Straight answers, with sources

Each answer says who it comes from: the device maker, a health authority, a research group, or an advocacy group, labelled as such.

• Can a child use an Apple Watch without their own iPhone?

  Yes. Apple Watch For Your Kids, the Apple feature formerly called Family Setup, lets a parent set up a GPS + Cellular Apple Watch from their own iPhone, so the child doesn't need an iPhone. The parent does need an iPhone, and the child needs a Child Account in the parent's Family Sharing group. You can set up the watch without a cellular plan, but a plan is needed for it to use a cellular network.

• How do I set up an Apple Watch for my child?

  You set it up from your own iPhone: turn on the watch, hold it near your iPhone, and tap Set Up for a Family Member. Your child needs a Child Account in your Family Sharing group first. Setup then walks you through Ask to Buy, cellular service, trusted contacts, a Screen Time passcode, and Schooltime.

• What age should a kid get a phone?

  Neither the American Academy of Pediatrics nor the U.S. Surgeon General sets an age for a first phone. The AAP says research doesn't point to one perfect age when kids are ready for a smartphone. The Surgeon General's 2026 warning advises families to delay giving children access to tablets, smartphones, and social media as long as possible, without naming an age for a first smartphone.

• Should my child get a smartwatch or a phone first?

  The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests talking with your child about options like a flip phone or watch that allows communication without all the digital baggage. The U.S. Surgeon General's 2026 warning advises delaying smartphones as long as possible and says parents can delay access to different devices by age. Neither names an age for a first phone.