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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To stick an address label onto DS's back

48 replies

CruCru · 10/06/2014 10:31

When we go to the zoo or a museum, I stick an address label with DS's name and my mobile number onto his back. He is 2 years 9 months and a bolter (and a sprinter). I also have an 8 month old DD so can't always catch up with him in an instant.

It's getting some funny looks (off people with children who don't run off) but it makes me feel more comfortable taking him out.

Obviously I do keep hold off him when we are by a road but I like to let him walk by himself if we are somewhere more enclosed.

OP posts:

OwlCapone · 10/06/2014 11:55

Bright T shirt plus a fabric pen.

DeWee · 10/06/2014 12:38

Loads of people do that, in various different ways.

Legoland used to have stickers for that, though now do wrist bands-which are much better as the worst place for losing was the water area where they'd taken their clothes-and hence the stickers off. I'd assume other places do them too.

I had laminated luggage labels that went on dd1 and dd2 when we went anywhere. It also meant that they got coo-ed over by any old people who thought they were dressed up as evacuees. Indeed dd2 for a time used to add an imitation gas mask box to add to it. She knows how to make the most of any situation.

DontGrumbleGiveAWhistle · 10/06/2014 14:03

Igggi we actually have those ones. They work really well except that DC3 (2+9) doesn't like it and can pull it off. I often write his dad's mobile on both arms. I'm going to order a few of the ones that dagmarsablob suggest also so that I can put them on belt loops, zips, pockets, wrists, ankles...

DC1 (6) and DC2 (5) know their father's mobile number off by heart and have done for the past 2 years. If they got lost if I ever lost them they'd be able to tell someone their name and their father's number.

Agree with the other posters who wouldn't want their child's name on show.

lljkk · 10/06/2014 16:28

In Disneyland last month I noticed most small children had mobile phone numbers written on their arms with big marker pen.

So I whipped my biro out for DS-6yo.

yanbu...

emms1981 · 10/06/2014 17:06

thats a really good idea, my 5 year old is a nightmare if we go shopping, his favorite game is to give me kittens by hiding and not coming out when I call him, I had some poor shop assistance looking for him in the loos of M&S once

elfycat · 10/06/2014 17:17

I leave a note inside coat pockets and write my mobile number on their arms. A lady working at the customer services desk at Colchester Zoo said that one lady had written her number on the back of the child's neck. He presented as lost and pointed to his neck. The mother said that he would try to wash numbers off of his arms and he was a bit of a bolter I have one of those

memememum · 10/06/2014 17:24

YANBU. Thanks for a great idea. My 2.5 y old is getting quicker by the day and when visiting somewhere a bit unusual to us all it always comes as a bit of a surprise when he is suddenly 'not there'!

meditrina · 10/06/2014 17:40

I used to write my mobile number on their forearms (and taught them to rattle it off from an early age as well).

meditrina · 10/06/2014 17:45

Oh, and if it was a place like a zoo or a museum, I'd make a point of showing them on arrival what uniform the staff wore and remind them that if they were lost they should find someone wearing that and ask them to use the tannoy or ring Mummie ('where's the number written?') I did this every trip, so there was a chance they would remember.

Fallback was to find another mummy with small children as she's know what to do.

I find I still do this (engrained habit!) The youngest DC is 10 and I get a lot of eye-rolling these days! Not least as the teens have their own mobiles and the 10yr old is sometimes equipped with the family spare on outings.

KittyandTeal · 10/06/2014 17:49

Nope, great idea.

My friend with a non verbal autistic son pits him in a special tshirt she's printed explaining he in non verbal and her mobile number in case he gets lost. Some people have commented it's mean but he doesn't care and she knows that he'll be safe if he gets lost

Sixgeese · 10/06/2014 17:57

I am another who writes my contact details on my DC's arms on crowded days out. Then we just wash it off when they get home. It is something that can't get lost but they can show it to a grown up if they lose me (they haven't needed it yet)

PipkinsPal · 10/06/2014 19:08

A luggage label . When he is a lot older he could still have one. When he goes out and gets plastered and can't remember or say where he lives he can just show the tag to a cabbie

Mrsfrumble · 10/06/2014 19:21

That is a brilliant idea! I can't believe I've never thought of it! DS has been a BOLTER since he could first walk. He's 3.5 now, and still meanders off if he gets the chance. We lost 19 MO DD at a crowded zoo a few weeks ago. It was only for about 2 minutes but I swear my heart stopped beating! She can't really talk yet so wouldn't have able to tell anyone who she was with and where to find us. DH found her standing hopefully next to a snack machine

Anyway, I'll be scrawling on their little arms with a Sharpie from now on.

BakeOLiteGirl · 10/06/2014 19:24

I have a T shirt for my son I had printed when he was five. It has Mum and my mobile number printed on the back. Has been really useful.

Rivercam · 10/06/2014 19:25

We always used to out dh's business card in dcs pockets. I would never put a name on display.

YourDaughterHasaTattoo · 10/06/2014 19:41

You can buy "tottoos" with your details on. They are temporary tattoos, mine say "if list please call *".
Very handy and they're good if you're away for a few days

YourDaughterHasaTattoo · 10/06/2014 19:42

Lost*

LiegeAndLief · 10/06/2014 19:44

We have wristbands which I still use on ds who is nearly 8 when we go some where busy like a theme park. Not because I think he is likely to run off (he really isn't), but it is possible that we might become separated and he doesn't have his own mobile or know my number by heart. So seems sensible.

I think anything along these lines is a great idea. I wouldn't personally put a name on though.

redexpat · 10/06/2014 19:47

All these sound sensible to me. Would you consider reins?

Original poster

CruCru · 10/06/2014 19:56

I'm not opposed to reins and have used them when we are by a road. However, if we are somewhere where he really can't get to a road then I'd prefer not to use them so that he feels as though he has more freedom.

OP posts:

karatekimmi · 10/06/2014 19:57

We use reins and have laminated name and number labels which we pin to our 2 year old!! In a large crowd he can bolt off very quickly and lumbering after him isn't always easy!! I always put his name on the tag, but he doesn't really know it (he refers to himself as boy!!) I like some of these ideas!

EllenJanesthickerknickers · 10/06/2014 20:01

I did lose DS3 at Legoland when he was just 3. He was found by a family in the men's toilets calling, 'Wipe my bum!'

Luckily he had one of those stickers on his back with my mobile no on and we were reunited. Not before I'd reported him to security. Scary day.

happygirl87 · 11/06/2014 15:21

We have used the wristbands since DSD was 4- she's now 9 and suddenly so grown up! Last time she came to stay we got to the Tube and realised we didn't have it with us, so DP gave her one of his business cards with his mob number on, which she solemnly tucked into her handbag had a sudden mental flash forward to her asking to borrow the car keys.........

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