CMs - do you use wristbands on outings?

[lollipopmother]

I am trying to tackle the dreaded risk assessments that I've been ignoring for the last 3 months a while and I'm wondering whether anyone uses wristbands for each mindee with CMs contact details? I'm not sure whether this could work with 18m/o's but it could with older children and I've written my details in pen on their hands before .

What do you think - especially for the toddlers, unnecessary?

No I don't use wristbands but am watching to see if praps I should

Yes I do have used those orange plastic ones that NCMA do, but they are not very sturdy and can't re-use them as they sag at the catch. Also got some blue ones, again plastic which had presstud fasteners but cant re-use as the had to be cut off.

So if anyone out their knows of any wristbands that can be re-usable I would be very grateful for a linky fing.

Yes - I use the NCMA wrist bands and I also use high vis jackets if its very busy too.

I dont, all my mindees wear, T shirts and hats with my business name logo and mobile number on them when we go out.

I just bought Asda T shirts (bright Yellow is the best to be able to see them), got yellow baseball caps off ebay and iron on transfer paper which I printed on the PC.

In the winter they have fleece hats and jackets with the same.

It didnt actually cost me that much and looks very professional

Shoshe, brilliant idea - one I might well nick!

If you see any yellow waterproofs on line can you let me know, have looked and looked, dont want to spend a fortune, you would think yellow would be easy to find !

found this
shoshe
www.bootkidz.co.uk/high-visibility-clothing/

google
hi vis rain gear child uk

They are brilliant Karen but almost 50 quid each and I need 6.

But that is the sort of thing I am looking at, I already have navy waterproof trousers just need the coats.

www.chesterford.co.uk/acatalog/Identity_wristbands.html

what about these for id bracelets?

www.staydry.co.uk/htm/products.php
look down the bottom
hi viz poncho 5 99
will even do printing for you

Just wondering if I should use some too. I've had a google and these look good (and hard to get off! )

Yes, I've used wristbands for last few yrs - got mine from Mothercare, but Identikids do them too. Not expensive but kids just call them 'bracelets' and at least I know that if - god forbid - one strayed, I can be contacted. Never happened yet , but better to be safe than sorry.

My own son wore one for 12 months when he was younger - refused to take it off. Only managed to prise it off his wrist when it was too tight for him

I used to use wristbands (the paper ones that stick to themselves). I got them off the local soft play manager, by doing a deal to buy some of his. I now use hi viz vests with my company name and number on. I still use the wrist bands on my DD when we go on holiday .

I have to admit that I've been thinking about doing t.shirts for a while but I didn't know whether it'd be ok with Ofsted, I personally think they'd look great and I'm happy that it's been mentioned here. I think maybe I'll look into both t.shirts and the bracelets, I prefer t.shirts though

I thought about T shirts and then realised that they would not be 'all weather'. The hi viz vests I got (which fit over summer and winter clothes) were £1.49 at Ikea. Couldn't find them online when I wanted a couple more, but they still have them in the shop. I write on them with a big black marker pen, but I'd like to do something a bit more businesslike.

I have fleece sweatshirts, headbands all embroidered with my mobile number and business name.

I also order jackets from the sake section of Muddy puddles and sent them to be embroidered, they look fantastic!

I also have pink Hi Viz vests, again embroidered.

Carole is a childminder, here is her company, she is fast good value and very reliable. She will source what you are looking for if she doesn't have it in stock.

amaranth say Alison reccommended her!

I have been going through all my policies this weekend and just done one for a lost child. It states I use wrist straps on outings, so I really need to sort them out soon

As a parent I really, really don't like the idea of my child wearing clothing with your name and logo all over it, sorry. But wristbands and plain hi-vis waistcoats are an excellent idea. Our localcminding network all use them.

Sparkle, can you tell me why? Not having a go, just interested.

Because I don't like children in logoed clothes in general, and it's not my childs job to promote their cminders business. It's not to do with whether it's professional printing etc, I just don't like the look of it on children at all - it's tacky. That said it wouldn't be a deal breaker at interview or if it were introduced later on - I'd just gently seethe in quiet lol

sparkle12mar08, just curious, why not? It is discreet and if the child gets lost or separated there is a mobile number for someone call straightaway.

My families are happy with them, but if they weren't, I would obviously take any concerns on board. - They are after all only like school uniforms that are all have names and large logos these days.

I don't get them to wear them to advertise my business, I get them to wear them, so that if anything disastrous happens, people know that they are with a childminder and have an emergency contact number. If they all played like the Von Trapp children they might be a good advert when we go out, but generally they are being normal children . Having said that ... I do admit that I would not be upset about gaining extra business from it. I can see where you're coming from Sparkle.

alibubbles - I wouldn't be wild about it either, mainly because it would make me feel like my child was an advertising hoarding, IYKWIM! But then I also would want them to be safe and easily identifiable by the CM - guess I can't have it both ways!

I wear a T shirt (and a bright yellow fleece, I look like a duck ) just the same as the children, I am easily identifiable as being with the children when we are out, so for me it is more about keeping the children safe than advertising.