Woman Finds Her Missing Toddler In A Supermarket With The Help Of A “Hack” She Saw On TikTok
399Kviews
Few things in life are scarier than the moment you realize your child is missing. Your heart skips a beat and the whole world freezes.
But this is precisely what happened to one mom while shopping at a Kmart. After frantically and silently rummaging through the store, the mom suddenly remembered seeing a viral TikTok with a trick on how to find your child in a harrowing situation like this.
The trick was posted by parenting blogger Jess Martini, who shared a clip on her TikTok platform back in November 2020. “Do not start silently looking, you wanna look loudly, and what I mean by that is you start shouting their description while you look,” Jess stated in a video which amassed 152.2k likes.
Following Jess’ advice, the mom began shouting inside the store: “I’m missing a little boy, he’s wearing a yellow shirt and has brown hair. He’s two years old and his name is Nathan,” and they luckily got reunited. Let’s see Jess’ potentially life-saving hack in full right below.
Parenting vlogger Jess Martini posted this advice on what to do if your child goes missing in a public space and it went viral
@jesmartiniPSA that I feel can save kids and I’ve used- if your child goes missing in public ##momsoftiktok ##PSA ##nojudgement ##fyp ##4up ##besafe ##parentsoftiktok♬ original sound – Jess martini
Image credits: jesmartini
Image credits: jesmartini
Image credits: jesmartini
The mum of a two-year-old lost sight of him at a Kmart store in the NSW Hunter Region, Australia on Saturday. According to Yahoo, she shared the ordeal online on one Australian Facebook group, describing it as “the scariest 10 minutes of her life.”
“One friend ran to the entry immediately and alerted the staff member to not let a boy of his description leave the store. Even if he was with an adult. Another friend searched the area he was last seen,” she wrote on Facebook.
As the woman was running along the aisles and frantically looking under racks of clothing, she realized that searching for her child in silence would achieve nothing. It was then when she remembered the piece of advice given by Jess Martini and proceeded to shout the description of her boy.
Image credits: jesmartini
Image credits: jesmartini
Image credits: jesmartini
“I’m missing a little boy, he’s wearing a yellow shirt and has brown hair. He’s two years old and his name is Nathan,” the mum just kept repeating. Soon, she realized that people around her had started to take notice. “I had every adult around me on alert. They all threw aside what they were looking at and started searching too,” she wrote in a post.
Shortly, a sense of relief came over her as she heard a male voice behind her saying “he’s here.” “I turned back the way I came and there he was. A man had walked past him after hearing me calling out,” the woman recalled.
Image credits: jesmartini
Parents should always take precautions in case their children go missing. Here’s what you can do to prevent it: dress your child in bright colors, teach them to walk close to you, make sure your child knows their full name and phone number, write your phone number, name, and address on one of their clothing labels.
It’s always a good idea to make sure you remember what your child is wearing or take a photo of them if you’re in a crowded place. And for older kids, practice “meeting in a safe place” in case any member of the family gets lost.
And this is what others had to say about the advice
Image credits: www.facebook.com
399Kviews
Share on Facebook
!["Karen Complains To HR About My Body, I Uno-Reverse Her Complaint, [And Now] Everyone Hates Her"](https://www.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/coworker-complains-to-hr-about-womans-body-revenge-latest.jpg "\"Karen Complains To HR About My Body, I Uno-Reverse Her Complaint, [And Now] Everyone Hates Her\"")
An teacher of mine taught us a life hack, take a picture of your children just before you go into a crowded place like an amusement park. So if your child goes missing and you panic and can’t recall what they are wearing you have the most current photo of them to show people (and remember yourself).
Which is good but also takes a long time to show people 1 by 1. Other options are wearing matching clothes, temp tattoos with a phone number, etc.
You don't have to show the picture to every person. Just look at it to remind yourself what they are wearing (if you temporary forgot or aren't sure anymore because of all the stress) before sharing the info with everyone else to help you look. It's also good to have a current photo in case things turn more serious and the security, cops and/or media need it or you need it to make flyers
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
I made matching shirts, neon dolphins on blue background. We were at a theme park, when the 5 yo took off, I told my 8 yo to check in the area that the park brings lost children while I took off in the distance. Went back, picked up the older one and returned to the area where we were when the little guy took off. Someone found him and was waiting for security to pick him up. She came rushing out to me-- 'you're so smart wearing matching shirts, however, he only told us that his brother was wearing the same color shirt , not the Mom too'--so not only can you point to your own top when describing the shirt, but the child can too in letting them know how to identify their parent(s).
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
You aren’t showing people one by one. But it’s the time of social media and the internet at our finger tips. It can get posted right to the police stations Facebook, someone in a retail store or even at the offices of an amusement park are going to have a printer. Or it’s just for you to have to refresh your memory. If you split into a group to search text it to each other so everyone has it. There is no WRONG way to help keep your children safe so let’s not discount anyone’s suggestions please.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Maybe you could print the multiple copies of the picture and hand it out to people, and tell the person to show it to others?
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
yes, this is why you're advised to yell what they're wearing, lol
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
ZooMom if youre implying I am discarding someone's method I suggest you re-read my comment. I will dissect as it appears reading comprehension failed you. 1) I stated "that"s good" What part of that implies I am discarding someone's method? 2) I offered a counterpoint that is 100% valid so don't discard mine. (wait, are you going to say you have every right to?) If I lost my kid I am not posting on social media and cops right then and there -that comes after an intial search. I am searching myself first. So, if I had a picture it would be a small image that I cannot share with too many at once (as it would be on my phone) I would be walking around. I have to give people time to process the image; therefore, I am moving around at more of a 1:1 pace than if I was yelling and reaching more people at once. and to Maanya - That works of your child has been missing awhile. if you're at the mall or a store and your kid wanders you don't pull out a printer from your purse|wallet.
Downvote monster is going to town on this reply section. I see 0 things here worth downvoting, so what happened?
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
My parents used to make me and my sister wear wristbands with their phone numbers on them in case we got lost.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
My sister in law showed me this trick. They live in St. Louis so this situation comes up a lot more for her. The idea is, you can show it to a security guard or other staff member.
I was paying in a newsagent and between getting my wallet out of my bag I looked back and my 3 year older was gone. It was a strip mall. We frequently went there. At first I wanted to check the other shops but thought if I stayed in the centre I'd be more likely to find him. Just like the post I kept calling him and shouting loudly what he was wearing a little boy, brown coat, blue helmet. A couple of minutes in a lady said she had seen him crossing the road. I ran in the direction and could see him in the distance with two women. I ran to him. The woman he was next to was also in the newsagents and he had followed her out as she was of similar build and hair color to mine. I was so glad to find him. But it was terrifying.
People knock the whole "leash" thing but it can happen in a second! So happy you found him
I would never judge a parent for choosing to use a leash, nor judge a parent for shunning them. You know your child best and both options are completely valid.
I see the leash comments are downvoted. That is wrong. Don't make assumptions that is bad parenting. It may not be your style, but it works well. Saved me several times with my son. Last time I used it he was 5. Took him to carlsbad caverns. Without the leash, he would have launched to the bottom. The purpose of the Grimm Fairy tales was to scare the kids so they would not wander into the woods and get lost. When he was about 3 && could understand, we deliberately scared him (without the leach, he could get lost && we could never find him) such that he would go get the leash. I took him to a lot of events in hotels. He would run out of elevators. Without the leash, I could not have caught up with him (I cannot run - bad knee). Obviously, I never let the door close on the leash. We used the harness leash. We tried the wrist strap. he just tore it off like "this is for amateurs". I also laminated a biz card with contact info (at Kinkos) and cable tied it to the back of the harness.
Leashs are great! It is a very safe way to keeo your chd with you. But...and keep in mind I am not that submissive or inexperience parent-I have worked with preschoolers professionally for years from teacher to center director. My daughter had a leash but she found it HILARIOUS. She would tug and spin in it. My son adamently refused it. We went to the San Diego zoo when he was 2 and he would sit on the floor crying and pulling. We had a stroller and he would not sit in it and pulled his body up so we couldn't. He wanted to push the stroller, which would have been fine, but he did not want help and would push into everything and it was a mess. Our 6 year old wasn't in a good place, either, so trying to work with 2 age groups in hot weather, in a crowded place was NOT fun, and the snacks we brought between meals (and loooong lines for food) did not cover it. We left halfway through and it was a bummer because we flew to San Diego for vacation.
Now they have the backpack style so it’s less “leash looking”. Sometimes I think about those kids who end up bolting into a street or falling into dangerous areas (I’m looking at you zoos). Even well behaved kids will get excited and move without thinking. And they are FAST. I think people forget how quickly a child can slip away. Even if you are staring at them a stern look won’t stop a car.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
So scary!
I absolutely remember playing an impromptu and unannounced game of hide and seek with my mom in a department store by hiding in the middle of a clothing rack. Scared the living daylights out of her. When you're that little, the danger you could be in or the fear you could cause doesn't really compute. You're just playing.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
My daughter LOVED the clothing racks. I let her in the one I was at, and she had to move along with me, and she was not to mess with the clothes. She was allowed to go down empty aisles as long as we were talking with each other or she was singing but had an end point not around a corner as to not run into people and such. Once she got too silly and pulled her pants down. Oh boy. I was next to her and was grabbing food, caught the tail end. She is a ham to the video cameras, always dancing for them. But she was always had rules to follow. She had to touch the cart or sit in it. Once, 8 mo pregnant she (3) was fine and I was finishing up at the register and she walked off. I did not even know at the time if I took my card back & just followed her. She ignored me & I couldn't catch up. She got to the first of the double doors and I realized she was too far so I left the cart and caught up (running was difficult at that stage for me) and stuck her in the seat kicking & screaming.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
I addition to rules I was very candid to her, in an age-appropriate way about bad guys and how quick it can be and you have no idea who it is until it is too late. Glad my son is not experiencing the stores at this age due to the virus. He is a wanderer and would never walk at the store, he would need the cart seat even now at 4.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Me too. I probably only remember it because it was talked about so many times since then, because I was probably 3 or 4. Who knows what possessed me to step inside the clothes rack, but I think once there I probably thought it was fun / funny that everyone was looking for me. There should be no judgement on these parents, it takes literally 1 second to step inside a clothes rack and kids DO do it.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Parmeisan love
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
I was a wandering fool as a small child. I knew where I was. As far as I was concerned, they were the ones wandering off.
An teacher of mine taught us a life hack, take a picture of your children just before you go into a crowded place like an amusement park. So if your child goes missing and you panic and can’t recall what they are wearing you have the most current photo of them to show people (and remember yourself).
Which is good but also takes a long time to show people 1 by 1. Other options are wearing matching clothes, temp tattoos with a phone number, etc.
You don't have to show the picture to every person. Just look at it to remind yourself what they are wearing (if you temporary forgot or aren't sure anymore because of all the stress) before sharing the info with everyone else to help you look. It's also good to have a current photo in case things turn more serious and the security, cops and/or media need it or you need it to make flyers
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
I made matching shirts, neon dolphins on blue background. We were at a theme park, when the 5 yo took off, I told my 8 yo to check in the area that the park brings lost children while I took off in the distance. Went back, picked up the older one and returned to the area where we were when the little guy took off. Someone found him and was waiting for security to pick him up. She came rushing out to me-- 'you're so smart wearing matching shirts, however, he only told us that his brother was wearing the same color shirt , not the Mom too'--so not only can you point to your own top when describing the shirt, but the child can too in letting them know how to identify their parent(s).
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
You aren’t showing people one by one. But it’s the time of social media and the internet at our finger tips. It can get posted right to the police stations Facebook, someone in a retail store or even at the offices of an amusement park are going to have a printer. Or it’s just for you to have to refresh your memory. If you split into a group to search text it to each other so everyone has it. There is no WRONG way to help keep your children safe so let’s not discount anyone’s suggestions please.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Maybe you could print the multiple copies of the picture and hand it out to people, and tell the person to show it to others?
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
yes, this is why you're advised to yell what they're wearing, lol
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
ZooMom if youre implying I am discarding someone's method I suggest you re-read my comment. I will dissect as it appears reading comprehension failed you. 1) I stated "that"s good" What part of that implies I am discarding someone's method? 2) I offered a counterpoint that is 100% valid so don't discard mine. (wait, are you going to say you have every right to?) If I lost my kid I am not posting on social media and cops right then and there -that comes after an intial search. I am searching myself first. So, if I had a picture it would be a small image that I cannot share with too many at once (as it would be on my phone) I would be walking around. I have to give people time to process the image; therefore, I am moving around at more of a 1:1 pace than if I was yelling and reaching more people at once. and to Maanya - That works of your child has been missing awhile. if you're at the mall or a store and your kid wanders you don't pull out a printer from your purse|wallet.
Downvote monster is going to town on this reply section. I see 0 things here worth downvoting, so what happened?
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
My parents used to make me and my sister wear wristbands with their phone numbers on them in case we got lost.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
My sister in law showed me this trick. They live in St. Louis so this situation comes up a lot more for her. The idea is, you can show it to a security guard or other staff member.
I was paying in a newsagent and between getting my wallet out of my bag I looked back and my 3 year older was gone. It was a strip mall. We frequently went there. At first I wanted to check the other shops but thought if I stayed in the centre I'd be more likely to find him. Just like the post I kept calling him and shouting loudly what he was wearing a little boy, brown coat, blue helmet. A couple of minutes in a lady said she had seen him crossing the road. I ran in the direction and could see him in the distance with two women. I ran to him. The woman he was next to was also in the newsagents and he had followed her out as she was of similar build and hair color to mine. I was so glad to find him. But it was terrifying.
People knock the whole "leash" thing but it can happen in a second! So happy you found him
I would never judge a parent for choosing to use a leash, nor judge a parent for shunning them. You know your child best and both options are completely valid.
I see the leash comments are downvoted. That is wrong. Don't make assumptions that is bad parenting. It may not be your style, but it works well. Saved me several times with my son. Last time I used it he was 5. Took him to carlsbad caverns. Without the leash, he would have launched to the bottom. The purpose of the Grimm Fairy tales was to scare the kids so they would not wander into the woods and get lost. When he was about 3 && could understand, we deliberately scared him (without the leach, he could get lost && we could never find him) such that he would go get the leash. I took him to a lot of events in hotels. He would run out of elevators. Without the leash, I could not have caught up with him (I cannot run - bad knee). Obviously, I never let the door close on the leash. We used the harness leash. We tried the wrist strap. he just tore it off like "this is for amateurs". I also laminated a biz card with contact info (at Kinkos) and cable tied it to the back of the harness.
Leashs are great! It is a very safe way to keeo your chd with you. But...and keep in mind I am not that submissive or inexperience parent-I have worked with preschoolers professionally for years from teacher to center director. My daughter had a leash but she found it HILARIOUS. She would tug and spin in it. My son adamently refused it. We went to the San Diego zoo when he was 2 and he would sit on the floor crying and pulling. We had a stroller and he would not sit in it and pulled his body up so we couldn't. He wanted to push the stroller, which would have been fine, but he did not want help and would push into everything and it was a mess. Our 6 year old wasn't in a good place, either, so trying to work with 2 age groups in hot weather, in a crowded place was NOT fun, and the snacks we brought between meals (and loooong lines for food) did not cover it. We left halfway through and it was a bummer because we flew to San Diego for vacation.
Now they have the backpack style so it’s less “leash looking”. Sometimes I think about those kids who end up bolting into a street or falling into dangerous areas (I’m looking at you zoos). Even well behaved kids will get excited and move without thinking. And they are FAST. I think people forget how quickly a child can slip away. Even if you are staring at them a stern look won’t stop a car.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
So scary!
I absolutely remember playing an impromptu and unannounced game of hide and seek with my mom in a department store by hiding in the middle of a clothing rack. Scared the living daylights out of her. When you're that little, the danger you could be in or the fear you could cause doesn't really compute. You're just playing.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
My daughter LOVED the clothing racks. I let her in the one I was at, and she had to move along with me, and she was not to mess with the clothes. She was allowed to go down empty aisles as long as we were talking with each other or she was singing but had an end point not around a corner as to not run into people and such. Once she got too silly and pulled her pants down. Oh boy. I was next to her and was grabbing food, caught the tail end. She is a ham to the video cameras, always dancing for them. But she was always had rules to follow. She had to touch the cart or sit in it. Once, 8 mo pregnant she (3) was fine and I was finishing up at the register and she walked off. I did not even know at the time if I took my card back & just followed her. She ignored me & I couldn't catch up. She got to the first of the double doors and I realized she was too far so I left the cart and caught up (running was difficult at that stage for me) and stuck her in the seat kicking & screaming.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
I addition to rules I was very candid to her, in an age-appropriate way about bad guys and how quick it can be and you have no idea who it is until it is too late. Glad my son is not experiencing the stores at this age due to the virus. He is a wanderer and would never walk at the store, he would need the cart seat even now at 4.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Me too. I probably only remember it because it was talked about so many times since then, because I was probably 3 or 4. Who knows what possessed me to step inside the clothes rack, but I think once there I probably thought it was fun / funny that everyone was looking for me. There should be no judgement on these parents, it takes literally 1 second to step inside a clothes rack and kids DO do it.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Parmeisan love
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
I was a wandering fool as a small child. I knew where I was. As far as I was concerned, they were the ones wandering off.