Safety in the Parks

[mickey2minnie1]

Hi! Everyone knows that one of a parents' biggest fears is to get seperated form your child. I found a local website that makes what they call tottoos. They place your cell info on a medical adhesive with FDA approved ink and then you tattoo it on to your child. It was on our major news channel here so that made me feel better ordering. Mine should be coming this week for our trip.

Leave it to a stay at home mom.

Just wanted to pass this along. All three of my children, 10, 7 and 5 will be tottooed.

 

[Aliceacc]

My only concern about things like that is that they may lull parents into a false sense of security.

The only reason a tatoo would help is to identify a child AFTER he or she has been lost and was unable to identify himself or herself. While that scenario is too terrifying to contemplate, the tattoos don't actually help keep your kids safe.

I still think they're a great idea, but am concerned that parents be just a little less vigilant about watching their young kids.

Know what I mean?

 

[hthrbells]

Sounds Great what is the site? I have a 3 year old who tends to dart. Thanks for the Post, one more measure to keep your kid connected is a great thing!!!

 

[mickey2minnie1]

I understand your line of thinking. It would be unfortunate should it be used that way.

However, for most of us who watch our kids like hawks, it only takes a second to turn to one and 25 people to seperate you from another. I see kids looking for their parents everywhere I go. For me, I just feel that it would increase my chances of being reunited more quickly.

You are talking to a mom who put a leash on each one of her kids 3 years ago when I took them to DL for the day. I am just paraanoid and want that extra info because my little ones do not have my cell phones memorized, not would I expect them to remember when upset.

www.tottoos.org is the website.

 

[Aliceacc]

That makes complete sense, and is pretty much what I figured you had in mind.

 

[mommyoeo]

My mother lost my DD7 while I took my DS to the barber shop. It was the WORST thing!! She found a mom with other kids and told her what happened and she helped my DD find the barber shop where she knew I would be.

We watch Safe Side Super Chick frequently-- it's produced by John Walsh (America's Most Wanted) and the Baby Einstein lady. My DD did exactly what she learned-- women with children are the least likely to harm a child and most likely to help them. I HIGHLY recommend this movie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We also use a sharpie to label the kids (in several places). They think it's really cool that mom writes on them because we usually don't allow that. I usually draw a simple flower or heart and they suddenly think I'm amazing!

 

[ILoveDisney&Cruising]

Those tattoos are a great idea!

I also saw another idea on the boards here a few weeks ago ....... at WalMart & Petsmart they have those machines that make tags ........ someone said they get those made and use them like "charms" on their children's shoes (they even have a Disney one with Pluto on it now) with something like "if lost call" the parents cell # engraved on the tag.

 

[LadyShea]

We just got back and DS wore his tottoos the whole trip. We only needed two, as they really last a long time. The first one was still legible after 5 days, but was looking patchy so we put one on the other arm as well, just in case. We got many, many comments on them from parents thinking they were a great idea...I said "I heard about them on DISBoards!"

 

[bearloch]

This something I do when ever Im taking my daughter into a crowd. She wears a hat with a large but pretty and colorful homemade bows (like from a present) that stands out and I can see her head almost at all times andthen I also put her in bright shoelaces and I wear the same if she doesnt have tie shoes I pin a another bow on her shoes that way I can find her by looking up or down and I wear the same bow on my shoes so she can see me as well!. I also take a picture of her every morning or everytime she changes her outfit that way I know exactly what she has on!



hope this helps ya

 

[tink_lover]

As a mom to three little ones we talk a lot about the John Walsh method of what to do if you get lost also. Talked to the kids before this last trip about finding a mom with kids and asking for help. The only thing we forgot - and didn't realize this until the littlest one walked away while we were heading to Splash Mountain during the busiest week this year - was to also TELL THEM TO STOP WALKING and STAY PUT. He ended up walking quite a way. I still cannot believe my husband found him, but he was with a mom who he asked to help him. What a scary moment that was, not something I would like to repeat.

 

[tjmw2727]

We used the shoe tag - as does my sil now with my preschool neice and newphew. As a pp mentioned wallmart and petsmart have do it yourself machines that make a small "dog tag" on which you can engrave your information. My nephew has a blue star and my neice has a pink heart with my sil's cellphone number. Its obvious enough that a "mom" or CM would know what to do but has no personal information. They are small and cute and the kids like the shoe charms. You can now get Disney designes at some of the new machines.

In additon we always played "What would you do right now" if we got separated, we did it at Mall, park, zoo, local fair etc. They would have to think quick as to what and where they would go. We taught them to stay put esp if in a store and see clerk or a "mom". I also practiced things like if they got on the elevator and I didn't and visa versa. Playing the game mad them think quick so hopefully they wouldn't panic in a real situation.

TJ

 

[crisi]

My only concern about things like that is that they may lull parents into a false sense of security.

The only reason a tatoo would help is to identify a child AFTER he or she has been lost and was unable to identify himself or herself. While that scenario is too terrifying to contemplate, the tattoos don't actually help keep your kids safe.

I still think they're a great idea, but am concerned that parents be just a little less vigilant about watching their young kids.

Know what I mean?

For some of us, we can be vigilant, but with multiple kids, and one that wanders or darts away, we need to know that if they manage to get away from us, we've equipped them with some way to get back to us quickly. The VAST majority of people, coming across a lost child, are going to try and get that child back to its parents quickly - and getting a cell phone number onto the child helps do that. I admire parents who can be 100% vigilant, and I admire kids who don't dart and disappear in the crowd in moments. I've been distracted by my younger child twice for long enough for my older one to get away. All it takes is the 30 seconds you are paying for a Mickey Bar for a toddler to disappear into the crowd.

We used a Sharpie - since we have Sharpies at home it is free and we don't have to make any special arrangements. We had tags once, but lost them - and decided Sharpies were a better deal for our family. Now they are old enough to know Mommy and Daddy's cell numbers - and not to dart off in the first place.

 

[jcc0621]

We got one of those silicone bracelets from a website (google silicone bracelets and a ton of them will come up) for DS. They imprinted "I am lost, please call and had mine and DH's cell phone numbers on it. Fortunately we never needed it, but DS (4) knew that if we got seperated to look for a CM and show them the bracelet

 

[GEM]

We've used this on every trip to Disney (and other places like fairs, the zoo, etc.) and it works great. My son never complains about wearing it.

I certainly keep a tight watch on him, make him hold my hand in a crowd, etc. - but, still it only takes a blink of an eye for a little one to slip away.

He knows our names but not our cell number. Even if he did, I wouldn't trust him to remember it if he was panicked and I'm afraid someone might have trouble understanding him if he was crying, etc. This makes me feel better.

http://www.id-inside.com/

 

[meandtheguys2]

We used a sharpie when the kiddos were little. It was free, and easily available.

 

[HeatherSue]

We watch Safe Side Super Chick frequently-- it's produced by John Walsh (America's Most Wanted) and the Baby Einstein lady. My DD did exactly what she learned-- women with children are the least likely to harm a child and most likely to help them. I HIGHLY recommend this movie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We also use a sharpie to label the kids (in several places). They think it's really cool that mom writes on them because we usually don't allow that. I usually draw a simple flower or heart and they suddenly think I'm amazing!

DD4 loves the Safe Side Super Chick! That Safe Side video is a really great learning tool for kids! I highly recommend it. I also like the Sharpie idea!

 

[disneydad424]

Just wanted to chime in about Tottoos. I love them and swear by them! As a single Dad of 4, I found that these worked great, and my kids all love them. I've looked into and tried other items like tags and labels, but I just didn't like the fact that someone would have to get too close to my kids and even having to touch their clothes in order to see the info. (BTW, the print on those walmart tags are VERY small). Anyway, I've used the Tottoos for the last 3 trips, and they hold up great even at the water park.

Thanks!

 

[tjmw2727]

Just wanted to chime in about Tottoos. I love them and swear by them! As a single Dad of 4, I found that these worked great, and my kids all love them. I've looked into and tried other items like tags and labels, but I just didn't like the fact that someone would have to get too close to my kids and even having to touch their clothes in order to see the info. (BTW, the print on those walmart tags are VERY small). Anyway, I've used the Tottoos for the last 3 trips, and they hold up great even at the water park.

Thanks!

Bold is mine - the fact that the print is tiny is exactly why we like them

The shoe tag is obvious to anyone looking for info (CM, Store clerk etc) but the information is small enough to be discreet. In addition , they are laced onto the shoe, no reason I don't want someone trying to help my kids, neice or nephew to get close enough to their feet to help them. For the water park they attach to the water shoes wichch can be worn on all the attractions the kids are tall enough to enjoy.

TJ