AIBU to be unable to find a fitbit/pedometer for a child for running

[lovehatehelp]

My daughter loves to run and would like to record the amount she runs everyday but I cant find anything suitable. All the clip on pedometers seem to be for walking only and everything on the wrist is far too big as she is a tiny 7 year old. Ideally not too expensive so she can wear it all day every day and not babyish like the garmin kids ones. Any ideas? Thank you.

I’m not sure how you want to distinguish walking from running - they just measure steps unless you want one with built-in GPS. The Fitbit Zip is a very simple clip-on that seems to work IME.

No she doesn't want to distinguish walking from running but all the pedometers seem to say only for walking and that is what Decathlon etc confirmed. She wants to include her running in her total
but to wear it all day and I presume school would object to her wearing something the price of a fitbit. She just wants a simple thing either wristband or clip on but if wristband needs to fit a tiny wrist. Thanks

I’ve used a few of the simple ones and they just measure steps, whether walked, jogged or run.

What does she want to record. The steps she's taking? Or distance / time run?

Whitecurrants - when I spoke to decathlon head office they were adamant that all their pedometers would only count walked steps not run. Do you think a simple £10 clip on one from there would do walking and running despite what they say? Bitoutofpractice - she doesn't need to record the time run as she has a stop watch for timing her training she just wants to have a total steps per day to see which days she has done most but to be a combination of running and walking not just the walking. If it did distance too that would be perfect.

Google 'Garmin Vivofit Disney Activity Tracker' - it's just been released x

Does anyone have one suitable for a child they could recommend? Many thanks.

the garmin vivofit looks fab!! look it up op

Try this link OP. They come in different designs though.

amzn.to/2AD9ZGQ

Thanks very much. I had considered the garmin and spoken to their helpline but unfortunately my daughter thought they looked childish. Not sure if I asked if they had clip on options instead though. She likes the look of the fitbit but far too big for her wrist and I want something cheaper if used for everyday so school don't object. Any other ideas welcome

Have you measured up her wrist? The small size Fitbit band for the flex is quite tiny on its smallest setting.

What about a Fitbit then buy a leather strap and punch extra holes in it?
I do this sort of thing with belts and shoe straps

I'm not sure what your problem is? When dd2 and ds wanted them I searched child Fitbit on Amazon and it came up with loads. Dd2 is very slim and ds was only 9yo at the time but both of theirs were adjustable smaller than their wrists.

I have child sized wrists and bought a small fitbit charge HR and a leather strap separately (from Amazon) so I could poke an extra couple of holes.

I wear age 7 gloves and don't have my Fitbit Alta on the smallest setting of the small band so quite likely that will fit.

My son has been wearing a Fitbit Alta for months, pretty much 24/7 barring baths and periodic charging sessions. He’s in y6. His y1 brother also happily wears the Fitbit when he can steal it without getting caught.

School don’t care, as long as I realise it’s my responsibility not theirs.

My 8yr old has a Mii fit. Bought off eBay. Was about £10 last Christmas. My theory being it was cheap enough I wouldn't worry when she lost it.
Thus actually distinguishes running/walking/jogging based on seed in the activities.
Narrowest setting on the band is about 15cm. (Which is too tight on my admittedly larger - skinny size 10y clothed dd)

Garmin do a range of kids activity trackers

I've just bought a Nuband activity tracker for Ds who is 7. The Fitbit was too big for his wrist but this one is ok.

£30 quid ish in Argos and cheaper on amazon

I have an Omron III pedometer that I got second hand on Ebay. I keep it in my trouser pocket, loop it through a t-shirt label or loop it round the side of my knickers, depending on what I have available - it seems to record walking and running fine.

Thanks for all the suggestions - I am working through them.

Isitwise - thanks for this. Did the adult nuband fit a 7 year old? I found it huge and my daughter has absolutely tiny wrists.

Witchend - that sounds very rude to say what is my problem! I spoke to Fitbit directly and they don't sell any models designed for kids wrists and when I gave them my daughters size they said none of their models would fit. Perhaps the fitbits you have bought for kids are fakes unless the clip on one.

Yeah it still adult one, just fastened to the last setting iykwim?

I can get my little finger under it but it's not enough for it to be too loose.

Should also say he tried on the smallest fit bit on the tightest setting and the Nuband one is definitely smaller. The Fitbit was very loose.

He loves it, there's different models with varying degrees of uses but I got him the basic one. The app was easy to download and set up too

My kids have mine and DH's old Fitbits.
They both have the Charge HR.
The skinny 8 year old has his on hole 2 or 3 on the strap.
The super skinny 12 year old is similar. She is a club runner so likes to check distance, steps etc. It does everything she needs it to. She also wears a Garmin on the other wrist when she trains so does like to analyse all data!
So, highly recommend the Charge HR.

Isitwise - Thank you. The smallest setting on the fitbit was too small for me as I need 14.5cm length. I think I tried to find the dimensions for the nuband by ringing Argos and they couldn't tell me and they wouldn't let me unpack/measure it in store and apparently it cant be returned hence my deciding against it. My daughters watch is 13cm buckle to hole and that is loose as on smallest hole. Would you kindly be able to tell me the length of strap to the smallest hole. Much as I hate shopping in Argos I may do so!
Thank you very much