RE: Do You Recommend the Thomas Take Along Sets?
If you want to see if he is interested in wooden trains at all, Target sells wooden train sets. They are Brio/Thomas compatible, but a fraction of the cost. We got DD a set for Hanukkah and she likes them. A starter set with 5 or 6 cars and a decent amount of track was $15 or $20. I think the Brio/Thomas stuff is better quality, but the Target stuff is not bad. You could always get the Target set and a Thomas car. DD does REALLY enjoy the Thomas engines vs the generic Target engines.
Also, sometimes Michaels stores have Thomas stuff too and you can use their 40% coupons (or competitor coupons). I have noticed that only some of the Michaels stores have them though, not all do.
But if you think that you have ANY desire to get him wooden trains in the future, I wouldn't mess with the plastic track stuff.
HTH,
Beth, mom to older DD (8/01) and younger DD (10/06) and always missing Leah (4/22 - 5/1/05)