Child safety abroad

[Ivylane]

Hello, going to America shortly and although I intend to watch my children like hawks I’d like some way of tracking their location should the worse happen and we get separated. My eldest has a mobile on o2 I have a spare old iPhone that i could get another sim for for my youngest to carry but does o2 work in the USA? Would pay as you go work or would it have to be pay monthly, and how to I ensure I don’t get charged a fortune for roaming?

You need to give O2 a call and check what’s included in your current package. Roaming costs are usually astronomically in the USA.

I recommend setting up an eSIM if you have phones that support them, or buying cheap SIM cards when you land. AT&T are good in America.

For tracking you need location, and that uses data. You do not want to be hit with a huge phone bill on your way back.

could you air tag them? Or just trust them not to wander off? how old are they?

7 & 9, the youngest is very excitable and will run about like mad, it’s Disneyworld we’re going to and expecting it to be ultra busy. I’ve heard of AirTags but don’t really understand how they work.

AirTags are small devices you attach to an object (or child), then you can use your iPhone/iPad to locate them.

You can get similar devices for Android phones.

Blurb:

•	Versatile Item Finder: keep track of the items that matter most, find your keys, wallet and more with the AirTag bluetooth item finder
•	Simple Set-up: a one-tap setup instantly connects AirTag with your iPhone or iPad. Enter a name for your AirTag, attach it to the item you want to track and you’re good to go
•	Ping it. Find it: Play a sound on the built-in speaker to help find your keys and other things, or just ask Siri for help
•	Precision Finding: If your AirTag is nearby, your iPhone can lead you straight to it using Precision Finding. You’ll see the distance to your AirTag and the direction to head all thanks to Ultra Wideband technology (compatible with select iPhone models)
•	Find Items Further Away: with the help of hundreds of millions of Apple devices in the Find My network you can track down your AirTag and it is designed to protect your privacy every step of the way
•	Lost an item: Lost Mode makes finding things even easier. Just like your other Apple devices, AirTag can be put into Lost Mode. Then when its detected by a device in the network, you’ll automatically get a notification.
•	Long Battery Life: designed to keep going for more than a year on a standard battery with 1 x CR2032 battery included which can be easily replaced
•	Privacy Built In: All communication with the Find My network is anonymous and encrypted for privacy, Location data and history are never stored on AirTag
•	Water resistant

The big plus of AirTags is that if you're out of Bluetooth range, it uses other peoples apple devices to give a much wider range.

we went to US recently and I just got my DC pay as you go sim cards with US calls and data. You can order them from amazon before you leave.