Lost Child – Advice

[ses1230]

Where did you order these bands from?

I'm not who you asked, but I can tell you there are many places that sell them. Google "personalized silicone bracelets" and you will find it.

 

[Viator80]

I ordered these and they're great. Phone number is on the INSIDE.
http://www.wristbandconnection.com/kid-id-band-builder?gclid=COWb-KTssLMCFZGPPAodKFgAHQ

 

[luvmy2babies]

http://www.vitalids.com/

There are two types, one mainly for toddlers or non-verbal children, then a set for older children. Mine are 2 and 9, so I had one of each. My favorite thing about them was the waterproof aspect and how they sent extra sheets to change the information. My son's was impossible for him to remove and there were 3 in the set.

 

[skullsplitter]

If you and the kids do have smartphones download and configure a phone finder app. iPhone has the "Find iPhone" app. I'm sure Androids have something similar. This way if they are not answering their phones you have a way to find them.

 

[mickey&minniealways]

2 of my 3 children are special needs so this is something we have had to deal with many times. This is a frequent issue on the DISabilities forum. We ake a luggage tag. We have our names and cell #'s on the tag. The childs name and age. We also list the disabilty, meds and dosage. You don't need that but it is a must for us. We decorate them with stickers and in my DD's case lots of bling. She is 17 now but still needs to wear one when we go. She is has a siezure disorder. Well controlled on meds but if something happens when she is on her own (gets seperated) the info is right there and she does not like to wear a medical ID braclet. Especially in the hot FL sun. It gets to hot. But she will wear this luggage tag ID attatched to a belt buckle. Also if they get to help decorate them they are more likely to wear them. Go raid the local scrapbook store. Hope this helps.

 

[BMWTeamLeader]

My DD(5) got seperated from me over at the play area by Splash Mountain. Thank goodness her preschool teacher taught phone numbers as part of the curriculum...DD5, by instinct found a CM, CM asked if she knew her number. She recited it perfectly...and fortunately the HOME number she recited I had forewarded to my cell phone....PHEW!

 

[TwoCortWort]

This is scary when it happens and we have been the one's to find a lost child and the language barrier did NOT help. But we did find contact information pinned inside the child's jacket and we able to help reunite him with his family very shortly. We didn't think about asking a CM, instinct was to help. But I would make sure your contact info is on the child or make sure they know your cell phone numbers.

 

[LynnTH]

My DD11 is the queen of getting lost. She somehow manages to always go in a different direction than anyone else. She has a phone now - but last time we were at Disney a few years ago - we lost her going into one of the shows at DHS (can't remember the name of the show - the one with Harrison Ford..) Anyway - we all went down one aisle and she somehow went somewhere else. We immediately went to find her and one of the guys in our party stood up on the bench - he was wearing a bright red shirt. She spotted him right away. But, she had already found a CM and was in the process of calling us - we were all panicking and she was as calm as could be.

As long as they have your cell #'s with them. I think you will be good.

 

[letsgoreds]

In a pinch, write your cell number/name on their body somewhere in a Sharpie. We're accustomed to doing this for swimming (events, etc), so we just put the number on DS back. If wearing long sleeves, could just write it on their forearm.

Be aware that it won't wash off for days : )

 

[bumbershoot]

For younger kids, it's often suggested to find a Cast Member at a cash register. There are nametags that guests can buy that LOOK like CM badges, so the cash register part makes sure you're finding a CM.

For older kids the nametag isn't going to be as difficult to figure out.

If this is their first trip, I would probably make sure that each of them has a park map in their pocket or backpack, if only just to help them stay calm. My 8 year old knows Disneyland pretty well, but WDW would be scarier for him to be lost in, because he just doesn't know it as well. So a park map would help orient him while he stayed in place and looked for a nearby CM, and waited for us to come back.

 

[PHXscuba]

I would have the conversation about getting lost even with a teen.

A few years ago as we prepared for a Disneyland trip, I was telling our younger kids (ages 7 and 4) about what to do if they got lost. Big brother (age 13) was listening and said he thought if he got separated from us that he should LEAVE the park, walk through Downtown Disney, and go back to our room at the Disneyland Hotel. Mind you he had no room key and no cell phone at the time.

I was floored that he would think that was the best choice, and I'm really glad we found that out at home. The hallway outside our hotel room would have been the last place I would have looked for him.

We have since discussed every trip: We will never leave the park without you, stay put where you are, and find a CM if you can't locate us within a few minutes. I worry less now that my teens have cell phones, but that's not a perfect solution either.

PHXscuba

 

[KatWI]

THANKS so much for all the amazing advice! Lots of things I hadn't even considered so I really appreciate it!

I would have the conversation about getting lost even with a teen.

A few years ago as we prepared for a Disneyland trip, I was telling our younger kids (ages 7 and 4) about what to do if they got lost. Big brother (age 13) was listening and said he thought if he got separated from us that he should LEAVE the park, walk through Downtown Disney, and go back to our room at the Disneyland Hotel. Mind you he had no room key and no cell phone at the time.

I was floored that he would think that was the best choice, and I'm really glad we found that out at home. The hallway outside our hotel room would have been the last place I would have looked for him.

We have since discussed every trip: We will never leave the park without you, stay put where you are, and find a CM if you can't locate us within a few minutes. I worry less now that my teens have cell phones, but that's not a perfect solution either.

PHXscuba

WOW! I'm definitely going to have a conversation with the older kids too! Thanks for sharing and for the advice.

You all are awesome

 

[saturn5]

Most of the time, it is pretty easy to spot a CM, but here is what they have to do. The CM has to keep the child or preteen with them in the same spot, because lost parents usually retrace their steps when they notice they missed someone. But after 15 minutes, the CM's must either take the person to baby care if 12 and under, or Guest Relations if 13 and older. But most of the time, families are reunited within 15 minutes.

 

[SSR]

In a pinch, write your cell number/name on their body somewhere in a Sharpie. We're accustomed to doing this for swimming (events, etc), so we just put the number on DS back. If wearing long sleeves, could just write it on their forearm.

Be aware that it won't wash off for days : )

We do something similar. We have temporary tattoos that we custom ordered with name, our cell phone number etc. We apply them to our son's forearm in the airport and it usually survives the week intact. (If not, we reapply another). Very difficult to remove, unlike a wristband. Works for us. When we get home it comes off super easy with baby oil.

http://www.safetytat.com/

 

[Viator80]

I like the safety tat idea, but those seem expensive!

 

[Viator80]

Found these, 6 for $4.99

http://www.nurturecenter.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=3394

 

[suevr]

We've been going to Disney World since our boys were young (2 and 5). We've taught them to go to a Cast Member if they get lost, and how to identify them by their name tags. Because they were too young to remember our cell phone numbers we used to write them on masking tape and stick them under the boys' arms where they wouldn't come off. The boys each knew to tell the CM to look there. Of course, I often forgot to take the tape off before washing their shirts and this was something we had to remember to do every single morning before heading to the parks.

We eventually had dogtags made with the boys' names and our cell phone numbers on them. They either wear them around their necks or wrap them around their belt loop on their shorts and put it in their pocket. I also take a photo with my cell phone every morning so I know exactly what each child is wearing that day.

 

[kohlby]

I tell my kids to find a CM and tell him/her. Or, if they can't see someone to ask, they can go into a store or to the closest ride and they'll be somewhere there. My oldest is 9. He was 8 on our last Disney trip. Though he knew what to do if totally lost, we would also come up with checkpoints to meet up if we got separated in something else - like at a playground. We do that many places - come up with a landmark that he can easily find and that's our meeting spot.

We don't have a cell phone and I really don't worry about it. If the teens have a cell, then it would be very easy to even split up from time to time. Actually, at 13 and 14, a friend and I wandered the parks completely without any adult we knew even in the park! Our parents let us as long as we stayed together.

*Keep in mind too that if you tell them what to do "just in case" that some teens might be more encouraged to get "lost." I would still tell them, but there was a case in which my grandparents told us where to meet up just in case. And as a result, my cousin, who was a few years older, convinced me to wander off with her since she wanted to do some exploring without adults. We did meet up at the just in case spot a and had a blast and didn't cause any trouble, other than worrying my grandparents.