The Christmas Edition
Updated to Add: A great big THANK YOU to friend & fellow HF parishioner, Kate, who has come to the rescue with a most generous donation! He is a small but springy chestnut stallion. We call him Buster.
Help! I want to get a rocking horse for George for Christmas but can’t quite commit to a price range or style. Sam’s Club has a dinky little version (similar to this one) for $40.00 but I find myself drawn to a bigger, springier pony that costs…yikes. Too much, my husband says.
Will the smaller model grow with him? (He’s 18 1/2 mos.)
Or should I spring (ha) for the big guy?
Ick. I thought that toys got more expensive as the kids got older!! My 21 year old didn't ask for anything.
I'd go with the smaller one and look to a consignment or thrift shop later for a larger one. The spring one is great, but so expensive and if he doesn't like it or is afraid of it you're sunk. Unless you plan on growing your family….
Good luck.
That's a good point about the thrift shop option, Ellen, though are they allowed to resell that sort of thing?
We found one larger than the small one and it has a changeable cover/saddle. We paid $50. I would not spend the $40 on the smallish one. I know you could find something better out there. Is there a local senior citizen craft shop? Or someone who knows someone who could make one? That's what I would do.
At 18 months, he has no expectations re: Christmas presents. It's not likely that he'll be disappointed even if he just gets the wrapping paper from the other kids. I'd say get him a small gift now and watch craigslist or garage sales for a great rocking horse when it comes available.
I didn't realize the the larger ponies were quite that much. That said, my brothers and I had one growing up and we played and rode until it died (I'm not sure my sister was able to ride – she's 13 years younger – and there were four boys after me!). If you get the larger one, it'll last longer and some of your spunky older children will play, as well. The smaller one, IMHO, is not as worthy an investment.
Have you checked craigslist or other online sites??
On a side note, Radio Flyer toys are built to last. It's the only brand of trike that has lasted in our household.
We played on one of those spring ones as a kid and I loved it! I didn't realize they were so pricey though!
Definitely look on craigslist, I just searched the Minneapolis one and I saw at least 5 or 6 listings for the spring horses.
My experience is that whenever I buy a toy and my child is at the higher end of the age range, the toy does not grow with the child. Does Radio Flyer make a springy pony that doesn't make sound? I would imagine that would bring the price down. Do you have a used children's goods store? It might be too close to Christmas to find one, but you never know.
PS This one gets a pretty good rating for quite a bit less: http://www.amazon.com/Tek-Nek-Lucky-Plush-Spring/dp/B000HCL94W/ref=sr_1_1?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1292638013&sr=1-1
We have something similar to option #1 but in pink. A hand-me-down from one of the older girl cousins we got when Bella was about George's age. It's not in very pretty shape but it has lasted well enough. At four Bella still rides it. So my guess is it might age with him well enough.
My kids never cared for the rocking horse, but those spring horses are AWESOME and kids will use them for YEARS, even when they are WAY to big to be riding one! I wouldn't say you "have" to get it now, because he probably is still a little small for it. Just get him something you think he'd like, and keep an eye on craigslist for the big ones. I see them fairly frequently. Even though they are pricey though, they are totally worth the money.
I just have to jump in and say that my children have all LOVED the plush rocking horse by Melissa and Doug (and we never even put batteries in it!). Amazon has it for $39.99. It would fit around 18 months, but my five year old still uses it. It's classy and cute.
I'd spring for the big guy. We have one similar to that and all the kids from the 12 year old to the 5 year old love it. We've had it for about 3 years.
If you lived closer, I'd give you mine. I need the space.
I would go for the springy one. I had something similar as a child and it got *so* much use. My brother and I loved it.
What about something in between.. I just came across this when I got a target ad in my email and remembered your blog bleg.
http://www.target.com/Radio-Flyer-Soft-Rock-Bounce/dp/B002088XLI/ref=sc_qi_detailbutton
They are offering free shipping.
I checked it at amazon and it is the same price.
http://www.amazon.com/Radio-Flyer-Soft-Rock-Bounce/dp/B002088XLI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid=1292678634&sr=1-1
As mentioned by Antonina31
Melissa and Doug have a soft rocking horse and it looks like a non-noisy one, too! (noisy toys are already too plentiful in our house, sigh). It's only $5 more than the one at Walmart. I like the price and wood base.
http://www.amazon.com/Melissa-Doug-Plush-Rocking-Horse/dp/B00021HB90/ref=pd_sbs_t_1
We also have six kids with a five year age gap between the last two. I like the idea of a smaller, gentler, toy for just the little one. The big kids have so much already and the little guy is immersed in their 'bigger kid' world.
(sorry about my poor links – when I tried to link from Amazon, blogger didn't like it..)
I had one of those for my kids and I think they used it once each then it sat and sat and sat until it was sold in a yard sale. I think a small riding toy or a wagon would get more milage and fun.
signed
THeresa in Alberat
We have the spring horse that Barbara linked to. We got it for Jack just before he turned 2 and he loved it then and still loves it now. I would think that George would love it too! My 2 cents!
We've had a big springy horse for 15 years (bought for baby no. 3). I don't think it was near as much as the radio flyer, but similar in size. It has gotten a lot of use and they STILL won't let me get rid of it even though the youngest is almost 9!
It is to bad that we live so far away from you guys. A friend of my husband offered us hers for free as she wants to get rid of it. It is in good condition, but we just do not have the room for it. Either way I would go with the spring version. 🙂
Just saw a sale on a Melissa and Doug horse on Amazon. Good deal. http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d.html/ref=redir_mdp_mobile/184-7375326-3094658?a=B00021HB90