Review: Spot-Me ID Temporary Tattoos, Bracelets & Lanyards

The Minnesota State Fair is one of the largest in the country. Taking a child there is thrilling, fun and terrifying. There is so much to do and so many spectacles to draw a child away. My friend’s child was out there, with relatives, and the child wandered off. My friends received a phone call, cities away, from a nice lady who had helped the child- and the child was savvy enough to have memorized his mom’s cell number and remember it in a panic situation.

I’ve tried Spot-Me ID bracelets, lanyards and temporary tattoos. These were named the winner of the iParenting Media Award and the iParenting Media “Hot” Award in the safety category. These are all designed as ways to have your number on your child if you are separated. Each item comes with an indelible pen so you can fill in the correct number on the day you may need it. This is good because from day to day, a different phone number may be necessary.

Click read more to see my review of the three products.

Let’s begin with the Spot-Me ID tattoos. This is really the only option that works for a three year old. The dog tattoo is super easy to apply. You can either use the Spot-Me ID application wipe or go old-school and use a wet paper towel. I had the same flawless, smooth result with both. I then wrote on my cell number, which was clear and easy to read, put my child to bed and sent her to school with it on the next day. When she came home she had scratched it off. A few specks remained, but it was apparently quite easy to remove. So, I tried again- reapplied- and a few hours later, shipped her off to swimming lessons. When she exited the pool, the water-proof, indelible number had faded significantly. Oops. Not good. It was still there, visible and legible, but markedly lighter.

We briefly tried the Spot-Me ID bracelet, but Anastasia’s tolerance for the item was slight. I will be generous in saying that she kept in on for all of four minutes. Since the premise is so great, I shipped the bracelet and lanyard off to Cami (8) and Sydney (6), since I figured that the bracelet and lanyard IDs would be better suited to older children. I guess I have to say “oops” again. Sydney did not tolerate the bracelet either. The bracelets can be adjusted to individual children and both bracelets were sized appropriately and trimmed with a scissors and snapped in place. The number is written on the inside. But if it is not left on, no good will come of it. To be honest, I think it could get bumped off quite easily at an amusement park or water park- the Spot-Me ID bracelet is just held together with a plastic snap. Also, to get the number, the bracelet has to be taken off of your child since the number is on the inside.

Lastly… the Spot-Me ID lanyard, which Cami got to try. As mothers, neither her mom nor I thought she’d want to use it- the Spot-Me ID dog is quite cartoon-y, but this did not bother Cami or either of the younger kids. Cami and mom were quite excited about this lanyard ID tag. It simply hangs around kidd-o’s neck with by a soft but secure-feeling shoelace-like lanyard and has a plastic ID tag on which you write your number. All was well until the lanyard clasp caught in Cami’s hair and the tag (with the number) just fell off the lanyard. Again, not much good will come of this product if it is not with your child. I say with complete conviction that Anastasia would not leave that on for longer than ten minutes; the novelty wears off, off comes the "necklace".

My formal review is below, each category of four stars.

Materials and Durability: *- The tattoo was easy to scratch off and faded easily (half hour swim class). The bracelets did not stay affixed for either child and the lanyard fell off when it merely caught in the hair. A one-day use of the tattoo or the hopes of the lanyard not catching and coming loose are your best bets.

Price: Starting prices are as follow: Tattoos: 4 for $7.95, wipes and pen included. Bracelets: 2 for $7.95, pen included. Lanyards: 1 card, 1 lanyard and 1 pen for $7.95.

Style: ***- The cartoon-y dog is not a deterrent for any age up to 8- beyond that, I can’t say. There are a few styles in each category (tattoo, bracelet, lanyard) but each incorporates the dog. Bold colors are nice for attracting attention.

Overall Score: **- I wish I had had better luck with the Spot-Me ID products because they offer many options for keeping your number with your child. Unfortunately, except for the tattoo, which only lasted for 24 hours, I do not feel assured that my number will be securely on my baby. I would definitely refer you to use SafetyTats instead.