and uncomfortable. Shuffles are beautifully designed and intuitive to operate.

ChippyMinton · 24/02/2011 13:53

Itunes has a particular setting for audiobooks which keeps the chapters together so they can't get shuffled. Will find the link if you want it.

Needanewname · 24/02/2011 13:53

Dooin - we have those for DD1 (7) and DD2 (4) they're fab - really good sound quality and not too loud.

Original poster
FanellaFudge · 24/02/2011 13:54

Is this the one you have Dooin?

OP posts:
elphabadefiesgravity · 24/02/2011 13:54

I wouldn't buy one of the new shuffles as they don;t dock, yo have to use them with earphones. We bought dd an old shuffle and a little docking speaker. She loved it.

The following year we bought ds a new one as the old one wasn't 't use it at all.

ChippyMinton · 24/02/2011 13:55

IME the shuffles are pretty robust and childproof. Silicon covers prevent scratches.

frasersmummy · 24/02/2011 13:55

ds has one.. he loves falling asleep to music and was always borrowing mine at night

We went on the net and got a reconditioned 1gb one-only cost £10

We put it on with speakers at night and when we are travelling to holidays we put audio books on it and he listens with earphones in the back of the car

Vallhala · 24/02/2011 13:56

Blow being subjected to being stuck in a car and having to listen to The Hungry Caterpillar and then talk about it, PrettyCandle!

My children didn't have MP3s etc until much older but that's purely because no-one put the idea into my head! I would certainly be happy to give one to a 5yo under supervision as you suggest Fanella.

DooinMeCleanin · 24/02/2011 13:56

No this one not sure why I thought it was Sony Hmm

But she got that one because it has a camera and plays and records movies, there are cheaper versions which just do music/audio books.