A barmitzvah boy saying shehechiyanu on new tefillin when wearing them prior to barmitzvah

Question

Following on from this question and assuming that you make the bracha of shehechiyanu on new tefillin...

If a barmitzvah boy has the custom to start wearing his tefillin early. So for example, in Litvak circles the practise to wear them a month early (see Aruch HaShulchan 37:4, Piskei Teshuvos 37 - Footnote 26, Nitei Gavriel on Hilchos Barmitzvah), or like others do; 2-3 months prior to barmitzvah (see Magen Avraham 37:4, Shulchan Aruch HaRav 37:3, Chayei Adam 66:2).

Is it better for the boy to say the shehechiyanu:

1. The first time he puts on the tefillin on - i.e. the same way he makes the bracha on putting tefillin on even though he is not yet barmitzvah (refer to Nitei Gavriel 34:3)

or

2. Does one wait until the boy actually becomes barmitzvah and then says it as a fully fledged "man"? i.e. Regardless of the fact that he puts on tefillin early he still does not count towards a minyan (Piskei Teshuvos 37:5)

Answer 1

So after searching high and low I came across the Halachically Speaking (Vol. 13, Issue 2) on the topic of Barmitzvah and Tefillin - see p.7. Rav Moishe Dovid Lebovitz there makes a clear distinction and helps to provide a very comprehensive answer and I have tried to link most the footnotes so everyone can easily access the sources.

He writes as follows:

Shehecheyanu

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There is a discussion in the poskim if a bar mitzvah boy recites a Shehecheyanu when placing the tefillin for the first time. On one hand, he should recite a Shehecheyanu since it is an exciting time.¹ On the other hand, this brachah was only instituted for a recurring mitzvah.²

If he starts before his bar mitzvah, no brachah of Shehecheyanu is recited.³ Before bar mitzvah he is still a child, so he does not recite Shehecheyanu. When he becomes bar mitzvah, it is no longer his first time.⁴ If he starts when he becomes thirteen, there is a debate regarding Shehecheyanu. Therefore, he should buy a new garment and make a Shehecheyanu on it, and have the tefillin in mind.⁵

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¹ Rambam Hilchos Brachos 10:2. Others say it is not a joy since one has to make sure to have a clean body (Bach, O.C. 22; Sha’arei Teshuvah 22; see Bar Mitzvah [Kroizer] pages 116-117). Refer to Mor U’ketziah 27; Chinah D’chaya 89; Keren L’Dovid, O.C. 57; Chasam Sofer, O.C. 55.

² Refer to Shach, Y.D. 28:5; Y.D. 289:1; Levush, O.C. 22:1; Taz 1; Elyah Rabbah 2; Aruch Hashulchan 3; Machzik Brachah 2; Kaf Hachaim (Palagi) 10:8; Yufei L’lev 22:1; Me’asef L’chol Hamachanos 19; Birur Halachah 22; Chanoch L’na’ar page 37; Halachah Berurah 22:5:footnote 12; Piskei Teshuvos 22:footnotes 7, 10 in depth; Yechaveh Da’as 2:31; Chayei Moshe 37:page 182; Mishneh Halachos 6:6; Bar Mitzvah [Kroizer] pages 116-120 in depth.

³ Eishel Avraham Butchatch 37; Likutei Maharich 1:page 19b (old); Birur Halachah 22; Natei Gavriel Bar Mitzvah 37:6; Lehoros Nassan 2:9.

⁴ Eishel Avraham Butchatch 37. See Chanoch L’na’ar 10:footnote 3.

⁵ Biur Halachah 22, “koneh”; Likutei Maharich 1:page 19b (old), 22:page 31; Yechaveh Da’as 2:31; Mishneh Halachos 6:6; Bar Mitzvah [Kroizer] pages 123-124; see Yalkut Yosef 37:7. In regard to reciting a Shehecheyanu on tefillin of Rabbeinu Tam which one puts on for the first time, see Bar Mitzvah [Kroizer] page 124:footnote 18.