ID for a toddler that they will actually wear

[Luhts]

Personally, I am going to use name-tag stickers placed inside my sons t-shirts, and instruct them to find a CM if they are lost. I'm not going to special-order expensive bracelets or tattoos.

 

[Minniemouse07]

Personally, I am going to use name-tag stickers placed inside my sons t-shirts, and instruct them to find a CM if they are lost. I'm not going to special-order expensive bracelets or tattoos.

I have to tell ya...the bracelets are NOT expensive at all. I ordered four of them (one for each of the kids..2 of them... and then another set for backup, just in case) and they were less than $12 including shipping.

FWIW... if I had placed stickers on the insides of my kid's shirts they would have driving the kids crazy and my two would have taken them off!

I totally think the bracelets were worth it since we've used them about 6 or 7 times since our December trip. They have been great for museums, zoos, the beach and local carnivals.

 

[DevilDuckie]

You know what, you are right. But I certainly don't feel right that she would walk up to some employee who sees that she is lost, says follow me and takes her to some quiet, private place in the store and then assaults her. You hear about this a hundred times more than a wacky mother who kidnaps an 8 year old. I would much rather she put her trust in another mother.

But maybe I am wrong.

No, I don't actually hear about that more often. I'd much rather someone visible and known in the location have my kid than some random stranger wandering through. Being a mother has zero to do with what kind of person you are. All it means if you have a womb.

I want my kid to find a CM- someone who has passed at least some sort of rudimentary application process and who other people will recognize and notice with a kid. If a CM sees another CM with a kid headed anywhere but Lost and Found it will stick out. If a CM sees a lady with 5 kids- will they remember that 2 hours ago she only had 4? Or that they saw her at all? A lady with a passel of kids is virtually invisible in Disney.

 

[Manda]

No, I don't actually hear about that more often. I'd much rather someone visible and known in the location have my kid than some random stranger wandering through. Being a mother has zero to do with what kind of person you are. All it means if you have a womb.

I want my kid to find a CM- someone who has passed at least some sort of rudimentary application process and who other people will recognize and notice with a kid. If a CM sees another CM with a kid headed anywhere but Lost and Found it will stick out. If a CM sees a lady with 5 kids- will they remember that 2 hours ago she only had 4? Or that they saw her at all? A lady with a passel of kids is virtually invisible in Disney.

ITA. A Cast Member wandering off into a secluded area with a child or walking out the front gates with a child or wandering away from any place other than their station is going to be a whole lot more noticeable than a random park goer walking out with a child.

But, really, I don't dwell on the bad people of the world overly much. I tell my son to look for CMs because I think that's the fastest way for us to be reunited. I label my kid because I know if he walked away from me and got lost, he'd be very upset and I'd want to get to him to console him as quickly as possible. I'd like to think that the nearest person to him - whoever that may be - would stop and help an obviously upset and lost child. I know I'd do that if I saw a lost child.

I also put his information on him in case of a medical emergency where I'm not able to speak for him. I worry about that more than I do abduction. His ID band lists his name, DOB, and NKDA for that reason (as well as our phone numbers, of course).

 

[Catkramer]

No, I don't actually hear about that more often. I'd much rather someone visible and known in the location have my kid than some random stranger wandering through. Being a mother has zero to do with what kind of person you are. All it means if you have a womb.

I want my kid to find a CM- someone who has passed at least some sort of rudimentary application process and who other people will recognize and notice with a kid. If a CM sees another CM with a kid headed anywhere but Lost and Found it will stick out. If a CM sees a lady with 5 kids- will they remember that 2 hours ago she only had 4? Or that they saw her at all? A lady with a passel of kids is virtually invisible in Disney.

Again, I said that we use this every where, Walmart, Smiths, Lowes. These people are NOT screened and do NOT get back ground checks. I addressed in my first post that Disney DOES screen their people and that Disney DOES have a lot to lose. I live in a VERY small town where I run into teachers and neighbors and friends at my local stores. I trust them more than I would a stranger who just happens to be in a uniform. Most families here in Utah are large families, it is NO big deal to see mothers in the store with 4 and 5 kids. I am not asking them to take her home and raise them as their own and cloth them and take her to church. I am asking them to simply make sure she is taken to the RIGHT person in the store to help her. Not some stocker in the back room or a delivery person who may not even work in the store. She doesn't have to be mother of the year to simply escort my child to the customer service counter. But if my children get lost in Lowes, how can they even know where to go? Again, how many times have you been in a store and you can't find someone?

I am sorry that we have differences in opinions, but that is just it. It is an opinion and I don't think it is stupid to trust other moms. But apparently you don't have much faith in other mothers, where I do. It is shame that we live in a world that we even have to have this conversation.

 

[Minniemouse07]

Again, I said that we use this every where, Walmart, Smiths, Lowes. These people are NOT screened and do NOT get back ground checks. I addressed in my first post that Disney DOES screen their people and that Disney DOES have a lot to lose. I live in a VERY small town where I run into teachers and neighbors and friends at my local stores. I trust them more than I would a stranger who just happens to be in a uniform. Most families here in Utah are large families, it is NO big deal to see mothers in the store with 4 and 5 kids. I am not asking them to take her home and raise them as their own and cloth them and take her to church. I am asking them to simply make sure she is taken to the RIGHT person in the store to help her. Not some stocker in the back room or a delivery person who may not even work in the store. She doesn't have to be mother of the year to simply escort my child to the customer service counter. But if my children get lost in Lowes, how can they even know where to go? Again, how many times have you been in a store and you can't find someone?

I am sorry that we have differences in opinions, but that is just it. It is an opinion and I don't think it is stupid to trust other moms. But apparently you don't have much faith in other mothers, where I do. It is shame that we live in a world that we even have to have this conversation.

You know what...if I lived in a small town like yours I would give the same instructions to my kids... in fact I do give them those instructions when we are home.

BUT...at WDW.. I think that due to the "enclosed" atmosphere and Disney standards.. I tell my dd that if she misplaces me that she should go to a CM FIRST..if she can't find one nearby (which is doubtful) then she should find a mom w/ kids.

I would rather her go w/ a CM at WDW than a random mom because weighing all the variables, I'm thinking that a CM would be more reliable. Outside WDW... my recommendation to dd is find a police officer first...then a mom. But police officers are less likely to be around than another mom (unlike CMs at WDW!)

You need to adapt your instructions for your specific environment. In your small town... it makes more sense to look for a mom, but at WDW I think it makes more sense to find a CM.

 

[Catkramer]

You know what...if I lived in a small town like yours I would give the same instructions to my kids... in fact I do give them those instructions when we are home.

BUT...at WDW.. I think that due to the "enclosed" atmosphere and Disney standards.. I tell my dd that if she misplaces me that she should go to a CM FIRST..if she can't find one nearby (which is doubtful) then she should find a mom w/ kids.

I would rather her go w/ a CM at WDW than a random mom because weighing all the variables, I'm thinking that a CM would be more reliable. Outside WDW... my recommendation to dd is find a police officer first...then a mom. But police officers are less likely to be around than another mom (unlike CMs at WDW!)

You need to adapt your instructions for your specific environment. In your small town... it makes more sense to look for a mom, but at WDW I think it makes more sense to find a CM.

I complete agree. Disney World is NOT the norm. They do have Cms everywhere, and I addressed that in my original post. But I feel that I got flamed for my response. I never said my way was right for any one else. I have children with in the Autism Spectrum. They are more likely to walk up to a mother with small kids then they would a big burly guy stocking beer on the shelf.

I have trouble getting my son to wear anything tagged on him, so it is a lot harder. Since he has the speech of an 18 month old, he isn't going to understand to go to a CM. But most likely, he would play with another child. I think each situation is different, and each kid is different. I would never purposely put my children at risk. I never said that any other option was wrong. And it is obvious that if my child found another mommy, SHE would take them to a CM. She is not responsible for finding me. However, I do also think that she would have enough common sense to know if the situation feels right or wrong. If the CM or employee of a store, is going to do the right thing and take care of a child. That is all I was trying to say.

 

[momof1+1+2]

We use permanent marker on their arm - just cell phone number. I thought it was awful at first, but it works. It doesn't fall off or get lost.
Don't put child's name on anything. It allows a person to be familiar with your child - giving them a false sense of security.

I can't stress this enough. My uncle works in child related crimes and always talks about this. NEVER put your childs name on them otherwise you just gave a stranger an advantage.

 

[Catkramer]

I want to also add that having children in the spectrum, you can't just change the rules on them. I can't print out all of the uniforms that all CMs wear across the "World" and tell them that they can go and find THESE people and don't talk to these other people. I can't do that. When you have kids in the autism spectrum, it is a very straight line that you have to walk. You just can't change the rules constantly. When we are at Lowes, do this and when we are at the park, do this. You just can't.

My 8 year old is good about staying with us, and knows to stay with us. However, if she were to get lost, and a person who doesn't have her best interest told her to come with him or her into a secluded location to get "help", she would follow with out blinking. Most 8 year olds would have the common sense and the gut feelings and know between the feelings of what is about to happen is right and wrong. Don't get my wrong, my daughter is extremely smart. However, she is EXTREMELY trusting. She would go with anyone, any where, any time. No matter how many times I have told her not to. And she would get way over her head before she would figure out that something was terribly wrong.

With my kids, I have to be consistant, and firm and very clear as to what my expectations are of them. I can't waiver because they don't have the ability to understand why it applies in one situation and doesn't another. Obviously, this would not be the standard situation and not every one has to go through this process. I wouldn't wish it on any one. But what I was addressing in my first post was my own anxiety of losing my children, especially one who can't even say his own name or know where he is going or where he has been. That is what is frightening.

I am completely not upset with anyone. I just feel like these other factors where not taken into consideration when people were responding back to me. What works for us, will not work for every one else. I wouldn't recommend this to someone who, perhaps live in major city. But I have to go with the odds of what my children are capable and able to do versus what another mother might do to them. I would think that a mother would be a lot safer than a stranger. Ovbiously, Disney is not the norm.

 

[In a hurry]

I can't stress this enough. My uncle works in child related crimes and always talks about this. NEVER put your childs name on them otherwise you just gave a stranger an advantage.

Anyone standing near us for 5 minutes knows my child's name. I think this is a "feel good' strategy. Kind of like the Nuclear attack practice we had in grade school.