Losing kids in a crowd About This Page:

[Minniemouse27]

Originally Posted by sheryll1974

My DS will be a little over 2 years old when we go. I am bringing his stroller, but I am sure he will want to walk around too. I am thinking about the harness.....good idea?
Also, he is too young for a bracelt or necklace, I think he will take them off.....can someone tell me where to get those labels for the clothes again?

We used the monkey backpack w/ ds (2yo) in December and it was WONDERFUL...I highly recommend it!

As far as tagging him w/ info. I picked up the laser engraved silicone bracelets from here. They were super cheap (less than $12 for four of them including shipping!) and worked great for both ds and dd (6.5yo). I put "If Lost Call Mom (cell) ###" and If Lost Call Dad (cell) ###." Dd wore hers on her wrist and ds wore his on his ANKLE!

To be honest, I thought about the labels but ds would have hated it. He wasn't overly thrilled w/ the bracelet on his ankle when we put it on each morning, but quickly forgot about it and didn't even notice it for the rest of the day. I also wasn't interested in the shoe options because dd wore her crocs through most of our trip and they won't work w/ crocs!

I love the bracelets, we just used them last weekend for a trip to the science museum!

With older kids I would also recommend playing "find the cast member." We played this w/ dd a few times every day!

[nutterbutter]

I haven't read all the posts on this yet, but read a few comments about cell phones for kids. We bought a Firefly phone for my ds to take when he goes to see his dad (not a great situation). It makes him feel closer to me while he is gone and He LOVES it. It is prepaid (actually a Cingular company) and there are only five buttons on it. A button w/ a girl (for mommy, nana, sis and so on) and a botton w/ a boy (for daddy, step-dad papaw, brother, etc), there are three other buttons that allow the parent to program the numbers in a select ringtone and fun stuff like that. There is also an emergency button that you can program w/ a number. We will be using this when we go in Sept for him to keep in his pocket (it is TINY). Just a thought, you can check them out at Firefly Mobile: The Mobile Phone for Mobile Kids

[sheryll1974]

Thanks for all the ideas.....

[Lori Jakiela]

As far as the harnesses...we use these when we went on a disney cruise on the islands and airport when the children were 2 years old. I still have them but think they are too old for them and would just unzip them and out they'd go! I plan to rent a double stoller to rest their weary legs but still they can wander when out of them. I DO NOT plan to lose my children but I have taken some precautions for our trip next week.

I did find the identification tags (dog tags) on line and they come as doubles at a very reasonable price. Personally though, I wouldn't have cared how much they were, I was getting them for the kids. The first tag has their name and home address and phone number on it, the second one has please call mommy and my cell phone or my daddy and his cell phone. Hers have a purple covering on the sides and back and my son's has blue. They both think they are very cool and can't wait to wear them.

They also know that if they can't find mom, dad, or pap that they should find a mommy with children and show them their tags. Or, find a CM and I will show them how they are dressed each day.

You never anticipate that your child will be lost but I want them to know that it is a possibility and they should not be frightened....we will be frightened for them! I want them to understand that mommy and daddy don't think they will get lost but it is just a safety net since they are too young to remember our phone numbers.

[DoubleWhammy]

When my DD was about 2, both my kids were playing in the squirting fountain at Downtown Disney and DH was off getting drinks. It way May and I was standing uder a tree that was swarming with Love Bugs. I turned literally for 2 seconds to grab the stroller and move to the other side of the fountain and she was gone. I grabbed DS's hand and started to run. A CM saw me in a panic and immediately got on his radio with a description. She was found within about 5 minutes. She was checking out the toys in the Rainforest Cafe gift shop. It was the worst 5 minutes of my life. I still get a knot in my stomach just thinking about it and that was 7 years ago.

The CM's were awesome in getting the word out and the other guests pitched in as well. It looked like a giant game of hide & seek. People looking all over calling "SAAAAAAMMMMY". Thank God she was OK.

[Kristen C.]

We also got "family vacation shirts" everyone has their own design with their name on them and on the back they say "vacation 2008" I figure between the baclets, t-shirts,and tags on the kids lanyards I should be ok.....Do you think I went overboard?

[Linda M]

You all have such great ideas. I am wondering, can I just write the info with a permanent marker on the inside of any silicone bracelet or will it rub/wash off?

[Carousel96]

We did the cell phone number necklace with DD when she was younger (5 or so) -- she also wore it to the State Fair, Mall of America, anywhere we might get separated.
We only use our cell phones in emergencies (outgoing calls), so DD wouldn't know the number on a good day. I'm not worried about her remembering her or my name, or finding a CM. But it would be nice if they could call!
Now that she's older, I like the silicone bracelet idea. You can buy a cheap one at Walmart and write the info inside it with a Sharpie.

[jkpemtp]

I am making a tag for my 6 year old to wear, we had this conversation yesterday. He understands about security, police and disney employees but asked that since he can't remember the cell numbers to make him a tag like he has at school. It is worn around his neck and since he is used to something being there he won't be messing with it. I told someone that I was making a luggage tag for him to wear and they asked if he was riding with the baggage.

[emtpej]

Originally Posted by Linda M

You all have such great ideas. I am wondering, can I just write the info with a permanent marker on the inside of any silicone bracelet or will it rub/wash off?

I think, becasue of the type of material, it would rub off.

[Minniemouse27]

Originally Posted by Linda M

You all have such great ideas. I am wondering, can I just write the info with a permanent marker on the inside of any silicone bracelet or will it rub/wash off?

The ones we used from Sharene are engraved w/ no coloring in the writing at all. I preferred this because no one can see the info unless they are very close to it.

[BigfishSM]

Did the Sharpy test on a silicone bracelet last night...it rubs off. Bummer.

[Kristen C.]

We got the braclets from Sharene also...my kids love them so much they are already wearing them. I love that you can't see the writing uless you are practiclly holding the braclet.

[Pax]

Originally Posted by emtpej

When we go in July, we will have a cell phone for our 8 year old (he has been asking for one since he turned 8), just like his 14 year old brother [...]

They have cell phones now that specifically include a GPS feature that lets parents track and locate their kids; consider looking for that, when getting a phone for your eight year old.

[emtpej]

Originally Posted by Pax

They have cell phones now that specifically include a GPS feature that lets parents track and locate their kids; consider looking for that, when getting a phone for your eight year old.

Thanks, Sean, we are considering the Verizon Chaperone system!