NEW ORLEANS (WGNO)- Wagons and ladders and beads, oh my! Experiencing the big parades and carnival celebrations is one of the perks of living here, but any parent will tell you that it’s a lot of “work” to have all that fun. Whether you choose the sidewalk side or the neutral ground, here are some ways to keep your family in the safety zone.
- Consider temporary tattoos: safetytat.com is one place where you can order personalized tats for your tots. “For younger kids who can’t memorize numbers yet it’s great; if something were to happen, your number is on their arm,” says Angelina Vicknair, of New Orleans Moms Blog. For a faster, low-budget version, pick up some liquid bandage at the drug store and use a Sharpie marker to ink some ID on your little one. Another idea: put a luggage tag on your child.
- Snap some shots: Take some photos just before you hop in the car. That way you’ll have a record of what each child is wearing. Hopefully you won’t need it, but it will come in handy if someone goes missing.
- Go team! Choosing a family “team color” is a wise move, but avoid purple, green and gold—unless there’s neon involved! “My grandmother says she used to dress her kids in red, even though it’s not a Mardi Gras color, which is the point—she said her children always stood out in a crowd,” says Vicknair.
- One-on-One ratios are best. Whenever possible, assign one child to each adult.
- Keep “Plan B” handy. Pairing up little ones in a ladder stand works wonders, but you’ll want to have some tricks up your sleeves in case of meltdowns or boredom. Bring a favorite stuffed animal or doll—and if needed, be ready to let your cranky kid watch videos on your phone if they need a parade break.
- Protect little ears and heads. Especially for first-time parade-goers, consider bringing along noise-canceling headphones and/or your child’s bike helmet. Beads can hurt and sometimes the super krewes are super loud for tiny ears.
- Get a kid-tracker. The Gizmo Pal and the Gizmo Gadget are two options available at Verizon. They can be programmed so that emergency contacts are one touch away, and they send an alert to parents if their child leaves the designated “safe” territory.
- Prioritize packing: Remember to bring extra clothes (put an outfit for each kid in a separate ZipLoc bag), snacks (granola bars and fruit gummies are good choices), water, portable chargers, wipes and hand sanitizer. Put it all in a wagon that can also be used to carry tired kids at the end of the night.
- Where Y’at? Be sure all family members agree on one specific location to meet at in case of accidental separation.