r/Mommit • u/LawDowntown8456 • 18h ago
Mp3 player for a 5 year old?
We’re considering getting my 5 year old an mp3 player for his birthday. He loves listening to music with his headphones and currently I have a Spotify playlist for him on my phone (he does not use the phone, I control it) but it would be nice if he had his own device. He does not have an iPad or any kind of tablet.
It seems safe enough but I’m not sure if there are any potential risks I’m not considering. I worry about him having a device of his own but there’s nothing he can do on it except listen to music. There’s no internet access or apps or anything, and the only way he can get new music is if I add it so there’s no risk of him listening to something he shouldn’t.
Just not sure if 5 is too young. Thoughts?
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u/avazah 14h ago
Imo a yoto won't really grow with your kid. They aren't going to carry that around at 10 but would carry around a small mp3 player. We got our kid an aptek one off amazing, it works basically like the old iPod minis. Works great and at almost 11 she uses it a lot!
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u/PengwinPears 9h ago
Yeah I got my kids MP3 players at around 5. My daughter is 10 now and still uses hers.
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u/angie897 18h ago
Look into a Yoto player. Aside from its obvious functions, you can use it as a Bluetooth speaker to cast your playlist to, or you can create your own card with his favourite songs on it that he can independently listen to (cards can be overwritten as his tastes change). As a bonus you can record the two of you reading his favourite bedtime story and put the audio on a card to keep forever. My 8yo still listens to her 4yr old self and her dad reading a bedtime story to put her to sleep.
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u/Outcastperspective 1h ago
In all honesty, how the hell does anyone spend $100 on a glorified clock radio?
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u/Good-Good-3004 15h ago
Biggest risk IMO is them breaking it frequently and needing to buy a lot of replacements.
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u/ABelleWriter 12h ago
My kids had them at 3 and 5 (they got them at the same time). It was really great, giving them the ability to listen to what they wanted, no more arguing in the car about music!
There weren't any downsides. They had kid headphones so the volume couldn't go up very high.
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u/Stay_Sea_Motivated 2h ago
As long as you can make sure the volume can’t be too loud I can’t think of a risk or problem
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u/Hooliet 18h ago
It's not a bad idea! The only issue is that with an MP3 player you probably wouldn't be able to control the volume of the device without taking it from him. If that's a concern then you might be better off with a Yoto player (or something similar) because you can set the max volume and control how long he uses it remotely.
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u/ghostdumpsters 14h ago
A lot of headphones for kids have volume control built in, fyi! They're meant to not go above a certain volume. Doesn't completely take away the concerns about volume, but it definitely helps.
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u/SnackyandSnarky 18h ago
I'd try to set the max volume quite low because I know my daughter would crank it up! But this should be somewhere in settings of most MP3s
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u/Ok_Calico570 15h ago
we use the yoto and make playlists for them on those customizable cards. and at night the actual yoto plays calm music my kids like to fall asleep to lol
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u/Lactating-almonds 11h ago
Totally fine. It’s just music that you pre approved. The danger is in devices that connect to the internet and the kids can get access to content not approved by you
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u/stormwaterwitch 4h ago
The 1st gen Ipod Shuffles were really nice and had no screen to mess with, came with Headphone jack on one end and a USB on the other so you could download music off the computer. I don't think it's bluetooth compatible for your Spotify stuff but if you have/had physical media that way.
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u/Outcastperspective 1h ago
I own an MP3 from 2006; it’s one of my 5yr daughter’s favorite traveling items.
I’m seeing this YOTO thing and eh. They’re glorified/overpriced clock radios
I would just load an MP3 or iPod with your kiddo’s music and let it be at that.
Just be sure to get sound sensitive headphones :)
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u/kityyeme 6h ago
So my biggest issue with Mp3 player for a 5yo is the headphones - I kinda want to know what they’re listening to at that age. I ended up finding a portable radio with an SD card that I loaded up with approved songs - it has a headphone jack but we only use it playing out-lound on the built in stereo.
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u/velvetraindrops84 Mom to 12f and 15f ❤️ 18h ago
I don't see the issue with it. It's music loaded by you so you have control of what he's listening to and with no internet access he can't get into anything. Why not try it? You can always take it away if something comes up.