What age would you allow a cell phone? And do you make them pay for it themselves or do you pay? DH and I are trying to get on the same wavelength before my daughter gets to that point (she's 11).

Nice question, I haven't thought about it yet because my baby haven't even started to talk. Elementary students have cellphones nowadays so I guess its ok for them to have cellphones at a very young age. I will just buy my child a very simple phone just for communication.

That's a great question for todays times. We got the kids cell phones when they were about 12-13. For safety I wanted them to have a phone and family plans and phones are so inexpensive now. My hesitation was that I wouldn't necessarily know where they were if on a cell phone. They could say they are at "Johns" house but be where they shouldn't be. I've kept a close eye on them and I don't really expect any trouble, but teens don't always think:) Once, one of my boys didn't answer his phone for a few hours. I knew he had it and it was charged. When he came home I made him write down all of his friends cell phone numbers. He wasn't happy. I think he would rather answer than me call all of his friends!

It really depends n the situation, if she needs it for communication with family members then earlier than 13 will still be ok.An expensive phone is not necessary until they can afford.

Never? :D

We have talked about this abit and it seems when they are old enough to start paying for it. Last thing we want is a huge phone bill from a talkative teen, then again shes not even 2 year so maybe by then the plans will be cheaper!

I'm from a time when cell phones were non-existent. On the other hand, pay phones were easy to use and find. (When is the last time you saw a pay phone?) Even then, I can probably count the number of times I needed to call home on a pay phone during my entire childhood. I'd say that unless the child is involved in some type of non-routine activity (going out of town on a school trip or the like) they don't need a cell phone until they get the age where they are experimenting with the world, as in going to parties or working. At that stage, they are old enough to be able to afford it for themselves.

I think in the past ten years I have seen 4 cell phones spread in 3 separate states,they are gone so it seems. I don't think I would have a child with a cell phone until they were old enough to drive.

If I would be a parent of a pre-teen child, I would not buy her a cellphone. If ever my child really wanted a cellphone, he would be the one to buy it from his savings. Also, he would be the one responsible for the bills. At least they will be responsible for the number of calls they will make. This is how my parents did to me so I guess I might do it also when I have my own kids.

My wife, who works with a phone company, gave our two older children, 16 and 13, their own cellphones. These phones use credits which they have to buy for themselves. We think they need the phone so that we can monitor them especially on their way home from school.