Do Children Affect Buying Decisions?
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The seventh question in our exclusive series asks, To what extent do your child’s/children’s wishes affect your purchasing decisions?” While some of the moms surveyed have children that are too young to have a say (or even talk!), we certainly see influence growing with age. As vocal skills develop, so do children’s tastes and desires! However, even as kids approach the tweens and teens, most moms proclaim they are still the final word.
The Question:
Christine from South Orange, NJ - Age 30 / Girl - 13 months
“Not much. Not too much. She’s only 1, so she doesn’t care all that much!
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Erica from Philadelphia, PA - Age 30 / Girl - 2 years / Boy - 9 months
“My children have minimal input toward the purchasing decisions I make for new products. I take their input more for toys.
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Chris from Brooklyn, NY - Age 49 / Girls - 3 years & 1.5 years
“At this point, they are too young to express their desires. I would imagine, when they get older, their likes and dislikes will play a role. However, I still would be less likely to purchase something I feel doesn’t satisfy other concerns.
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Shauna from Churchbridge, Saskatchewan - Age 29 / Girl - 17 months
“Ruby is still young, and we pay attention to what she is interested in to make our decision. She is too young at the moment to put in her request for purchases.
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Denise from Pleasanton, CA - Age 32 / Boys - 8 years, 6 years & 1 year
“I take into account what they would like either in terms of something that I know they would like or something that I think would be intellectually stimulating for them. I want to focus creative, imaginative little boys.
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Jovie from Lancaster, CA - Age 33 / Girl - 15 months
“If she wants something, I have to make sure its safe for her and has some kind of educational value behind it before I will purchase it.
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Lucy from Brooklyn, NY - Age 38 / Boy - 10 months
“It’s too early for me to tell since my child is so young.
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Natasha from Breckenridge, CO - Age 34 / Boy - 6 years / Girl - 2 years
“They are too small to affect my purchasing decisions. They want everything they see on TV.
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Heidi from Vallejo, CA - Age 37 / Girls - 3.5 years & 1 year
“My children only influence purchasing to the extent that their choices are not harmful and are age appropriate.
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Heather from Farmington, CT - Age 36 / Boy - 2.5 years / Girl - 8 months
“My kids are too young to have opinions (though my 2.5 year old is starting to develop a few). I usually still try to bribe him into wearing the cute things I’d like him to wear (e.g. if you wear these shoes, we’ll get a special treat…ha, horrible, I know…but I do it for fashion). ;)-
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Brandi from Colorado Springs, CO - Age 36 / Boy - 6 years / Girl - 3 years
“Most of the time, I want my kids to be comfortable in what they are wearing or playing with so I listen to their input.
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Sherrie from Truro, Nova Scotia - Age 35 / Boys - 12 years, 10 years & 10 months
“The two older ones have alot of say in what we buy for them, however, with that being said mom and dad still have the last say but we try to take in account their wants.
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Patricia from Monroe, LA - Age 45 / Boys - 6 years & 4 years / Girl - 19 months
“Our children do not have a lot of input right now. Except for toys. As long as they’re appropriate for their age, we let them pick many times.
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Karen from Angleton, TX - Age 47 / Girls - 11 years & 9 years / Boy - 7 years
“I have found it is better to try and buy what the child wants or they loose interest in it very quickly.
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Margaret from Great Falls, MT - Age 46 / Boy - 6 years / Girl - 4 years
“A good amount, unless it has to do with cheap plastic goods or video games which are verboten!
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Angela from McLean, VA - Age 43 / Girl - 6 years
“Very much. If she does not like something she will not play with it, wear it or even want us to buy it. The first two points make her sound spoiled, but in truth she will pass on things she does not like. She appears to be pretty well balanced. I also know that many of her friends are the same way in that if they do not like a particular article of clothing they will fight hard in the morning not to wear it even if it is weather appropriate, or if the parents feel it is cute. Selecting their appearance is a natural part of their development, and one of the first areas in which we see children establishing limits and boundaries — and thus forming themselves as people — so its normal. Regardless, we take her shopping and let her make many, but not all of the decisions as she is the one that has to wear it. Experience has taught that if she does not like it, she will not wear it.
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Patty from Nashua, NH - Age 42 / Girl - 2 years / Boys - newborn twins
“A little, right now my daughter loves Dora, Barney and Wonderpets. Love to get her a few items from those lines.
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Maureen from Dublin, OH - Age 43 / Girl - 2 years
“Not much at all unless I know it is from a tv show that she likes.
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Danielle from Lowell, MA - Age 39 / Girl - 18 months
“None right now. She is too little.
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Michelle from Fargo, ND - Age 38 / Girl - 18 months
“My child is to the point where she lets us know what she likes or does not like when it comes to toys. Everyday items that we need like clothes and shoes mom picks out.
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Stephanie from Culpeper, VA - Age 37 / Boy - 6 years / Girl - 2 years
“It impacts our decisions some, but we have our principles that we stand by and try to explain that to the kids.
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Ande from Dallas, TX - Age 26 / Girl - 4 year / Boy - 6 month
“My children rarely affect my decision to purchase a product. Except on holidays and birthdays, at which time they submit requests..
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Emily from Surrey, British Columbia - Age 29 / Girl - 2 years
“My child has a lot of input in our purchasing!
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Joanna from Boston, MA - Age 40 / Girl - 2 years
“She is still too young to have an impact on the purchase power, but I can image it may happen soon.
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Heather from Sacramento, CA - Age 35 / Boys - 6 years & 18 months
“None for the baby, of course, but the 6-year-old has some say. If he hates a shirt he won’t wear it! I set the guidlelines (no pictures, it can’t hurt my eyes -hah!) and he gets to help.
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Katie from Big Pine, CA - Age 29 / Boys - 3 years & 8 months
“My three-year-old will tell me what he is in to. I recently purchased a Play-Doh Monkey and he was so excited. I think what they want is real important and I try to please.
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The Wrap-up
This month’s stats are are a little tricky to compile, largely due to the varied ages of the children in question. Our responses seem to indicate that around age 2, the buying influence of children begins to be a factor — yet parents say they still remain the final decision makers. Children certainly seem to have the most buying power in the toy category, but not without passing inspection. Generally, here is how we interpret the responses:
- No affect. (Largely children too young) - 9 moms (35%)
- Minimal affect. - 11 moms (42%)
- A lot of influence. - 6 moms (23%)
Join us next month, when The Giggle Guide® moms are asked, “Do product awards/accolades influence your selection of children’s products, and if so, how? ”
