Paranoid of "losing" children in the park!

[beebles]

We leave in 2 days and i am paranoid i will lose a child in the park! My youngest is 4 and can step away from you. But anyone knows when you are shopping or distracted, especially in a crowd with more than one child to watch, it literally takes 1 second to lose your sight on them! Any suggestions other than me attached to a leash and collars around them!>?

 

[lmk]

I totally understand where you're coming from (as I'm sure can all the moms and dads of toddlers on this board). When we go in 2 weeks, we're planning on putting a little bracelet on our daughter similar to a hospital bracelet with our cell phone number and teaching her that if she can't find us, she should show someone the bracelet. Hope that helps.

 

[rkmassa]

I would suggest pointing out the CM's and showing your children the badges they wear. Also maybe have them go to a store and find a CM. We always point out the CM's in the park, and have the kids look for their uniforms, badges, etc. Some identifying infornation to let them know they can ask them for help. I would not have them give their information to just anyone they happen upon. Usually having kids ask a woman for help is a safer bet than asking a man. We did actually have our DD wander away in a shop. Turned my back for one second and she got lost in the crowd. It happened so quickly. I just panicked and freaked out. I started running around looking for her and calling her name as loudly as possible. She had gone straight for a female CM for help. We found her in less than 2 minutes. Thank God.

 

[kerry34]

A form of ID that you can keep with your child is a great idea. We do this with my 5 yr olds. Something that has your cell number on it is the best thing. I have told my little ones if they get separated from me to stand very still and not move because chances are I am close by and will notice them much easier if they are not moving. I was very worried about this as well with my little ones, but when we got there and they saw all the people they stayed right with me because they were scared of getting lost as well. I have five kids and over all my trips nobody has every gotten lost before (knock on wood). Another option is to point out a cast member to your little one and tell them to go tell one of them that they are lost.

 

[the kabuki]

Are you planning on bringing a stroller for the 4 yr old? DD4 stayed in the stroller most of the time, when she wasn't then I'd make sure my hand never left hers. Totally know what you're feeling though, it's always scary

 

[Goofy4]

If you'll be out at night, purchase a unique lighted necklace or hat.

I read a story about 10 years back on a child that was abducted and found quickly. Rest assured that you'll have pleanty of trained people and technology on your side if you call for help.

 

[2buzzboys]

I have seen parents write their cell phone # on the kids arm.

 

[daisyduck123]

This is what we did when my kids were younger:

I bought these little light flashers (they have them at Sports Authority now for about $8.00 but back then Michael's Crafts had them & I used coupons ). Each flasher has a strong clip on it to use to hook to your clothes. Each one has about 4 different settings from quick flash to slow flash & can be seen from far away. I think these are for rock climbers to use maybe?

Anyway, we wore them at night. I told DS5 that if he were to get separated from us, to just look for the flashing lights. Each one of us was wearing one. I thought we might feel silly wearing them but people asked me how I got this idea. They worked great & no one else had these on. No one.

 

[lindalinda]

On my first trip we had a 4 yr old and 2 5 yr olds. We had them wear matching bright neon green t-shirts every day. Not only were they easy to spot, other people knew we belonged together as well.

 

[FirstTimertoDiz]

I know that you joked about it in your original post, but we are leaving next week for ds first trip- he is a very active 2.5 year old, and we are going to be using a child safety harness for him. We have never used one before, but we want him to have a little more freedom to walk if he wants to, and he gets so easily distracted and runs off in the blink of an eye! I am going to loop the other end of my harness through my belt loop to lose that "leash" look a little. I am sure I will get some disapproving looks thrown my way, but the safety of my child is ultimately more important to me than other people's opinions, you know?

I hope you have a great (and safe) trip with whatever method you use!

Lisa

 

[Sandcass]

I have taught my kids to look for another "MOMMY" if they ever get lost. It might be hard for a little one to find a CM, but they all know a mommy when they see one. I think I heard this advice on Oprah or something when she had an expert on. The expert said that an overwhelming percent of the people who would harm a child are men.

I think the cell phone # on a bracelet or something is a great idea !

 

[mle1111]

When we took our kids, (dd9, ds3) we had "dogtags" made at the automated machines at petsmart with thier names, our names, cell number, and another emergency contact number (grandma who was not on this trip but knew our itinerary). When we got to the park, they were both told to walk into the plentiful shops, restuarants or trinket stands, right to the cashier and let them know they were lost, and to show them thier dogtag.

It turned into a show&tell item for ds3, who thought the tags were so cool, he showed them to nearly every cashier, waitress, & ride operator even if we were standing right next to him.

 

[tzuhouse]

A friend of mine always wrote her name, cell number, etc. across her children's backs in a magic marker. Took a while to wear off, but couldn't be washed off easily by someone trying to change a child's appearance. Even if the clothes and shoes are being changed, they can't get magic marker off the skin.

Mary

 

[AJKMOM]

As an aside, I will never understand why people give disapproving looks to families who use some type of hand-holder or child restraint. If you are one of those---STOP IT! You have no idea what someone else's child is capable of while in a huge theme park. The child could be a runner who could dash away, like my son who has autism. He could, at age 2, run faster than I could walk. He got away twice at theme parks, and those were the longest 10 minutes of my life.

When I see them, I smile and remember the "good old days" with the hand-holder. DS is now 17 and 5'10", so we can find him if he wanders away.

 

[marj70]

As an aside, I will never understand why people give disapproving looks to families who use some type of hand-holder or child restraint. If you are one of those---STOP IT! You have no idea what someone else's child is capable of while in a huge theme park. The child could be a runner who could dash away, like my son who has autism. He could, at age 2, run faster than I could walk. He got away twice at theme parks, and those were the longest 10 minutes of my life.

When I see them, I smile and remember the "good old days" with the hand-holder. DS is now 17 and 5'10", so we can find him if he wanders away.

Thank you for saying this. My son with autism just turned 4 and is definitely the "runner" type. Anyone who disapproves of a harness can try keeping up with him for awhile! My son also calms down and feels safer when he has some sort of restraint (he calls it a seatbelt because he loves cars). Often just at home he'll ask to wear his "seatbelt". We plan to use a rental stroller, a harness/leash and any other means necessary to keep him with us.

I love the idea of writing directly on their skin. My son won't tolerate any kind of sticker, pin, bracelet, etc. Thanks for that tip!

 

[declansdad]

On our two trips we did a couple of different things.

Before we left I created a Disney id card with our DS's picture, resort name, parents name and cell number. We purchased a lanyard/id wallet that he wore at all times.

At the start of each day I took his picture with our digital camera so we always had a shot of what he was wearing that day and it gave us something to show the CM's if needed. It also allowed me to see where each day started in the many pictures that I took.

 

[The Sweetness]

As far away as this occaision is for me, here's the 2 ways that I may do things.

#1~ A *harness buddy* they sell these at Walmart, and it is a little teddy bear (or doggie etc) backpack, with a lead (I hate the word leash) attached for us to hold. If Ariel is a particularly active little angel, and doesnt like to sit and ride in her stroller unless shes tired, thats the way I'll go.

#2~ If shes a more calm, less impulsive (or more clingy) little munchkin, I can just put a sticker (hello my name is...) on the back of her shirt. I can put her name, as well as mine and DH with our cell#'s on it. I imagine anyone finding her lost, would immediately call. Im sure if the kind of sicko's who preyed on lost kids made a habbit of trolling WDW, these kind of incidents would be public knowlege. Or maybe I'm just stupid (hopefully not)

 

[bleeps]

This sounds like such a minor point, but it made a HUGE difference for our son!

Do not give your child the instruction to, "stay where I can see you" -- and, this is what most parents do say.

Instead, say, "stay where you can see me!"

This way, the child doesn't have to wonder (or hope, or assume) that you see him or her!

Of course, you still are the one responsible for keeping your eyes on your child, but this distinction in instruction to your child can make all the difference!

 

[Frantasmic]

We put a small pocket planner (I made one up in the manner of the pocket guides available at other sites) with our cell phone numbers and hotel information and emergency contact info in their fanny packs. We showed our 5 year old what the CMs looked like, their badges, etc. and told him to give his little pocket planner to a CM if he got lost and ask them to call his parents.

 

[ironz]

This company makes products for athletes...but could maybe be something to consider (like the shoe tags?). www.roadid.com

Great service, and quick!!