Hellobee Boards Topic: When would you let your LO get a cell phone?

Hellobee Boards Topic: When would you let your LO get a cell phone? https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 26 Jun 2026 23:57:21 +0000 Charm54 on "When would you let your LO get a cell phone?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-would-you-let-your-lo-get-a-cellphone/page/2#post-2360818 Wed, 18 Nov 2015 05:39:19 +0000 Charm54 2360818@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Definitely definitely not in elementary. I'd like to hold off until grade 8. Mrs. Lemon-Lime on "When would you let your LO get a cell phone?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-would-you-let-your-lo-get-a-cellphone/page/2#post-2360808 Wed, 18 Nov 2015 05:22:03 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2360808@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I could see my husband buying one for our 1st grader :sad: Hopefully, we will hold out until 4th or 5th grade when a mature 9 or 10 year old could stay home alone for a few hours afterschool. There would definitely be some serious phone etiquette enforced at home. For instance phone off when it's family time. lamariniere on "When would you let your LO get a cell phone?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-would-you-let-your-lo-get-a-cellphone/page/2#post-2360801 Wed, 18 Nov 2015 04:10:33 +0000 lamariniere 2360801@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I honestly have no idea. There is a middle school across the street from us and I've seen a number of kids with smartphones. loveisstrange on "When would you let your LO get a cell phone?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-would-you-let-your-lo-get-a-cellphone/page/2#post-2360730 Tue, 17 Nov 2015 22:52:30 +0000 loveisstrange 2360730@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Probably middle school. But there will be some definite restrictions placed on it. ShootingStar on "When would you let your LO get a cell phone?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-would-you-let-your-lo-get-a-cellphone/page/2#post-2360726 Tue, 17 Nov 2015 22:41:20 +0000 ShootingStar 2360726@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Mamaof2: I had that phone too! It was my mom's and I had to borrow it any time I drove anywhere. I'm guessing some time around 8-10. I'm fascinated by people that say they're going to wait until high school. This is the digital age, it's not like when we were kids. We'll probably end up passing down one of our iPhones to him to start, but no data plan, just wifi. LilSprinkles on "When would you let your LO get a cell phone?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-would-you-let-your-lo-get-a-cellphone/page/2#post-2360621 Tue, 17 Nov 2015 21:13:56 +0000 LilSprinkles 2360621@https://boards.hellobee.com/ When they can pay for the phone and the bills. sera_87 on "When would you let your LO get a cell phone?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-would-you-let-your-lo-get-a-cellphone#post-2360508 Tue, 17 Nov 2015 20:06:41 +0000 sera_87 2360508@https://boards.hellobee.com/ when they can help pay for it, and if they can afford it, they can choose whatever phone they want. Mrs.KMM on "When would you let your LO get a cell phone?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-would-you-let-your-lo-get-a-cellphone#post-2360337 Tue, 17 Nov 2015 18:02:21 +0000 Mrs.KMM 2360337@https://boards.hellobee.com/ My kid will probably hate me based on how early so many kids get cell phones nowadays. But I have no intention of her getting a phone until she is 16. autumnlove on "When would you let your LO get a cell phone?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-would-you-let-your-lo-get-a-cellphone#post-2358875 Mon, 16 Nov 2015 20:14:55 +0000 autumnlove 2358875@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Prob older elementary school age if they walk to school. coopsmama on "When would you let your LO get a cell phone?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-would-you-let-your-lo-get-a-cellphone#post-2358809 Mon, 16 Nov 2015 19:17:07 +0000 coopsmama 2358809@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @mrsrain: Yes! This. Because at that point it's a matter of safety. I know it will also bring challenges but that's worth it for the benefit of being able to contact my kids when they are out and about and still not moved out/on their own. Mrs. Pen on "When would you let your LO get a cell phone?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-would-you-let-your-lo-get-a-cellphone#post-2358782 Mon, 16 Nov 2015 18:30:12 +0000 Mrs. Pen 2358782@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @pinkcupcake: I think we will. There are phones are there designed for the middle-school demographic that allow parental controls and I think that parents appreciate that and will continue to invest in that. It's only ten years away, or even less, and there are still basic flip phones even now. I would allow him to get a basic calls only phone around the age he starts spending more time at friends' homes, social events, school stuff - so 10-12. But with limitations/restrictions for sure. If he wants a smartphone, he has to pay for it himself. I didn't get a smartphone until I was a parent haha! lilteacherbee on "When would you let your LO get a cell phone?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-would-you-let-your-lo-get-a-cellphone#post-2358767 Mon, 16 Nov 2015 18:09:21 +0000 lilteacherbee 2358767@https://boards.hellobee.com/ My cousin (now almost 14) got an iPhone at 7 years old and had complete control and no parental settings, etc. I can say I will definitely NOT be taking that approach. I'm hoping to wait until middle school, but it will be heavily monitored and there will be lots of rules! mrsrain on "When would you let your LO get a cell phone?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-would-you-let-your-lo-get-a-cellphone#post-2358764 Mon, 16 Nov 2015 18:07:02 +0000 mrsrain 2358764@https://boards.hellobee.com/ When she is old enough to be out and about without supervision. catomd00 on "When would you let your LO get a cell phone?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-would-you-let-your-lo-get-a-cellphone#post-2358763 Mon, 16 Nov 2015 18:05:58 +0000 catomd00 2358763@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Basic flip phone when she's old enough to go places without me. birdofafeather on "When would you let your LO get a cell phone?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-would-you-let-your-lo-get-a-cellphone#post-2358750 Mon, 16 Nov 2015 17:49:22 +0000 birdofafeather 2358750@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @lawbee11: wow! DH didn't get a cell phone until college. i got one when i was 16ish but i barely brought it with me anywhere. i still had a pager too! i only used my cell phone to call my parents mostly. Mrs. Peanut on "When would you let your LO get a cell phone?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-would-you-let-your-lo-get-a-cellphone#post-2358746 Mon, 16 Nov 2015 17:47:03 +0000 Mrs. Peanut 2358746@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I may get my LO a track phone or something around middle school. They definitely aren't getting a smart phone until they can pay for the data. There is no need for that. But then again, I'm old school. :happy: daniellemybelle on "When would you let your LO get a cell phone?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-would-you-let-your-lo-get-a-cellphone#post-2358723 Mon, 16 Nov 2015 17:32:43 +0000 daniellemybelle 2358723@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @yoursilverlining: This thread made me google all kind of iphone parental controls haha! pregnantbee on "When would you let your LO get a cell phone?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-would-you-let-your-lo-get-a-cellphone#post-2358701 Mon, 16 Nov 2015 17:13:13 +0000 pregnantbee 2358701@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Mamaof2: Um. I had the same thing! Only for emergencies! And it plugged into the car's lighter jack. NavyRN2012 on "When would you let your LO get a cell phone?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-would-you-let-your-lo-get-a-cellphone#post-2358644 Mon, 16 Nov 2015 16:38:42 +0000 NavyRN2012 2358644@https://boards.hellobee.com/ This hasn't even crossed my mind! My son is 9 and none of his friends (ranging in age from 8-13) have phones! Greentea on "When would you let your LO get a cell phone?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-would-you-let-your-lo-get-a-cellphone#post-2358635 Mon, 16 Nov 2015 16:34:17 +0000 Greentea 2358635@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Probably never/ when she gets a job. mediagirl on "When would you let your LO get a cell phone?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-would-you-let-your-lo-get-a-cellphone#post-2358629 Mon, 16 Nov 2015 16:32:00 +0000 mediagirl 2358629@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Mamaof2: LOL that is awesome. I never knew anyone with a bag phone! Mamaof2 on "When would you let your LO get a cell phone?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-would-you-let-your-lo-get-a-cellphone#post-2358582 Mon, 16 Nov 2015 16:01:48 +0000 Mamaof2 2358582@https://boards.hellobee.com/ This makes me feel ancient but I got my 1st cell phone at 16 when I started driving and it was a bag phone! :silly: [attach=4342/15/nxxef0.300x208.th.jpg] LindsayLou on "When would you let your LO get a cell phone?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-would-you-let-your-lo-get-a-cellphone#post-2358577 Mon, 16 Nov 2015 15:58:34 +0000 LindsayLou 2358577@https://boards.hellobee.com/ My step-son got one at 8, because he was starting to stay home a bit alone and his mom wanted him to be able to call her. Super simple phone, limited use, only allowed to have family members numbers. My kiddo will probably get one around 9 or 10, I felt 8 was a bit young. I think times have definitely changed in regards to phones. I didn't have one until 17. My younger brother got one at 13 and at the time my other brother and I felt it was too young. I think we'll get one for her whenever we feel she's ready to be on her own for short periods of time. We don't have a landline phone, so she'd need one in case of emergencies. MrsStar on "When would you let your LO get a cell phone?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-would-you-let-your-lo-get-a-cellphone#post-2358568 Mon, 16 Nov 2015 15:52:56 +0000 MrsStar 2358568@https://boards.hellobee.com/ At this stage it will be age 13 - that's when I got my first one. It will be on a prepaid plan and she will have to do chores to earn the money for it. So far, her first phone will be simple and cheap (doubt they'll be simple by then though) and if she wants a flasher phone then she'll have to save up and buy it herself :happy: SugarplumsMom on "When would you let your LO get a cell phone?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-would-you-let-your-lo-get-a-cellphone#post-2358533 Mon, 16 Nov 2015 15:31:55 +0000 SugarplumsMom 2358533@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I'm not sure. LO is only 3, so we have a few more years to figure it out. For now, I think it'll be based on her activities and our lifestyle. For instance, is she's into the local scouts where they wander around the forest, then she'll have a phone. If she's into activities that require us to be with her 100% of the time, then she'll likely not have a cell until she's older. yoursilverlining on "When would you let your LO get a cell phone?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-would-you-let-your-lo-get-a-cellphone#post-2358469 Mon, 16 Nov 2015 14:52:15 +0000 yoursilverlining 2358469@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I honestly have no idea, but certainly well before high school. Times are so different now – it isn’t like kids can just use a payphone when out with friends since, well, they barely exist anywhere anymore. And we don’t have a home phone so if she’s home alone I want her to have something. Maybe 8? But really, I don’t have any idea. Whatever age, you better believe it will be locked down and I will be tracking everything, and she will have to earn stuff like apps and games and what not. (and yes, I know kids find ways around rules, but there will be lotssss of rules nonetheless). josina on "When would you let your LO get a cell phone?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-would-you-let-your-lo-get-a-cellphone#post-2358458 Mon, 16 Nov 2015 14:46:04 +0000 josina 2358458@https://boards.hellobee.com/ My step daughter has had one since she was 10 I believe... not a smart phone. We don't have a home-phone so this way she can talk to her mom at any time, and has a phone for sport practices, etc. ($10 extra/month on our plan) I don't know that we will get her a smart phone, she as an ipod that does all of that so doesn't need one. I imagine we'll have her pay her portion of the bill when it comes to that, just like I paid for my cell phone at 16. looch on "When would you let your LO get a cell phone?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-would-you-let-your-lo-get-a-cellphone#post-2358449 Mon, 16 Nov 2015 14:43:55 +0000 looch 2358449@https://boards.hellobee.com/ My son already has two, granted they are not on any kind of network, but phones are my husband's thing, so I would anticipate my son being fully up and running by the time he's 7. He's 5 next month and he has figured out the password for my phone's lock screen. snowjewelz on "When would you let your LO get a cell phone?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-would-you-let-your-lo-get-a-cellphone#post-2358434 Mon, 16 Nov 2015 14:36:45 +0000 snowjewelz 2358434@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I don't think DD will be on the school bus at all (all schools are pretty close), so if I have to decide today, I'd say basic phone or limited access to things on a smart phone in middle school. brownepiano on "When would you let your LO get a cell phone?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-would-you-let-your-lo-get-a-cellphone#post-2358316 Mon, 16 Nov 2015 13:52:26 +0000 brownepiano 2358316@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I want to hold out till highschool and then make it something they have to pay for. But I don't know if that will be realistic. I guess it depends how much you want to be able to check in on your kids/how much whining you can put up with.