When six-year-old Zoee Crean's parents collected her from day camp and discovered she had broken out in a rash they were frantic with worry.
Fearing meningitis, they rushed their daughter to hospital where she was fortunately given the all-clear.
But the experience left Frances and Kevin Crean wanting to have a way for their daughter to contact them.
Dublin-based mother-of-three Frances said: "When I decided to get my daughter a phone, I wanted a simple one. Parents are buying phones for their children but there's no choice."
Frances and her husband – a former sales director for a mobile phone company – discovered the Firefly phone in America and bought the distribution rights for the UK and Ireland. It is anticipated the phone will be available in Lancashire shops, such as the Carphone Warehouse, later this year.
Frances, also mum to six-year-old Zach and Millie, three, said: "Hopefully it will be early October when we bring it to the UK.
"First will be the GlowPhone and then the Firefly.
"We want parents to know there is a choice out there and you can control it as much as you want."
The SIM-free GlowPhone allows parents to restrict access to only the contacts in the phonebook. It has built-in games, can receive texts but there is no downloading.
The five-button Firefly has two specially designated buttons for mum and dad and stores up to 22 numbers. It does not send texts, and rejects calls from numbers not stored in phone book.
Recent research by mobileYouth – which studies how young people use media – revealed more than half of British children aged between five and nine own a mobile phone.
Margaret Morrissey, of the lobby group Parents Outloud, has hit out at turning children into 'miniature adults' and said the product only serves to line the pocket of the mobile phone company's bank balance.
However Frances and her husband, who are in talks with a network, insist their project is not a moneyspinner.
Frances said networks are generally reluctant to come on board with such a product as they do not generate as much revenue as regular mobile phones.
But Preston's parents aren't convinced and say they won't be rushing out to buy the new gadgets for their youngsters. Julia Flynn, 31, of St Philip's Road, Deepdale, mother to Charlie Helm, eight and five-year-old twins, Emma and Rachel Helm, said: "I wouldn't let mine have them for the simple fact that at five they shouldn't be out of your sight where they would need to contact you.
"And then there's things like theft, you wouldn't want your five-year-old getting mugged.
"Charlie's got a phone for the camera and music and maybe I would put credit on it to text his cousin."
Alison McCauley, 24, from Inkerman Street is mother to Leon, seven, Taylor, four and Corin, two. She said: "I just don't see the need. I'd probably just get them a normal mobile when they're 12. When they get to that age, they'd want their privacy."
Michelle Parr, from Fulwood, mother to Faith, seven, Olivia, four and Alfie, two, said: "My seven-year-old is desperate for a mobile but she isn't having one.
"I'm a bit of an over-protective mother and I don't really let her play out.
"For parents whose children do play out, it's a good idea because then they can keep tabs on them."
A final price has not been decided for the phone when it comes to England but the Firefly handset costs 69.99 euros in Ireland.
Dr Jo Bryce, a senior lecturer in the school of psychology at UCLan, said: "I'm surprised it's taken this long to get something like this. I can see the parental side of wanting to keep an eye on them and know where they are.
"There is the issue of the erosion of childhood. If it's not directly being marketed at children then I guess it really becomes an issue of parental choice and weighing up the potential health risks.
"From a health perspective, the phone companies say it's safe. Scientists raise questions, we really do not know."
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