7 Safety Tips for Shopping with Tots

How to prevent your child from getting lost and what to do if it happens

By Alyssa Dver

In this article:
What to Do When it Happens to You

You go to pay for Uncle Carl's present and in that split second, your child is gone. You immediately panic and worry that she's been abducted. Does your child know what to do? Do you?

Shopping with kids can be the ultimate scary experience. Seven out of 10 children will get lost at least once in their lives and parents report that the mall is the most common place for kids to go missing. Over 2,000 kids are reported lost each year.

What to Do When it Happens to You

Despite this being a common incident, the majority of parents don't know what to do. When a child wanders off, they can be injured, traumatized, or in the worst case, abducted. The good news is that there are some simple things you can do to make shopping with your kids safer and saner.

Have your children carry your cell phone number in a visible, secure place (such as on the back of a shirt or jacket). This makes it easy for another adult to contact you if you and your child get separated. Don't rely on your child to remember a home phone number—even if you know that they can (despite being scared), you don't want to waste precious time calling your home voicemail to see if your child or a police officer has left a message. In that horrible period of time when you don't know where your child is, getting an immediate call on your cell phone is much better. Also, picking a family meeting spot isn't always effective; it can be difficult for little ones to remember a rendezvous point at a big store or mall. Instead, give your kids the simple tool of wearing your cell phone number in a visible spot.

Teach children to seek out another mommy if they need help. Mommies are easy to find in stores and malls and are usually very eager to assist a lost child. Even children as young as two-years-old can identify another mommy. You can have your child practice spotting mommies next time you go out shopping or any place you are out and about. Ask them if they see a mommy–you'll be surprised how easy this is for even young kids! (Security guards and employees come in all shapes and sizes so little children can't always distinguish who is one.)

Dress kids in bright yellow or green. These specific colors make it easier for you to see them in busy, crowded stores. Also, by providing the brightly colored clothing as part of your child's physical description, other people—shoppers, employees, security guards, police, and so on—can more easily help you to find your lost child. Keep this clothing for your child to wear especially when out and about—this will help you remember what your child is wearing if they get lost.