Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

DH saying no to buying an iPod for DS(8)

29 replies

ymf117 · 28/10/2019 20:16

AIBU? His issue is the similarities to an iPhone and thinks DS will be addicted and wanting to take it out of the house. We already have an iPad and DS has a limited amount of screen time which will remain the same but with free choice of what to use it on.

Also what songs shall I put on it? Wink

OP posts:
LucileDuplessis · 28/10/2019 20:19

Well if DH wants to veto it, he needs to come up with another suggestion, not just leave it up to you to think of something.

LetMeLayAmongTheStars · 28/10/2019 20:25

My DS had one and barely used it out of the house as it would only connect to WiFi
Good to get them to be responsible for a device though and not mega expensive if any accidents happen

00100001 · 28/10/2019 20:29

I wouldn't for an 8yo.

SpookilyBadOooooooh · 28/10/2019 20:31

Buy yourself one, let DS use it.

AutumnRose1 · 28/10/2019 20:31

An iPod isn't expensive now?!

An iPod for an 8 year old?!

strawberrytea123 · 28/10/2019 20:32

Aren't ipods just music players? I am sure I had a Walkman when I was 8 (or maybe a bit older) and I loved it!

titchy · 28/10/2019 20:34

Do they still make iPods? May as well buy an old iPhone model and don't put a sim in it.

AutumnRose1 · 28/10/2019 20:36

strawberry I don't know much a Walkman cost but in relative terms, was it as much as these?

www.argos.co.uk/search/ipod/category:33012867/opt/sort:price/

Thirder · 28/10/2019 20:41

No I wouldn't. He has his whole life ahead where he'll have a multitude of device options. He will probably rely on one for secondary school, work, teenage socialising.
He will never be 8 again. And never as full of wonderment for other things around him. Yes, they are amazing things but so are lots of other things that he may miss out on.
And before you think I'm being judgemental and sanctimonious, I include my own experience here. I find it hard to read a book if my device is within arms reach. I miss out on my babies cute babbling when my phone is in the way.
If we give our children a device now (I have a ds aged 8 too) they will never experience boredon inspired creativity or the conversation born from shooting the breeze with those nearby.
I hate my phone and am slightly addicted!

greypetex · 28/10/2019 20:44

I wouldn't spend the money on an iPod. They are pointless. If it's just for music, there is the iPad. Buy an echo dot? What do you listen to music on?

Thirder · 28/10/2019 20:45

If it's just for music, my ds has my old cd player in his room with a few cds, mostly movie soundtracks. If he needs to be quiet he can use the headphone port on the back.

BarbedBloom · 28/10/2019 20:47

I don't see why this is an issue really, it is just a music player. I had a Walkman at that age which became an ipod when they came out. I can understand why no phones etc, but why no music player, just because it has a screen? An echo dot etc is good but what if you want to listen to music outside of the home?

greypetex · 28/10/2019 20:49

@BarbedBloom

OP didn't want something that he could take outside, hence the suggestion of echo dot, because it is not portable.

greypetex · 28/10/2019 20:49

Sorry OP DH didn't want something portable

BarbedBloom · 28/10/2019 20:58

@Greypetex You're completely right, I somehow missed that or read too quickly. Fair point then, an echo dot would work just as well in that case. Although you may need to subscribe to Amazon music etc depending on what he wants to listen to.

Personally I still don't see the issue with an ipod, though I am partial to a dot myself but I freely acknowledge I am more relaxed about screens than some providing some restrictions are in place.

AutumnRose1 · 28/10/2019 20:59

Barbed but it isn't just a music player.

PoohBearsHole · 28/10/2019 21:02

We struggled with this and bought MP3 players and downloaded cds for the dc. They don’t use them as much as I thought but they were £15 rather than £100. However they do use them!

Original poster
ymf117 · 28/10/2019 21:03

That is my stance, I want him to have something that he is responsible for without buying another iPad. I'm open to other music players too, but I know that DS would like an iPod like his cousins and they can do more on an iPod.

My other issue is that he will listen to music on YouTube and has recommendations that I'd rather he didn't listen to Hmm

I don't take offence at all Thirder and thank you for the advice. I am the same, I would find myself on pinterest a lot to find projects and ideas I'd like to do with them both, save it all and then never get round to it because we do have a pretty full schedule. I've found the screen time option on the latest apple update to be very useful at making me mindful. They are allowed around half an hour whilst the other has my full attention each night (as well as attention together) but yes would choose more if they could. For that reason I'd rather it was music over YouTube videos.

OP posts:
BarbedBloom · 28/10/2019 21:05

@AutumnRose1 Maybe I am showing my age here as when I last had one they only played music. There was no internet etc on them. In which case, ignore my posts completely as I am clearly thinking 1990 was yesterday. Off to google ipods

Spanglybangles · 28/10/2019 21:07

An iPod touch is the only iPod still in production and is basically an iPhone without the phone part, so has camera, iMessage, App Store, safari browser etc, so not just a music player. No 4g capability though so only connects to WiFi. We bought one for DD before she got her first phone do she had her own device for games and stuff. Handed it down to DS as he is just 5, but he dropped it in the loo, so it’s goosed now. Hmm

BarbedBloom · 28/10/2019 21:07

You're totally right. They are like iPads now. God I really do feel old now. Apologies. Yes, I can see why it would be a concern. I would go for a dot.

Parsimon · 28/10/2019 21:12

So it’s basically a phone without the ability to use the phone network?? Why wouldn’t you just give him a phone?

00100001 · 28/10/2019 21:34

@parsimon be a why would an 8yo need a phone? Confused

If it was a choice between an iPod touch and a iPhone for an 8yo, I’d give them the iPod touch. As if I only means Limited access to internet, no WhatsApp etc.

CatFaceCats · 28/10/2019 21:56

My kids are 7 and 8 and each have our old iPhones with no SIM cards in them. We have apple family music, so we all have access to loads of music. They do have games on them, but we have downtime and limits set up. They love them in the car for long drives as they either have their music on (with headphones) or listen to audio books I have downloaded on the library app. They FaceTime with granny who is abroad. We all send each other silly messages at home. They have strict parental controls, so they can only access websites from an approved list. Absolutely NO social media at all.

Parsimon · 28/10/2019 21:58

I’d give a kid my old phone without a SIM card. But I come from Yorkshire stock, so am a bit parsimonious.

Swipe left for the next trending thread