Inspire 2 set up for a children account?

[SunsetRunner]

I have just bought my 2 kids (both under 13) an inspire 2 each for Christmas and have been trying to set them up their own accounts. 

After some research in the forums am I correct in the understanding that my only option (as I won't be taking them back to the shop to replace with an ace - too child like for the boys) is to create new email accounts for them and to lie about their age due to an incredibly silly rule created by Fitbit that children are ONLY allowed ace fitbits ? Who are Fitbit to decide which watch from their range I give my children? 

Surely this is ridiculous and needs sorting? 

Moderator edit: Clarified subject.

[JLBeck]

I am in the same boat! We bought THREE Inspire 2s for our 3 kids, (10, 12, and 18), and NONE of them can use their new Fitbits because all of their gmail accounts are managed through our Family plan. We can upgrade your 18 year old's plan, but what about the other two? Are they just SOL? Granted, if I'd done some research, I might have stumbled across this little tidbit somewhere, but as often as I've looked up Fitbit info trying to find the right product for my kids Christmas presents, I NEVER saw or even imagined there would be a minimum age requirement. And the Ace is just not an appealing alternative.

I understand that there are regulations that control tracking applications for minors; That's fine. But there either needs to be a mechanism to turn off those features so our minors can use other Fitbit products, OR you need to advertise VERY CLEARLY that these products are incompatible with Family accounts. As often as this topic has come up, it's absolutely bizarre that information isn't front and center for potential consumers to consider. 

[ManuFitbit]

Welcome to the forums @SunsetRunner @JLBeck 

Thank you for sharing the details about this situation. 

For Fitbit to keep a correct track of your child’s heart rate, calories burned, and other statistics in your child’s accounts, I recommend setting up the right information when creating an account.

Ace devices protect the children's information. In order to see a more detailed information, please see: How do I manage my child in the Fitbit app?

[JLBeck]

Managing our children in the Fitbit app isn't helpful if they can't actually use the product we purchased for them; Products that wouldn't have been purchased had it been made clear they wouldn't work AT ALL for minors.

[SunsetRunner]

@ManuFitbit 

Fitbit are not 100% clear and transparent in advertising their products that children under a certain age CAN NOT use any other product than the ace,  which is obvious and clear by the amount of people finding themselves in the same position on the Fitbit community forums.

So we find ourselves with a product that has been removed from packaging with excited children and I have to tell my nearly 13 year old he needs to have the baby looking watch because Fitbit can't organise themselves enough to be transparent or get another brand, Or I have to open new email accounts and lie about their age giving inaccurate readings on their 'smart watches'

This is a serious problem that needs sorted. 

Surely a better system would be if any watch is added to a child profile the same protection would be added rather than this militant unclear rule.

And if that is not something fit bit are capable of achieving - make it absolutely obvious on all products that they are not for children.

Either way your company has left MANY of us with a situation most parents could do without - whichever way we decide to deal with it, I believe some form of real support should be offered, rather than... Read this unhelpful thread about a watch we don't own.

@JLBeck 

[JLBeck]

Yup. And given how long I'm finding out this had been an issue, and for how long Fitbit still hasn't addressed it, I'm returning our Inspire 2s for a full refund. Thankfully, we bought ours through Amazon, and after speaking to a customer service representative, it turns out we do NOT need to have the original packaging to return our Fitbits. So I've boxed up all three and they will be dropped off at the UPS store tomorrow.

It's unfortunate, I've enjoyed my Charge 5, but I seriously doubt my next fitness tracker will be a Fitbit product. Seeing how long this has been a problem for their customers and how precious little they done to address it, I can't say I'm terribly interested in giving them any more of my business.

[SunsetRunner]

I feel much the same, I've just cancelled the premium account for my Fitbit.

And will be returning the 2 watches as the kids biometrics won't be accurate if I create fake email accounts in order to use the watches. 

Not impressed at the lack of support or communication from Fitbit.

Let me know what alternative you go for - would be nice to use their own forum to find a more suitable alternative than Fitbit for children 👍

[ArnColon]

Useless, we also purchased 2 Fitbit inspire 2's for our 8 yr old twins. Absolutely useless...returning to Amazon. There really is no way other than create new gmail accounts for each child as I cannot use mine or any backup emails as google knows they are associated with my information. 

[Kazamyben]

My daughter has been bought an inspire 2 watch for her 13th birthday. I am trying to set it up but the account is automatically going to a child's account (set up through her google account) and will only let me add the ace watches. It says ready to upgrade on the my family page but doesn't give any options to upgrade or add the inspire watch. Can anyone help a stressed mum trying to sort this please. We are in the UK if that makes a difference and her google account has been upgraded to allow her to manage it.