It's 2018. Do You Know Where Your Children Are?
Little kids need guardians. When we lived in villages, near extended families and long-term neighbors, the community could help keep an eye on them. Even growing up in New York City in the 1970s, I remember a network of neighbors and friends on my block looking out for me.
But that seems to be less and less the case now, in 2018, so we have technology. Kid trackers act as a friendly ghost over a small child's shoulder, alerting their parents to when they've gone missing. They can also be communications training wheels, letting kids chat with their parents if the school bus doesn't show up or if they get left behind.
Overview
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![Jiobit]()
Best for Hybrid GPS TrackingJiobit
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![Republic Wireless Relay]()
Walkie-Talkie CallsRepublic Wireless Relay
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![AngelSense]()
Best for Tracking AccuracyAngelSense
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![Dokiwatch S]()
Combination Phone, Tracker, and SmartwatchDokiwatch S
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![B'zT Washable Tracker T-Shirt]()
Basic Proximity TrackingB'zT Washable Tracker T-Shirt
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![KidsConnect KC2]()
Phone CallsKidsConnect KC2
You Can Trust Our Reviews
Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
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![Jiobit]()
Best for Hybrid GPS TrackingJiobit
Pros & Cons
Bottom Line:
Bottom Line:
The Jiobit Smart Tag is a small, convenient, and accurate tracker that won't lose sight of your roaming child.Specs & Configurations
Bluetooth Geofencing GPS Location Tracking Requires Service Plan Water Resistance IPX8 Water Resistant Weight 0.6 Wi-Fi Learn More Jiobit Smart Tag Review -
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![Republic Wireless Relay]()
Walkie-Talkie CallsRepublic Wireless Relay
Pros & Cons
Bottom Line:
Bottom Line:
The Relay cellular walkie-talkie is a great way for kids to stay in touch with other kids and parents, without the distraction of screens.Learn More Republic Wireless Relay Review -
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![AngelSense]()
Best for Tracking AccuracyAngelSense
Pros & Cons
Bottom Line:
Bottom Line:
The AngelSense offers exceptional tracking features, but its monthly service plan is pricey and anyone with sensory issues might find it unpleasant to wear.Specs & Configurations
Geofencing Voice Calling Water Resistance IPX8 Learn More AngelSense Wearable Review -
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![Dokiwatch S]()
Combination Phone, Tracker, and SmartwatchDokiwatch S
Pros & Cons
Bottom Line:
Bottom Line:
The DokiWatch S is a solid watch-phone hybrid for connecting and tracking kids whose families are on the AT&T network.Learn More Dokiwatch S Review -
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![B'zT Washable Tracker T-Shirt]()
Basic Proximity TrackingB'zT Washable Tracker T-Shirt
Pros & Cons
Bottom Line:
Bottom Line:
The B'zT Washable Tracker T-Shirt is the most basic safety tracker you can get for your child. It offers some value, but we want more functionality.Learn More B'zT Washable Tracker T-Shirt Review -
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![KidsConnect KC2]()
Phone CallsKidsConnect KC2
Pros & Cons
Bottom Line:
Bottom Line:
The KidsConnect KC2 phone for children has a lot of great ideas, but is held back by software and a user interface that just aren't up to the task.Learn More KidsConnect KC2 Review Review -
Compare Specs
Our Pick | |||||||||
Rating |
4.0 Excellent |
4.0 Excellent |
3.5 Good |
3.5 Good |
3.0 Average |
2.5 Fair |
4.0 Excellent |
4.0 Excellent |
3.5 Good |
Best For | Best for Hybrid GPS Tracking | Walkie-Talkie Calls | Best for Tracking Accuracy | Combination Phone, Tracker, and Smartwatch | Basic Proximity Tracking | Phone Calls | Best for Hybrid GPS Tracking | Walkie-Talkie Calls | Best for Tracking Accuracy |
Wi-Fi | |||||||||
Weight | 0.6 | 0.6 | |||||||
Water Resistant | |||||||||
Water Resistance | IPX8 | IPX8 | IPX8 | IPX8 | |||||
Voice Calling | |||||||||
Requires Service Plan | |||||||||
GPS Location Tracking | |||||||||
Geofencing | |||||||||
Bluetooth |
Buying Guide: The Best Tracking Devices for Kids
I've been reviewing these devices since 2005, when I took a look at the little LG Migo for Verizon. As a father, I've tested them with my child, who has just recently gotten too old for these gadgets. Things have changed quite a bit since the Migo, and your options today are better—and more numerous—than ever.
Who Needs a Child Tracker?
Trackers are for children too young to have their own phones. They're for toddlers who might wander away on the playground, or for elementary school kids who regularly go outside to play, or who have complicated pick-up or child-care arrangements. They give kids some communication ability without exposing them to strangers texting them or to the mobile internet.
Adults might also be interested in trackers as safety devices—telling your loved ones where you are when you're out on a run, for instance. Caretakers of disabled or elderly people can use trackers to ease their minds about their charges wandering off.
We're focusing here on Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and cellular/GPS trackers for families—not satellite trackers for hikers and campers. Thosedevices, like the Spot Personal Tracker, are for when you go off the grid and want to make sure you can summon help.
A tracker isn't a panacea. Kids and elderly adults can still get injured if you know where they are, and of course, trackers can be removed or disabled. They're just an extra layer of peace of mind, in a world where social media constantly drums up worry and hysteria.
Type of Kid Trackers
The devices we're looking at generally fall into two categories, pure trackers and restricted-dialing phones. They all require a parent with a smartphone to manage them.
Pure trackers, such as the Jiobit and the B'zT, simply tell you where your child is. If they're Bluetooth-only, like the B'zT, they just tell you if they've walked farther than a certain distance from you. If they have GPS and cellular radios, like the Jiobit, they'll be able to tell you where they are.
Restricted-dialing phones add voice calling, letting kids speak with a pre-selected, white-listed group of relatives or friends. They might also have limited texting, either to those same numbers or through a parent's app. If a kid is verbal, I really recommend these devices because of the inaccuracy of GPS tracking. When I've lost my daughter on the playground while she wore a tracker, the map would only tell me that she was on the playground—I had to call her so she could tell me she was behind a tree.
I'm also including the Republic Wireless Relay in this roundup, although it isn't primarily a tracker. The Relay is a cellular-powered walkie-talkie that can only talk to other Relays, or to an associated smartphone app. It's great for kids playing outdoors.
All of these devices come in different shapes and sizes: clips, wearables, and phones. Any tracker that involves GPS and/or cellular connectivity will have a monthly fee, often $5 to $10 per month. AngelSense, which is designed for families of children with disabilities, costs much more, but comes with a lot of customer service.
When It's Time for a Phone
Most American kids now get phones between the ages of 10 to 12. I have a 12-year-old, and the transition seems to be about when mobile apps become necessary for kids' social lives. My daughter negotiates meetups with her friends through texting and Google Hangouts, and I'm happy to start to hand over the reins of her social life to her (while keeping a close eye on things).
Phones can also be used as trackers. AT&T's Family Map, Sprint's Safe & Found, T-Mobile's Family Mode, and Verizon's Family Locator service all let parents sign up to locate their kids' phones, wherever they may be. Both Android phones and iPhones have a "find my phone" option that can tell a parent where the device is at any given time. The third-party Life360 is my favorite installable app for keeping families in touch; it also includes family messaging, and it's cheaper than the subscription options from the carriers.
Many parents want to get their kids voice-only phones (also known as flip phones, although some don't actually flip) as their first unrestricted phones. There just aren't very many of them left: The only two we really recommend are the Kyocera Cadence LTE for Verizon and the Nokia 3310 3G for AT&T. We do not recommend any inexpensive voice phones on the Sprint or T-Mobile networks right now—the good Sprint ones are too expensive, and none of the T-Mobile ones work well. Yes, it's frustrating! I wrote a column about it.
So kids, in general, will probably quickly step up to smartphones. Our roundup, The Best Phones for Kids, makes some suggestions about 'tween and young-teen appropriate voice phones and smartphones. As a parent, you'll probably also want to install parental control software—start with our roundup of The Best Parental Control Apps For Your Phone.