Trying to set up son’s Apple Watch for Christmas!

[clareykc]

Hello, I bought my son a cellular Apple Watch because I need to contact him after school but I don’t want him to have his own mobile phone yet.

I have my own Apple Watch set up on my phone. 

I was told I could set his new watch up on my phone with Apple Family Set Up  and then he could get his own number with Vodafone Family Sharing, without actually having to have a phone. And he won’t get all my messages and vice versa, even though set up via my phone it seems?

I assume at this point I have to pay a monthly bill for his cellular usage.

But I just phoned Vodafone customer service and they are saying that he must have his own phone to set it up?

A friend managed to make it work but she is with EE. Do I need to switch?  Slightly losing the will to live after hours on the phone … thanks!
 

[clareykc]

https://support.apple.com/en-gb/109036
Explains how to set it up without a phone, but doesn’t explain Vodafone connection

[AnnS]

You would be asking about connecting your Son's watch using OneNumber @clareykc .  There is information here One Number .

What you are wanting to do won't work, his watch would be attached to your number and he would have access to your number to share the allowances, this would also include receiving your messages.

To use the watch on cellular he would need his own number on a OneNumber plan.  He should still be able to set the phone up to a WiFi and bluetooth device, but away from any network it would be a watch.