A Friendly Advisory About Crowds This Holiday Season

Thank you so much for sharing. I have always been very conscious of the possibility of this happening and my family has commented that I am paranoid or too overprotective or even that I am babying my son too much. I say too bad, I'd rather have my son safe!

Hi J. B.

Thanks for the reminder. It is just in time for the craziness of the seasons and having 4 children myself, I am complacent at times.

Thanks for posting this. You really can't be too careful and they are so quick. A reminder is always a good thing. So happy everything ended well.

Howdy,
I have a great idea that my father came up with when I was little. Whenever we went to a crowded place such as the Zoo, festivals and amusement parks my dad would put me in an outfit that was brightly colored like flouresent and would always buy me a balloon and tie the string in a knot around my wrist and if for some reason I gave him the slip then he had some ways to look out for me. Also if it was night time he would buy me a light up hat or necklace for the same reason. Hope this helps yall out :)

Thanks for the reminder!

Also, if your phone takes pictures, take a picture of your child as soon as you arrive at the place you are going to. A very recent pic will help people to help you find your lost little one.

Thank God your child was okay. But I agree with you 100%. Toddlers can move with the quickness!!! Prior to me being a mommy, I was at a park with my little niece. She was on the playground with about 50 other kids. I was talking with another person there, looked up....she was gone! You talking about SCARED!!! I was running around like a chicken with my head cut off...getting ready to pass out from fright. I looked up and she was walking hand in hand with another toddler about 100 yards away on the walkway right next to the lake. GOOD GOD from heaven, I was so happy I cried. I was shaking the entire drive home. So when I hear these horror stories about kids dissappearing I can understand how EASILY it could happen.

I took my 4 year old twin boys to an indoor
playpark. They wanted to ride the motorcycle
ride. All the kids rushed in the gate to board
the motorcycles. The bikes filled up fast and
one of my sons was left standing between the rows of motorcycles. The very young operator of the ride, probably 14, started the ride up and a stranger standing by (probably also a parent)reached over the gate and lifted
my son straight up, saving him from a sure injury.
It would have been bloody, at least. I am so very
grateful to this person who intervened for me.
I've thought of him so many times in the 25 years since.
Lesson learned: Pay attention to who is manning the
controls, and be mindful and willing to intervene
for someone else. We all need angels in our lives.
I wish I knew who my angel was.

I am so thankful you found your little safe and sound. Thank you for your post. Vigilance is the name of the game. Too much can happen in just a few minutes as you so well pointed out. Congratulations on your expected little one. Sounds as if you and your husband are very good parents. Bless you, B. K

When my daughter was a toddler we bought her some squeaky shoes so she squeaked wherever she went. Great for outdoor crowds. We adopted her from China, and while there, you could buy them cheaply at a lot of places. Here in the US, I have found them online for about $12-15 or so. They were great when we went to our city's Asian Festival and the place was just wall-to-wall people.

But, I have had that 5-7 minutes of panic when she disappeared during an indoor church dinner--she followed a high school kid up to their youth loft because from the back, she looked like me. I NEVER would have thought to look there. She'd been playing on a little play structure while I was chatting, and I thought I was keeping an eye on her. Luckily, I heard cries a few minutes later (as I was running around the church in a panic) when she realized that wasn't Mommy and the nice girl brought her downstairs.

in britain where i am from, we keep our toddlers on harnesses, it wouldnt work on a bounce house lol, but in crowds they are great, we use either a regular body harness or one that attatches to your wrist and your childs wrist, your child may not like it too much, but they are invaluable for keeping them close, but giving them the freedom to walk

Yes, happend to me as well. Crowded vacation spot. I told my kids that if they get lost to go to a police officer, store owner or to a mom with children. (no mom could ignore a lost child!). That is what my son did, he found a mom. Worst 5 minutes of my life and the what if's were torturous.

That said... in a crowd, we now often write our mobile numbers on their arm under their shirt in pen or sharpie. Also, we pick out a landmark. If you get seperated from us, go here.

I learned somewhere to have a recent photo with height and weight on it. I carry those in my wallet. (I'm not good at remembering their stats). I had that picture in my hand when we got seperated from my son. You can also take a pic with your mobile phone so you have current clothes or make a mental note of what they are wearing.

It happens to everyone at some point! Thanks for starting this posting!

Thank you for you post. I have been on the other side of that in finding lost children.
We were in the mall (me and my 4 children) I am mom mode simply because of the crowd and a 3 yr old runner. We are walking around and I see a little boy walking and looking almost crying. Other parent/ people are just walking past and around him not even really looking at this child who is clearing not with anyone. I watched him for a min or so and followed- When I was sure that no adult was around looking for him, I went up to him. He would not respond- just looked down and started crying. I motioned for my 6 yr old and 3 yr old to come up to him and told me 6 yr old to take his hand and we would find his mom or dad. He was happy to go with them.
The store clerks were not much help just told me where security was. It took us about 15 min to get across the mall to security. No one had reported a missing child. He had bonded with my daughter and I was worried about him so we waited with him. They called the police etc.. while waiting for the police we say for almost 45 min. Right before they got there mom showed up. He was with us for over and hour and no telling how long he was alone before that. Mom came in and was mad at the child because he did not stay where she told him too. Did not even say that you to us for helping him or anything. Once mom and police were there we left. That lost little boy made an impression on my kids- they do not want to get lost and now stay beside me.

Thanks for the timely reminder. Too many people become distracted when they have little ones with them and terrible things do happen.

This reminder should not only be for parents of toddlers - but also of children not big enough to defend themselves and still small enough to be harmed.

I'm glad you were able to locate your little one.

Thanks for your post!
We lost our 18 months old daughter at Dave & Busters! I was turning in the the tickets and she was looking at the teddy bears. I looked at the guy handing me the card back and in the split second she ran past me and she is so small that I didn't see her ran past. When I went in to help her with the bears she was gone. My heart sank and I was in panic mode. My husband was with our son at the time and we started running around looking for her when a waitress brought her by. It is scary!
I'm so glad other moms have post some suggestions. I love the whole taking pictures with camera when we arrive at a busy place. Great idea!
Thanks again and safe holidays to you!

Thank you so much for posting this, I have learned so much reading all your responses.
A couple years ago my son ( about 5 at the time ) & I were shopping at HEB and I was looking at an item on the shelf and within just a few seconds he was gone, he took off to look at the toys he saw displayed. I was in panic mode . I looked for him, and he looked for me. Apparently we kept missing each other down the aisles. Then I stood at the front area by the doors - if he was in the store he couldn't leave without me seeing him. I was shaking I was so scared. Then here he comes walking with a teenage boy about 17, the teenager just didn't look 'right' to me. My instincts got even MORE on alert. My son came running to me, and I asked the teenager if he worked for HEB (which I knew he didn't ) and he smiled and said 'no' then walked out of the store. I watched him as he walked outside to hopefully get his license # or something to identify him if needed, I told the store manager what happened, like I said I just didn't get a good feeling about him, the manager said he'd keep his eyes open .
Later on that evening after I had calmed down from having the shakes, my son told me that the boy wanted him to go outside , and he had told him "no, my mom's inside the store".
My heart sunk. I thought of what could've happened.
Now I go a little crazy when it comes to watching him out in public places, I don't see anything else around me because my eyes are on him! :))) If I do want to browse at anything, then we hold hands until I'm finished looking.
Great ideas on here !!

Thanks for posting. I know the feeling. about 2-3 years ago my husband and I and our son 1 1/2 year old(at the time) were in JCPenny in the mens department shooping for some jeans for my hubby, My son was in the stroller,but was crying and trying to get out and walk with daddy. So daddy took him out and was holding his hand the whole time (like for 5 or 10 minutes) then my husband tells me he is going into the fitting room. I was looking to find his size so I wasnt right next to him. He must of let him go for a second. I go to get him and he was gone. I was in panic mode. I asked if he was with him in the fitting room and he said NO! He rushed out and we both went diferent ways withing the store to find him and he was no where to be found. I went to the closet registered and described him and told them what had happened. By this time I was almost crying and so desperate. I was heading to the mall security when a lady said isnt that the lil' boy you are looking for and pointed out my son standing close to the door at the JCPenny's catalog deptarment. I was so releive to see him both my husband and I ran to him and hugged him . He didnt even know what was happening. He left the store immediately and didn't buy anything. The feeling of having your child lost is the worst feeling in the world.

Since then I panic everytime I hear stories like this.

Thank you for sharing this! Something like this happened to me....but I had two little ones at the time! Running around looking for one, while dragging the other one---the most frightening feeling in the world. My daughters are now beautiful women...I can't imagine life without them. Moms, take care of your little ones....there is so much ugliness out there. Life is too short! Good luck with both of your babies J.!

I'm sorry you went through that experience, but it's wonderful that you used it for other's good. May the Lord heal you of the trauma. Your experience reminds me that every life is precious and short! May we all see the value in those around us!

This is so scary, that happened to me at a park there were a couple of bday parties going on at this park and I found my 2 year old at another party joining in their festivities. It happens in a split second!

Thanks for the reminder. It reminded me of an friends story from 25 years ago. Her girlfriend was at the mall with her 2/3 year old and looked away 1 second and her daughter was gone! She went right to security and they locked down the entire mall. They were searching through the whole mall, saying look very closely. She finally saw a child who she said kind of looked like her child. Sure enough she was. Within 10 minutes, they had drugged, changed her clothes, & CUT HER HAIR. Sorry to sound so scary but you just never know. The story so stuck with me especially when my kids were younger. Actually, I still will not let my 12 yr old go down the street to the park alone and it is a block away. Must have phone & friends or adult go too. It just sometimes the way it is, as I tell her.

i personaly would be scared to let my son into a crowed bouncy. but i am an up tight momma. our son is friends with a six yr old girl. i would take her with me so she could help watch my son. also in malls or crowds we have him straped into a stroller. you could even use the leash for a kid thing. better on a leash than lost forever!

Check out www.safetytat.com. They make cool temporary tatoos with your cell number on them. I always put one on each of my girls when we're going someplace with crowds. If they can't find Mommy or Daddy, they are to find a mom with kids, and show her the tatoo.

Thanks for the heads-up, and rest assured: you are not alone.

Thank God your Son is safe.

Don't be h*** o* yourselves - I think this has happened to everyone. Live and learn and thank God it all worked out alright. I do not know if he is old enough to understand yet, but a good thing to explain to him, before he goes in to the attraction, that he needs to come to you before he heads to the next thing. This happened to my nephew at Montgomery cty fair at night when I was watching him and my daughter. I was standing right there watching for him to come off a ride and never saw him - he went to stand in line at the next ride, but with sooo many people, it was hard to find him.

Thank you...it's also happened to me. The panic of 'what could happen'....never goes away. They're so fast and yes, we are watching them!
Thanks for the tip about going to another mommy! Your thoughtfulness to share your story may end up helping someone out there:)
If anything it's a great reminder before the holiday crowded events that will be taking place.