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Original poster

What precautions do you take about your kids getting lost?

41 replies

Rainallnight · 10/05/2022 13:10

I took the DC (3 and 5) to a funfair recently. Before we left, I wrote my mobile number on their arms. I told them that, if they got lost, they were to find a lady and tell them that was their mum’s number.

DD would have no problem doing this, DS
is a bit speech delayed (and away with the fairies a lot of the time!) so I’m not so sure about him.

I got to wondering about tags and things that you can pin on them. But am wondering if that’s overkill!

Just interested in what others do.

OP posts:
KindergartenKop · 10/05/2022 13:13

If you found a lost kid with a mobile number on his arm wouldn't you call it? Just write 'mum' after it and hope for the best!

LubaLuca · 10/05/2022 13:14

If we were going somewhere very crowded I used to dress my littlest ones in the same clothes so if one was lost I could point at the other and say exactly what they were wearing.

KindergartenKop · 10/05/2022 13:15

Yes, and take a pic before you go.

Interested in this thread?

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Families
LubaLuca · 10/05/2022 13:16

KindergartenKop · 10/05/2022 13:15

Yes, and take a pic before you go.

This was before I always had a camera in my pocket 😄

Ohmych · 10/05/2022 13:16

If at really busy places I would dress them in colourful clothes so they would stand out in a crowd.

CarParkHell · 10/05/2022 13:16

I used to tell them if they got lost to sit down and wait and I would find them, rather than having them wander off.

or find a mummy with children or someone wearing a uniform.

and yes, sharpie my number up their arm as well!

nearlyspringyay · 10/05/2022 13:16

LubaLuca · 10/05/2022 13:14

If we were going somewhere very crowded I used to dress my littlest ones in the same clothes so if one was lost I could point at the other and say exactly what they were wearing.

I've got identical twins and it was the main reason I dressed them the same when they were small! When one did get lost in a big leisure centre it was very handy to say to the security guard when he asked what she looked like to be able to say 'like this one!).

I also used to write my phone number on their arms and tell them to not move if they realised they were lost. It would be easier
For us to find them if they didn't move.

Original poster
Rainallnight · 10/05/2022 13:17

Oh that’s a good idea @LubaLuca . My two have the same coats so that makes it easier!

@KindergartenKop I guess so! I’m just wondering if something like a lanyard or wrist band would make it more obvious (or if I’m just over thinking it massively!)

OP posts:
HerculesMulligan · 10/05/2022 13:17

If we're going somewhere that has dedicated staff (a zoo, for example), I'll point out the first person in the staff uniform that we see and ideally have a 30 second chat so my child knows exactly who he should approach.

Dontfuckingsaycheese · 10/05/2022 13:21

Yep! Sharpie on arm. The brightest top we had was excellent strategy for when my little Houdini was at a soft play! I’ve found the same strategy works with my mum at a garden centre. Not that I dress her in a poisonous green T-shirt but her bright raspberry woollen coat is such a help!! We both have a habit off just wandering off!

Notthesportytype · 10/05/2022 13:21

Make sure that your child knows to approach either parents with their own families or someone in the uniform of the place. Not just any random stranger. Most people, if they find a lost child, will take it to the reception area but you can never be sure.
The phone number is a good idea.

bassackwards · 10/05/2022 13:23

With my DC I always point out what the official staff at the venue look like (ie if they have a uniform) so she knows to approach any of them for help if needed. Or if that's not an option, I tell her to ask another mum for help (ie a woman with children). And I make sure she knows how to say her full name and my full name if asked by any of these people.

Thanks god we haven't had to put any of this into practice yet...

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 10/05/2022 13:24

Busy place... told them to look for staff.
Quiet places (like the wood)... stay on the path and shout.

And if all else fails... cry. (This worked for me when I got lost when I was 10 in London... my parent had got in the train but I hadn't... pre mobile!)

noborisno · 10/05/2022 13:24

Before you go out take a pic on your phone
Put them in a distinctive top

Soon as they get lost start shouting 'I'M LOOKING FOR A 6 YEAR OLD GIRL WITH A BLUE TOP, RED TROUSERS, SARAH! SARAH!'

on repeat until the child is found in the vicinity - anyone with the child will abandon them if they can't get away.

My child knows her address.
If she got lost she would immediately freak out - I know this because she does if she can't see me when out, say I go around a corner.

I've told her to find a mummy with children or an official and say "I'm lost" and my number is written on her.

She's smart so I trust her and I believe I've done all I can.

Tiredmum100 · 10/05/2022 13:26

When mine were little I use to dress them the same, they were always easier to spot in a crowd, pho e number on a wrist band and yes to seek help from an appropriate person.

Gaspingandleaping · 10/05/2022 13:28

All of the above!

Also got mine little bracelets with my mobile number on.

JustGettingReady · 10/05/2022 13:36

I often worry I about this and have been known to take a photo of DS when heading on a day out, just in case I ever forgot what he's wearing etc.

At organised events I've been to, they put a paper wrist band on him with my mobile number on.

DS is also old enough now for me to have drummed our home address into him.. and I find it a relief once they're older enough to speak (yes that's my mummy, no I don't know this person kind of thing).

The thought of losing a child literally fills me with fear after my mum once lost my younger sibling (for 20mins) many years ago, he was just a toddler and didn't talk yet. I remember how distraught she was and us rushing to find a local policeman (back in the day when there were usually some about in the town centre on busy market days). The whole thing was truly awful, everything runs through your mind!

Keeping my eyes peeled for more advice on here.
Xxx

Natsku · 10/05/2022 13:41

A lot of the amusement park type places I've been too give out stickers for you to fill out with name and phone number to stick on the children, though writing on their arm prevents any issue with the sticker coming off accidentally!

I always told my daughter to find a mum to ask for help. Will do the same with my son when we go travelling this summer and go to busy places.

I remember when I was in primary school my local shopping centre started a lost child safety thing, where shops could apply to join and if they joined they would put a sticker in the shop window indicating it was a safe place for a lost child to go to ask for help.

Notagain76 · 10/05/2022 14:01

My youngest now a teenager has sen and would sometimes bolt, i always put him in bright trainers and or socks so I could bend down and see. He wouldn't tell someone he's lost and the concept of uniforms is lost on him. I once tried to give him a alarm bit like a rape alarm and told him if scared to pull it, he got scared on the ghost train and pulled it but we couldn't find the thing to put in to stop it. Never used that idea again.

Oblomov22 · 10/05/2022 14:05

How often do you lose your children? It is rare. Telling them what to do, approach theme park official is surely enough?

mummyof2boys30 · 10/05/2022 14:06

When younger i always dressed mine the same and in the brightest tops if we where heading anywhere busy. Now they have both got phones tho i still worry when heading to London this summer as we are from a very rural area

spiderlight · 10/05/2022 14:12

Mine used to wear a hi-viz wristband with my number on it, and I dressed him in bright clothes (plus he has bright ginger hair and was always the loudest child in every environment we took him to) so he was easy to spot. I only lost him once, very briefly, when he hid from me in M&S, but it was the worst feeling.

Apparently in Brazil there's a custom where anyone who finds a lost child in a crowded place starts a slow clap, and the people around them join in, to help the parents to locate them.

Lindy2 · 10/05/2022 14:22

I used to put a sticker on their backs with DH's and my mobile numbers on it. They couldn't pull it off with it being on their backs.

Also, if entering somewhere very busy we would agree on a meet point to all gather again if separated. Usually somewhere very visable that the children could easily locate themselves if needed. Yours are probably still a bit young for this approach though.

Regular chats about staying close and the type of safe person to ask for help, are also sensible.

mizzo · 10/05/2022 14:23

When my older ones were little I didn't have a mobile phone. I used to attach a whistle to their coat and told them if they got lost to stay where they were and blow it as loud as they could.

icelollycraving · 10/05/2022 14:25

When Ds was little I’d pop him in v bright clothes, always take a photo of him so I could show what he was wearing. We also have a password.