Tractor ride on: when did your kid stop using it?

[TheRookieMum]

Just that really. Debating a pedalled one and if we should wait till DS's 3rd birthday in the autumn or get one now for use over summer. He has no other pedal items, but has various other outdoor wheeled toys, 2 of which he's really outgrown but still uses occasionally. TIA.

I think 3 is too old for that really, they’ll start using proper bikes soon. If you want one for the summer I’d get it now.

When DD's legs were long enough for the garden tractor. By that time she was a dab hand at reverse parking with trailer, a skill she's never lost. Still driving tractors and loaders, she loves bale stacking, bale loading and hauling.

I would say depends on the child, if tractor obsessed go for it now so you get the summer use or buy secondhand (tip make sure you buy the 'correct' branded one, or you will not be forgiven)

Even the ones marketed for 3+?

See, this is why I'm asking Mumsnet for opinions!

Hahaha, we are tractor obsessed!!! Anything farm related is a winner, I don't think there's a correct brand but there's certainly going to be a right and wrong colour.
Definitely want secondhand but struggling to come across one. We're rural but I've tried all the usual places: Facebook marketplace & local pages, eBay and even vinted though not sure about posting one of those!

My nephew is 3 in August. He has a ride on tractor that he loves but is really quite big for it (although he's a tall boy anyway). He's started using a pedal trike which he's enjoying but doesn't enjoy his balance bike. He's still tractor daft so I think he'd love a pedal tractor (assuming it'll be bigger than the push along). If you think he'll enjoy it, I'd probably buy it now for use over summer. If you wait until autumn he might not get much use and he might not enjoy tractors come next spring/summer. It's really tricky when their likes/dislikes change and birthdays don't align - I'm debating whether to buy DS a play house now or not. His birthday has passed so if we don't get it now it'll be Christmas or next spring and he'll probably have moved on to something else by then.

We have one of those John Deere tractors. Still played with daily by our 8 and 5 year olds.

We have a big one and I've had 9 and 10 year olds play on it. The 3 year old goes in the trailer as he can't reach the pedals yet.

8, 9 and 10 year olds?! That's great! Might explain why second hand is proving hard to come by - they're much loved, long-used and not things people sell on willingly perhaps...
We're definitely looking for a bigger one to attempt longevity, but they're pricey bought new.

My son got a digger 1 at 2.5 from grandparents and it was way too big. He’s 5 now and the perfect size. It’s just too big for the bloody garden 😂

ride ons for 3+ are generally up to age 6/7 size wise

Massive one with pedals will last yonks. Good old John Deere. Or you could escalate to the battery powered one…

Keep an eye on Amazon.
we got ours on a price drop.

just make sure you read the description as there’s 3 sizes.
we have one that goes up to age 8 and one that is age 10.

downside is the extras like trailers etc can be just as expensive. But with expecting another baby we should get at least another 10 years worth of use.

There's a price drop now for a rolly one with front loader. I'm half tempted to get another one for tractor races.

Ok, so £60-£100 splurge, but maybe 5-7 years of use. That's not too bad. And probably worth it while he's tractor obsessed, before we're properly into the summer.

Any specific recommendations?

I think ours is the John Deere 7930 but I'd consider getting a trailer for it too by which point you've well and truly blown the budget. Seems to be a popular model. If you have any friends with them they are labelled so can check sizes and pick from that?

Yes we have a John Deere. Can’t remember the models. One has a backhoe. The other goes up to age 10. Think it’s a max?

but they are a lot more then £100. Our one with backhoe is £195 I think on Amazon. Our max is £250 I think on sale.

trailers as well. We have a couple. Our tipper one is like £80? I think a basic one is cheaper though. Maybe £40ish? If I remember correctly.

if You get a big one, he may not be able to reach the pedals or they may be too hard for him to turn

our lot play with them only at days out but often the 4yo struggles to actually drive the big ones

6 and 8yo love them