Mom shares parenting hack that can help parents find their child lost in a crowd

Losing a child in a crowded public space is one of the worst nightmares for any parent. When a child goes missing, parents often imagine the worst-case scenarios and frantically search for their lost kid. However, TikTok content creator and mother, Krista Piper Gundrey, recently shared a helpful tip for finding a lost child in a crowded area. Gundrey explained that a parenting hack she had seen on TikTok years ago helped her locate her three-year-old child during a visit to a science museum with a crowded play area. When she realized she did not have eyes on her child, she immediately began to call out her name to no avail. It is when she remembered a TikTok video where a mom had also lost her child and gave alternative advice, which was more helpful than frantically yelling the child's name.

The mom in the said video had lost her child in a grocery store and instead of yelling out the child's name, she yelled out the description of what her child was wearing. She was able to find her child faster that way. So, Gundrey stopped calling out her child's name and started yelling out the description of her daughter's clothes. She yelled, "Girl pink shirt, pink Minnie Mouse shirt" and within a few minutes, a mom at the play area heard her and found her daughter.

Gundrey advises other parents who might find themselves in a similar situation to shout out their child's description instead of their name and not to worry about looking "crazy." Several parents chimed in on the video, giving extra advice on what to do in this terrifying situation and sharing their own experiences. "As a Mom, if I hear someone yelling a name probably don’t think much of it but yelling a description is like a call to action to moms!" said, JennaLeigh. Another user, Hadlisam said, "I didn't know this was a thing, I once lost my boy in the shoe store and started yelling at 2-year-old red jacket jeans named Hector. Another mom brought him."

According to NCMEC's data, approximately 500,000 children are reported missing in the US annually. It is crucial to be aware of the proper actions to take when a child goes missing. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children recommends that when a child is lost in the home, search all potential hiding spots, including closets, laundry piles, under and inside beds, large appliances, and car trunks. In a public setting, it is imperative to immediately inform store management or security. It is essential to remember your child's attire and the last time you saw them if they go missing. If the child is still missing, promptly contact local law enforcement.

The advice provided by Gundrey in her viral video has been extremely beneficial to several parents, and she hopes that it continues to assist other parents in similar situations. Losing a child is every parent's worst nightmare, and it is vital to take every possible measure to locate them as soon as possible. In such situations, the description-shouting technique has the potential to be a game-changer.