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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to buy DS (19 mnths) this?

30 replies

WitchyWooWoo · 09/04/2010 14:19

www.toysrus.co.uk/Toys-R-Us/Learning/Role-Play/Little-Red-Henry-Vacuum-Cleaner(0018197)this

he is utterly obsessed with my vacuum and with cleaning, i cant actually hoover properly as he wants to do it, and as adorable as it is, i do need to vacuum (for all his tidying DS is messy hehe)

it is for 3+ but it would only come out when mummy's came out and would never be played with unless i was watching him/ hoovering with him.

what do you think?

(theres a dyson lookalike as well, but i have more of a henry like one, so it would be as similar as possible

OP posts:
BudaisintheZONE · 09/04/2010 14:23

I had to do exactly the same when DS went through his vacuum obsessed stage!

IMoveTheStars · 09/04/2010 14:23

course not. Make sure there are no bits that could break off or whatever, but why not?

or you could get him something like this and he'll actually be doing hoovering for you

Fliight · 09/04/2010 14:23

How old is he? I don't get the aibu part!

it's v sweet btw, have seen them in argos etc. Plus we have a real Henry. They are very good.

Fliight · 09/04/2010 14:24

Ah 19 months...do you seriously believe all those age categories on the box? Start using your discretion woman, you are his mother!

Original poster
WitchyWooWoo · 09/04/2010 14:24

he's 19 months old and the hoover is for 3+

it comes with little things to hoover up (which will go in the bin) but it does actually hoover up dirt.

OP posts:
ChippingIn · 09/04/2010 14:26

YANBU - they are so cute. We used to sell the real ones - so the mini one was obligatory

I also don't think you've got too much to be worried about letting him play with it by himself

Fliight · 09/04/2010 14:26

It will be FINE

anything swallowable, chokeable, cuttable, etc then obviously remove them. But there's not really much difference between a 19mo and a 3yo in other respects. It's not going to be that dangerous.

junkcollector · 09/04/2010 14:26

I agree with Jareth- genius idea. (I wish my DSs had a vacuuming obssession.)

Firawla · 09/04/2010 14:26

yanbu its fine, would get for my ds (just couple of months older) cos we have a henry too, but i think they take a lot of space? it says it picks real dirt up so if you have room its a good idea when he plays he will be doing some cleaning too, which is a bit helpful. if you are worried about it being age 3+ i dont think thats neceassarily a big deal

Original poster
WitchyWooWoo · 09/04/2010 14:28

he wants to do everything housework wise. if he spills juice he gets a wetwipe and cleans it up himself... strange child. dont know where he got the clean streak from, wasn't me or DH!

OP posts:
MamaChris · 09/04/2010 14:28

YANBU. I treat all those "3+" warnings as a warning to supervise. Once ds was past the putting everything in his mouth phase, I have also given up the supervision mostly. Although I do still check for small choking hazards on new things, so I know degree of supervision required.

Fliight · 09/04/2010 14:30

When ds was 3 my mother brought him back with half an enormous CRT television out of a skip.

That was dangerous, 'but he wanted it'

tootootired · 09/04/2010 14:31

We had the toy Henry - it was loved to pieces. Suppose the hazard might be choking on the pull-out "power lead". DS came to no harm. It does pick up lightweight things (poly styrene beads, paper scraps) but not real dirt! Shame it was not a bit more robust really.

IIRC it doesn't come with the beads to hoover up.

mummychicken · 09/04/2010 14:32

I was told that the 3+ bit is only so the manufactures don't have to have such stringent checks for choking bits etc.(please don't flame me for above statement just passing on what friend's OH who is toy designer said)

I have a Henry and I take the end off and let DS (2.6) hoover up the "big bits" (sometimes placed there by me) he's rubbish at hoovering but it keeps him occupied for ages. He has even learnt to wind the cable up!

I have resisted the tempation to buy the toy one - although I REALLY want the one you plug into the USB port and clean your PC with!

this

wubblybubbly · 09/04/2010 14:33

I looked at one of those for DS but like tootootired said, they don't pick up real dirt, so I couldn't see the point

He's 3 now, so I let him use the Miele!

ASecretLemonadeDrinker · 09/04/2010 14:36

Alot of age recommendations IMO are a) to cover their backsides b) more to do with their ability that safety. Obviously some are really not meant for under the age they say, alot of the time it's fine. Check for bits that pull off easy, cords etc. It's prob. more to the fact the hand held bit is kinda tall for a 19mo and it'll be abit awkward to hoover etc.

ASecretLemonadeDrinker · 09/04/2010 14:39

haha, yeah, get him one of these! [I want one]

Tiredmumno1 · 09/04/2010 14:48

[Grin] @ jareth, mummychicken, and secretdrinker. i cant believe they do a little pink one, i want it.

Original poster
WitchyWooWoo · 09/04/2010 14:49

i dont really mind if it doesn't hoover its more to do with him feeling involved without him stealing my toy hoover

if it makes the sounds, all the better

OP posts:
Tiredmumno1 · 09/04/2010 14:50

[Grin] @ jareth, mummychicken, and secretdrinker. i cant believe they do a little pink one, i want it.

octopusinabox · 09/04/2010 14:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

IMoveTheStars · 09/04/2010 15:35

I was only half kidding - we've got one with a screw on handle that we shorten for DS - he's a bit little yet, but in a couple of years he'll be doing all the sweeping!

(he already sorts his own laundry, bless him, more than DP can manage!!)

Downdog · 09/04/2010 15:48

go for it - I've found it practially impossible to find toys that don't have the "suitable for 3+" label on it unless for newborns.

I think it's a legal catch all thing for toy manufacturers.

Use your own judgement re the safety - if you don't it's virtually impossible to buy anything for 2 year olds!

gingernutlover · 09/04/2010 15:52

we have one and dd was 2 when she got it

only things to bear in mind are, the hose part comes apart into peices, tubes, which could be put in mouth

the "plug" comes out on a plastic tubing pretend wire, it is about 1 metre long and is very stong but also very flexible

Rhian82 · 09/04/2010 15:55

I'm very tempted to get the Dyson one for my 18-month-old. It's got to be safer than the actual hoover, which he constantly hugs, climbs up on, pulls over, sticks his hands inside and occasionally kisses!

He puts tissues in the bin and puts his clothes away as well, hope this lasts as he gets older?

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