Labeling kids in case they get lost

[corinnak]

We got the Whose Shoes, but my 2 1/2 year old was intent on constantly removing them. I wrote my cell phone number on his shoes with a fine point sharpie marker along with "Mom's cell"(figuring that it was better that he had the number on him somewhere than not) and kept close track of him at all times.

Now what I am wondering is this - I hate to let my 7 1/2 year old son go into the men's by himself. Hate it. He really wants to go, but at this point I am thinking that if he is not with his dad, he needs to come with me. However, at some point it will really NOT be appropriate to take him into the ladies - I am just wondering when that cut off age is. At WDW, fortunately, there really are almost always the companion care restrooms, but out in the rest of the world, not so much.

 

[danjoealexis3006]

We used Id on me when we went in March and my kids loved them! They wear them on their ankles and they are waterproof and reuseable. I always dress everyone in bright colors that match. I also tell my boys to stop and yell for a CM if they cann't find me. We were in a store at Epcot and I thought my DS whose 7 was right next to me and then I heard a child yell at the top of his lungs that he needed a CM. Everyone around him stopped and looked at him ( I could see him when he yelled) and a CM had already dropped what she was doing and was headed to him. I try to tell them that if they cann't find me or DH that they need to get to a CM and never ever take off their ID for anyone but a CM or policeman! I still will not let him use the bathroom by himself and I don't care how much he wines! When he's older I will bring our walkie talkies so if he gets in trouble he can call me! It is so sad that we have to be this way in todays world

 

[mikymouse]

We used the DogTags from the pet store with our cell phone numbers and the kids first name. They were attached to the fabric of their tennis shoes with the o ring that comes with the tags. The kids like them and they have stayed on their shoes for the last four months with no problem. The tags were silver so you would really have to look to see the information engraved.

They were told to find someone working at a cash register to call mom and dad if they got lost.... easier to distinguish than anyone else working in the parks. We also made our 2 or 3 vacation rules ... the top one was stay with Mom & Dad... they never got out of our sight.

We didn't do the water parks but I have heard my friends say this is the hardest place to find your kids since everyone looks pretty similar in a bathing suit.

 

[merrywether]

Great thread - my question is: What kind of info do you think a 2 yr old will be able to understand when talking about strangers? My DS will be 2 when we arrive in Disney at the end of the month and I have no idea how to approach the subject of what to do when he gets lost or if a stranger approaches him! Any tips would be greatly appreciated!

Kim

 

[Coll0610]

We visit Holiday World in Southern Indiana every summer (great place, by the way, if you live within a few hours) and they have a great system there. They have those disposable bracelets like you get for admission at some places and you can put your cell phone number on it and have your kids wear them. All of their staff is trained to look for the orange (or whatever color it is) bracelet on a lost child. They mention this service in their park maps and have a sticker on the inside of every bathroom stall door telling you about it.

 

[JMCDisneyBound]

I have used the "Who's Shoes" ID on my dd on 4 previous vacations (including 2 to WDW)....they didn't bother her at all, and they worked out very well..... I cannot yet post a link, but I see someone else has posted it above.

Samantha

FYI--- I ordered from who's shoes and NEVER received my order. Was told when I called she would send me another order but I would have to pay 1/2 and then when the lost order turned up and I sent back one of the orders I would be credited for the additional 1/2. NO Thanks!!! I wasn't about to give her more money and risk the second order not show. I think this is a small at home business. Just be careful!!

 

[TnTWalter]

their name, age, our name, cell phone number. We also talked about what to do if separated, etc. They thought they were cool.

Here's a picture of my kids wearing them. I used the disney luggage tags that were sent to me.

For the poster about your children being taken. I am so sorry for the experience but glad they are safe with you now. We need these reminders to not get lulled into a false sense of security.

Trish

 

[Bird-Mom]

I bought a very pretty bracelet from a seller on Ebay for about $10. I searched for phone and bracelet, I think. It has only our cell number on it. I didn't want to put too much info. My 4 year old is developmentally delayed and doesn't really understand what a CM is even though I explained it and pointed many out, so I told her to try and find one or to find a mommy if she got lost and show her bracelet. I think that because of her delays, if a stranger saw her name and was friendly, she would think it was ok to go with him/her. I am going to get a bracelet for my 2 year old, but I will probably put it around her ankle instead.

Fortunately, the 4 year old is great about holding hands. The 2 year old isn't so keen on hand holding, but she knows that if she doesn't hold hands, she gets carried or in the stroller. We practice a lot, so she knows what happens if she pulls her hand away. I am sure that they will be in the stroller most of the time, and the 2 year old will be in a sling where strollers are not allowed. We also have more adults than children for most of the upcoming trip which will be awesome!

 

[sara74]

We were very lucky in that both kids stuck to us like glue on our trip in April. We have taught DD4 to yell "you're not my mommy/daddy!" if approached by someone, but I still fear that they don't always do what they are taught when in the situation itself.

We met a nice family from N. Carolina who wrote phone #s on the kids legs with a sharpie. I thought that was a GREAT idea! I don't like the idea of nametags as I think that kids are too naive to realize that a predator is reading their name off of a tag and not a friend of mom and dad's as they may claim to be. Nametags may get kids special attention from CM's but my thought is - they are at WDW! How much more special attention do they need? To me the risk outweighs the benefit.

 

[tyandbash]

We have three kids, 9, 7 and 3. My two older kids have always just stuck to us, never had a problem. My 3 yr old dd is another story. While we were at Downtown Disney over Easter, both my dh and I thought she was with the other one of us. It was a good 10 minutes before we realized neither of us had her. Of course we panicked and told a CM immediatly, (my two older kids were already crying at this point, it was awful). Well, a store manager had found her right away so as soon as the CM radioed that she was missing we were told she was found. Anyway, when we found her with the manager she was happily in his arms talking away. That was almost more frightening to us then her missing. As soon as she saw us she burst into tears and told us she missed us, but she would have been so easy to get out of a store if someone wanted to, before she would have even gotten upset. It still makes me shake when I think about it. Needless to say we have been drilling our children with screaming "This is NOT my Mommy/Daddy!!" And, NEVER letting go of her hand!! Oh and she did have a tag on her, but it was under her shirt and the manager never even though to look.

 

[HappyDznyCamper]

When my kids were old enough to understand, don't go with anyone you don't know, go staight to a CM etc...they got business card size paper with phone numbers and resort info placed in the ID holder on their lanyards, their names were NEVER visable not even on a pin. When they were younger and did not understand why they should stay close we always used a baby leash, the harness style are the hardest for the child to take off, I know peolpe have mixed feelngs about putting a "leash" on a child but the alternative could be so much worse than the few odd looks from people you will never see again.

 

[okcruiser100]

We used the paper 'event' type bracelets - you know the ones they put on your wrist at concerts, the pool etc. On the inside of the bracelet we wrote their name, a cell phone number and the resort we were staying at. THe bracelet could be sized to their wrist and the writing (used an ink pen) was waterproof. Each of our kids was instructed as to what the bracelet was for and to go to a CM or character if lost.

 

[RNLUVSDISNEY]

Can you get the dog tags in downtown Disney?? Will they print them while you wait?? We leave on Thurs, will actually arrive on Fri and were planning to spend some time there. Would rather have something Mickey shaped than shaped like a dog bone. Besides, our dog could use a new tag so it will be the souvenier that we take home for him after the kids are safe.

Any info appreciated.

 

[rgribik]

We went to a baseball game yesterday, and at the gate they gave us the paper wristbands for all our kids. You could put your name, your childs name, your seat number and phone numbers. The kids didn't mind the band, it had the team logo on it, and the team colors. That would be a great idea for Dis, they could print them out in a disney theme and you could get them at the hotels for your kids to wear.

 

[brandylouwho]

I agree, disney themed wrist bands would be great, but we plan to buy tyvek bracelets from myfamilycd.com for our 2.5 yr old. She can wear them on her wrist or ankle and wel'll provide our cell phone numbers and grandma's number back home, in case she is lost.

myfamilycd.com


The website also sells sticker to place inside kids shoes and a pocket sized cd you can store photos and vital info on, to aid in a missing persons (or even missing pet) search.

DD's daycare has this company come in once a year to do cards for us. The bracelets are cheap and brightly colored, so a CM should notice it right away.

 

[sconnell]

Sorry, I didn't read all of the pages, but I think someone already mentioned the pet ID tags. We do this for our kids (DS 20 mo & DD4). They are great! I can hear the little jingle on their shoes! (They are still on from our April Trip) I put
"First" "Last"
Dad 555-555-555
GDad 555-555-555
I put my DH's cell # and a # for someone back home in case our cells weren't working. I knew we could contact the person at home at anytime if need be. I know there is other info that's good, but this worked for us.
You can find those machines in lots of places. Walmart, PetSmart, etc. I like them because they are engraved and the ink won't run. They are metal. I got the red heart shape, but they have circles as well. (and dog bones, lol) People notice them at home, so I know they can be seen easily. I do put them on the bottom of their shoelaces, (near the toe) so they don't slide off easily and I turn them so that the words are on the inside. Someone has to get close to turn them over and see their name. (My kids are VERY friendly.)
I know it's possible for someone to snatch them, but I know that with my kids, it's more likely for them to wander away. Not that we aren't watching them, but man, they are fast! They could so easliy dart into a building or crowd. This gives me peace of mind, since they are so young. (esp DS 20, very independent already)
However, they are in strollers most of the time.

 

[jchop]

My girls (ages 5 and 8) had fun making Shrinky Dinks the day before we left. We put both dh's and my cell #s and strung them on braided colorful hemp cording (bought everything at Wal-Mart). The girls loved their "necklaces" and wore them under their shirts every day.

We told our girls that if they realized they were lost that they should ask a CM for help or walk up to a mommy with children and tell her that they are lost.