How do you keep your kids safe in the parks?

[Petals & Pixie Dust]

Thank you! I feel the same way about having their names visible (too many creeps out there). Great advice, thanh you VERY much!

Absolutely agree with the no name thing…I get dubbed being the overly worried mom in my family…as long as it keeps my kid safe I don't care.

Oh ya at night time I put jogging strobes on their shirts so I can see them better

Awesome idea...

 

[lolobug]

Oh ya at night time I put jogging strobes on their shirts so I can see them better

Love this!

 

[JillyBean1899]

Great ideas! I have a drifter, too! I was thinking of doing the same thing, give DH the "easy" kid, I take the drifter. Thank you! I love the pet tag idea, too! Do you think people would think to look at their shoes? I'm most concerned about my 2 year old and I don't think she could tell someone to look at her shoe. Thanks!

If it's not something that's hidden, yeah, most CMs would notice it. And even if they didn't, they're supposed to call their lead or manager if they don't find the parents immediately, and they will typically call security. With 3 or 4 people around the kid, someone will notice the tag. Using those tags is more common, and a lot of people now think to look.

 

[aubreysmom09]

We use safety tats. We buy them online. They are waterproof stickers you can put on your kids wrist, hand, anywhere. It has a waterproof pin you write your phone number on it. They work really well, and will last a few days. We always take DD's off nightly, but don't have to. We have used them at all the theme parks, and water parks. We taught DD at a very young age to find a mommy and say lost and point to her wrist.

 

[lolobug]

Great suggestions! Thank you!

 

[cinderella-princess]

Thank you so much for posting this thread! We go to WDW in November and my son will be almost two. He is super fast and likes to run wherever he wants. He isn't talking yet so even if he found a CM he couldn't tell them his name or anything about us. I love the dog tag idea but he has Velcro shoes so that won't work. I think the temporary tattoo is gunna be the way to go! Thanks again!

 

[ARS]

Anyone familiar with My Buddy Tags?
(Mybuddytag.com). My daughter is thinking of buying one for her 4 year old for our WDW trip next month.

 

[gymboqueenkaylee]

I have one of the rubber bracelets with my DD's name on the inside, my name, and phone number. I also have name/phone number stickers in her clothing just in case that is lost. I do make sure she knows our phone numbers in case she is lost and tell her to find someone wearing a Disney Tag or go in one of the shops and get a CM and tell them she is lost. She's 9 so I don't worry that much. She knows to DO NOT go with anyone ANYWHERE and DO NOT leave the park without us. We are usually right with her but with some of the crowds I always give her the getting lost lecture whenever we go.

 

[My3kiddos]

My son is prone to roaming so he wears a RoadID bracelet and shoe tag. He also has a red bracelet that is red that says "health alert" and on the other side it says I have autism. He wears these anytime we are away from home and he always has the shoe tag on.

 

[ElsasFan]

How old is too old to use a backpack with a baby "leash"? I'm sorry; there is probably a better name for it, but it has been a long day! My youngest has always been bad about running off and hiding. She thinks it is a game, and no amount of explaining, scolding, or punishing has gotten through to her. She is four, and while she doesn't do it as often as she used to, I still worry that she will at WDW. I also think she may not want to hold my hand at all times, which is really what I think is necessary to know she is safe.

We had a cute puppy backpack with a leash that we used when she was two. She saw a picture of it recently and has been asking for a new one because she thought it was so cute. Is she too old for something like that? Please share your own experiences. We are leaning against using a stroller, or at least trying not to use one because we haven't used one at home in about a year.

 

[rachael95]

She is four, and while she doesn't do it as often as she used to, I still worry that she will at WDW. I also think she may not want to hold my hand at all times, which is really what I think is necessary to know she is safe.

We had a cute puppy backpack with a leash that we used when she was two. She saw a picture of it recently and has been asking for a new one because she thought it was so cute. Is she too old for something like that? Please share your own experiences. We are leaning against using a stroller, or at least trying not to use one because we haven't used one at home in about a year.

Not sure about 4 but I used a wrist leash with my DS this past trip. He's 2.5. I bought a backpack leash for him, but he said it was too hot (and that was just summer in TN and not in FL). Plus, I allowed him to choose the animal and he picked a monkey. As he and I were testing it out, my DH said "you realize he has a monkey on his back, right?" Needless to say, decided that was not going to be seen in public. He plays with it at home though and likes it.

The one I ended up using was called "Baby Buddy Toddler Tether." It goes onto the child's wrist using a slip knot style attachment. It would definitely fit any size wrist. Then the parent has a loop like on a regular leash. It's about 2 feet long, so not so long that you could trip up other people if you let them go as far as it goes. I used it mainly for when we were walking so if he got away from me, he couldn't go far. He enjoyed leading me around by it sometimes too if I told him he could choose where we were going. Mainly, it was nice to use if his arm was getting tired being held up high when we were holding hands. He requested it a couple times. He also asked to have help taking it off a couple times and those times I did (only when it wasn't crowded), he tried to walk with me, but if he ran off, it went back on or else he had to sit in his stroller.

 

[Yzerbear19]

Thanks for all the great advice in this thread.

We're planning to take my two nieces in March. The oldest will be 4 and the youngest will be 2.5. They both have backpack leashes that they actually love and we plan to use them. Losing them is one of my major fears.

Glad to hear some positive reviews on the safety tattoos. Where is the best place to put them that would be visible to someone if they are lost, but not so visible it would be distracting in photos?

 

[Dragonfly_34]

I'm thinking of putting the tattoos on the inside of my children's wrists or on their ankle, above the sock line.