There has been some debate over whether or not it's safe to give kids cell phones; some worry they could be dangerous, but there is no conclusive evidence to suggest this. Even the most recent studies acknowledge this, and the World Health Organization has agreed. Not to mention, these types of cell-phones, like the Buddy Bear, emit 10 times less emissions than conventional mobile phones.

That said, responsible usage is key. Your child should not have one of these for chit-chat purposes, they should only be using this when necessary. I've read all the latest studies, the BBC articles, etc, and while some lead off with scary claims, they always end by saying there is no concrete evidence, and no one knows anything for sure. If I thought these were dangerous, I wouldn't be writing the article.

If you have need to leave a comment stating otherwise, please only do so if you have a valid link to a legitimate article published within the last 6 months. Personally, I feel that responsible usage should alleviate fears of that nature; if a kid is only using a cell phone for emergencies, they shouldn't be getting very much exposure to anything at all.

I like this little phone. And I bet with all the little lights and see-through hipness, most little kids would be loving it, too. It can store up to 20 numbers, and the phone has 5 buttons. If your kids don't read well yet, don't worry, there are neat little Mom and Dad buttons in plain sight. As parents, you can set the phone up to allow or restrict calls in or out to specific numbers, just in case you're worried Baby Jane might be chatting up the next door neighbor when she ought to be taking her afternoon nap.

Cost: $39.00

This phone isn't the most stylish number available, but that might serve your purpose; if your kid's embarrassed to be seen with it, you won't have to worry about prank or stray calls you wouldn't otherwise permit. Of course, you already have loads of control, regardless, as this phone lets you enter numbers that can be dialled whenever, and numbers that can only be dialed when you've allowed it.

Cost: $99

The website says this is for kids 6 and up, but it looks pretty basic to me. I'd think if you have a clever 4 or 5 year old, they could figure it out. As with the others, this phone can be programmed by parents for allowed calls, both in and out.

This phone is more widely available in the UK, EU, Middle East, Asia and Russia - but if you're in the US and really want one, you can find them at Toys R Us and The Sharper Image.

Cost: $100

I like this one, it reminds me of one of those little Japanese animal looking things you see in Saturday morning cartoons. As the name indicates, this is a basic phone, primarily intended for emergencies. It has 5 pre-programmable buttons, and cannot send or receive text messages. That's probably ok, however, since I can't imagine a young child being addicted to text-messaging. They're probably too busy surfing the internet to care much, anyway.

Cost: $99

This little phone has a nifty emergency button. You push it once, and it will go down a list of 4 numbers, until the call is answered by someone. If no one answers, it then self-diverts to a company operator who is trained to receive emergency calls from kids.

That said, if you live in the US or any other country with a perfectly functional emergency service, I'd think 911 ought to be in that list of 4 numbers. The phone also serves as a tracking device and will send parents a message if the kid wanders out of set parameters.

Cost: $200

This is a small step up from the original Firefly phone, and you'll notice it looks similar, with slight changes - but it's still pretty darned cute. This one can store up to 50 numbers, still has the nifty Mom and Dad keys, and it even has a speakerphone interface. With this one you can set the ring tone, choose a wallpaper and play several games that come pre-installed. It's like the original, but for big brother or big sister.

Cost: $49

I'll be honest - this phone creeps me out, but I'm sure kids would love it. This phone can only dial 4 pre-set numbers. It can also send pre-set messages to those 4 recipients, but I'm not really sure what use a pre-set message would be.

There are 2 SOS buttons, and the ears light up when the phone is ringing. There's no screen, so the phone will probably stay intact through various kiddie activities. The Buddy Bear can also be converted into a baby monitor.

Cost: $200