would you / do you tag your child??

[stoppinattwo]

here

I think it is a bit over the top, but ovbiously some dont. I dont mean to turn this into a "how paranoid a parent are you" debate but am genuinely interested in peoples thoughts

If i had the money then I would do it i think. At the moment I use the ID bands that go round the wrist and I would hope that IF a child did wander off when they are with me I would hope someone would contact me by using the phone number inside the strip. Best not to let them out of your sight really but realistically with my own children especially my eldest (7) if we go to a crowded park and i'm with her sister (1) then it is easy to lose sight of dd1 for a minute.

Yeah my kids are 5 and 8. On holiday i use ID bands with my mobile number on them. They are a good idea.

in this country they have my mobile phone number in their pocket, if we are in and unfamiliar place/ shop and we become separated I will agree a place to find them, but at the same time I have told them If you really are not sure where you are stay put and dont move anywhere with with anyone unless they are police. If someone really wants to help they should be able to ring me on the mobile phone number my DC's would have, most people have mobiles now.

no other taggers???.......I mean takers???

I think it's a good idea and I will probably do it when dd is older. When we were kids there was so little to worry about. Playing outside was so safe and abductions were very rare it's scary and I do worry thinking what it will be like when dd is older.

I am really uncomfortable with this tagging idea. Are we to take them to the vets and put a microchip in them? I think it will create more problems than it solves with stalkers etc. Very unsavoury. Yes, abduction is a scary truth but it is so unlikely to happen. We should be more concerned about road safety and healthy eating as the consequences of these are much more likely to affect our children. Perhaps ot would be an idea to spend more time educating our children that this is a scry world and bad things CAN happen but that it is also a wonderful world where each child can make a difference through their actions and behaviour.

Right now it hasn't been done in this country. There was a teenage girl a few years back (after the Soham murders) due to have a gps tracker implanted (she wanted it as did her parents) they were due to get it done by Professor Kevin Warwick at reading University but because the childrens charities were against it, it never went ahead.

He is right now waiting for someone who is prepared to go public and go in the press to get it done.

this article talks about a simple clip on device, like a badge, which could be easily removed that is granted.

Blimey permentant implants are a whole different ball game.

I use ID bracelets of my 5yo when we are out and about in a particular busy place - theme parks, Disney, airport, for example. Have used them since she was about 2yo. They have our mobile number wirtten inside. Now DD is older she knows what to do and not to do if she becomes lost. Hopefully she would remember if she did become lost.

i wouldn't do it personally. ds is 3 and we keep him pretty damn near us when out and about (love our reigns!) but to each their own, some people need that extra security and that's cool too.

having nearly lost dd and ds at various conventions/faires the thought has crossed my mind

Could somebody let me know where they got their printed wristbands from? Thanks

I would certainly. NOT because i think they'll be snatched- I am wella ware how unlikley that is. But ds1 in particular has SN and although his friends go out he cant, something like this might buy him some freedom a year or two earlier when i feel he can go outside the house- if I could track him I owuld know if he wandered and be able to retrieve him, and indeed whether to keep allowing him to go out.

Would never tag him. The MM case and the nigeria case are different. Thay have not frightened me in that way. I am more frightened that he gets lost at the fair.
I like the idea of Id braceletts, like when you take thm to a theme park. But they look like the plastic ones thay you have on an all inclusive package. I want one that he can wear all the time, which is discreet, but obvious , abit like a piece of jewelery that he never took off. Like one of the nike baller id bands, kind of thing

MrsBigD - I got them from Identify me. I use disposable single use ones. You can get them printed in English and other languages such as French, Soanish and German, for when on holiday. There are reusable ones but we found DD didn't like them too much AND if it was too hot and humid the writing comes off.

There is a mumsnet thread about similar here

Thanks Hula I went to the site and ordered the dog tags as I know dd and ds will love them

Am I being particularly thick tonight? What's wrong with teaching them their address and telephone number? Mine could parrot theirs off by the time they were two. I suppose it'd be useful for non-verbal children, but once they are talking I can't see the point.

katelyle I know what you mean, however, ds (2.9) is a bit slow with language as bi-lingual and just about gets his name right very proudly and dd (5.5) when she's in a state I've got problems understanding her so easier for her to wave her dog tags/note/armband infront of somebody. Also it's not so much getting them home but our mobile number on there in case they go 'missing' during a faire or such event.

DS1 is verbal but wuldnt talk to a stranger (SN).

DS3 has a little tag attached to his reins that gives his first name and explains that he ahs communication difficulties, and cant talk to them, and gives a phone number. I got it from ebay but really its just a printed thing laminated and on a keyring, theres one on his jacket zip as well