Our security series continues. This time, Series Producer of Cranky Geeks, Annaliza Savage, is enlightening us with her review of a safety device that protects the whereabouts of children.
Product: The Mommy I'm Here Child Locator ($29.95) is a great little gadget for parents with Tots on the Go! Anyone with a toddler knows they can disappear in nought minus 5 seconds. My 2 year old has scared me on numerous occasions, so when I heard about the Mommy I'm Here Locator I couldn't wait to try it.
How It Works: Attach the locator device (designed in the form of a cute little teddy bear) to your child. It has a clip on the back that you can stick on a belt loop or through a Velcro shoe strap. The parent carries the beeper on a keychain. If your kid goes out of sight, you simply push the button and follow the sound. The tone is loud, at 56db.
Performance: The range is impressive: it's advertised at up to 150 feet. It works through walls and even closed doors. My son Dante was playing in his bedroom at the back of our apartment. I walked out the front door, down two flights of steps and out to the mailbox. I could still hear it beeping when I pressed the button!
I also tested it at an interactive kids museum. Whenever my little guy would go somewhere I couldn't see him, I'd hit the button. It worked great. At one point I hit the button as he was running away and he stopped, turned and walked back towards me. I had a bunch of parents (and a dog owner) ask me where they could get one!
The main problem with the device is the way it attaches. I put it on my son's shoe, using the shoe's Velcro strap. Dante of course noticed it, and took it off. He wanted to play with it. I put it back on and told him to leave it. He did, for a while. An hour or so later I noticed the bear was gone. I pressed the beeper to locate it, but no luck. After 10 minutes of searching the bear was found face down in a pool of water! Plus, the bear had been switched off (either by Dante or one of his little friends). Surprisingly, I turned it back on and it still worked!!
Overall: I would totally recommend the Mommy I'm Here Child Locator, but suggest you attach it to somewhere your child isn't able to remove it. It's cute, so your toddler will think it's a toy. Hopefully the next version will have a safety catch over the on/off switch so that the child can't turn it off.
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October 17, 2006 10:53 AM
We have been using this child locator on all of our trips. It works especially well at Disneyland, where there a re a lot of kids, people and constant chaos! It gives us added peace of mind and our kids love wearing it laced into their shoelaces. It is extremely reliable and very sturdy. Two thumbs up!
October 19, 2006 5:20 PM
THIS IS A GREAT ITEM, WITH MANY DIFFERENT USES! PERFECT! THANKS.
January 20, 2008 1:23 PM
I bought one for my 3 year old son and did not like the way it attached because he wears sandals and no belt in the summer heat. I made a belt from material with loops on the ends and a small padlock. I put the key on my receiver so nobody but me could tyake it off from his waste. I also taught him that when he hears it go off, he must scream "Mommy, mommy!" and look for me or go to where we were together last. It has worked really well for us so far! Love it!