Would you let your 4 year old DD get an $80 doll stroller?

Mickschick

I'm really struggling with this.

I don't think my kids MEAN to be destructive. I think that because there are 3 of them close in age things just take more of a beating.

The twins will be 4 on Wednesday. We are having their family party Thursday evening and and my FIL, SIL and Aunt always give them money. DD has been wanting this doll stroller (it is pretty sturdy) at a specialty toy store for a few weeks now. It costs $80.

I think it's a bit ridiculous but she plays with it every.time we go in there.

So wwyd? Should I let her use her birthday money to get it or just talk her into a twin one that I saw at TRU?

firefightersgal

Since it is her own money, I'd consider letting her buy it.  I'd remind her that it is a nice toy and she has to take care of it.  Although, I think $80 is too damn much for any toy, cool or not, but I'm poor.  

Mickschick

See- that's another thing. We are poor too! LOL!!

So I just don't know what to do. However; I did just find a coupon online to the store for $15 off a $50.00 so it would really only cost her $65...

 And it would be a good lesson in taking care of things. I think I would just be really upset if something happened to it. I'm pretty sure I've paid less than that for strollers for THEM.

firefightersgal

I think it could be a good lesson, but it might be a hard-learned one.  (ie: the stroller gets destroyed).  I personally would not let my DD spend that much on a toy, but she's never had that much cash on-hand, either.  She usually gets $5 here or there and the rest goes into savings.

Mickschick

This is why I'm torn. Usually we don't do "Big" single purchases like that. Usually for their birthday from family we get gift cards and they will get one big gift (Last year they got the John Deere Power Wheels, the year before that the Little Tykes Bounce House).

The only reason I'm even considering it is because she asks about it just about every day.

Ugh. If it wasn't so much money this wouldn't be a problem! LOL

veloelle

For my DD, no. She is a bruiser and as much as I talk about respecting our things, she is too rough. And then I'd be super pissed, which is dumb. The only expensive toy we bought was her bike.

Jermysgirl

For a doll stroller, no.  And my daughter is super careful with her toys.

Zenya

I wouldn't.  It just wouldn't be that much fun to be obsessing about it getting broken (which is inevitable I think).

JOEBunny

We went through a few, but this one has held up pretty well.  We have the single and the twin.  It has held up much better than the graco ones we had.  DD loves them too.  I would not spend $80 on a doll stroller.  I am kind of a toy nut, but that is too much for something like that, and I can pretty much tell you it will break over time too.

Littlejen22

She is only 4 so she does not have a real understanding of what spending her money means so that does not come into my mind, actually DH let DS spend the money my MIL gave DS and while he chose wisely all it did was make him want to spend more of his money and DS is not usually a kid that asks for things.

As for the stroller, my DD has a Chicco c5 (a copy of our umbrella stroller) and it was around $40 and she is only 2 and I also gave it to my BFFs DD when she turned 2.  I don't mind that it cost a lot more than the cheap ones and it has held up well for my friends DD who uses it for walks around the neighborhood.  So my thoughts are that if it will be used and will last longer I would get it, better than $80 of crap in your house.  I would however talk to the store and she how they back up their toys b/c for $80 I would be mad if it does not hold up better than a cheaper one.  Oh, and I really want to get DD the Joovy sit and stand toy stroller which is probably $80 but cannot justify it yet but might one day.

ETA:  After reading the other replies I feel like I need to justify this.  For their birthday this year DD got the $40 stroller and to go in the stroller a Disney baby Cinderella and a birthday Barbie on sale for around $10 so I spent $60 for her birthday presents, I would much rather spend that money on fewer presents that are made nicer than go through a bunch of cheaper ones that break but then again it was $40 and not $80/65.  But if she asks for it (it's $65) daily then I would do it but that's me.

KoriBrett

nope

shopgirl78

Yes.   If it was her money and it was what she wants (and it sounds like something she REALLY wants), I'd  let her buy it or that would have been our birthday present from us.  Did the person (aunt) giving the money intended her to get something she wanted (and not save)?   If so, I don't see why this is a question.  It's her money to say how it is spent.  I'd give her the option, you could buy that stroller or several smaller gifts.  If Aunt said the money was to saved, I'd do that.  

It would be worth every penny to me just to see my DD's face when that stroller was in our home.   I'd explain to the boys, its a special stroller.  It's DD's stroller and she determines who plays with it.   And you expect her to treat the stroller with respect.   If it breaks, what have you lost?

ridesbuttons

No.  Because $80 is too much money for 4 year olds to have and choose what to do with.

Jodi&Joe

I try not to assign monetary value to items.  I teach my kids they are to respect their possessions, regardless of cost.  They know, for example, that a DS is more expensive than say a matchbox car.  But they don't know what $80 is versus $8, for example.

So, for me, it's a no brainer.  If she has the money, and it's hers to spend, if that is what she wants, that is what she gets.