KEEPING KIDS SAFE

- Kathy Lo, Contributing Writer & Creator of ID Tags

Sometimes a mom will bring an issue to our attention that we feel is genuinely important. Kathy Lo's ID Tags that she created to keep her daughters safe is an example of this. Tastybaby is grateful that Kathy has shared her story and her remedy with us and our visitors. Please take a moment to download our Tasty version of Kathy's tags.

A couple of summers back, when my children were preschoolers, I had an impulse to take them shoe shopping at our local mall.  I packed the 2 girls, my bag, and stroller and headed out the door with the notion of picking up some bargain shoes for the kids, and perhaps a pair for myself. 

Our first stop – Nordstrom.  They had a kids section and an adult section.  Perfect.  I browsed
the children’s sale racks with kids in tow trying to figure out their size and how much their feet might grow.  The two girls were entertained by the sparkly shoes, and later, by the video the store had playing in the corner.  I picked a pair of shoes for my eldest daughter, Jordan, to try.  Naturally, I bent down to tie her shoes.  I didn’t realize that because I was next to a table, bending down made me hidden from my younger daughter, Kaylin.  When Kaylin looked up from the video, she didn’t see Mommy.  Mommy was gone.  Kaylin bolted looking for Mommy.   By the time I stood up and got my credit card out to pay, I looked around for Kaylin.  I asked Jordan, “Where’s Kaylin?!”  Then that rush of fear overcame me.  Where’s Kaylin?! 

Thankfully, we found her by following the sounds of a little girl crying.  She was with another Mom (with a stroller) in the Men’s Department who was asking her, “What’s your Mommy’s name?” 

We’ve told the kids before, if they ever got lost, don’t run.  Stay still and find another Mommy.  She’ll help you find us.  How do you know what another Mommy will look like?  Chances are she’ll have a stroller or be with other kids, so she’ll know what to do.  In this case, Kaylin didn’t remember not to run, but she did remember to find another Mommy.

Because of this incident, when we go to amusement parks or other places where kids might “wonder from the group”, I decided to tag them.  I created a little homemade laminated card to pin to their shirt or pocket that says, “My name is ___.  If I’m lost, please call…,” and it lists our cell phone numbers.  I figured in a panic, kids might not be able to articulate their own name or our name through the crying or remember our phone number.

I have also put together a little ID Tag with their picture and key information (age, height, weight, allergies, contact info, etc.) for my wallet.  It has all the information necessary to describe a lost child.  In a frenzy, I’m not sure that I would remember what the kids were wearing that day let alone their height and weight.   It also helps to take a quick picture of the kids with your digital camera before you head into the park.   

The ID Tags are also great for the baby-sitter, nanny, grandparents, and dads, for that just in case moment.  Last month, my husband Robert had to take the kids for their flu shots.  I had forgotten that he would need to fill out all the medical paperwork and information for them.  I don’t believe he’s ever taken the kids to the doctor before.  He had to call me a couple of times from his cell phone for the name of their doctor, allergies to medication, etc. 

After that doctor’s visit, I gave him a copy of the kids’ ID Tag.  So if he ever needs that information, it is in his back pocket!

If you have a missing child, contect your local authorities or Amber Alert. The AMBER Alert Program is a voluntary partnership between law-enforcement agencies, broadcasters, transportation agencies, and the wireless industry, to activate an urgent bulletin in the most serious child-abduction cases. The goal of an AMBER Alert is to instantly galvanize the entire community to assist in the search for and the safe recovery of the child.