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Original poster

Mini fridge

26 replies

Dowhadiddydiddydum · 03/11/2023 08:43

Can I have thoughts on mini fridges as a gift for 7 and 9 year olds?

Both kids are asking for a mini fridge for Xmas. Do people have thoughts on these. I’ve explained if they have them I will control what is in them and there will only be minimal things likes cans of coke and more things like water, juice, fruits.

They are 7 and 9 and the 9 yr old is spending lots of time reading in his room so I can see a mini fridge would be handy. I also remember my brother having one and loving it.

OP posts:
Aquamarine1029 · 03/11/2023 08:45

I wouldn't for a 7 and 9 year old, personally.

User562377 · 03/11/2023 08:47

I bought ds17 one last Christmas but he doesn't like it in his room because its noisy. So he never uses it. He liked the idea though, he just seems particularly bothered by the noise of it running overnight. I don't think it's especially noisy. Maybe he's just weird.

GardeningForever · 03/11/2023 08:48

I bought one for my eldest at uni but my dc still at home certainly won't be getting one. Only time they venture out is for snacks/mealtimes! If they had a fridge in their room I'd never see them! Plus I think it's a bit spoilt at that age.

WhatHaveIFound · 03/11/2023 08:49

Personally I wouldn't because we tend to keep drinks (other than water) for mealtimes only. Plus my dad has one in the room at his care home and it's actually quite noisy. The hum would annoy me.

Original poster
Dowhadiddydiddydum · 03/11/2023 08:51

Ah I hadn’t thought about the noise. That is something to consider. Might speak to my son about that. Both of them are big smackers so I had wondered if it might be a way to prep a load of snacks they can help themselves to when they want.

Not sure about the spoilt comment. Why is it spoilt

OP posts:
GardeningForever · 03/11/2023 09:18

Because it's completely unnecessary at that age IMHO.

Original poster
Dowhadiddydiddydum · 03/11/2023 09:19

GardeningForever · 03/11/2023 09:18

Because it's completely unnecessary at that age IMHO.

almost everything they get is completely unnecessary.

OP posts:
GardeningForever · 03/11/2023 09:20

I wouldn't consider buying a bike for instance unnecessary. So can't agree I'm afraid.

Original poster
Dowhadiddydiddydum · 03/11/2023 09:25

GardeningForever · 03/11/2023 09:20

I wouldn't consider buying a bike for instance unnecessary. So can't agree I'm afraid.

No a bike obviously has a use, but my point is most kids ask for presents at xmas that are unnecessary. As do adults. It’s one of things I hate about xmas and why I do as many non toy gifts as possible. I do however like the kids to choose one thing they just ‘want’- and I don’t see how a fridge is anymore ‘spoilt’ or ‘unnecessary ’ than anything like another barbie doll, video game or goo.

OP posts:
VeridicalVagabond · 03/11/2023 09:26

GardeningForever · 03/11/2023 09:18

Because it's completely unnecessary at that age IMHO.

By that logic they should get absolutely nothing for Christmas or ever because it's not necessary. Lighten up a bit. The smallest ones are only about £25, it's hardly a ridiculous extravagance.

My daughter has one her grandad got her, she's older though and her reasoning was it's so she can have cold drinks and snacks while she's studying without having to go out of her room. Unfortunately it ended up being too noisy so it's just in the garage now as a spare storage space. Definitely noise is something to consider as they have that sort of low, vibrating hum that can drive you absolutely batshit.

WhereDoYouGo1 · 03/11/2023 09:27

How big is the mini fridge? Don’t bother getting the tiny ones that only hold a couple of cans.

Mydpisgrumpierthanyours · 03/11/2023 09:28

If that's what they want why not?
I brought ds1 one a couple of years ago & he loves it. Ds2 is getting one for Xmas.
You can pick 4 liter ones up for less than £30 and most of the time they double up as coolers you plug into the car

GardeningForever · 03/11/2023 09:42

VeridicalVagabond · 03/11/2023 09:26

By that logic they should get absolutely nothing for Christmas or ever because it's not necessary. Lighten up a bit. The smallest ones are only about £25, it's hardly a ridiculous extravagance.

My daughter has one her grandad got her, she's older though and her reasoning was it's so she can have cold drinks and snacks while she's studying without having to go out of her room. Unfortunately it ended up being too noisy so it's just in the garage now as a spare storage space. Definitely noise is something to consider as they have that sort of low, vibrating hum that can drive you absolutely batshit.

Show quote history

I'm perfectly "light" thank you 😄 OP asked for thoughts and I'm giving mine. She can completely ignore it of course.

Re fridge noise when I bought one for my dc at uni this was a consideration which is why the fridge has to be a reasonable size. He says his is really quiet and also doubles as a bedside table. I read the tiny fridges like your dd's do make lots of noise.

LaurieStrode · 03/11/2023 09:48

I wouldn't. It's just more tat and e-waste. They don't need to store sugary drinks in their rooms.

Newtonianmechanics · 03/11/2023 09:50

My daughters is in the loft. They are quite noisy.
Was good when we went camping though.

minipie · 03/11/2023 09:54

I really wouldn’t like this.

First I wouldn’t want juice and fruit in the bedrooms, my DC are similar age and would definitely make a sticky mess with those.

Second I don’t think it’s healthy to get into the habit of having snacks or juice constantly available, better to learn to wait until mealtime.

Third I’d prefer them to come downstairs sometimes (like if they want a drink or snack) rather than hibernating in their bedrooms all the time.

Plus the noise, the electricity bill, environmental impact.

IcedupTulip · 03/11/2023 10:02

Mine does but it helps as they are type 1 diabetic so often needing a snack or a drink of water (prefers it cold). Not noisy that we’ve noticed.

SantaBarbaraMonica · 03/11/2023 10:57

I don’t think it will be fun with water and carrot sticks and fruit in it. So I wouldn’t get one for mine. Sweet drinks and unhealthy snacks really need monitoring and controlled until they are older so I think it’s a bad idea for young kids.

Bbq1 · 03/11/2023 11:04

Bought our ds one at about10/11. He's 18 now and ut sits in his room with bottles of water in it but it's very rarely been used over the years. Think he liked the idea but the novelty wore off super quickly.

pizzaHeart · 03/11/2023 11:10

minipie · 03/11/2023 09:54

I really wouldn’t like this.

First I wouldn’t want juice and fruit in the bedrooms, my DC are similar age and would definitely make a sticky mess with those.

Second I don’t think it’s healthy to get into the habit of having snacks or juice constantly available, better to learn to wait until mealtime.

Third I’d prefer them to come downstairs sometimes (like if they want a drink or snack) rather than hibernating in their bedrooms all the time.

Plus the noise, the electricity bill, environmental impact.

I agree with all these^

Also I know a lot of things which they get for Christmas etc are a bit unnecessary but some are more unnecessary than others and I agree with @GardeningForever that mini fridge is in the latter category.

Lovelydovey · 03/11/2023 11:21

What are they going to use it for? Mine only drink water between meals and I don't want to encourage additional snacking. Plus I'm not going to be responsible for restocking it.

Ivalueloyaltyaboveallelse · 03/11/2023 11:25

Both my DC have Xbox fridges in their rooms but they are hardly ever plugged in. Really noisy and my Dc don’t drink fizzy, eat chocolate or sweets (one has ARFID) but the fridges are very useful in summer to store extra water, apple juice and face products.

caringcarer · 03/11/2023 11:30

My Foster Son got one when 16. He keeps a couple tropical cans, protein water and an odd bar of chocolate in his. He likes it though. It means he can stay in his room if he wants to.

Original poster
Dowhadiddydiddydum · 03/11/2023 11:52

Lovelydovey · 03/11/2023 11:21

What are they going to use it for? Mine only drink water between meals and I don't want to encourage additional snacking. Plus I'm not going to be responsible for restocking it.

Mine snack constantly, especially my DC. Probably keep stuff like cold water, blueberries, etc but I do see it could lead to bad eating habits.

OP posts:
Original poster
Dowhadiddydiddydum · 03/11/2023 11:56

Thanks for the opinions. I might steer them away from it. I’m not concerned about my 9yr old so much as he drinks lots of things like sparkling water and eats V heathy, but I’m sure my young DD would want sweet stuff in it constantly.

Issue I am struggling with is my DS very rarely asks for anything, bless him. Doesn’t buy himself things with his pocket money and just saves it because he worries about waste. So it’ll be difficult to turn down the one thing he decides he wants. He has shown loads of interest in being eco recently, so maybe I’ll approach from that angle and see what he thinks.

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