Totally paranoid - ID bracelet or harness for 2 yr old?

[OurLittleLove]

DH, myself, and 2 yo DS will be in WDW in just a few weeks. DH and I have been many, many times but this is our first time bringing DS. We are super excited but as our trip quickly approaches I'm also suddenly becoming very paranoid.

I don't know if I'm reading too many posts or what- but I'm worried about safety and the possibility of ever getting separated from DS. Obviously I know we'll only be there with one child and we should both have our eyes on him...I'm just absolutely terrified of something the possibility of something happening. I know how crowded the parks can get and I'm getting worried.

I'm wondering if I should consider have an ID bracelet made for DS or purchase one of those walking harnesses. We've never used a harness before and I'm not sure how well DS would take to one. DS talks but not in full sentences or very clearly and he certainly wouldn't be able to say his full name.

What do all you first time WDW families do?? Is it normal that I'm suddenly having a panic moment?

I should preface by saying that DH and I have been through the horrific tragedy of losing our first born baby, our daughter. I know this has heightened my anxiety and protectiveness over our DS and I'm always on edge or worried about him.

I'm not sure what I'm looking for here - suggestions? Reassurance that we can do this? Appreciate any help or advice.

 

[OurLittleLove]

And I'd like to offer my apologies for such a long-winded post.

 

[HopperFan]

First, deep breath! My kids are grown now but I went many many times with one, two and three kids. One who is handicapped and wanders and one who was my escape artist the minute she was walking. I never lost one at WDW.

I'm not a harness fan. When they were toddlers they had a choice - you walk with me holding my hand or you will ride in the stroller. I even had a belt aside from the stroller belt I put on with the buckle behind the seat so they couldn't unlock it. Even when DD decided to walk with the stroller strapped to her back .. at least she couldn't go fast.

ID, big deal, especially for DS who could not speak. Go to the pet store or walmart where they have the engravable ID tags. Pick a small one and put on it their name, your name, phone numbers. I kept sneaker type shoes on them at the parks so their toes weren't exposed anyway so I would put the tag on their shoe with the laces through it. Can't lose it. They thought it was fun and it was very noticeable to anyone trying to help. Also putting bright shirts on them, neon green, yellow, bright blue ... always helped spot them quickly.

If at any point we were splitting up like in a shop, bathroom etc. we always did the double check with each other who had who. You will be fine, it's a place you are so enjoying through their eyes that you will hardly take your eyes off of them. Have a great trip!!!

 

[mommy123]

So sorry about the loss of your child. I think everything will be just fine on your vacation. We tried a harness with my oldest when he was two. Not really workable and I wouldn't recommend it. I definitely would get an ID bracelet if nothing else but to ease your fears. We did that when my three were younger. To put your mind at ease, I think even in the unlikely event that your child gets separated from you, I have found that good hearted people are always the first to offer help. When we were at a different theme park this summer, my five year old threw a fit and ran off And sat on the ground. I could easily see her ( and she me) as I was only 20 feet away. However, when approached, she screamed and refused to get up. So when she ran again a few more feet away, I stayed where I was and just watched her, waiting. Within one minute, two different people ( moms) came up to her asking if she was lost. I thanked them each time profusely for asking ( after explaining that I was with her) because it really felt nice that some people really try to help. I am still paranoid, and don't let them out of my sight at such places, but it felt good to see this. Have a wonderful trip!

 

[kuhltiffany]

Safety Tats

 

[fasa77]

We were there last October with my then 2 y.o. I felt very comfortable with her wearing the magic band wih the knowledge that I am sure that Disney could scan it and figure out all of out reservation information and who she belonged to! (I bet that if they don't have it yet, that in the future they would even be able to tell where in the park the parents are by the magic bands also.)

 

[alliecat523]

Agree with everything posted here. Keep in mind that the CM's are great with lost children. My daughter go separated from me in a restaurant and freaked out. She found a CM who reunited her with me within 5 minutes.

 

[robndani]

We started taking our twins at 18 months. Harnesses did not work. I felt like we were getting tangled and it's too crowded. We got ID bracelets but that was before magic bands. You could just write your phone number right on the magic band.

I always tell my kids to look for a mom with kids if they get lost. Granted you could probably just ask anyone in Disney and they would be helpful. It's just a good life lesson to teach him.

You will be fine. Just add a little something so your stroller is easily identifiable. Possibly coordinate shirt colors so that you all match every day. I still put my 5 year old son in bright colors at the parks.

Take your time. That's a big one. Kids are always getting lost when parents ane rushing around, looking at the map, getting a snack, taking a drink, taking a picture.... All at the same time...LOL

Our rule was always hold hands when out of the stroller. No exceptions.

You will have a great time! Enjoy!

 

[loves to dive]

My son is grown now but I've been taking him since he was 3, I'm a single mom so there was no one else to do bathroom duty or hand off to. I'm very against the leashes and I'm not even sure the had been invented yet when he was young. He was old enough to be out of a stroller by then and hated them but I would rent one and put him in it when he got too tired to walk. Otherwise the rule was, you aren't in the stroller you are either holding my hand or some part of my body/clothes. If we were in a CS restaurant and I needed two hands, he had to hold onto my shirt and I had to be able to feel that little hand, usually he had to be in front of me in lines. I did let him run in front of me a few steps if the parks weren't crowded but he knew not to go too far. If it makes you more comfortable some sort of ID on him would be fine but like others have said, relax, keep in him sight and you will be fine.

 

[Kellina]

I ordered ID silicone bracelets from Road ID- my boys don't mind them! My BFF gets ID tattoos for her kids. You could also just write your phone # on the magic band if DS will wear it. I haven't used a harness with mine, but I would think it would get very annoying. I think stroller or holding a hand is an excellent rule!

 

[mom25kiddos]

so very sorry for your loss we have five kids and so are always outnumbered at DW-like heavily. And our three little ones are little (2,3,5 now), so we are always wrangling someone. We have used the harness thing with some success with our runner. But more the stroller. We (touch wood) have yet to really lose a kid in DW. I think I am far more likely to lose them in the mall or grocery store. That being said, the fact that you are concerned means you are probably pretty on top of things. The only place I actually get stressed is in fantasyland where there is the water feature and the kids splash in the water-just because there is no controlled entrance/exit. Honestly, only place I even worry about keeping tabs, and we always manage. So don't stress too much and enjoy.

 

[dotfurio]

We've used both. I get id bracelets from TigTagz, but you could get plain ones and just write your info on it. When the girls were walking but still little, like 2-3, we also sometimes used a harness. Both of them were runners, and when it's really crowded they can get through a sea of legs while I'm stuck fighting my way through the bodies to keep up. We didn't keep the harness on all the time, only if we ran into a heavily crowded area where I knew if they got away I'd have a hard time catching them.

FWIW, I've heard Disney is excellent about keeping an eye out for kids separated from their families.

 

[Thing 1]

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[Thing 1]

I say do whatever you need to do to feel safe. We have just written our cell phone # on DS shoe when he was little. He knew to show the CM his shoe if she could not see us. Even at two, show him a CM and tell him they are his friend and can help him if he can not see mommy. Im not a lease fan but if it makes you feel better, go for it. Just be sure to practice and keep the lease very short to prevent him pulling on it or tripping someone with it. I have seen some kids take and cause some nasty falls on a lease. What we did when DS was little was to be very sure who had their eyes on him every minute. We verbally traded off by saying, "Im taking my eyes off him, your eyes are on him". Sounds crazy but we were three adults and one little guy and it helped us be sure that one person never took their eyes off him. I would also put him in the stroller or carry him during crowded times, especially when leaving the park. Dressing him in very bright colors can help too. Take a picture of him each morning just in case you would get separated. Hugs and Prayers for a special trip.

 

[Capang]

If you are staying onsite use a magic band. I'm not sure I'd a two year old would get one. I have recently heard stories from friends and my TA about lost kids being tracked by the magic bands.

 

[mjkacmom]

We have 5 kids very close in age, but only used them for our twins in crowded places when they were toddlers, because ds was a runner, and it was hard keeping track of all if them. None of the others were runners, so we didn't need them. No child has ever goner missing permanently at WDW.

 

[mjkacmom]

My son is grown now but I've been taking him since he was 3, I'm a single mom so there was no one else to do bathroom duty or hand off to. I'm very against the leashes and I'm not even sure the had been invented yet when he was young. He was old enough to be out of a stroller by then and hated them but I would rent one and put him in it when he got too tired to walk. Otherwise the rule was, you aren't in the stroller you are either holding my hand or some part of my body/clothes. If we were in a CS restaurant and I needed two hands, he had to hold onto my shirt and I had to be able to feel that little hand, usually he had to be in front of me in lines. I did let him run in front of me a few steps if the parks weren't crowded but he knew not to go too far. If it makes you more comfortable some sort of ID on him would be fine but like others have said, relax, keep in him sight and you will be fine.

Why in the world would you be against leashes? Having an only child, I can see why you had no use for one, but are you against them for everyone? BTW, they've been around for decades.

http://i.ytimg.com/vi/KyoDwOa5neQ/maxresdefault.jpg

 

[loves to dive]

Why in the world would you be against leashes? Having an only child, I can see why you had no use for one, but are you against them for everyone? BTW, they've been around for decades.

http://i.ytimg.com/vi/KyoDwOa5neQ/maxresdefault.jpg

It's just a personal thing for me, every parent has to make their own decisions as to how to handle their own kids.

 

[kboo]

I am so sorry for your loss. I agree with the PPs that said to do what makes you feel comfortable, whether it is a temporary tat or ID bracelet. They do give out magic bands to under-3s if you are staying on site, and you can personalize it with anything you want. We put my DD's name on it and would have put our phone # on it, but she's not a runner and she spent a fair bit of time in the stroller. Also, unless your child IS a runner and has no fear, he will probably want to hold your hand while he's walking, just for comfort and security. We also have never used a harness.

FWIW, you know your DS and his personality. It is pretty hard to get separated if you are both watching him. WDW is a pretty stimulating place, and even my DD (now 4) who is pretty independent having grown up in NYC always stays close to us. One exception was one time when she was with DH and almost 3, she had a meltdown and started running away while it was dark and people were congregating for fireworks. DH caught up to her quickly (I had gone to ride space mountain) and had strapped her into the stroller. She did not get far, believe me, and I think she was testing him. I know this doesn't sound reassuring, but he had the situation under control the whole time and never lost sight of her. Otherwise, though, we've always walked hand in hand, which she loves anyway. And since you're 2 on 1, even at a CS place, one of you can stay with DS while the other one gets the food. It will be ok and I am sure you will enjoy yourselves.

 

[raetrosclair]

We will be in the parks in Dec, and our son will be 21 months at the time of the trip. He is a runner and will not hold hands. It just doesn't work for us. So we bought a harness a couple of months ago and let him wear it around the house some. He didn't mind it at all, so we tried it about 2 weeks ago at our local aquarium, which was very crowded. For us, it worked great. I still had to keep up with him, but it gave me an immense peace of mind to know that he couldn't get too far away from me. It allowed him to explore what he wanted to explore without trying to wrangle him, carry him (which he hates) or keep him strapped in the stroller (which he also hates). He loved it and had a great time, and I was able to relax and enjoy his experience. We will be bringing it to Disney, and will use it if it seems like a good fit.

I think the issue of the harness is so subjective - try it, and if it works for y'all, great. If not, try something else.

We also have a silicone ID bracelet we bought when we traveled when he was just over a year. Again, I suggest allowing him to wear it at home to get used to it, that way it isn't something new. Your son will be too young to have a magic band, unless you specifically buy one, but they are very large and bulky compared to the personalized silicone bracelets you can buy.