diff --git a/backend/package.json b/backend/package.json
index 49cf63c..4730176 100644
--- a/backend/package.json
+++ b/backend/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "rosterchirp-backend",
-  "version": "0.12.52",
+  "version": "0.12.53",
   "description": "RosterChirp backend server",
   "main": "src/index.js",
   "scripts": {
diff --git a/backend/src/routes/users.js b/backend/src/routes/users.js
index 4efd468..d7ce2d1 100644
--- a/backend/src/routes/users.js
+++ b/backend/src/routes/users.js
@@ -192,6 +192,18 @@ router.patch('/:id', authMiddleware, teamManagerMiddleware, async (req, res) =>
       const sgId = await getOrCreateSupportGroup(req.schema);
       if (sgId) await exec(req.schema, 'INSERT INTO group_members (group_id,user_id) VALUES ($1,$2) ON CONFLICT DO NOTHING', [sgId, id]);
     }
+    // Auto-unsuspend minor in players group if both guardian and DOB are now set
+    if (isMinor && guardianId && dob && target.status === 'suspended') {
+      const playersRow = await queryOne(req.schema, "SELECT value FROM settings WHERE key='feature_players_group_id'");
+      const playersGroupId = parseInt(playersRow?.value);
+      if (playersGroupId) {
+        const inPlayers = await queryOne(req.schema, 'SELECT 1 FROM user_group_members WHERE user_id=$1 AND user_group_id=$2', [id, playersGroupId]);
+        if (inPlayers) {
+          await exec(req.schema, "UPDATE users SET status='active',updated_at=NOW() WHERE id=$1", [id]);
+          await addUserToPublicGroups(req.schema, id);
+        }
+      }
+    }
     const user = await queryOne(req.schema,
       'SELECT id,name,first_name,last_name,phone,is_minor,date_of_birth,guardian_user_id,guardian_approval_required,email,role,status,must_change_password,last_online,created_at FROM users WHERE id=$1',
       [id]
@@ -713,19 +725,25 @@ router.get('/minor-players', authMiddleware, async (req, res) => {
 });
 
 // Claim minor as guardian (Mixed Age — Family Manager direct link, no approval needed)
+// dateOfBirth is required to activate the minor — without it the guardian is saved but the account stays suspended.
 router.post('/me/guardian-children/:minorId', authMiddleware, async (req, res) => {
   const minorId = parseInt(req.params.minorId);
+  const { dateOfBirth } = req.body;
   try {
     const minor = await queryOne(req.schema, "SELECT * FROM users WHERE id=$1 AND status!='deleted'", [minorId]);
     if (!minor) return res.status(404).json({ error: 'User not found' });
     if (!minor.is_minor) return res.status(400).json({ error: 'User is not a minor' });
     if (minor.guardian_user_id && minor.guardian_user_id !== req.user.id)
       return res.status(409).json({ error: 'This minor already has a guardian' });
+    const dob = dateOfBirth || minor.date_of_birth || null;
+    const isMinor = dob ? isMinorFromDOB(dob) : minor.is_minor;
+    const shouldActivate = !!dob;
+    const newStatus = shouldActivate ? 'active' : 'suspended';
     await exec(req.schema,
-      "UPDATE users SET guardian_user_id=$1,guardian_approval_required=FALSE,status='active',updated_at=NOW() WHERE id=$2",
-      [req.user.id, minorId]
+      'UPDATE users SET guardian_user_id=$1,guardian_approval_required=FALSE,date_of_birth=$2,is_minor=$3,status=$4,updated_at=NOW() WHERE id=$5',
+      [req.user.id, dob, isMinor, newStatus, minorId]
     );
-    await addUserToPublicGroups(req.schema, minorId);
+    if (shouldActivate) await addUserToPublicGroups(req.schema, minorId);
     const user = await queryOne(req.schema,
       'SELECT id,name,first_name,last_name,date_of_birth,avatar,status,guardian_user_id FROM users WHERE id=$1',
       [minorId]
diff --git a/build.sh b/build.sh
index bf94264..e1c2837 100644
--- a/build.sh
+++ b/build.sh
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 # ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 set -euo pipefail
 
-VERSION="${1:-0.12.52}"
+VERSION="${1:-0.12.53}"
 ACTION="${2:-}"
 REGISTRY="${REGISTRY:-}"
 IMAGE_NAME="rosterchirp"
diff --git a/frontend/package.json b/frontend/package.json
index e35d978..5244088 100644
--- a/frontend/package.json
+++ b/frontend/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "rosterchirp-frontend",
-  "version": "0.12.52",
+  "version": "0.12.53",
   "private": true,
   "scripts": {
     "dev": "vite",
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/AddChildAliasModal.jsx b/frontend/src/components/AddChildAliasModal.jsx
index 2fe6007..9bb8c71 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/AddChildAliasModal.jsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/AddChildAliasModal.jsx
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ export default function AddChildAliasModal({ features = {}, onClose }) {
   // ── Mixed-age state (real minor users) ────────────────────────────────────
   const [minorPlayers, setMinorPlayers]   = useState([]); // available + already-mine
   const [selectedMinorId, setSelectedMinorId] = useState('');
+  const [childDob, setChildDob]           = useState('');
   const [addingMinor, setAddingMinor]     = useState(false);
 
   // ── Partner state (shared) ────────────────────────────────────────────────
@@ -49,6 +50,13 @@ export default function AddChildAliasModal({ features = {}, onClose }) {
     }).catch(() => {});
   }, [isMixedAge]);
 
+  // Pre-populate DOB when a minor is selected from the dropdown
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (!selectedMinorId) { setChildDob(''); return; }
+    const minor = availableMinors.find(u => u.id === parseInt(selectedMinorId));
+    setChildDob(minor?.date_of_birth ? minor.date_of_birth.slice(0, 10) : '');
+  }, [selectedMinorId]); // eslint-disable-line react-hooks/exhaustive-deps
+
   // ── Helpers ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
   const set = k => e => setForm(p => ({ ...p, [k]: e.target.value }));
 
@@ -164,12 +172,14 @@ export default function AddChildAliasModal({ features = {}, onClose }) {
 
   const handleAddMinor = async () => {
     if (!selectedMinorId) return;
+    if (!childDob.trim()) return toast('Date of Birth is required', 'error');
     setAddingMinor(true);
     try {
-      await api.addGuardianChild(parseInt(selectedMinorId));
+      await api.addGuardianChild(parseInt(selectedMinorId), childDob.trim());
       const { users: fresh } = await api.getMinorPlayers();
       setMinorPlayers(fresh || []);
       setSelectedMinorId('');
+      setChildDob('');
       toast('Child added and account activated', 'success');
     } catch (e) {
       toast(e.message, 'error');
@@ -282,24 +292,36 @@ export default function AddChildAliasModal({ features = {}, onClose }) {
             <div className="text-sm font-medium" style={{ color: 'var(--text-secondary)', marginBottom: 8 }}>
               Add Child
             </div>
-            <div style={{ display: 'flex', gap: 8 }}>
-              <select
+            <select
+              className="input"
+              style={{ marginBottom: 8 }}
+              value={selectedMinorId}
+              onChange={e => setSelectedMinorId(e.target.value)}
+            >
+              <option value="">— Select a player —</option>
+              {availableMinors.map(u => (
+                <option key={u.id} value={u.id}>
+                  {u.first_name} {u.last_name}
+                </option>
+              ))}
+            </select>
+            <div style={{ marginBottom: 8 }}>
+              {lbl('Date of Birth', true)}
+              <input
                 className="input"
-                style={{ flex: 1 }}
-                value={selectedMinorId}
-                onChange={e => setSelectedMinorId(e.target.value)}
-              >
-                <option value="">— Select a player —</option>
-                {availableMinors.map(u => (
-                  <option key={u.id} value={u.id}>
-                    {u.first_name} {u.last_name}{u.date_of_birth ? ` (${u.date_of_birth.slice(0, 10)})` : ''}
-                  </option>
-                ))}
-              </select>
+                type="text"
+                placeholder="YYYY-MM-DD"
+                value={childDob}
+                onChange={e => setChildDob(e.target.value)}
+                autoComplete="off"
+                style={childDob === '' && selectedMinorId ? { borderColor: 'var(--error)' } : {}}
+              />
+            </div>
+            <div style={{ display: 'flex', justifyContent: 'flex-end' }}>
               <button
                 className="btn btn-primary"
                 onClick={handleAddMinor}
-                disabled={addingMinor || !selectedMinorId}
+                disabled={addingMinor || !selectedMinorId || !childDob.trim()}
                 style={{ whiteSpace: 'nowrap' }}
               >
                 {addingMinor ? 'Adding…' : 'Add'}
diff --git a/frontend/src/utils/api.js b/frontend/src/utils/api.js
index a809877..346726f 100644
--- a/frontend/src/utils/api.js
+++ b/frontend/src/utils/api.js
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ export const api = {
   },
   searchMinorUsers: (q) => req('GET', `/users/search-minors?q=${encodeURIComponent(q || '')}`),
   getMinorPlayers: () => req('GET', '/users/minor-players'),
-  addGuardianChild: (minorId) => req('POST', `/users/me/guardian-children/${minorId}`),
+  addGuardianChild: (minorId, dateOfBirth) => req('POST', `/users/me/guardian-children/${minorId}`, { dateOfBirth: dateOfBirth || null }),
   removeGuardianChild: (minorId) => req('DELETE', `/users/me/guardian-children/${minorId}`),
   approveGuardian: (id) => req('PATCH', `/users/${id}/approve-guardian`),
   denyGuardian: (id) => req('PATCH', `/users/${id}/deny-guardian`),