Price Tag: $10
Official URL: mypreciouskid.com
Rating:

If you get into an accident, a car seat will probably keep your child alive but they will probably require medical treatment. If the driver has also been injured and is unable to communicate clearly or is disoriented, the emergency crews might not be able to properly care for your child. If the child is out with someone other than mom or dad, they might not even be able to provide any medical treatment that is not required to save your child’s life. This can mean delayed treatment and pain for your child. 

The often-recommended solution to this problem is a car seat ID card. There are quite a few offerings out there, but this one from MyPreciousKid.com is unique in a number of ways.  

THE CARD

The ID card itself is a double-sided business-card sized slip that has multi-colored areas to write in different information including: 

Child’s name, parents’ address, date of birth, weight, height, date issued, home phone, cell phone, two emergency phone numbers, Allergies, birthmarks, medical information, doctor & dentist name/phone, child’s thumbprint, and an area that says “I authorize any medical treatment needed for my child in my absence.” with a date and parent signature area.  The front of the card also has a spot for a passport-sized photo of your child. 

TYPES OF ID KIT

MyPreciousKid offers two types of tag: the “Car Seat ID” tag, and the “Luggage Tag”. Both of these come with the child ID card.

The primary difference between the two is that the luggage tag uses a strong clear flexible loop that reminds me of the material the “Jellies” shoes were made of. The”Car Seat ID Tag” affixes using velcro. For an older child that is prone to exploration and ripping things off, the Luggage Tag option is the way to go. Since my child is two years old, I’ll be talking about the Luggage Tag for this review.

The luggage tag is about 4″ wide by 2 1/2″ tall, and the attachment loop is about 5″ long when attached to the card. When you insert the card into the luggage tag you first peel off the white paper backing on the inside of one side of the holder, then carefully place your filled out ID card on the sticky side. Fold down the other side, and press all edges down firmly. This seals your child’s ID card and keeps it safe from moisture. Make sure that you attach the picture to the card before sealing so that it doesn’t slide out of place. I used a simple glue stick to do this. I would recommend placing the card picture-side down to prevent the chance of the picture slipping around at any point in the future. 

WHAT MAKES IT DIFFERENT? 

There are three main things that make this ID card different from other offerings. 

1- You can make it at home. You do not need to send your child’s private information or your signature out over the internet. Nor do you need to worry about your signature rubbing off of the “sign it afterwards” dealies. We all know how long our signature lasted on our ATM card, no? 

2- This is a plastic-sealed card and not a sticker or business-card. This will last. While it might be wise to buy a new one every year or so while your little one is small and frequently changing, it’s made to stand up to time and the realities of having a small child which include grabbing, tearing, spilling, and the potential of chewing. Not that you should let your child play with this tag, but we all know that things DO get grabbed. 

3- The photo and thumbprint areas. Most child carseat ID cards do not have an area for a photo. How are emergency workers supposed to be sure that the child in the car seat is the child identified on the card? What if your child is being given a ride home from daycare by another child’s parents? The photo and thumbprint make identification much easier.

MINOR NITPICKS

The surface of the card has a glossy coating that doesn’t work well with some pens.   To avoid ruining your card, test on either a similar surface (the box of a toy or a cereal box makes a good testing surface), or just write your child’s name on the photo area which you’ll be covering up anyway. I found a fine point permanent marker to be perfect. Ball point pens universally did not work. It would be nice if each card holder came with two cards just in case you make a mistake, or choose a pen that has difficulty writing on the card’s glossy surface.

BOTTOM LINE 

This ID card is a great purchase. It’s more detailed and more durable than any other option that I’ve seen on the market. If you have a child that is riding in a car seat or booster, I’d highly recommend that you buy this ID kit. It is a small price to pay for knowing that your child will recieve proper medical treatment in the event of an accident.