As well as agonising over traditional age-appropriate issues like when a child's old enough to walk to school on their own, many modern parents are also debating the hot topic of when to give kids their first mobile phone.

Although new research suggests the average age parents believe it's appropriate to introduce children to mobile devices is eight years old, it also found that 92% of UK children aged two to seven years currently use mobile technology.

Indeed, the Logitech study found 40% of parents believe children should be given access to mobile devices before the age of five, with the majority (84%) saying mobile devices are important to children's education, and 34% stating they 'prepare children for a digital future'.

HOW OLD?

When it comes to buying a child their own mobile device, Vicki Shotbolt, chief executive of Parent Zone (www.parentzone.org.uk), which helps parents navigate the digital world, says it's a decision for individual parents based on what they know about their child, and their own family circumstances.

"If you can afford to have two tablets in your house, for example, that might be a better way to go, as one can be set up solely for the children," she says.

"I certainly don't think anyone should be saying you're a bad parent if you buy your child a tablet before they're, say, eight,

"These children are growing up surrounded by technology, so we'd be very strange parents if we tried to exclude them from that. The whole point of parenting is socialising your child into the world they're growing up in, and teaching them how to use technology responsibly is, I would say, one of the most important things you can do now."

COMMUNICATION COST

The expense, of course, can be huge, but as children communicate to a very large extent through mobile devices, it's hard not to shell out - although some parents wait longer than others to allow their children to have their own mobile, and will often pass on their own handset when they upgrade.

"Mobiles are how young people communicate, homework's often done online, and parents want to stay in touch with them and make sure they're safe and can get in touch if anything happens.

"A child that doesn't have access to a mobile device is likely to be missing out from their peer group because they all have them."

INTERNET TOYS

Rather than buying very young children their own mobile phone or tablet, many parents allow them to play with their own devices - although the Logitech research found 36% of children have damaged a tablet or smartphone.

But Shotbolt says parents don't have to hand over their own devices to keep kids entertained, as there are now many internet-enabled devices specifically designed for children, from Curio tablets and Leapfrog products to the internet-connected Hello Barbie dolls. Parental controls on most of these devices are preset, as opposed to parents having to customise devices for their children.

"Internet-enabled toys are going to come on exponentially over the next year or so, so the idea of very young children having devices that are like their parents is increasingly out of step with reality," she says.

"That very clear line of when does a child get their first mobile phone is going to become a moot point because children will have their own devices that connect to the internet in all sorts of ways."

MUM'S MOBILE

However, she says it's "absolutely fine" for a parent to let their child play with their mobile phone, if it's been set up with a profile for the child, security settings, appropriate filters etc.

However, she admits that getting parents to set phones up correctly for their children to use is a much bigger challenge.

"Especially when children are very little, parents forget they're incredibly adept at finding their way around technology. Even little fingers can wander."

OUT OF CONTROL?

Ofcom says 31% of parents of children whose phone can be used to go online have put filters in place. The proportion of parents who enable controls or filters isn't known.

Shotbolt acknowledges that many parents may not set up separate child profiles or filters on their own mobile devices used by their children simply because they don't know how, or they think it's hard to do.

Generally, parental controls can be found in the device settings menu, and Shotbolt says service providers are very good at providing information about the controls.

"It really only takes 10 minutes once you've found where to look," she promises, pointing out that there's advice on Parent Zone about how to set up parental controls.

However, she says: "There are definitely signs that manufacturers are starting to recognise the fact that parents share their devices with their kids and it's got to be easier to set them up."

Shotbolt says it's also important to set boundaries about mobile use and talk to children about what they do online.

"Just like you wouldn't let your five-year-old out of the door without asking where they were going, you have to apply the same logic with a phone. You know who their real-life friends are, and you should know who their online friends are too."

ASK THE EXPERT

Q: "I smoke and I've just found out I'm pregnant. I know I'll struggle to give up smoking, so would it be safer to change to e-cigarettes instead?"

A: Professor Judith Zelikoff, from New York University in the USA, has just led a study into the effects on newborn babies of their pregnant mothers having smoked e-cigarettes.

She says: "The basic answer would be not to smoke anything while you're pregnant or nursing or even after the baby's born, so as not to risk the immediate and future health of your baby.

"The unborn and young child represent a sub-population who are particularly vulnerable to the effects of toxic agents, even more so than adults. Our toxicological studies performed in the laboratory examined the effects of e-cigarette vapour exposure during pregnancy, and shortly after birth, on gene expression changes in that portion of the brain responsible for problem solving, spontaneity, memory, language, initiation, judgement, impulse control, and social and sexual behaviour, as well as on later life behaviour.

"Based on our findings that demonstrated extensive gene changes in the brain and hyperactivity in the adult offspring of exposed mothers, I would say it's not safe to vape during this critical developmental time."

JUST FOR MUM

PhotoBox Mum Book

Limited edition hardback A4 Mum photo book, with Mum etching on its black cover. Great for all those mum photo memories. £27.99 with £1 from every product sold donated to Breast Cancer Care, buyitwithlove.co.uk

Butterfly Link Personalised Bracelet

A pretty bracelet that includes a heart charm which can be personalised with a word of your choice, be it your mum's name or simply 'Mum'. £13.45, www.prezzybox.com

Emma Bridgewater Pink Hearts 'Mummy' Mug

A half-pint mug perfect for mum to enjoy a big cuppa as she puts her feet up on Mother's Day. £21.03, www.amazon.co.uk