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Parenting

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Original poster

Would you buy DC a bike if it's not his birthday or Christmas?

29 replies

chicaguapa · 15/04/2008 19:34

DS (3.5yo) has been off for the school holidays and has been watching DD (6.5yo) riding around on her bike and has started asking for one. He has a Bob the Builder trike but can't pedal it up hill (we live on a slight slope) as the pedals are in front of him attached to the front wheel.

On the one hand I feel he should wait for it and it should be a special present etc. (DD will be getting a bigger bike for Christmas this year so it would be nice for them to both get new bikes at the same time).

But on the other hand I feel sorry that he will spend the whole summer watching DD on hers. He has enough money in his building society account to buy one and the money in there is from family from birthdays & Christmas for just this kind of thing.

But DD got hers for Christmas from MIL who was very keen to get it for her. And I know MIL will want to get DS a bike too. It's not DS birthday until November so he can't get it for that instead. BTW he can't share DD's as the stabilisers have been taken off!

One idea was to build it up a bit looking at pictures of bikes etc and then make a big thing about going to buy one at the beginning of the summer holidays. Maybe asking MIL if she wants to take him to choose one. But then DD will be huffy about that!

I wondered what everyone thought.

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ButterflyBessie · 15/04/2008 19:36

Get him a second hand one as a stop gap, try the local papers or a car boot sale or ask around at school

posieflump · 15/04/2008 19:36

yes I would
why don't you get a second hand one from a boot fair?
you can always get a nicer one at xmas if he has outgrown it

PandaG · 15/04/2008 19:37

my birthday is in September, and I had my first big bike at the start of the summer holidays so I could ride it during the hols.
Maybe you could ask MIL if she would buy DS's birthday present very early, you could buy a token pressie for DD at the same time, then at Christmas DD could have her present form MIL, and DS could have a small present (at his age he probably won't realise that the pack of pens or whatecer isn't as expensive as his sister's present.

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Dottydot · 15/04/2008 19:38

Yes - ds2 has just turned 4 and is ready for a bike but we couldn't find one in time for his birthday, so will probably get one for him in the next couple of months - we always buy ds's bikes via e-bay (or Mumsnet!) - you just have to be lucky and find one close to where you live so you can pick up.

brimfull · 15/04/2008 19:39

chic- wher do you live ,I have a bob the builder bike suitable for a 3 yr old-you can have it.
I live in hants.

gigglewitch · 15/04/2008 19:40

I have children with December and January birthdays so we always get their bike type present in the summer. This really works because they get to use it all summer. They really don't mind as they are obv going to get bits and pieces on their birthday (usually along with a reminder like a bike helmet or some lights for it!!) and there's christmas too... imo it seems a crazy long time to wait just to give it to him on his birthday - and no guarantee he'd get anywhere near as much use out of it in November.

florenceuk · 15/04/2008 19:42

if he wants a bike and needs one I would buy it - cycling is a very important skill (think of it like swimming lessons). The sooner the better, get something nice and not too heavy!

moreJellothanJlo · 15/04/2008 19:42

yes if he needs it

SorenLorensen · 15/04/2008 19:46

Yes I would - bikes are less toys and more vital exercise/essential life skill items, imo. We waited til ds2's birthday - and it's in December, so his chances to actually ride the thing were few and far between til the weather improved.

Original poster

chicaguapa · 15/04/2008 19:56

Thanks. I like replies that tell me what I want to hear!

ggirl that's a really kind offer. I live in Manchester but whereabouts in Hants are you as my family live in Woking, Ash and Chichester and I am going down there next month?

OP posts:

brimfull · 15/04/2008 19:57

I'm near bournemouth,on the hants/dorset border.

Purplepillow · 15/04/2008 20:03

My dd had grown out of her bike so last summer "santa" brought her a bike as an early xmas

so yes definately get him a bike

IdrisTheDragon · 15/04/2008 20:07

I bought DS a bike for his 3 and a half birthday . His birthday is in November and so I felt getting one for his half birthday was a good idea.

I bought it with money from selling DD's reusable nappies .

colander · 15/04/2008 20:12

Yes - I'm with Idris on this one. DD1's birthday is in November too, so it was a sort of advance birthday/Christmas present (but she got stuff then as well!)

quint · 15/04/2008 20:13

Definitely! DD1 has a birthday on Jan so we don;t tend to wait for special occasions (though that may well change in the future!). Have just bought her her first bike and she adores it. Thanks to recommendations on here we got an Rothan bike from Islabikes.com and within 20 mins she was able to balance (its one of those trainer bikes with no pedals) - I highly recommend them

HappyMummyOfOne · 15/04/2008 21:55

I would too, cant say i'd even think about it tbh but only have the one child so dont have to worry about a sibling.

Chuffinnora · 15/04/2008 21:58

I would just buy him a new bike if he needs one. I feel that a bike is essential kit and should be replaced as required. (as long as you can afford it.)

Original poster

chicaguapa · 16/04/2008 15:03

Spoke to MIL to tell her we were thinking of buying DS a bike before the summer and she said that she'd like to buy it for him but not yet as she has just had them both for the weekend and DS was very disobedient. So now we have to wait for her say so. Not really the position I wanted to be in.

OP posts:

hana · 16/04/2008 15:25

yes if they needed one and wasn't birthday or xmas time.

brimfull · 16/04/2008 16:10

chica-can't you just buy one anyway?

Sod your MIL

foofi · 16/04/2008 16:12

I would just buy it.

belgo · 16/04/2008 16:12

I'd just buy it now if you think he's ready for one.

PotPourri · 16/04/2008 16:14

Get one second hand from teh car boot sale or hte charity shop - would be a shame to miss the summer if you ask me. Does he have a bank account? Maybe he could buy it himself...

Twinkie1 · 16/04/2008 16:17

Hi Chic

We got DS one of these for his 2nd birthday and he was a bit young for it then - well they have changed it a bit since last year when we got DS his - he is 3.4yrs now - mothercare bike

He is ace on it, we have to run after him when he is peddling around and DH was even talking about taking the stabilisers off soon for him although that may be a bit premature!

He has recently started riding DDs old bike which is huge for him but as he has had so much practice he is great at it.

The mothercare one is good as it has the handle but is like a proper little bike not a trike and it has breaks and a little tingly bell as well!

I would most certainly buy him one!

foxythesnowfox · 16/04/2008 16:21

I agree, it would be a shame to miss the summer - but I've bought a selection of second hand bikes from ebay/charity shops and they've generally been a bit knackered and all needed a bit of work.

Saying that, they've been good enough to give them a bit of practice and give me an idea whether it'd be worth buying them a new one each.

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