I'm All About Spoiling Our Little One for Xmas..... (If You Celebrate Xmas..)

Well, first of all, people who gripe about the X in X-mas are a little clueless about abbreviations. The X in Xmas is the Greek letter "Chi" which stands for Χριστός, which is literally translated as Christos, which means Christ.

I think it would be more fun to wait until next year and have him understand the cool gift he's getting. Now he won't get it really, when he opens it. Next year he'll probably go nuts when he sees what it is. You spoil the excitement for him and for you when you rush things like this. I think it would be more fun for him if you waited.

They're designed for older (and therefore taller) kids. He'll probably have a hard time reaching the pedals. Plus, my brother got one when he was 4 and drove it straight into a cedar tree his first time on it. (He was okay, but still.)

Both great nephews of mine got powerwheels for Christmas. They were both 2 1/2. Neither one of them could drive it...to this day a year later...one child has never gotten in it again....and the other just started to learn to drive it a couple of months ago. And as far as the person posting she doesn't know what Xmas is....don't pay her any mind..some people beat religion into the ground.

If it's about spoiling your child (which, by the way, gift giving isn't spoiling...the only accurate, Biblical definition of spoiling a child is to withhold discipline.) I'm all for it, in THIS sense... :) ...but just have your husband read this answer.

A two year old cannot drive a power wheel on their own, so unless you have an older child who will be doing it for him (not much fun) while he rides along, I would suggest getting him something else. If it's about what your son would enjoy and you want to blow that much money, how about getting him an awesome train table (Thomas or Chuggington)...those things are expensive and a toy that will last for a long time, but he'd be able to play with it now.

My son got a power wheels at three and he was BARELY able to use it. It took a bit for him to get the hang of it. Our three year old neighbor has tried it several times and only manages to crash it. My daughter just turned three a few weeks ago. She is a little on the small size, but she can't even reach the pedals to drive if she wanted to. I would wait. They have motorized vehicles that are intended for little ones. Our neighbor rides around on Handy Mandy all the time. And another neighbor had a little bus to drive. I totally understand DAd's excitement, but he'll be disappointed, because your little one will not be able to drive it. BTW...my son is six and he still pulls his truck out at least once a week. He uses the heck out of that thing.

How about do and end run:

Have him learn to steer BEFORE giving him something with a motor to steer?

PlasmaCar this year (although be warned... our neighborhood started these at 2yo and all the kids are STILL riding them at age 9 - 11) and PowerWheels NEXT year. ((aka put off having to do an absolute ban... "This would be GREAT, when he's OLDER... brilliant idea honey, but lets wait a year and get his motor skills and listening skills improved, etc.")

http://www.amazon.com/gp/search/ref=sr_so_1?rh=n%3A165793...

Note... they're more than sturdy enough for adult weight (although they're not as agile with adult weight on them) and we started requiring helmets at age 3 when the kids started going down hills. The neighborhood kids STILL (going on 10 years later) tend to prefer these over bikes. If you have tile in your house, replace the wheels with rollerblade wheels (your bike shop will do it) to save on you hearing/sanity as the stock wheels are loud.

It's a "big" gift. Sturdy, safe, SUPER fun, indoor and/or out... and is *perfect* for a 2yo. My newest niece I'm just chomping at the bit (she's 1) to get old enough for her own.

BEST riding toy EVER.

Huzzah for "The Scoocher!" (the motion the kids make with their legs to push them along. You can just use the butterfly shaped -not girly, but not round' handle bars to propel yourself, but it's not as fun as using your feet to push and glide)

Can I be honest? I think this is more about your husband than it is about your child. Your husband wants to live vicariously through his son by spending this kind of money on him. Don't get me wrong - that's better than him being selfish and only wanting to spend money on himself. But a 2 year old doesn't need real expensive Christmas gifts. He needs your time and attention and love. You could get a few inexpensive gifts and he'd be thrilled. The only ones who know that you couldn't afford much last year is YOU - not your son.

The problem with "spoiling" your child with a lot of gifts is that the next years, they will expect more, the older they get. Then, instead of being happy and excited, the child gets insistent and wants the next expensive thing. The gratefulness goes out the window, and then it's a matter of "what have you done for me lately". That's not the lesson you want to be teaching your child.

I don't know if you can get your husband to listen to you on this. However, you do need to try to keep things handled, and not go whole hog.

Dawn

I just have to say I celebrate "Christ"mas...not sure what X-mas is? Don't take the Christ out of CHRISTmas

Well it matters. The reason they say 3+ is because if you chew on them the wheels come off and those are a choking hazard, but some kids don't put things in their mouth. I know my 18 month old isn't one to put things in his mouth unless he sees mom or dad put it in our mouths, while my almost 4 year old still(!) is putting everything in his mouth and shouldn't be given toys that have small pieces!

You know your kid, if he is the sort to put everything in his mouth then, well, don't get it. I would suggest a different car toy, like little people from fisher price.

Edit: ok I thought you meant hotwheels! Like the little toy cars! The big riding cr? No way!!!!!! Unless you have an older sib to drive him it he will not have the cordnation! Does your husband not know what little 2 year olds are capeable of? Sorry. My eldest ran off with one of those cars once ( it was a cousins) and flipped it! She was 2 at the time too. She could have been really hurt.

Last year my husband wanted to get one for my son for Christmas. I didn't think it was a good idea, I thought we should wait until he was a little older..he was 2 1/2 at Christmas last year. Now, almost a year later he has used it only a few times. We kept it in our basement during the winter and in the garage in the summer so he could ride it around outside but he really had no interest in it. On Christmas morning when he got it he thought it was the greatest thing, but that didn't last long at all. So, in my experience it was a huge waste of money.

i absolutely would not get him a smaller one - he'll outgrow it in a year. however, in six months he'll be loving that powerwheels. get him a regular one and he will grow into it quickly, then get several years of enjoyment out of it. i say go for it. you never know - next year christmas may be lean again. happy holidays!

He isnt old enough. It wouldnt be safe. If you give him this type of toy now, what do you give him when he is 3? or 4? Its a waste of money. He wont understand the start/go/stop stuff, or the steering and not running over things, into trees, into pools, or other people. Take dad out shopping and see what else there is that would be more age appropriate. And remember, you dont really have to spend all your money just because you have it. Saving for later usually is a really smart idea.

First think logistics. Do you have room to store a Powerwheels toy? My niece who is 3y wants one, but they live in a townhouse, tiny backyard, no shed. If they store it in the basement, then to use it, you have to move it from the back yard, around 4 houses to the sidewalk/road.

My neighbor bought her son a Gravedigger powerwheel because my son got one (it was the ONLY thing he asked Santa for!). The kid has driven it maybe 4 times. He doesn't like to get it dirty. They don't have a shed so they store it in the basement. Mom isn't strong enough to lift it through the basement door.

Think of all the toys that you could donate to Toys For Tots for the price of 1 powerwheels car.

1 power wheels car ($300) OR 25+ toys for charity/woman's shelter.

If he is heart set on getting one, check craigslist first. There are MANY on there.
http://sandiego.craigslist.org/search/?areaID=8&subAr...
http://sandiego.craigslist.org/search/tag?query=power+whe...=

Here is one at Walmart that would be small and work for your son's age.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Disney-Cars-Power-Wheels-Lil-Li...

My husband actually purchased a used one and a new battery.
I am glad we did not pay full price, just because she did not use it for very long. They just grow soo fast.

But she did love it. She was about 3.5 when he brought it home..

FYI, the battery loses power pretty fast, so we were glad to have 2 batteries. One to charge while the other was being used in the car.

Make a deal with him to get a fisher price car first. Your child can actually use it inside the house if you have enough room. And then for the 3rd Birthday give him the Power Wheels.. Put the money aside..

I will tell you, she was given a Tiny Tikes Castle that she loved and used into elementary school. it had a small slide, a door a turret and we made a custom flag.. The neighborhood kids also played in that for years.. Way more use out of an outdoor playhouse or building than the car..

Yes, the age guidelines are there for a reason but common sense comes into play to. Some kids are more coordinated than others so what one should do around age three, another may be doing before or after. My son walked at age 10 months, my daughter did the same, but my niece was more than 14 months. One kid will stop putting stuff in their mouth sooner or later than another. Age 3 is big for being the guideline for choking hazards but a 4 year old may still put things in their mouth and another just turned 3 may not. My point being that an age range is not an exact science.

I think which powerwheels it is and how your son is makes a huge difference in whether or not it is age appropriate. As does how vigilante you are with supervision. I say, don't rule it out but agree to look around and give it some thought. Ask him to do the same and pick out a few that he thinks would be appropriate before you decide.

Nah, let your husband buy it, if it means so much to him. It's Christmas. Like you said, it's the one time to spoil them.

My in-laws bought one for my son when he was 2. He loved it! He wasn't very good at steering it at first so we ran along and helped a lot but he picked it up pretty quickly. He still loves it and is now 5.

As others have said, they do make smaller ones, which might work for you. Although, there are a couple of other things to keep in mind, such as storage and a safe place to ride it.

A couple of years ago, my dad gave my son (who was a couple months shy of 3yrs) a F150 powerwheels for Christmas. My son likes his truck. However, we just barely have room to store it in our garage and at times gets buried under stuff. In addition, our yard is NOT the best place for him to ride (small yard, steep hillside, drop-off onto the driveway below), especially when he is just learning how to control it. This has resulted in him not getting the money's worth of use out of it.

there are smaller power wheels for smaller kids and they are less expensive. But if you like to donate things you can when he grows out of them too.

I got my daughter a barbie jeep her 2nd Christmas(xmas....:0)...). She was able to drive it quite a bit and learned how to steer it great before age 3. I dont think 2 is too young , they have speed control.

yes that make them for that age, however our second son is very coordinated and could drive a ford f 150 powerwheels truck at 2......it was almost $400 but was a gift from grandparents for both boys.They also have radio contolled powerwheels(ebay), child thinks s/he are driving but u are the one in control....very fun:)

Kids grow pretty fast.
My grandaughter got one for her 3rd birthday.
2 is a little young, but if Hubby is willing to put it in the garage till your son is actually able to navigate in it and you can't convince him your son isnt ready for it yet, then I guess he'll have to SEE that for himself.
Isn't there place where you can go and set your son in one and show Daddy that it's just not time yet?

They have smaller versions of these. We got one for my son when he was 18 months old and he is 3 and can still ride it. He's starting to get a little big for it, but your two year old would certainly fit on it. I think I got it for around $40 on sale on Black Friday a couple of years ago at Toys R Us. Here is a link to the one that we got.

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2310754

Just try to find a compromise. There are age appropriate ride ons! Good luck and have a great Christmas!

So wonderful that you have been blessed this year....Although I sort of side with you, there is a great power wheel for little kids that my next door neighbor has that is for 12-36 months and is around $90 at Walmart. Have the link here for you if you care to look...

http://www.walmart.com/search/search-ng.do?adid=777777779...

Sounds like he wants to give your son a toy he might have always wanted but didn't get as a child...lol!!! I think we are all children at heart and I can so understand that, but maybe a bike would be something he could use for a longer time and gives him a lifelong skill.

Have a happy!!!
Hugs, B.

Nope - my daughter got her first one at 2. My son also got one when he turned 2. I don't go by the ages on things, I go by my kids and what they can do. However, the Power Wheels are expensive. It looks like you live somewhere that you can use it more often than not - so I say go for it!!

Note - we got our daughter the escalade...it was bigger than the Barbie Jeep and the like, so she got more use out of it because it grew with her :).

Does your son actually want one? I would take him to a store that sells them and see if he even wants to be in it.

We are looking into getting our 3 1/2 yo a powerwheels and I actually found some that we was too big for. I saw some in the ads this week and saw one in person at Target. The age range was 1-3 for up to 40 lbs.