Dear Nana: My 9-year-old wants a cell phone. Most of her friends already have one. Should I give in and get her one for Christmas? – But Everyone Has One

Dear But Everyone Has One: That’s a tough question for many families and it may seem easy to give in just because “everyone else is doing it” but let’s take a look at expert advice.

According to a recent study reported by the American Academy of Pediatrics, smartphone ownership has been associated with depression, obesity and insufficient sleep in early adolescence. 

According to the study conducted by researchers from the University of Pennsylvania; University of California-Berkeley and Columbia University, 12-year-olds who had a smartphone had a 1.3 times higher risk of depression, a 1.4 times higher risk of obesity, and a 1.6 times higher risk of insufficient sleep, over 12-year-olds who weren’t given a smartphone.

In addition, the study found the earlier the age at which a child received a smartphone, the greater the risk of developing the problems increased by about 10% for each year earlier in age, starting as young as age 4.

For those reasons, Nana says no way. Only provide a basic phone if necessary for safety reasons and if you do, make sure to monitor it closely. Don’t allow an unknown code or fingerprint access. Check on the apps loaded regularly and delete those not needed. And, of course, make sure to have rules of when they can be used.

You may not be a popular parent, but your child may be better for it.