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Original poster

To buy DS (4) a pink bike?

85 replies

coffeeforone · 28/10/2019 18:14

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?

OP posts:
LaurieMarlow · 28/10/2019 20:09

If he wants a pink bike get him one.

You’re over thinking this. Probably because deep down you aren’t comfortable with his choice of colour.

CoffeeWithMyOxygen · 28/10/2019 20:14

This is really sad. So he can’t have his favourite colour simply because you don’t like it? How mean. What if he decides he doesn’t like YOUR favourite colour one day, will that be banned too?

LaurieMarlow · 28/10/2019 20:14

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!

Why do the accessories need to ‘match’?

He’s four, he couldn’t give a shit about colour coordination.

SpookilyBadOooooooh · 28/10/2019 20:19

It’s not your bike, so the fact YOU hate pink is completely irrelevant.

It him the pink bike as that’s what HE wants and it’s HIS bike. If little brother wants an orange one, spray paint it.

Elbowedout · 28/10/2019 20:40

If you buy a decent quality bike such as a Frog or Islabike then they hold their value quite well. I would buy your DS1 a pink bike if that is what he really want - personally I would buy second hand as bikes for children that age are generally outgrown before they are anywhere near worn out. You can always get it serviced by a local bike shop and put new handlebar grips on etc so it looks pretty much like new. But either way, if your DS2 wants something different you can sell the pink one and buy him a different colour.

Original poster
coffeeforone · 28/10/2019 21:08

It’s not your bike, so the fact YOU hate pink is completely irrelevant.

I don't think it's completely irrelevant!

There is another colour that DH hates and has literally banned from the household in all forms while the kids are young enough to be persuaded! The colour/shade of his favourite sports teams rival! That's a neutral colour but he wouldn't let our two sons wear it at this young age. How can't it be the same for pink (to a less extreme as I would be ok with a cheap pink t-shirt or water bottle for example, DH wouldn't be the same about his hated colour!

OP posts:
leomama81 · 28/10/2019 21:23

It doesn't seem particularly fair to ban the colour your DH doesn't like either really! I mean sure, don't paint the living room that colour but...

Original poster
coffeeforone · 28/10/2019 21:25

I think I have always struggled with the idea of buying someone a present that I don't actually like myself! This will obviously need to change as the kids get older but think this is the first big instance!

OP posts:
SheruMoo · 28/10/2019 21:26

Green bike with pink bike decals that can be removed later. Job done. He'll probably like choosing different decals as well.

SheruMoo · 28/10/2019 21:29

Posted too soon...we did the decal thing but in the reverse. DSD got DSS's old bike but it was fairly masculine and black/white. We got a bunch of flower/fairy decals for it and she loved it. Something like this: Pack of 40 Vinyl Flowers Stickers Car Bike Sccoter Helmet Decal Graphic Girls Laptop Decorative Various Colours https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00J3W3NPA/ref=cmswwrcppapiii_J21TDbGH3GE46

BikeRunSki · 28/10/2019 21:33

Get home a decent quality bike of in a fairly neutral colour and add pink accessories - grips, saddle, spokey dockeys,.

This is what we did when DS wanted a red bike, but we had an opportunity to get a grey Islabike at a very good price.

SingingMyOwnSpecialSong · 28/10/2019 21:34

I got my DDs bike through The Bike Club. thebikeclub.co/ It is a rental/hire purchase type scheme, but you can opt for a brand new bike that comes straight from the manufacturer. You can exchange for a different model at any time for a small fee.

I did it as I wouldn’t be able to afford the standard of bike I wanted to get DD as a one off purchase and also like the idea of exchanging it if she grows out of it quickly. Also like the fact even a second hand one will have been serviced before being sent out.

Thesearmsofmine · 28/10/2019 21:35

Get him the pink bike that he asked for. My ds2 will be 7 later this week and he loves pink, and has for years so he has lots of pink bits even if it isn’t something I would naturally choose for myself. I’ve taught him(and his siblings) that he can like whatever he wants.

PhonicTheHedgehog · 28/10/2019 21:41

Came on here to recommend thebikeclub.co/
But I’ve been beaten to it.

Do you not like this shade of pink?

www.frogbikes.co.uk/First-Pedal-Bikes-Frog-40?quantity=1&custcol_frame_color=11

Or a spotty one is nice too.

www.frogbikes.co.uk/First-Pedal-Bikes-Frog-40?quantity=1&custcol_frame_color=14

m0therofdragons · 28/10/2019 21:42

Go for neutral bike and buy pink accessories.

My 3 dds have turquoise bikes. One loves yellow and has a yellow bell, the other loves pink so has a pink bell.

m0therofdragons · 28/10/2019 21:45

I don't understand how someone can hate a colour so much. Dd2 loves all colours and wears as many as possible at one time. Not my taste but I'd rather encourage her to be herself than force her into joules clothing (I love joules clothing but none of my dc are having any of it).

Krisskrosskiss · 28/10/2019 21:48

I'd buy the pink bike. It's a gift for your child... surely it should be what the child really wants?
Can you not remember any time in your childhood when you really wanted something but your parents got you a similar thing which they personally thought was better instead.. but it wasnt what you wanted and it was sad? Dont be that parent. Gifts are for the recipient. If your son really wants a pink bike and you were getting him a bike anyway then just get him the pink one.... think of how happy he will be and the look on his face!

WatchoutfortheROUS · 28/10/2019 21:53

Get him the colour he wants! Who cares what colours you like, it's not for you is it?! You and your DH sound a bit weird and very controlling about colours!

ShinyGiratina · 28/10/2019 21:58

I'd go for the green/ neutral bike with pink accessories. At around 4, it only takes one stupid comment from someone about something being for boys/ girls for a child to decisively change their minds about what they like (been there...) When they are a few years older and more resiliant in their likes and dislikes, you can be more confident at letting them follow their preferences for dearer/ special items.

A pink bike can be swapped/ changed, but what you really don't want is a child refusing to ride a bike at all because of an association with a stupid comment.

Original poster
coffeeforone · 28/10/2019 22:05

Thanks for the recommendations @PhonicTheHedgehog . The pink frog one is actually a decent shade! Much nicer than I had in mind!

OP posts:
PhonicTheHedgehog · 28/10/2019 22:17

I’m not keen on Disney pink but Frog bikes are classier ;)

56Marshmallow · 28/10/2019 22:39

I remember my then 4 year old son riding his sister's pink bike in the school playground (he also loved pink!) Another parent commented "Ooooh! Nice colour!" in a very sarcastic way. The implication very definitely that he'll "catch the gay". The parent was a police officer.....Shock

Lulualla · 28/10/2019 22:47

Will this be your son's whole life? He wants something "substantial" as his present, so he must get it in a version which you can hand down? Before it's even his, you're planning to what his younger sibling would want?
It's very mean.

You had 2 kids. You need to fund 2 kids. That of course means hand me downs will be a thing, but you can't force the oldest to always bend to the "your brother won't like it" rule. When it's his present, it needs to be for him. If it lasts long enough and is in good enough condition to hand down then you can do the alterations at that stage.

aweedropofsancerre · 28/10/2019 22:59

I find MN hilarious, i have never seen a boy cycling a pink bike with a pink helmet ever....all those on hear shouting that its his favourite colour buy him what he wants, and your DH are standing behind you saying yes dear buy my DS a pink bike? Bull cack....i bet OP gets him a green bike

CharityConundrum · 28/10/2019 23:02

My son is 4 and LOVES pink so much he wanted two pink bikes at one point. I have never been a huge fan of pink, but it's not my bike, and the idea that two adults have banned two separate colours from a household is absolutely alien to me.

My son has a pink bike, with pink accessories as well, not to mention a raft of other pink stuff because he likes it and he is a person in his own right with thoughts and feelings and preferences and I just can't see how artificially limiting them is good for him.

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'.

But surely your unwillingness to buy him anything pink is just reinforcing that idea. Would you refuse if he liked a colour that is currently associated with boys in case he stopped liking that? He will learn more from you than anyone else - do you want the message he gets from you to be that he is bound to stop liking pink because he's a boy?

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