If Your Child’s Cuddle Toy Gets Lost While Traveling

Posted 21 December, 2007 in Travel with Kids

What do you do when the unthinkable happens? What do you do when the family reaches their destination, ready to begin their vacation, only to discover that the most important family member (next to mommy, of course) didn’t arrive alongside everyone else?

We’re talking, of course, of the Favorite Toy–the scuffed and battered teddy bear that shares the secrets and pillows of the toddler, their “bestest friend ever!” When that best friend gets lost on the way to the vacation, what is a parent to do?

First off, try to reassure the child that Harold can indeed be found. Then, if possible, take the child by the hand, retrace their steps, and hopefully Harold will be found, happily soaking in the sunshine beside the pool, right where the child left him. If Harold isn’t found, though, that could ruin a child’s whole vacation…so, use a little bit of forethought and make sure that doesn’t happen.

Kids should carry some sort of ID in case they get separated from their parents; that ID should have home address, contact phone numbers, and anything else that will help authorities return the child to their family as soon as possible. Parents might consider using Harold to demonstrate just how important the child’s ID is—by printing an identical set for Harold, to make sure he finds his way home.

“Remember when we printed out the ID papers in your pocket? Well, don’t worry, we printed ID papers for Harold, too, remember? If he gets lost, he’ll find his way to someone and show them his ID papers. They will see your name on his papers and they’ll try to find you at our hotel, and if they can’t find you, then they’ll put Harold on his own airplane so that he’s waiting for us when we get home.”

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