Would you allow your two year old to ride on a 4 wheeler

Question

Obviously with a parent. But my husband just bought a 4 wheeler and he wants to take our two year old for a ride out at his parents' house (they own about ten acres of land). I'm a little skeptical, but if he wore a helmet and had some way to secure him I would be ok with it. What do you think? Would he be ok riding with my husband (slowly) as long as he had a helmet on and some way to secure him to my husband to keep him from falling?

Our two year old is dying to go for a ride but I refuse to let him ride without a helmet or safety belt of some kind! :)

Answer 1

Your son should be perfectly safe as long as he knows how to follow directions and is good about doing so.  

However, please do not secure him to the 4-wheeler.  Any motorized vehicle without a ROPS does not have seat belts for a very good reason.  IF the 4-wheeler should roll, you WANT your son to be thrown by the momentum so hopefully it will not land on him.  If he's secured to the vehicle and there are no ROPS then there is nothing to protect his head/neck/body from being crushed when the 4-wheeler rolls.  

Please please please do not secure him to the ATV if you choose to let him ride.  

ROPS=Roll Over Protection System  or Roll Over Protective Structure.  Think of a farm tractor...those with cabs have a "safe zone" created by the cab, and therefore have a seatbelt.  If the tractor rolls, the operator will be held by the belt within the safe zone so that the tractor will not land on him/her.  Those without safe zones come without seat belts so that operators will be thrown and minimize their chances of being caught/pinned under the equipment should there be a roll over.  

Answer 2

yes i wouldn't have a problem with it.  That's assuming your husband is a responsible adult.

My 2 year old goes on his dad's trail bike (2 wheeler) all the time and loves it.

Just make sure your kid knows he cant get off until dad stops :)

Answer 3

No its to much bouncing around for their head no matter what terrain. This something for a 4 or 5 year old. A 2 year old can't even control their body movements in a car. Even if dad was slow on flat terrain accidents do happen and that would be scary for a 2 year old.

Answer 4

My best friends husband loves to four wheel with their kids, he's been doing it slowly and responsibly since they were a little under a year.  

Get that boy a helmet and let him have a great memory of him and daddy doing something awesomely fun together.  I'm not sure if there is any better gift these days then the memories I have about growing up and doing special things with people I love.  Just the other day I was thinking about how much fun I had when i was 4 and my Great Grandma would drink lukewarm coffee out of bowls with me.  That one had me smiling all day.

Make your baby smile, it will make you smile too.

Answer 5

if your husband would be able to hold on to him and drive it would be ok...but i don't know how you would secure him.

yes, a helmet is a must.

but i really do think that two is still too young.  I think he needs to understand that it isn't a toy.

Answer 6

i would let my two year old go, as long as he had a helmet on and his dad didn't go extremely fast or over major bumps...

Answer 7

With a helmet and harness I would allow it. His dad isn't going to careening over cliffs or drive 60 miles an hour with him on the four wheeler. A nice sedate 10-15 miles an hour on flat ground for a few minutes is not going to kill him. But it will give him a happy memory with his daddy. I have learned to make those memories whenever you can. I think a full helmet such as a childs snowmobile helmet would be best. I would also consider knee and elbow pads incase he does fall. And i would have him ride infront of your husband for added security.  

Answer 8

i think he should be fine as long as he has a helmet on.  

Answer 9

Is it worth the risk for an activity he will not remember later? Who's getting the enjoyment, the kid or dad?

Sure, nothing will happen...till it does. Accidents happen no matter how hard you try to prevent them. What if dad doesn't see that bump or hole? What if junior grabs the handle? Bumps the gas? Slips under dad's arm and falls? Horrifying possibilties, and for what?

A walk around the pond on dad's shoulders would be a better idea. Consider it again when he is 4 or so and can better understand directions.

Answer 10

No way! Kids that age are way to curious they start punching buttons and pulling things they shouldn't. My ex boyfriend was 5 when his dad let him ride with him on a motorcycle and my ex squeezed the gas handle when his dad was looking and they both spiraled out of control slamming my ex into a building. Now he has a huge scar that runs across his face. He almost didn't make it.

Answer 11

sure his daddy isnt gonna let anythig happen to him. let go mommy hes growing up.

Answer 12

I probably only would if maybe I tied him to my husband and he had a helmet and pads on. Even then they had to go slow on flat terrain.

Answer 13

I would consider a short ride..

Answer 14

as long as your husband goes slow and is sure that he has your child it shouldn't be a problem, we take my 2 year old step daughter out and i have had my 8 month old out just to get the mail and back (nothing long for her) but as long as you are careful it shouldn't be a problem

Answer 15

I would say definitely not. I personally have been on a four wheeler often and have a lot of friends with them and we all have a scary instance or two in which things just went horribly wrong. They definitely aren't the safest things! I believe there should be a sticker on your ATV indicating the ages appropriate. Any number of things could go wrong, and it is definitely not a good idea. Even if you took special precautions to ensure a safe drive, accidents happen.

Answer 16

no way!

Answer 17

Sure, as long as you are ok with risking your child's life...go for it. You know you are already going to allow it, so what's the point of asking here? Hoping you will find a bunch of people who will tell you it's fine so you won't feel so guilty about risking your child's life?

Answer 18

Your concern is commendable. Allow your child to explore as much as is safe. His father would never let anything happen to his own child, now would he. You might have a future 4 wheeling expert! I allowed my 4 year old on rollerblades-10 years ago and now to watch him is a glorious time for me. I love the fact that his drive for adventure never left-Just remember SAFETY FIRST!  You might want to have a stress ball handy though!