What precautions do you take about your kids getting lost?

[Rainallnight]

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.

When Dd was younger if we went to a festival or similar I’d get a hospital ID bracelet and write my phone number on it and slap it on her arm.

DM used to put DB in reins, and then tie him to me. He was prone to wandering off, I wasn't.

Blimey I’ve never thought of this…!

Yes to my number on her arm and photo on the day. She also knew to shout my name, rather than mum, as that gets used rather a lot by all children on days out, so would stand out more.

I bought a child locater for peace of mind, when I took my dc to busy places, just in case. Luckily, never needed to use it. It's a two piece device, one to put on a child that makes sound, and the other for parent to hold and activate when needed. .

My two youngest have xplora watches. Can locate them in seconds.

Apple tag?

God, nothing really! I'd just tell them to go to a lady with children and say they're lost!

I had this a lot decades ago.

Fluorescent T shirt in crowded areas or beach

Sharpie to write mobile number on arm

Then watch like a hawk and hope for the best.

Eldest was a runner! I once watched him run the full length of the bay of a busy beach in summer. He was like a little torpedo once released from his car seat. I could see him the whole way round the bay in his fluorescent T shirt running along the edge of the sand! Once he'd run out of steam I'd go and get him. He just needed to run (sensory ASC).

Love the idea of the socks! What a good idea 👍🏻

I used to write my number on one of those disposable wrist bands and dress DS in a bright colour t- shirt if we were going somewhere likely to be busy or crowded.
Only ever lost him in WH Smiths though and he cried so loudly when he realised he couldn't find me that I located him straight away!

My little girl is 2, nearly 3. I've been drumming it into her for coming up to a year. What to do if you get lost. We have the conversation a lot. In the supermarket. In town. At the train station. And always at bigger events.

If she gets lost, she should find a mummy with children, or someone in a uniform. (I point out people in uniforms when out and about. So she's familiar with different types).

We have a wrist band with my number on it, for days out.

My mum travelled to Australia many years ago on her own with my brother and I aged 2 and 4. Apparently we had all our flight details on a label attached to the back of our clothing. We didn’t get lost.

I lost my DS when he was 3 in a very crowded fair in my local town. It was the worst 10 mins of my life. I've never felt fear like it. After that I got a little dog tag engraved with my phone number on and he wears it on his wrist on a chain whenever we go somewhere like that.

That’s such a good idea!

At 3 mine was in reins (rucksack style) in places like funfair. Yes to writing my phone number on them too. But mostly I held hands / was crazy vigilant at that age.

I also made sure that they had my phone number and address memorised, and that they knew that child kidnap is a real threat, because for a while DD thought it was funny to run off and hide 🙈

Ps some of my friends use air tag on their kids