Writing cell # on your child?

[Disneyadore]

I read on another board that a few people have used a Sharpie marker and written their cell phone numbers on their childrens arms.

I can see the peace of mind in doing this. Its not a half bad idea, really.

Where do you write it?
If you put it right on their arm that would be in all the pics, wouldnt it? (I know finding my lost child is more important than a 'clean' pic)....
Im thinking it would be better written on the insdie of their hands, maybe?

I dont know....what are your tips for doing this?

Also, are there any other wonderful ideas you have to try to help if your child gets seperated from you?

We always used this method. The only way the information was safe and couldn't get lost.
We used the inner arm and after many years they grew up healthy and safe.

 

[newdrama12]

A low-cost option is to attach masking tape to the inside hem of your child's shirt and use a Sharpie to write your contact information.

This idea I wouldn't recommend. CMs are not going to want to look at the inside hem of a child's shirt. I would recommend the dog/pet tags or a wristband of some sort.

 

[minniesmama]

I just received my order of Safety Tats. They are super cute, my daughters love them, and they get the message across. I got these because I can put them on the outside of the lower arm (below the elbow) where they'll be visible to someone trying to help my lost child, but not in the girls' line of sight so they won't pick at them. My youngest is 17 months and would not know to take her shoe off, or lift up her shirt or anything. The tattoo needs to be visible to be useful for her.
No names on them, they just say "If LOST please call (xxx)ccc-bbbb"

 

[Leajess99]

oh for goodness sake!!!

First if you are this worried that must mean you never say your child's name out in public? cause that is the same thing as putting their name on something.

Second every child should know to never go anywhere with someone they don't know so this would not happen.


As far as the sharpie not being good for you, it probably isn't exactly but it has to be in large amounts or half the high school kids in this country would be dropping over cause they all write stuff on them selves with sharpie.

It is highly recommended by most police departments to not put your child's name on items that are visible. It is not just a "paranoid" mom (sorry PP not trying to call you paranoid). It is a lot different calling your child's name in public than someone seeing the name on the backpack or whatever. Kids also do not always think that "wait I have my name on my backpack" when someone says their mom sent them for the child. This is also why law enforcement encourages that a family has a code word incase someone does have to pick the child up due to an emergency.

 

[Leajess99]

Totally agree. And what is it with kids and Sharpies? I once asked a friend if she had a sharpie on her, and her daughter pulled out from her bag this ginormous ring with sharpies of every conceivable color on it.

Sharpies are so much better for art work. I have several friends who choose sharpies over all other markers.

 

[iheartdisney]

we went to Micheals and got the letter/ number beads and made the kids all bracelets that say "CALL XXX XXX XXXX. In beads. Could also work for a neckalce or anklet. I got the idea from the Family Fun magazine.

 

[SLK1]

we went to Micheals and got the letter/ number beads and made the kids all bracelets that say "CALL XXX XXX XXXX. In beads. Could also work for a neckalce or anklet. I got the idea from the Family Fun magazine.

What a GREAT idea! I need to renew my Family Fun subscription!

 

[Michelle and crew]

We always used this method. The only way the information was safe and couldn't get lost.
We used the inner arm and after many years they grew up healthy and safe.

Ditto. Cheap, easy, etc. No reason not to, imo.

 

[jimmysmom74]

use safetytats, they are great! It's just a cell phone and not the child's name. CMs look for these if they find a child. It's worth the peace of mind.

 

[MaumeeMom]

you can buy tatoos, not permanent ones, to put under your child's arm with your phone number on it. we did this. I don't think the chemicals in a sharpie would be good for anyone's system.

http://www.safetytat.com/

There are chemicals in the safety tats also, they are made of "elastomers" with acrylic, so I think if a child has any sensitivities to chemicals a better option would be something to wear like the bracelets described by other posters.

I have written my cell number on the inside of our son's wrist and he was none the worse for wear. It isn't like I was bathing him in the stuff it was only for a few hours.

Another thing that I have done is to make little laminated cards that say, "I'm lost, please call XXX-XXX-XXXX" I make them about half the size of a business card and then either put one in the child's pocket or shoe and the kid knows to show it to a worker if he is separated from us. If the kid isn't old enough to remember to give it to a cast member this wouldn't work very well so the other methods would be preferred.

I also use these "I'm Lost" cards in my purse, camera bag, the kid's autograph book, basically in anything that could get misplaced, I even make the first picture on any camera disk a picture of this card. This way, if someone finds my camera, they can contact me or lost and found can verify that it is my property.

Good luck, OP!

 

[Minniemouse07]

Over and above the toxicity factor of the Sharpie Markers... we are a do as we do household (as opposed to do as we say) so I don't want to write on my kids limbs w/ markers then turn around and tell them that they can't do the same.

We opted for silicone bracelets w/ our cell numbers on them. They are reusable and work great on wrists or ankles.

The shoe ids don't work for us when the kids wear sandals or Crocs, and I'm not all that excited about the tattoos.

I am also concerned about my kids wearing a neckchain w/ a tag or info as they are getting off/on rides and can be caught on something.

So... the bracelets work best for us!

 

[kathyell]

I bought wide rubber bracelets (like the LiveStrong wristbands, not the thin Silly Bandz type) and wrote both of our mobile numbers on the back. I bought a bunch of colors because my daughter can be very choosy on that front depending on her whims that day and I would like her to happy to wear one each day.

We put it around her ankle instead of around her wrist. Harder for it to come off (or for her to take it off and play with it.) We also spent a bunch of time quizzing her about what she should do if she were to find herself separated from us (and she wore a bracelet around her ankle during outings we took in the weeks leading up to our last trip so we could "practice") and every time I ask her what she would do if we were separated, she remembers about showing the phone numbers on her little anklet and about finding an adult who is either wearing a security uniform, a CM wearing a Disney badge if we're at WDW, or a mom who has kids with her and asking for help.

 

[Kat77]

I wrote on my child with a sharpie. I never considered the chemical aspect . My oldest son is at the age where his arm is drawn on by girls who like him... now I know it's the chemical exposure and not teen hormones making him crazy I'll put a halt on that
Seriously, I do understand how Sharpies freak some parents out. I'm glad it was mentioned, it is a valid concern.

To answer the OP, I used an orange sharpie on the inside of my sons arm, just below the elbow crook. It did not show up in our photos. My son has a high functioning form of autism when he gets stressed, he may shut down and quit talking. We went over finding a CM and pointing at the number on his arm. He was separated from us at the Haunted Mansion in August and the CM said he knew immediately what my kid was pointing at and got his supervisor on the radio. We were in the next group.

 

[MyDizneyBoyz]

CM's won't go looking inside clothes for ID so it has to be easily visible.

We use the silicone bracelets with our cell phone - they say "IF LOST CALL xxx-xxx-xxxx". Our two oldest wear them as bracelets and our 3 year old wears it on his ankle. Easy peasy. We got them from:

http://www.shanrene.com/page/001/CTGY/custom-wristbands

 

[ilovepete]

CM's won't go looking inside clothes for ID so it has to be easily visible.

We use the silicone bracelets with our cell phone - they say "IF LOST CALL xxx-xxx-xxxx". Our two oldest wear them as bracelets and our 3 year old wears it on his ankle. Easy peasy. We got them from:

http://www.shanrene.com/page/001/CTGY/custom-wristbands

We have something similar but I just ordered these for a back up. Thanks for the link!

 

[ILoveMyGirls]

my girls also have their own cell phones with our cell phone numbers on speed dial.

 

[Minniemouse07]

CM's won't go looking inside clothes for ID so it has to be easily visible.

We use the silicone bracelets with our cell phone - they say "IF LOST CALL xxx-xxx-xxxx". Our two oldest wear them as bracelets and our 3 year old wears it on his ankle. Easy peasy. We got them from:

http://www.shanrene.com/page/001/CTGY/custom-wristbands

That is where we ordered ours as well... not expensive and quick delivery!