Xmas dilemma

[Finch]

We aren't getting my ds a lot for xmas. #1 he doesn't NEED it, #2 he doesn't even realize what xmas IS, and #3 he doesn't NEED it......

So we've purchased 2 small gifts (each under $15) and are getting him one more small gift ($21).

The grandparents have been asked to buy him clothes (which they did) and a wooden toy shelf/organizer thing instead of toys because again...HE DOESN'T NEED it. I am anti-crap and clutter, and hey...ds has autism, he doesn't really care about "stuff," which is just a bonus anyway IMO.

Here's the dilemma. My parents have not yet gotten his xmas gift because they were holding off until we decided what we wanted them to get for him. Their budget is $100. We want them to get him some sort of vehicle that will help his physical development, as he is developmentally delayed and has low motor tone and difficulty crossing the midline. So I talked to ds's OT to see what kind of ride on toy would be best, and she said a tricycle with a push handle on it.

I researched, and the trike that has all the features we want and the best reviews for quality and ease of use costs $200: :.

Holy crap. I've found it on ebay for $150 ($22 shipping), but that's as cheap as it gets.

Here's the dilemma. Do we get it, and just say it's part of ds's birthday present (his bday is at the end of January), or do we look for a cheaper version, and sacrifice quality for price?

[1growingsprout]

there are lots of push trikes for $50-100$....
i dont know what the criteria is your looking for

radio flyer makes a great one... fisher price as well...

[Peony]

If that is the one that would be more user-friendly for your DS then I say get it and make it part of his B-day present. I do that with DD1 whose B-day is also in Jan.

ETA:
I'm assuming that it's a Kettler trike, I personally think that you can't go wrong with Kettler products we ahve several and they last. DD1 is getting a kettler scooter for X-Mas, that is her only gift from us since it is $, and she will also be getting just a small B-Day gift.

[momto l&a]

Spend the $$$ and get something you wont regret later on.

Theres not much worse IMO than trying to save $ and buying something that just doesn't work right or breaks because its junk Been there done that.

[Finch]

Originally Posted by Peony

If that is the one that would be more user-friendly for your DS then I say get it and make it part of his B-day present. I do that with DD1 whose B-day is also in Jan.

ETA:
I'm assuming that it's a Kettler trike, I personally think that you can't go wrong with Kettler products we ahve several and they last. DD1 is getting a kettler scooter for X-Mas, that is her only gift from us since it is $, and she will also be getting just a small B-Day gift.

Yes, it's a kettler. This one:

http://www.amazon.com/Kettler-8839-5...711354-1278038

I'll have to talk to dh and see what he thinks. Man. It's expensive, but from the reviews it looks like it would be worth the $$. ITA w/mom to l&a, I hate hate HATE buyer's remorse, but even moreso because I settled for something cheaper or of lesser quality that falls apart or doesn't work. :

[lilyka]

I would sacrifice quality. its a trike. it only has to last a couple of years then he will out grow it. Just be sure to get one with a wide base so it doesn't tip easily.

[momto l&a]

Hows resale value once your DS is done using it?

[SiValleySteph]

I think the resale value is quite good for these trikes.

I'm not sure what the dielmma is. Is it that you can't afford it or that you just don't want to spend that much money? If you have the money and think it would be a good gift for your son, why don't you just kick in the rest of the money and buy it with Grandma & Grandpa? I wouldn't worry so much about labelling it as "for 1/2 birthday, for 1/2 Christmas", etc., especially since you said your son doesn't even really know about Christmas.

In the interest of full disclosure, we have the Navigator sans air tires (couldn't justify the extra $50 or wharever for the air tires because DS wasn't going to be off-roading). We got it with DS's 1st birthday money from Grandma/Grandpa. It is a good trike and DS can pedal it himself and really does enjoy it. It will last through our children, I am sure, and then we will pass it on to someone else.

[Finch]

Resale? I wasn't planning on selling it, I was planning on it going through more than one kid.

We would off road it here, we have lots of trails and woodsy areas here that would be perfect for something like that.

It's not that we don't have the $$, we do. We could swing it. It's just is it justifiable to drop that kind of cash on one item? That's my dilemma.

[oceanbaby]

Originally Posted by Finch

Resale? I wasn't planning on selling it, I was planning on it going through more than one kid.

We would off road it here, we have lots of trails and woodsy areas here that would be perfect for something like that.

It's not that we don't have the $$, we do. We could swing it. It's just is it justifiable to drop that kind of cash on one item? That's my dilemma.

If you have the cash I say go for it. I'm not sure how old your ds is, but mine rode his tricycle (one of the Radio Flyer ones with the handle on the back) for years. In fact, even after we got in a bike he still chose the tricycle for awhile. And now ds2 is almost big enough for the trike.

[SiValleySteph]

I think it is worth it. :

The trike is made in Germany vs. made in China, so the cost of labour is likely higher than that of other trikes.

[Sisyphus]

I did a quick google search and immediately found it here for 160 and free shipping. http://www.toys-that-last.com/tricycle.htm You might be able to find it cheaper if you dig. Did you try craigs list as well?? Can't hurt to put out an ISO. Also, the resale on Kettler trikes is great.

[Finch]

Originally Posted by Sisyphus

I did a quick google search and immediately found it here for 160 and free shipping. http://www.toys-that-last.com/tricycle.htm You might be able to find it cheaper if you dig. Did you try craigs list as well?? Can't hurt to put out an ISO. Also, the resale on Kettler trikes is great.

THANK YOU!! Awesome.

[crunchy_mama]

I would go for higher quality and get the one you want.

[Aridel]

Get the expensive trike. It sounds like something you'd be using a lot, and you mentioned you plan to use it with other kids in the future, so I'd go for quality over price!

If some of the reason you like that one is that you think it will be more helpful for your son's motor skills, you can always show a picture to the OT, and ask what she thinks.

[A&A]

Originally Posted by momto l&a

Spend the $$$ and get something you wont regret later on.

Theres not much worse IMO than trying to save $ and buying something that just doesn't work right or breaks because its junk Been there done that.

:

[Finch]

Originally Posted by Aridel

Get the expensive trike. It sounds like something you'd be using a lot, and you mentioned you plan to use it with other kids in the future, so I'd go for quality over price!

If some of the reason you like that one is that you think it will be more helpful for your son's motor skills, you can always show a picture to the OT, and ask what she thinks.

I asked the OT, and she said a good trike with a handle is what he needs for motor skills.

I swear our house is becoming a virtual OT/PT department.

[Godaime]

I would not spend that much money on a kettler's trike. I bet there are other trikes that have the same description for less than 160-200 dollars. IMO thats way too much to spend on a trike...trikes last for 1-2 years and then the kid would want to move on to a bike or their body would outgrow the trike. Plus they do not resell well because most people (heck even rich people) would not pay that much for a trike. I would pay 50 max for a brand new trike...and probably no more than 25 for a used trike.

[Mama Dragon]

Crafty at all? My toddler's Radio Flyer trike looks just like that without the handle and if you have a welder or mechanically inclined person around, a handle could so easily be retrofitted.

Otherwise, spend it. If it'll last many kids, it's not so bad.

[kimya]

Originally Posted by Synthea™

Crafty at all? My toddler's Radio Flyer trike looks just like that without the handle and if you have a welder or mechanically inclined person around, a handle could so easily be retrofitted.

Otherwise, spend it. If it'll last many kids, it's not so bad.

For his 4th birthday I got my nephew (also autistic) a bike with training wheels. The guys at the bike shop welded a handle on. It was about $150. He refuses to get on it. He's 5 1/2 and has never ridden it. Someday, maybe, my DD will like it!