To buy DS (4) a pink bike?

[coffeeforone]

We want to buy DS (almost 4) a bike for Christmas which he is very excited about. He said he wants a pink one and keeps talking about it. His favourite colour is pink but he also likes green.

Problem is I don't like pink, never have!
Ideally I'd like to get a better quality bike, that his younger brother can use in a couple of years. Not sure I want to spend to much on a 'less neutral' colour so we will probably end up getting a cheaper pink one that we can pass on quickly which is not ideal.

My mum and dad are buying him matching accessories, helmet etc and and have also asked me to try to steer him away from pink!
His friend has a green one and he occasionally comments that he also likes that one, then goes back to pink!

So DH and I have agreed either
a) a cheapish pink one and DS2 can choose his own first bike later
b) a better quality green one that can possibly be used for his sibling

WWYD?

I reckon you'll be told yabu, but I can see your point.

My dd is 4 and he likes pink stuff. I don't particularly want to buy him lots of pink stuff such as a pink bike, because I think at any time they can become self conscious and decide that 'pink is for girls'. Which I know is ridiculous and wrong, but that's the way of the world.

You could also buy a good quality pink one and then hand it down to DS2 (or if he minds the colour spray paint it)

That way you only need to buy one bike and DS1 gets his favouite colour.

I agree that 1 bike that will last him a while and then can be passed down to his brother is the sensible choice. Whilst there’s nothing wrong with a boy liking pink, I’d worry he’d change his mind, like kids do, get self conscious about it and not want to ride it before he’s outgrown it. Why don’t you compromise and get the bike in green but the helmet and accessories (whatever those are) in pink as they are easier and cheaper to replace? Not everything has to match perfectly.

He has recently successfully persuaded me to buy cheaper pink stuff including an awful shade of water bottle that he carries everywhere), pink football and couple of pink dummies he wanted to buy for his little brother! This one just seems like a less disposable 'investment' so made me stop to think!

Why not just buy a good quality pink one and hand it down to his brother

Why does his younger brother get to control what colour bike he gets? That's just mean, if he wanted any other colour but pink he would be allowed the bike colour he wants.

I would buy a neutral colour and accessorise with pink. I’d do this for a boy or girl. I do think he may go off pink due to peer pressure.

How about neutral decent bike with pink accessories? Or even pink stickers on it? Pink tyres or grips or seat which can be swapped over... Pink helmet, etc. My ds favorite colour was pink, green and purple. Still is but starting to lose the pink now he's started school

Yes I agree with a neutral one and accessorise it. It's more practical. I got my DS a typical boys bike and it was a pain as my DD is really girly and I ended up buying a pink one for her. Would have been better to buy a neutral one in hindsight

I'm another one who wouldn't go for all pink but maybe some pink accessories or a multicoloured bike which included the colour pink.

Neutral is a good idea. How about a silver or gold bike as a fairly neutral background for whatever accessories.

I don't think it's particularly fair to buy your son a gift, with his younger brother's needs in mind so much. It's HIS first bike, let him have the colour HE wants.

It's not fair to get him a cheaper bike either, so that DS2 can have a new one further down the line. You don't buy gifts with the next user in mind, just get one that your son is going to like.

Buy him the pink bike whether you like the colour or not is irrelevant. When it's passed down to his brother his brother will only be 4 so isn't going to care if the bike is pink especially after his spent a couple of years watching his brother riding it perfectly happily.

If he was a girl would you have posted this? Would you have just bought the pink bike and accepted that the younger brother might not want it when it’s his turn to have a bike?

Get him the pink one he wants and stop being so judgey about colours!

If he also likes green I would compromise on a good quality green bike and put pink lights or spokies on the wheels. Then if ds2 isn’t onboard with pink you can whip them off.
I know you didn’t ask but Frog bikes are excellent. We have three kids who have had 8 between them now, some handed down, and all have lasted really well. They are light and really easy for kids to ride.

www.rutlandcycling.com/bikes/hybrid-bikes/frog-bikes-48-2020-16-inch-kids-hybrid-bike-green_456401?currency=GBP&chosenAttribute=L-FH48-GRE&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIz4XF-dC_5QIVWODtCh1GCwZyEAQYASABEgKVHfD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

www.ebay.co.uk/i/352768763159?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=710-134428-41853-0&mkcid=2&itemid=352768763159&targetid=486493560859&device=m&mktype=pla&googleloc=9046586&poi=&campaignid=1506538935&mkgroupid=63481328332&rlsatarget=pla-486493560859&abcId=1139576&merchantid=138346362&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIq_SPkNK_5QIVFuDtCh1n5ALNEAQYByABEgLncfD_BwE

I bought a high quality red bike with pink helmet and bell.

If he was a girl would you have posted this? Would you have just bought the pink bike and accepted that the younger brother might not want it when it’s his turn to have a bike?

If he was a girl whose favourite colour was unfortunately pink then the facts are the same. I hate pink! I'd have begrudged buying an expensive pink bike that couldn't be handed down! would have been same dilemma about spending once or twice.

Thanks all! I think a green bike with pink accessories are a good plan!

The problem is one comment from another kid in the park about the colour and you could end up with him refusing to use it anymore.

Neutral is the way to go.

You might hate pink but it’s not your bike, Op.

Having said that I would be a bit worried about negative comments. Shame, though.

Just go for the best bike you can afford and see what colours it comes in. I'd go plain but jazz it up with pink accessories eg saddle cover

I don’t quite get why your hatred of the colour pink is relevant here. He’s not asking for a permanent, pink, face tattoo, it’s just a bike. Surely you can live with him having a bike whose colour you don’t like. He’s bound to have a lot of clothes, accessories, hair styles, etc. that you won’t like.

Your poor DS. It's a mad world when you can't have your favourite colour for bonkers and arbitrary reasons. I loved pink as a child, long before it became such a massive "thing" for little girls. I just happened to love that colour.

I think that your parents' comment was worrying. If their sole concern was the risk of him being bullied by other children, then the comment was sad but understandable. If however they were embarrassed or disapproving for other reasons, that is pretty shameful.

I would go for pink if my son wanted it, because I don't want to make pink somehow "off limits" for boys and something that you "must be a girl" to enjoy. I'm not a big fan of pink myself but I am a GC feminist and wary about creating girl boxes and boy boxes.

Surely you can spray paint a bike if he goes off it later or his little brother wants a different colour? I also agree though that if it's a present for him it shouldn't really be dictated by what his brother might want down the line.