If you could, would you?

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-10-2006
If you could, would you?
12
Thu, 06-21-2007 - 12:25pm

Hi all!
I would love to know your thoughts on this. If you had the option of having a microchip implanted in your child for locating purposes only, would you do it? You hear about these missing kids, especially the younger ones who wander off and are found so close to home. The boy in Wisconsin, Benjy, was only about a mile from home.

I know me personally, and Nick's tendency to bolt and wander, I would seriously consider it if given the option. I would only want it activated by law enforcement personnel or similar company and it would contain no personal data. It would be a beacon for us to find him. He doenst understand that if he runs in a store that someone could snatch him and I might never see him. I explain until I am blue in the face, but he just doesnt understand. I have found ID anklets that I could have him wear like if we go to the zoo, or cards I could slip into his shoes, but all of that could be taken off. He is also the type of kid that if approached by someone other than a police officer, fireman, etc, possibly a rescuer if he was lost, I dont know if he would go to them. That worries me. I read a stat that 90% of dogs have some sort of ID, but less than 10% of kids have ID at any given point in time. And heck, they will microchip a dog for $75! You would think they could come up with a way to do this for kids. I can think of so man examples where this may have helped bring a child home right away.

What would you do?
Christine

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Christine

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iVillage Member
Registered: 12-22-2003
Thu, 06-21-2007 - 12:32pm

Yep. I'd do it in a heartbeat. But since it's not an option at this time, Claire wears a Medic Alert ID bracelet. No, it won't locate her if she wanders off, but if somebody finds her, at least they have the proper information and a way to contact us.

Amy
and yes, our dog does have a microchip

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Thu, 06-21-2007 - 12:42pm

Absolutely! These days, with so many horrible things happening to kids, it sure couldn't hurt. It certainly makes sense to me.

I have missing kids ID cards for Haley but like you said, things like that only do so much good. Both my dogs are microchipped. I wouldn't think it would be a big deal for them to come up with a plan to be able to do it for kids too. I would love to see that happen!

-- Jill



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iVillage Member
Registered: 06-13-2007
Thu, 06-21-2007 - 1:05pm
Hey! I found something that sounds PHENOMENAL!!! Its called IonKids. Here is the website... www.ion-kids.com . When you go to the website, click on the video link and watch it...this item would be GREAT for kids with autism!! I'm seriously considering getting one for my kids!
HTH, Jen
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-07-2003
Thu, 06-21-2007 - 1:45pm

It's a bit expensive ($240), but I LOVE the concept of this product.

As for the microchips, if they could invent one where you actually track the chip wearer's location, I'd personally probably be interested in something like that. The way they work on the animals, though, you actually have to locate the animal and THEN scan the chip, so that wouldn't be so helpful in locating a lost child. Both my cat & dog have microchips.

When my kids were younger, they wore the medic alert ID bracelets, too. Over time, though, the kids outgrew them, and I never replaced them. I liked that the clasps were harder to remove than a traditional bracelet. I think it's less necessary for my kids now that they're older and can communicate better, but I still wouldn't mind a microchip-tracking-device for them.

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-10-2006
Thu, 06-21-2007 - 2:32pm
Hi Amy,
I am not sure if Nick would keep a bracelet on, he wont even wear a watch, he says they bother his wrist. I did find these though http://www.medids.com/IDonme_medicalbracelets.html it looks like you can adjust the velcro wide enough to get it over his foot and around his ankle. I figure if he can wear it down around his sock, maybe it wouldnt bother him? I would like something that is noticible if he is lost, yet he cant pull off. These are waterproof too.
Christine

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Christine

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-07-2003
Thu, 06-21-2007 - 2:46pm

If i had to choose a child of mine to microchip it would be my youngest. HE is NT but he has this attitude of thinking he is much older than his 6 years and truly feels like he should be able to be like them. But he now carries a walkie talkie(most of the time) so I can call him.

But Josh has never been a bolter. He is usually the type of a kid who will check in to let me know where he is. At this point of time to microchip him. I can't nor would I. He is 12. And at this point he knows to let me know(most of the time) Where he is. I also, depending on what we are doing and he is not going to be with us for what ever reason. I will give him a cell phone, and he will use it. I also have to hope he will be more like the scout who wandered off over the fall. Well at least know how to survive because he is a Boy Scout. But the positive with that is Josh is so rule regimied when it comes to that, he will follow their Buddy rule.

Rina

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-25-2003
Thu, 06-21-2007 - 3:25pm

I agree that if it could be invisibly implanted and tracked (by the right people, not the wrong ones) that I would definitely do it.

-Paula

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iVillage Member
Registered: 08-10-2006
Thu, 06-21-2007 - 3:37pm
I agree about having it removed when they reach that age of responsibility. I showed dh the IonKids bracelet and he thinks it is cool, alot of the times we worry about Nick is when we are out doing stuff on the weekends, evenings. I dont know if I would make him wear it at school. Their playground is fenced in and it isnt that easy at the new school they just built to just bolt out and run. I wouldnt want him to be a target either. This would be great if I took him with me shopping or if we were at a tractor pull or the speedway, or a festival. The outdoor range is 350 feet which is impressive. He is fast, but I think we could keep up. There are times where he gets in a huff and likes to avoid me, but I cant always see him, this would allow me to know where he is but let him "hide". If I could get him to wear the transmitter, or even have him wear it on his ankle, kind of like the house arrest bands (LOL!!) we would be even better. We may try it out and see.
Christine

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Christine

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-28-2006
Thu, 06-21-2007 - 4:52pm

Well if you asked me when Chris was 3 and was a bolter, then yes I would of definetly done so. He no longer does it tho (Thank GOD!).

But I don't think I would of gone so far as having something implanted in him. For some reason that bothers me. But I would try the bracelet for sure, or see if I could attache something to his shoe or other peice of clothing instead.

Lainie

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-22-2003
Thu, 06-21-2007 - 7:08pm

The beauty of it for us is that Claire isn't capable of taking off her bracelet. The clasp is difficult to figure out, and we put it on her dominant hand. Her fine motor skills are such that she's incapable of getting it off with her weaker hand! Now that she's had it for a while, she's used to it and doesn't try to remove it.

The shoe thing would never work for us...she takes her shoes off all the time! She hates the flippin' things.

Amy

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