Worried Mom of 2

[meljellis]

Okay, I am a paranoid mom. I am curious as to what you guys would suggest to keep track of you kids, besides colored shirts. I want to find something to distinguish them from others so that if they do happen to get away from us--God forbid--we will be able to spot them before they are too far. I can't imagine taking my eyes off of them for one second but they ARE 4 and 6. Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Melanie

 

[Zeebs]

You could chain them to you, seriously you could dress them alike and put a hat on them you recognise but there isn't much else apart from relaxing and enjoying you trip.

Kirsten

 

[Pixiedust34]

Our kids wear these

www.idonme.com

in case they get lost. Our cell number is inside the bracelet.

Try not to worry and enjoy your trip. It's unlikely your kids will get lost, but if they do WDW is experienced with quickly uniting kids with their parents.

 

[Aliceacc]

A Plan.

Drill into their heads that if they ever can't see you, they're to yell: "I can't find my mommy." And that the only person allowed to help them is someone wearing a Disney ID. That they are NOT, under ANY circumstances, to leave the park with anyone but you, ever.

Also, think about a stroller or a double stroller.

 

[Hypermommy]

Another thing I do is take a picture of my kids right before we go into the parks. That way, if something does happen, I can show cast members what they look like right now, today, including what they're wearing.

 

[ChicagoMommy2Two]

I love the ID bracelets. I had planned on something along those line, that is great!

 

[jdvm]

We would always point out the location of the lost kids area of each park and explained to our 4 daughters to ask to be taken there if they ever got lost. I will add that only time this was ever an issue was when the girls were old enough to go to the parks without us (or so we thought!)
John

 

[JodyLynC]

My girls are 4 going on 5. Every time we go to a store or such, we ask them "If you were lost right now, where would you go?" I then follow them to the service counter, a cash register, or a mom with kids (if they can't find an employee). When I ask them why they chose the person they did, they usually point out the employee nametag or smock.

I plan on doing this with my girls at WDW. In addition, we are getting an ID tag that can go on a belt loop or shoe. I hadn't planned on having them wear anything that sticks out although that might be a good idea.

My girls are very good about staying close to us. In crowds, they automatically reach for our hands. Additionally, we plan on getting a stroller so they will either be in it or holding on to it when we are in the parks.

All that being said, I imagine that being at WDW is exciting for anyone and that many children who don't normally wander away from their parents may be easily distracted so we plan for the possibility of being separated.

Also, I like the PP that suggested taking a pic of them each morning so you can show a CM what they are wearing.

 

[twoeeyy]

first off I want to say that I am in no means making fun of this serious question.

When it is NOT raining put them in a WDW poncho and when it IS raining take the ponco off.

On our last trip we saw kids that had what I would believe is a cell phone # written on their ankle in sharpie, it will not help them from getting lost but might help in a quicker return if they do get lost.

 

[LMC]

I got my kids engraved tags from a machine at walmart. they were about $6 each and are like similar to military dog tags.

 

[dimimi]

Our kids were a little older than yours, but we wrote our cell phone numbers on a piece of paper...and we have written it on their hands.

My son wasn't staying with us...one time...and got lost...for a moment. He was scared/we could see him. He never left our side again!

We hold hands through crowded areas. We used a stroller and it helped a lot! Some parts of the park are very crowded and it is easy to get separated.

 

[PrincessAtta]

We've put luggage tags with our contact info (cell phone numbers) on their belt loops. They don't get in the way when they're sitting down on rides or running around, but a real comfort to them and us. We've seen the kids holding them like touchstones.

We also don't say to find people with nametags because of he souvenir nametags, but rather tell them to find someone behind a cash register. Look around when you're there, there are very few places you can look around and not see a cash register! That way they know they are, in fact, with a true cm.

Have fun!

 

[mommy_2_two]

Our kids were a little older than yours, but we wrote our cell phone numbers on a piece of paper...and we have written it on their hands.

My son wasn't staying with us...one time...and got lost...for a moment. He was scared/we could see him. He never left our side again!

We hold hands through crowded areas. We used a stroller and it helped a lot! Some parts of the park are very crowded and it is easy to get separated.

I second this!! Being overly prepared with the note with your cell phone on it helps!! The double stroller is worth it's weight in gold as to keeping track of your kids!!

 

[distherapy]

We've put luggage tags with our contact info (cell phone numbers) on their belt loops. They don't get in the way when they're sitting down on rides or running around, but a real comfort to them and us. We've seen the kids holding them like touchstones.

We also don't say to find people with nametags because of he souvenir nametags, but rather tell them to find someone behind a cash register. Look around when you're there, there are very few places you can look around and not see a cash register! That way they know they are, in fact, with a true cm.

Have fun!

Love it! Thanks for those ideas!

 

[amwhitaker]

How about brightly colored baseball hats? Like lime, orange or pink.

 

[meljellis]

Thank you all so much. I am probably going to put SEVERAL of these ideas to use. My little girl has no fear. When she wanders off in Walmart or something like that she doesn't even care that she can't see me. I can always see her but SHE doesn't know that. I hope that size of the crowds helps her to realize how important it is to stay with us.

 

[Matt'nMeg'sMom]

I ALWAYS write my cell phone number on my kids' upper arms with a ball point pen (which won't come off under most sunscreens). Sharpie pens come right off under sunscreen. I don't know why.

My kids are drilled to "find a mommy". If they're lost - they must find another mommy WITH kids and say "I'm lost" and give her their phone number.

I also dress our whole family in matching, very bright t-shirts. It's kind of nauseating to some folks, but I love it and it makes parents AND kids easy to spot.

We don't do strollers (I hate them - wierd personal preference) but they're a great way to keep kids confined and in sight.

I know being in Disney creates a false sense of security, but I DO feel comfortable with the measures we take.

Hope that helps!

 

[MichaelH]

Like others have posted, bright colored shirts or something to spot them quickly is a good idea. The last time we went our kids were DS 6 and DD 3. We have not had any problems. The best thing to do is to teach them if they get seperated to find a CM ASAP and to stay in the area where they last saw you. That would at least give you an idea of where they should be.

Relax and enjoy your vacation. When we get in a crowd, we tell the kids to get in between one of us that way one parent is leading the way and one is following behind and can watch the kids. We usually rent a double stroller and that helps also.

 

[Sibahan]

may seem a little nuts, but i remember seeing a program saying to take a permanant sharpie and write your phone number on the arm or hand of the kid. This will keep them from getting too lost (i would put cell phone) and you can have someone call you if they get away...no names--
I thought of doing this for our trip tomorrow, for our 4 yr old...

 

[PrincessAtta]

The luggage tags we've bought are from luggage stores and are kid cool. Large baseballs, so the kids are really ok with them.

Also, be aware but don't be paranoid. All the staff are extremely well trained. We were in Frontierland a couple years ago and a saw a boy, probably 5, walking in circles getting increasingly agitated. Looked around, didn't see anyone watching him, so I went over and asked if he was separated from his mother. He burst into tears, so I brought him over to the POTC cashier, who immediately got down on the ground and gently asked, "Oh, did your mommy get herself lost?" The little boy relaxed immediately. Very sweet.