Wendy if you do and get a turtle, make sure you have a plan for when it gets bigger, so many are unwanted and let go, and cant survive in the wild cause they are used to being fed.
If you have room for a 55 gallon tank (eventually in a year or two) I recommend a yellow belly slider or a map turtle. They dont get quite as big as a red ear. make sure you get lighting and all that.
have heard so many bad things about bacteria from turtles being bad for children. What is that all about?
Yeah if you allow your son to put the turtle in his mouth? I dont let mine handle them until the turtle is atleast 3 inches and even the two year old knows we wash our hands to our elbows immediately after. So remember No licking the turtle and you'll be fine.