To think 9 is too young for an i phone!

[JakieOH]

Just that! I think it waaaaay too young but AIBU?

Pinktruffle, new I phones cost hundreds of pounds? Might not stretch everyone but it would certainly stretch us. I wouldn't mind if it was for something like a bike, but hundreds on a i phone just seems a waste IMO.

Like every parenting decision I'd say that it's their choice and (providing internet controls are set up) not going to harm anyone and we should live and let live.

Should add that I wouldn't buy her a new iPhone. Mainly because there's an unwritten rule in this house that I have the newest iPhone

Musical instruments tend to be expensive. But android smart phones have the same functionality at a lower cost.

Hell no, they'd get a Nokia 3310 from CEX or something if that was my kid.

Might not stretch everyone but it would certainly stretch us

But why assume this then is true of everyone. I take it is is someone you knows child.

Is it the money or the item? Eg would you be appalled at a 9 year old being bought an expensive bike.

Yes - I wouldn't buy a 9 year old a £500 bike either - although not for all the same reasons.

There are few things like unfettered Internet Browsing cited above that I also agree with. I think what concerns me, even with the passing on of the old ones is the creation of a "normality" where 9Y olds have iPhones. These things (Apple stuff), even though I could afford one are staggeringly expensive considering that most of the extra cost just goes to Apple's profits.

The other problem with the hand me down phones is - what happens when it's lost or stolen? Not so easy to do a like-for-like replacement for obsolete models.

But your budget isn't everyone's.

I think it's both vatersy but mainly the cost. I'm not judging anyone here it's just mine and DPs opinion. His exw wants him to buy his DD an i phone for her Christmas. If she wants a phone you can get a decent 1 for £50 in Tesco and neither of them are really in a position to pay for an I phone. DP can't afford 1 himself yet! Maybe when she is older and more responsible.

personally I would be reluctant to spend so much on something that is so easily lost/stolen or damaged,

(DS2 recently went swimming in the sea with his i-phone in his pocket - no phone for him now! - he is much older than 9 as well!)

crystalcove and RJ I never said my budget was everyone's and I never made any assumptions either

I should have said in my original post that I was speaking about s new i phone, although I still don't think its necessary for a 9yo to have a phone. it's not a big deal in the grand scheme of things, just a personal opinion but yeah, I guess it is the cost more than the actual phone.

Mine used to have my old one to play games on. It wouldn't hold charge for long so couldn't sell it.

I think all parents have to make these decisions sometimes and obviously budgets will impact on this but if it's within your budget why not?

I don't like android products - find them hard to use - so got an iPhone because that's what i 'know' and feel confident using.

Mine has one.

She needed a phone, and we have a couple of old iPhones, so I wasn't going to go out and buy a phone, even a cheap one.

Purchasing is disabled, it's payg so once credit runs out, it's out. Content is restricted to u12.

Lots of kids have iPods/iPads /tablets. I don't really see any difference in using an old iPhone to save money.

my dsd got an iphone the month before her 10th birthday. in fairness it was her dads old one, and now she is 11.5 and has an iphone 5c that she got for Christmas last year (again a used one.....my OH knows a guy who sells phones).

tbh I do agree she was a bit young BUT a lot (over 50%) of her classmates had one at that age and she is a good kid who doesn't ask for much, plus her sister had had one for ages.

I personally agree that it is a bit too young but it wasn't my decision to make, and if people think kids of 9/10 are in the minority if they have an iphone or smart phone then they are VERY mistaken!

Dd has an I phone, she is 10 it cost about £20 a month and is capped. It also has parental control on the Internet & App Store. Most kids want them for apps rather than calls/texts and you don't get the same range of apps on other phones

Each to their own I suppose but my DC will not be getting iPhones/pads unless paid for by themselves. Unnecessary money for kids and teens. I got my first phone at 13 it was a brick on payg, I got a slightly better one a year or so later as I had shown responsibility.

I had a job but didn't feel the need to buy an expensive phone, when I did I bought my own and paid for all the credit.

DC will get phones and tablets when I feel they are at an appropriate age buy not top of the range and certainly not contract. They can of course feel free to save up pocket money or money from possible jobs if that isn't good enough

Why certainly not contract? You can cap almost all contracts

Why certainly not contract? You can cap almost all contracts

No you can't? The only one I know of is Tesco?

Because that is my parenting choice, I prefer they learn that once the credits gone it's gone and that the bank of mum and dad won't be there to keep their phone going. Also it would be us paying for it every month when in reality if they don't help around the house to earn allowance then they won't get it but the phone will still need paid.

You can get payg sims that give you free minutes/texts when you top up £10, that's what I've got so no need for contracts

Giving a child a contract (unless Tesco) is a recipe for disaster IMO.

It doesn't matter how responsible you think your DC is, the amount of kids who rack up huge bills unknowingly, is crazy. Then the parents have the cheek to moan about the provider making them pay!

19lottie you maybe right my aunt looked into this for my cousins but seems a few don't offer caps. You just hear too many horror stories of them going over and me and OH don't have hundreds to cover bills if that was to happen

Mine are too young, but I probably would get them one when old enough. Dh and I have used for years so they can practice beforehand and we know how to use. Plus can then use Apple family services to monitor and share apps and music.

I would happily spend £500 on a kids bike also

You can certainly cap EE.

I think I can give my child whatever I want to and not care what anyone else thinks .