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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To buy my son a mobility scooter for Christmas?

131 replies

Christmasstockingsbythefire · 16/10/2016 17:51

Would I be unreasonable to buy my son a mobility scooter for Christmas?

To give you abit of background my son has autism and for the past 5 years on birthdays and Christmas' he has only been asking for a mobilty scooter and nothing else .. hasn't yet got one, this means every birthday and Christmas he gets disappointed and doesn't show any interest in any of the gifts he does receive . We decided against a mobility scooter in the past because we thought it was just something he would get bored of within a few days, people's views and we were worried he was too young. My son is now nine years old and is still asking for a mobility scooter, he enjoys visiting the mobility scooter showroom that is local to us and loves exploring and looking at his grandparents scooters.. After this many years I am starting to think he must feel very strongly about his wish.

He would ride the scooter up to the family farm to help collect the eggs etc and also use it to deliver eggs around our local neighbourhood, as he often has to make two trips as he cannot carry everything on his own.

If you were in my shoes would you buy him a mobility scooter? Or wouldn't it be acceptable? It doesn't need to be an expensive one, he just wants one he can ride and with a basket.

OP posts:
AcrossthePond55 · 16/10/2016 18:32

I agree with no mobility scooter.

How old is he? If you're out in the country would some type of Youth ATV with a speed governor be an alternative? Lots of the kids have them around here for off road use.

TheFairyCaravan · 16/10/2016 18:32

-He is disabled so that's not an issue. It's extremely common for autistic kids to struggle with walking and just maybe having his own 'vehicle' might help him get out and about more.

It doesn't sound like the OP's DS has mobility problems as he makes two trips to deliver the eggs round the neighbourhood.

Manumission · 16/10/2016 18:33

I have a child who has autism (and no physical disability) and there is no way I would use 'autism is a disability!' as a justification for them using a mobility scooter as a toy or leisure vehicle. That's just batshit.

monsterbookofty · 16/10/2016 18:34

No the OP said he would also use it delivering in the village.
I think this is a silly idea and I have an 8 year old ds with a similar disability.. What if he hit someone with it? Electric scooters are not the same logic either as they are only allowed on private land.

Garthmarenghi · 16/10/2016 18:34

I would consider buying a secondhand golf cart for using on private land on the farm, but not to use elsewhere.

post · 16/10/2016 18:34

My autistic teenager asked for a wheelchair for a long time; although he's verbal it's only now he's been able to articulate that his sensory issues and related anxiety mean that when it all gets too much he can't feel his legs and can't walk. He's left the house less and less over the years, and we put it down to general anxiety. We're going to try one out now. And Tbh I wish we'd listened to him years ago.

diddl · 16/10/2016 18:35

" as he often has to make two trips as he cannot carry everything on his own. "

Buy him something to transport stuff in then, not himself if he doesn't need it!

Sulis87 · 16/10/2016 18:36

I just think it's good to nurture these special interests wherever possible. I bet he'll design a revolutionary new mobility scooter when he grows up...

FiveGoMadInDorset · 16/10/2016 18:36

Fine in the farm, not fine if delivering eggs in the neighbourhood

PolterGoose · 16/10/2016 18:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

FrancisCrawford · 16/10/2016 18:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

whirlwinds · 16/10/2016 18:38

What about a offroad buggy? www.funbikes.co.uk/Kids_Off_Road_Buggy_FunBike_Shark_Mini_RV_Black(781).aspx

bumsexatthebingo · 16/10/2016 18:38

If he has issues with walking then I wouldn't see a moral problem if there was a vehicle he could use legally but simply having a disability doesn't mean someone can use a mobility scooter. Things like dyslexia are classed as a disability and, while I'm not suggesting they don't impact people greatly, alone they wouldn't require the use of a mobility scooter.

TwentyCups · 16/10/2016 18:38

No. I would tell him it is something he just can't have so he stops hoping for one too.
I think it seems just wrong to use one as a toy when they are what some people need to be able to get out and about if you see what I mean. Similar to letting him have a wheelchair as a toy.

I understand he has a disability but if it doesn't affect his mobility he should not have one. I think it glorifies them, and seems tasteless.

What about an electric scooter instead, or if it is for use on private land, even a quad bike?

BriocheDoree · 16/10/2016 18:39

I see no problem at all on private ground, just not on the public highway (not legal anyway). DD is autistic and one of her relatives bought a 2nd hand mobility scooter (for the battery - long story!) and all the grandkids had fun riding on it - we made a course with straw bales they had to ride round. Autistic DD can't ride a bike and she had the most fun of all.
You could always buy a 2nd hand one and keep it on private land.

ILostItInTheEarlyNineties · 16/10/2016 18:39

It wouldn't be illegal to allow him to ride it around your private farm, but it would be unsuitable to drive it around the local neighbourhood, delivering eggs.

Could you compromise by hiring one for an afternoon that he could play with on your private land? Or just buying him some sort of grown up trike with a large basket for his eggs?

TheFairyCaravan · 16/10/2016 18:40

It's a village not central London.

So fucking what?

I live in a village, so do many elderly people. Why should we have to be on alert for children driving mobility scooters illegaly?

LarrytheCucumber · 16/10/2016 18:41

My DS has AS and at that age his spatial awareness issues made him a menace on a bike. I would not have let him loose on anything motorised.

OvO · 16/10/2016 18:41

I have a class 2 mobility scooter and even though it goes a max of 4mph you'd be surprised how dangerous they can be.

Going up and down so called lowered curbs is a danger - even a tiny drop/rise can cause you to tip, especially if you can't take it exactly head on, or if you are even a little too fast. Unless using it in a shop on even floors I find it pretty stressful if I'm on my own - in case something does happen.

It's just so not not not suitable for a child.

Never mind the danger to themselves it's also a danger to others.

WeAllHaveWings · 16/10/2016 18:42

Do check out the law regarding them, I know when my dad got one for my mum there was a fair amount of paper work for a tax disc, etc.

I know you can get electric scooters and toy cars but it is illegal to drive them on public footpaths and roads too, they are only legal on private ground. They are also generally only meant for level ground, unless an off road type is available, the road to the farm may not be suitable and it may topple.

petitpois55 · 16/10/2016 18:42

This is a wind up surely?

Benedikte2 · 16/10/2016 18:42

OP would DS accept he could use it only on the farm?
Even though you've observed him to be careful he's still only a young child and I wouldn't trust a child of mine with an electric vehicle. A misjudgement could end up with him being thrown off and sustaining head injuries
I think you need to think of an alternative
Good luck

cakedup · 16/10/2016 18:42

So what if it's meant to be for disabled people? It doesn't affect them if he does use one, does it? OP is not doing this on a whim, this is 5 YEARS the boy has wanted one. No, we can't always get what we want, yes he does have to respect social behaviour...but he has autism. We have to make some allowances for his needs. It's a bit like telling my very dyslexic DS to stop listening to audio books and spend the time learning to read instead. After all he is not blind. Fuck that, he enjoys listening to stories and he hates reading and I'm not going to force him to learn to read because I think it'll be counter productive.

OP as long as you think he will only use it when he is allowed to, i.e. only on private land then I don't see the harm at all. It sounds like it'll make him very happy, and who wouldn't want that for their DC?

PigletWasPoohsFriend · 16/10/2016 18:44

OP as long as you think he will only use it when he is allowed to, i.e. only on private land then I don't see the harm at all.

OP quite clearly states it won't just be used in private land so it would be illegal.

cakedup · 16/10/2016 18:44

Oh yes, there is the safety issue which I'm sure you've considered OP. Perhaps get him a helmet to go with it, would he wear one? Other than that, I don't see how it's any more dangerous than a bike, scooter, segway etc.