Child's monogram/name on things...is this really a concern?

englishteacha

englishteacha

Have courage and be kind.
Joined
Apr 2, 2006
As I'm mentally preparing for a trip with our young child, I'm reminded of all the "warnings" I've heard about not having your child's name visible on their clothing/stuff because people could lure them away and kidnap them. I've never been particularly afraid of that, but thinking of Disney, I thought it'd be sweet to have Z's name embroidered on her first Mickey hat, and to prevent stroller "theft" putting her monogram or our family name on the sunshade and seat. I just hear the after school special announcer guy of the 1980s in my head..."Don't put your child's name where strangers will see it! Stranger danger!"

What are your thoughts on this, Dis Parents?
 
We had a license plate tag made for the stroller with our family name on it. I had a few shirts made with DDs name in it as well as Mickey ears. I didn't worry about this at Disney.

I saw that commercial recently, and I think this applies (in my mind) more to when they are away from you, walking to school, or to the bus, field trip etc. I didn't see an issue with it at Disney because I didn't see those situations presenting them self, granted DD was not even walking yet....

No place is 100% safe, but I didn't worry about this for our Disney trip. I do also monogram some of DDs other items for everyday life, but just her initials not full name.
 
I won't do it. I grew up in the 80s too : )

Unfortunately, pedophiles go where the kids are. If you believe this principle then you can assume that you are more likely to encounter child predators at Disney World. I will even go the extra mile and no allow my kids to wear character shirts in public places where they might get separated from me. I don't want to give a predator anything extra to use to strike up a conversation with my kids. People are going to call me crazy (because this is an internet message board, it's inevitable) but ultimately we all have to do what we feel is best for our kids.
 


Speaking from my own experience as a youngster, I had plenty of monogrammed stuff as a child - especially at Disney. I stopped wearing anything with my name visible as a young teen because some men were inappropriate with it (I was tall for my age).
 
When I was a teen I had a shirt with my name on it. I wore it in a pool and a few people and lifeguards both called me over. I wasn't stupid but I had no idea. My friend finally figured out what was going on (they called her too, we had matching shirts) So, with that experience in mind my rule has been no names on anything worn or used (backpacks) outside the house, just in case. The kids have some things personalized but it is all stuff that would be packed or worn as pjs or something like that. If I really, really wanted to have something personalized for something special and I knew my kids were young enough to never be away from us, I guess I might do it just once or so, if I really thought it was important for the something special (I have done things my kids drew attention, daughter in princess clothes, etc but they were young and with us all the time)
 
englishteacha said:
As I'm mentally preparing for a trip with our young child, I'm reminded of all the "warnings" I've heard about not having your child's name visible on their clothing/stuff because people could lure them away and kidnap them. I've never been particularly afraid of that,
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If you've never been concerned about it, being at Disney shouldn't change that. Urban legends aside, there have been no kidnapings at WDW.
 


I would think a prediter will do what they want to get a kid be it promise of a puppy, candy, or calling out their name. To my knowledge there has never been a stranger kidnapping out of any Disney park. Hundreds of thousands of kids walk around with Mickey ears with their names on them and family t-shirts.

The majority of all prediter and kidnappings are done by someone the child knows and trusts not a random stranger. The best defense is to teach your kids never to go anywhere with a stranger and if they are lost only go to a cast member or security guard. Only cast IDs have their home town written on them so that's the easiest way to know if it is real or the old ones they use to sell.
 
We go to a local amusement park often and I've been coaching my daughter that if we ever get separated, she needs to find a staff member with a nametag and tell them she lost her mommy and needs help. I figure it's good practice for when we go to Disney, or if she gets lost at the store, etc. I'm glad to know that the official Disney nametags have the town name on them, too. That will be handy to teach her. I also plan on teaching her a password, and she is not to go with any person she doesn't know unless they know the password.
 
I'm okay with it at Disney with a very young child that is not going to be away from you.

Once they are old enough to go off on their own is when I would stop doing it.
 
Disney, especially in resorts you see younger and younger kids on their own doing certain things. I personally wouldn't do the name on a shirt and make it a little easier for someone to trick my daughter. It sounds like a wonderful keepsake, maybe you can do something private with the family, the same idea but maybe on their sleeping clothes or a surprised on the last day to bring home and remember the trip.
 
We bought actual name tags that look similar to the CM badges for my girls and they LOVED everyone calling them by name. Nothing like Cinderella welcoming "Princess Abby and Princess Kate". We were not worried in the least. I can count on ZERO hands how many stories I've read about abductions at Disney World due to personalized items on a child. I always keep a very close eye on the kids at all times, even now that they are tweens/teens.
 
My kids always wear personalized shirts at WDW. I don't think they would "trust" someone more because that person called them by name. My kids talk to anyone and telling their name is usually the first thing they do. Someone could just as easily listen to you say your child's name. I would just have fun with it!!!!!
 
englishteacha said:
As I'm mentally preparing for a trip with our young child, I'm reminded of all the "warnings" I've heard about not having your child's name visible on their clothing/stuff because people could lure them away and kidnap them. I've never been particularly afraid of that, but thinking of Disney, I thought it'd be sweet to have Z's name embroidered on her first Mickey hat, and to prevent stroller "theft" putting her monogram or our family name on the sunshade and seat. I just hear the after school special announcer guy of the 1980s in my head..."Don't put your child's name where strangers will see it! Stranger danger!"

What are your thoughts on this, Dis Parents?[/QU
englishteacha said:
As I'm mentally preparing for a trip with our young child, I'm reminded of all the "warnings" I've heard about not having your child's name visible on their clothing/stuff because people could lure them away and kidnap them. I've never been particularly afraid of that, but thinking of Disney, I thought it'd be sweet to have Z's name embroidered on her first Mickey hat, and to prevent stroller "theft" putting her monogram or our family name on the sunshade and seat. I just hear the after school special announcer guy of the 1980s in my head..."Don't put your child's name where strangers will see it! Stranger danger!"

What are your thoughts on this, Dis Parents?
Click to expand...
I think that you will should go ahead and get those Mickey ears and embroider them because if you are anywhere near the typical family with in minutes of getting there you will be saying your child's name for all around you to hear anyways. You will either be saying it to warn the kids to stay near and others can over hear or you will be yelling it so you kid comes back or you will be just saying 'hey, _____ , isn't this the best day?!' Don't let a bunch of fear mongers even begin to get you anxious about a family holiday. That's just my 2 cents.
Click to expand...
 
I wouldn't worry about it. Sadly, the vast majority of children are victimized by a family member or family friend. It's just an incident with a stranger gets a bout 1000 times more publicity.

Anyway, Many children in WDW are wearing pins with their name because they are celebrating a birthday. I think it's totally safe.
 
englishteacha said:
As I'm mentally preparing for a trip with our young child, I'm reminded of all the "warnings" I've heard about not having your child's name visible on their clothing/stuff because people could lure them away and kidnap them. I've never been particularly afraid of that, but thinking of Disney, I thought it'd be sweet to have Z's name embroidered on her first Mickey hat, and to prevent stroller "theft" putting her monogram or our family name on the sunshade and seat. I just hear the after school special announcer guy of the 1980s in my head..."Don't put your child's name where strangers will see it! Stranger danger!"

What are your thoughts on this, Dis Parents?
Click to expand...

Personally, I will put names on my child's gear. He'll tell his name to anyone that will listen, anyway. There have been no abductions in Disney. "Bad things" are more likely to happen with people the child knows than strangers. I don't teach "stranger danger", I teach "tricky people". If your child is in trouble, they will need help from a "stranger". I teach my son to go to police, fireman, people with nametags, or moms with kids. We play "What if ... " in the car frequently and also right as we're getting to busy places. I ensure that he remembers our name and our phone number. I show him the people who work at the location we are and the nametags they wear.

In the end, it's what you're most comfortable with, there are no right or wrong answers.
 
I do the names on shirts. Never had a issue, our dd knows not to go off with anyone. I only do it for Disney tho.
 
I don't have issues with my kids having names on their shirts. The younger one is always with us (or older sibling) and older one doesn't want her name on the stuff anyway.

All that being said, I don't worry about it at Disney. Truth be told, I don't really worry about it (the name thing anyway) at home either. We have taught our children from a very young age to be mindful and cautious of strangers. It's not rude if you are afraid and run into the house when there is a stranger, it's called being safe.

As others have stated, if a pedophile has a mark on your child, I am sure the embroidered name on the shirt isn't going to make that much of a difference to them.

As with all things, do what you feel is the best and safest thing for you and your children. Who cares if others think you are crazy or not. No one is the "Perfect Parent" although we all strive for it (I hope anyway).
 
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