ID tags for little ones

[KartersMimi]

We are planning to go to WDW in March with our 2 year old grandson and I have seen posts saying that it is a good idea to put some sort of identifier on them in case they become separated from you (temporary tattoos, metal tags, iron on inside clothing, etc.). I like the idea of a metal tag attached to the shoe because it is easy to see without having to strip search him when he's likely to be traumatized already (no slight to anyone who does differently, there is just history here, thus the reason he is with us). We have gotten a small tag engraved with his name on one side and our names and phone numbers on the other. My question is this: how effective is this really? Are Cast Members trained to look for these identifiers or is this such a common practice now that they just look for it anyway? The tag is not huge (about the size of a nickel & black), we didn't want it to stand out, but I think it would be effective IF they know to look for it. I just don't think that he would even know to show it to someone, even if we practiced with him. He is only 2 and when he gets upset, he's pretty irrational... I'm just trying to figure out if there is anything more/else that we might want to consider as well. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[smellyia]

We have always used these for DD. They are obvious on her shoe and make me feel a little more comfortable with a mobile child in the event of getting lost. A CM I know says they look for identifiers that stick out obviously on lost kids.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000E48QO4

 

[Canooknic]

Our boys both have shoe tags too. We have always told them that if they can't find us to show their shoe to someone! Even before they could talk properly if we asked what to do if they lost mommy they would stick their foot in the air!!

 

[HopperFan]

Also used the shoe tag on my kids
1) Unless they toss their shoes they can't pull them off and loose them unlike most other identifiers.
2) Small enough that a casual look at them can't read the info. Don't want strangers in lines etc to be able to read them.
3) They stand out enough that a CM will notice them. I've had even a clown look down and say "cool shoe tag" then give me a wink and nod.
4) If they balk about it, go to the craft store and let them pick out a couple really cool beads - pirates, sparkly, all kinds - then place a bead or two on either side and it is more fun for them.

 

[Yoshiandi]

We are planning to go to WDW in March with our 2 year old grandson and I have seen posts saying that it is a good idea to put some sort of identifier on them in case they become separated from you (temporary tattoos, metal tags, iron on inside clothing, etc.). I like the idea of a metal tag attached to the shoe because it is easy to see without having to strip search him when he's likely to be traumatized already (no slight to anyone who does differently, there is just history here, thus the reason he is with us). We have gotten a small tag engraved with his name on one side and our names and phone numbers on the other. My question is this: how effective is this really? Are Cast Members trained to look for these identifiers or is this such a common practice now that they just look for it anyway? The tag is not huge (about the size of a nickel & black), we didn't want it to stand out, but I think it would be effective IF they know to look for it. I just don't think that he would even know to show it to someone, even if we practiced with him. He is only 2 and when he gets upset, he's pretty irrational... I'm just trying to figure out if there is anything more/else that we might want to consider as well. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ we bought dog tags and safety pinned them to the back of the kids shirts. They are light enough tending feel them and they stood out on thier clothes that CM's could see them. They had names, phone number, and diagnosis on it. ( both kids have down syndrome) worked for the past few times we have gone.

 

[kiramay]

I used a permanent marker and wrote my cell down the forearm of my 2 year old on our last trip. Very visible because he was wearing shirt sleeve shirts. I also have bracelets that say "If I am lost please call..."

 

[dvczerfs]

this happens all the time. dd had a lot of them while on the cp. the best thing you can do is when you realize your child is lost, run to a cm. in most cases there is a cm already with your child. know where they went missing and what they have on. they send out over the radio a lost child alert. " missing child alert. his name is billy, 4 years old, white shirt ,blue shorts" they wont look through personal items, look on body parts,call cell phones (takes to long) etc....

front line cms don't have or can use a cell phone. the only time they will need a phone number, address etc... is you go home for the night and leave them there.

they will ask your child there name and tell them not to worry, they will find your mom. do you like stickers? how about a tiger ? some kids don't want to find there parents. she had a few of them too.

if your child cant or wont talk, they put out a lost child alert and describe your child and because you went to the first cm you could find, they will keep them occupied till you get there.

it happens real fast. the worse thing you can do is try to find them yourself.
you cant out run there radios and the thousands of cms that will be looking for your lost child. she had a mom say her son was missing for about 15 min.9 YOUR KIDDING ME!) they found him in seconds. he was in line, by himself for its a small world. he was 4 years old!!!!!
ohhhh can she tell you storys.

 

[BubblyTrip]

We use pre printed disposable armband type bracelets I got on line. One thing I did was only put "Mom" and "dad" with each of our cell phone numbers and the words "if lost:" at the top. I don't need a stranger to know our names and use that info to lure our child away.

I also trained my kid to look for a mom with kids if lost.

 

[JillyBean1899]

they wont look through personal items, look on body parts,call cell phones (takes to long) etc....

front line cms don't have or can use a cell phone. the only time they will need a phone number, address etc... is you go home for the night and leave them there

Not entirely true. Since 99% of the "front line CMs" that find a child won't be able to leave their position to help find the parents, they call a team lead or supervisor, or security, and *THEY* help find the parents. Those people typically carry (and don't get in trouble for using) cell phones, and can call a cell phone number on a shoe tag. While a CM/supervisor typically won't dig through someone's bag or something to find info, if the kid has on a bracelet or shoe tag and shows the CM (or it's obvious), they'll see it and use the info on it.

Another suggestion would be to get luggage laminating tags (any store carrying office supplies will have them) and print out your own tags, then attach them to a belt loop on your child's pants/shorts (if they have them). I use them for my dog's bag when she stays at the boarding facility, they're pretty durable and cheap. Bonus: Your kid can pick which character they have on the other side, so they might actually be more agreeable to wearing it if they know they can have their "best friend" along for the day.

Also, if you have a smartphone, take a picture of your kid every morning so you have a record of what he's wearing that day. The days of a vacation can run together, and it's really easy to forget if he's wearing a red shirt or a blue one today.

Or you can get one of these, and it will let you know when he gets more than 25 feet away from you: Blue Teddy Bear Child Tracker

 

[dvczerfs]

Not entirely true. Since 99% of the "front line CMs" that find a child won't be able to leave their position to help find the parents, they call a team lead or supervisor, or security, and *THEY* help find the parents. Those people typically carry (and don't get in trouble for using) cell phones, and can call a cell phone number on a shoe tag. While a CM/supervisor typically won't dig through someone's bag or something to find info, if the kid has on a bracelet or shoe tag and shows the CM (or it's obvious), they'll see it and use the info on it.

Another suggestion would be to get luggage laminating tags (any store carrying office supplies will have them) and print out your own tags, then attach them to a belt loop on your child's pants/shorts (if they have them). I use them for my dog's bag when she stays at the boarding facility, they're pretty durable and cheap. Bonus: Your kid can pick which character they have on the other side, so they might actually be more agreeable to wearing it if they know they can have their "best friend" along for the day.

Also, if you have a smartphone, take a picture of your kid every morning so you have a record of what he's wearing that day. The days of a vacation can run together, and it's really easy to forget if he's wearing a red shirt or a blue one today.

Or you can get one of these, and it will let you know when he gets more than 25 feet away from you: Blue Teddy Bear Child Tracker

true, i just didn't get into the inter workings of how they find and who gets involved after a call for a lost child. im sorry if implied the cm will help you find a child or will walk your lost child around looking for you.
my point being if you inform a cast member you lost a child, inking there name and cell number on there head and hanging luggage tags off there body isn't needed if mom and dad, grammy or pop-pop report the lost child in a timely manner and you know what the child is wearing. but yes, the guy cleaning the toilet who finds your lost child doesn't personal look for your child no.you are correct.
wow.

 

[aubreysmom09]

We use these: http://store.safetytat.com/store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=10

Safety Tats have been great the past 3 years. Just use the marker and write you cell number on it. Remember to teach your kid if they get lost to find another Mommy or a police officer. They have worked great at Amusement Parks, and Water Parks. They last for several days, but we always remove it at night.

 

[lovetogowdw]

One thing I always try to point out when I see these discussions is that parents should explain in advance to small children how to identify a Cast Member (the uniforms in each area and distinctive name tags) and the concept of how lost parents and children are reunited in a special place if you tell a Cast Member you have lost your parents.

On my second trip to WDW as a mommy, I was pushing my toddler down Main Street right after a parade ended when I noticed a little girl (2.5 to 3 years old) frantically looking around at the edge of the street and saying "Mommy!" louder and louder. She was clearly lost. I got the attention of one of the street sweepers cleaning up after the parade and called him over as I walked toward the little girl. I asked the little girl if she had lost her mommy and she started bawling and shaking her head yes just as the CM walked up. I told her I was a mommy (which was obvious as she could see my child in the stroller) and told her the CM could help her find her mommy at the "lost mommy spot". (I was very familiar with the MK Baby Care spot from nursing and knew that is where they took lost children from seeing one there on a prior day in the parks.)

Anyway, she seemed didn't seem to want to go with him and didn't seem to understand the concept of a meeting spot for parents/children, so I walked along side as he escorted her there and finally waved goodbye at the front of the building.

Later in the day I caught sight of her riding Dumbo and she was waving FURIOUSLY at us, tugging on her mom and pointing at us, so I know she was happily reunited.

So now I start each day at any amusement park with a photo at the park entrance (remember what they have on) and a quiz about what a cast member looks like and reassurance that we'll meet up soon if we should somehow get separated.

 

[SamSam]

Excellent advice. Dh and I taught our grandsons (twin almost 3 year olds) that if we ever got lost to find a cm and show them their tats. We introduced them to several different cm's, so they would know who to look for. By the way they loved their tats and would frequently just point at them or rub them lovingly.
I hope in the future that Magic Bands can be loaded with the info needed to find parents or grandparents. In other words if a cm scan's a little ones magic band, they see g-pa cell phone xxxxxxxx or g-ma cell phone xxxxx.

One thing I always try to point out when I see these discussions is that parents should explain in advance to small children how to identify a Cast Member (the uniforms in each area and distinctive name tags) and the concept of how lost parents and children are reunited in a special place if you tell a Cast Member you have lost your parents.

On my second trip to WDW as a mommy, I was pushing my toddler down Main Street right after a parade ended when I noticed a little girl (2.5 to 3 years old) frantically looking around at the edge of the street and saying "Mommy!" louder and louder. She was clearly lost. I got the attention of one of the street sweepers cleaning up after the parade and called him over as I walked toward the little girl. I asked the little girl if she had lost her mommy and she started bawling and shaking her head yes just as the CM walked up. I told her I was a mommy (which was obvious as she could see my child in the stroller) and told her the CM could help her find her mommy at the "lost mommy spot". (I was very familiar with the MK Baby Care spot from nursing and knew that is where they took lost children from seeing one there on a prior day in the parks.)

Anyway, she seemed didn't seem to want to go with him and didn't seem to understand the concept of a meeting spot for parents/children, so I walked along side as he escorted her there and finally waved goodbye at the front of the building.

Later in the day I caught sight of her riding Dumbo and she was waving FURIOUSLY at us, tugging on her mom and pointing at us, so I know she was happily reunited.

So now I start each day at any amusement park with a photo at the park entrance (remember what they have on) and a quiz about what a cast member looks like and reassurance that we'll meet up soon if we should somehow get separated.

 

[M23]

We've used mabels labels bracelets and loved them!

 

[SEA333]

I used a permanent marker and wrote my cell down the forearm of my 2 year old on our last trip. Very visible because he was wearing shirt sleeve shirts. I also have bracelets that say "If I am lost please call..."

This tip comes up every time there is a thread on this subject...

Please do not write with Sharpie (the #1 permanent marker) on your child's skin Sharpies are not made for use on skin, and while, yes, they are non-toxic, they are not recommended for use on skin. If you do not believe me, please call Sharpie's consumer affairs department at 800-346-3278, and ask. They will tell you to stop writing on skin!!!

 

[kiramay]

Thank you for the info, but its a risk I'll take on our every two years trip to Disney with a severe speech delayed child.

 

[chekhovgirl]

I kind of think Magic Band covers are silly, but if you're going to have magic bands, how about a MB cover that doubles as ID? The side of the cover facing their wrist could have the information written on it. I think I'll either do this or whip up some of those shoe ID tags for my boys. I have a snap press so some sort of fabric or webbing that can snap on around the laces would do the trick.

 

[chekhovgirl]

OR, we have some Oliver's Labels mini labels that just have our last name and my phone number. Maybe I'll just stick that on the underside of their MB. That would be a good option. I don't see the point of putting a second bracelet on them if they're going to be wearing a MB.