Would a razor be a good 4th birthday gift?

MrsHK

Am I missing something about the safety of these razor scooters? DH says he read that they can be dangerous and caused more ER visits than any other children's toy. He can't find the article he read so I don't know the specific constraints.

Am I missing something? I was thinking of getting DS1 one for his 4th birthday. I don't see how it would be any more dangerous than a bike? I get that he can fall but he can trip over his own feet too, what kind of major injury could that really cause?

Just to clarify I'm looking at a regular razor lite, not the toddler kind or the motorized kind. 

kmhunt11

I think it depends on the kid.  Mine would be ok because she's pretty coordinated, has been using a 3 wheel scooter for a year and is cautious enough to go slow until she's got the hang of it. If you're kid is a daredevil (very normal for little boys to have no fear at 4!), it might be a bad idea.  If he's still more toddler and less kid, it might not be a great idea.  Keep in mind there is always next year.  I have to remember that sometimes!

MrsHK

I think that's a great way to put it and why I'm thinking of the razor. He's more of a kid than a toddler. He's been riding his bike with training wheels over a year and a regular tricycle before that. We go for long walks and he's rode his bike along side us the whole time.
We were going to give him a power wheel but it's a handme down and we're working on getting a working battery. However, I just think he seems a little old for it. I know he'll like it but I think he'd get more play out of the razor. I'm thinking we'll still fix the battery and just give it to the kids to share.

Aimathy

Personally, I'd wait.  As the other poster said, there is always next year.  I have an 11 year old son that has been riding all the big kid stuff for years and even though DD is coordinated, athletic and safe, I would still wait at least a year until she had a razor scooter that was hers alone.  They pick up speed veeery quickly and once you're going fast, even if you jump off if you're getting out of control, that jump alone is still dangerous.  So as the owner of big kid and little kid stuff...I'd say wait.  If he'd be just as happy with a younger kid version, I'd do that.  You have years and years ahead of gift giving....so I'd save this for another year when he is old enough to better appreciate it, and can be a bit safer on it.  Good luck!

jlw2505

It totally depends on the kid - my older DD at age 4 had zero balance and seriously, would walk into walls so no way would I have gotten her a razor.  My little one just turned 4 this week and is getting a razor later this summer (both girls are) as an end of school year type of thing as we got them super cheap around the holidays but didn't want to give them as holiday gifts since they would have just sat around not being able to be used.  We started both of our girls with the toddle training scooters, the ones with 3 wheels a wide base for them to stand on and both did so great with those.  My kids will be 4 and a few months and 6 when they get the razors.  And they always wear helmets and closed toe shoes (sneakers or Keen style) when using the scooters or bikes.

rsd12

That is what we got my son for his 4th birthday. He loves it! My oldest (6) wiped out early summer, skinned his knee and elbow and got right back on. I think helmet safety is a must.

rsd12

rsd12:

That is what we got my son for his 4th birthday. He loves it! My oldest (6) wiped out early summer, skinned his knee and elbow and got right back on. I think helmet safety is a must.

I should add he went down a pretty steep hill and was trying to keep up with his big cousin.

gimmietimmies

Depends on the kid. T rode a bike without training wheels at 4 and had a scooter, same with K (she has a razor, she's scary fast). E only just got her training wheels off at the end of last summer and is completely uncoordinated at riding her scooter (yet she dances, weird).

luvmagoldn

We bought them for the twins' 4th birthday.  They really haven't used them.  I think they are afraid of the speed, having to balance on one leg, etc.

Does your LO have a bike?  If not that could be a good choice - with training wheels of course. 

bim38106

I've heard that too...I think it was while reading the reviews on Amazon. Honestly, I'm not going to completely shield my kids from every kid thing that might cause harm, KWIM. There's always someone who's going to think something is too "dangerous". I decided to go ahead and get DD1 a scooter for her 4th b-day. Though I have to admit reading that did give me pause

We decided on a 3 wheeled scooter for DD. I just didn't think she was ready for the Razor-style one, and from seeing her on her 3-wheeled one, I know I made the right choice. She absolutely LOVES it though, and plays with it all the time!

I did see a 2.5ish year old boy (he was SMALL) at the part, zooming super fast on a razor scooter. I mean, it was crazy! He was obviously talented So of course, it all depends on the child

WestCoastMommy

I agree that it depends on the kid. Our neighbor had one at age 4 and he did great on it so we got DS one and he isn't as coordinated with it and my DH can't handle watching him on it lol While I think he should put it away for another year I don't discourage it, after all that's how they learn.

Paigeo

Like pp's have said I think it depends on the kid.  I think we are going to get DD the one below in pink.  Sounds like it is a little easier to ride then the normal razor but yet we would get more use out of it then the beginner/3 wheel type.

 https://www.amazon.com/Radio-Flyer-Ez-Rider-Scooter/dp/B002AVU3SG/ref=sr_1_sc_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1332084194&sr=8-3-spell

 

SurgeMSU

So I didn't get much sleep last night thanks to DS getting up at 4 a.m.. . .and I read the title of this post and thought, "What does a 4-year-old need a razor for?"  I actually thought, a razor, like for shaving.  Yeah.  I need sleep.