Any ideas for kids' IDs?

[opus_00]

I think I saw a thread about this a while back, but the search function has been disabled so I can't find it. We are leaving next weekend for WDW, and I would like to make some sort of ID for my son who is almost 3 and likely to try to stray from us when out of his stroller. I don't want to put anything around his neck as he would probably remove it, and I think it would be a safety issue on rides. Any ideas?

Paula

 

[Texas Pooh]

Here are two ideas I've read on these boards:

The first was to have an id that attachs to laces on sneakers; imagine a small laminated card with holes on either side. Lace it up on the bottom and top lace. You would want to have the personal information turned inside out, so it didn't show to the world; the side that shows could say "emergency information on reverse" or something like that.

The second was inside the collar of the child's shirt, although I've never figured out how to do this in a way that isn't itchy.

Whatever you do, the trick is not to make the child's information visable for safety reasons - someone who can see your child's name may use it in a familar way ("hi, kevin, I've been looking for you, come with me"), but at the same time making it available for those who need it.

 

[stacy6552]

We do two things:

The kids carry laminated cards in fanny packs. They have our names and reservation number, cell phone numbers, the name and number of the closest relative (My sister in FL) and my parents names and number because they are familiar voices that can calm the kids durn the wait.

Additionally, I carry a state issued ID for each child. The photos are good head shots, their finger prints are on file, and it carries thier stats, which I may be too upset to give.

 

[TiggerInNY]

Hi,

I ordered these wrist band type ID for my kids. The website is

id-inside.com

It's a velcro wristband which can be worn either on the wrist or ankle. I think I will try the ankle on the outside of the sock so that it doesn't scratch. The information strip of paper slips inside the wristband and no one can see the information.

I think they're great!! They also come with a waterproof insert, great for the water parks. And not only am I using them for Disney, but anywhere else....school trips, zoos, or another vacation. Don't forget to use permanent marker for the water parks.

Check it out. Good luck.

TTFN,
Maria

 

[cinjam]

We tried ID cards, but DS would take them right off

What we've done for a while now is to take masking tape. We write our cell phone # on a strip and tape it to the outside back of his shirt, up near the collar.

We put the tape on before we put the shirt on him, so he doesn't know it's there...and therefore doesn't remove it!

I felt uneasy having something with him name on it.

I also always carry several wallet size pictures of him in my bag. If he got seperated from us I thought I would want to hand out his pic immediately to as many CMs as possible

 

[~Czarina~]

We personally have never used an ID tag for the kids but I saw this at Downtown Disney and thought it was a wonderful idea.

Each rather small child had a small, credit card size tag that was put in their Disney trading pin lanyard. The bottom few pins were also pinned to their clothes to help cut down on the random "I don't wanna wear this anymore." The front card said "I do not speak English, please reverse if I am lost." I found this small child that was lost, yet really very calm. On the back it said my name is *******. Please call my parents at *** *** **** and tell them where you have found me and they will come and collect me. It also had a couple words on the back so you could "comfort" the child in his own language. It had this nice little pronoucation guide kinda thing which I found very helpful. I took him to the lost child station (four different ones because they all had reached their max.) He wouldn't let go of my hand and kept tugging me back everytime I went to leave. I stayed with him for about five minutes till his parents tracked up down and it was wonderful. I was very grateful for the tag! That was one smart idea!

The shoe tag sounds like a wonderful idea!

 

[jfranklyn]

We went to the Pet store (like Petco or Petsmart) and got a small dog tag with our child's name, our name, and our hotel name (you could do cell number too). It only cost like $5, took 5 minutes to make, and we tied it onto the bottom lace of her shoe. It worked great, although we never had to use it, thankfully!!

 

[debster812]

These are all great ID ideas.

One more tip along the same vein, in this day of digital cameras, take a quick snap of your child each morning. Full body shot, so you know exactly what they are wearing. It's amazing how FAST those details can leave you when you are panicked.

 

[TiggerInNY]

I've thought about the picture every morning, too. The thing is REMEMBERING! Bad enough, sorry guys, that most of the remembering relies on us "moms" for the things we need that day.

Along with those ID bracelets, I will try to remember the picture. Great ideas on these boards. You gotta love em.

TTFN,
Maria

 

[susy]

Wev'e been doing the masking tape. It's on my packing list, along with a Sharpie marker. I just write, if lost call------- and my cell #. I may do the dog tag this time and just get a chain for him to wear it on.

 

[opus_00]

Thanks so much for the suggestions. I hadn't thought about taking photo every day, either, so we'll make sure to remember that.

Paula

 

[ariden]

These are GREAT ideas!! My kids are 7 & 11 and I'm not terribly worried about them straying. They pretty much know better and both know our cell ph#'s etc. But still I am going to try to remember to take pics each day just in case and debating on an ID card or something as well. You can never be too careful!!!

 

[crisi]

We did a luggage tag which we saftey pinned to the bottom of their shirts. But we lost one and my kids were worried as "Mickey's Friends" wouldn't be able to find us if they got lost. My kids are 4 and 5 - old enough to understand phone numbers if not old enough to rattle off Daddy's cell phone, so I took out a ball point pen and wrote the number on their hands. Good enough for a verbal kid to be able to show to a CM and say "this is my Daddy's phone number."

 

[TmnsnMD]

I know you said you did not what anything around your child's neck — but here is what I did the other weekend. I took 4 kids to Busch Gardens in Williamsburg. Each one received a lanyard with a small flashlight on the hook end. On the inside of the lanyard I wrote, with a perm marker, my cell number and DH cell number (even though he was not with us). I told each child that if they became lost to go to the nearest "Store" and find the line where people were paying for their stuff, go to the front of the line and tell the person working that they were lost and to call one of these numbers (on the lanyard). I told them no one would care if they "butted" in front of them because if the person in line was lost they would want to find their family right a way also.

By the way the little flash light worked out great, the girls would get a little scared walking around in the dark and thru the "haunted" areas.

Believe it or not everyone came home with their lanyard and flash light. They are going to Disney when we go in Aug 2004.

TmnsnMD