<![CDATA[Has anyone genuinely lost their kid in a crowd before?]]>What I meant is that you lose contact with your kid for a good 15 min, no sight nor sound. This horrible experience happened to me this evening …


I fetched DS from childcare and while waiting for DW to arrive (she was driving today) I tooked out DS’s spelling book to read as I usually do. DS saw he’s classmates and immediately zoomed to that direction. I didn’t bother as I was too engrossed with DS’s work. When I turned around - must have been only a min - DS was no where to be found.

I combed a 20m radius, shouting his name but in vain. I was in a housing estate and line of sight was limited. I was getting :x with DS for the torment he was causing me. I resolved to give him a tight slap once I find him, one that he’ll not forget easily. So far I’ve only smacked his buttocks, and even that is few and far in between. But this time I was boiling mad.

After 5 min, panic overwhelmed anger. I recalled a story I heard about a mother losing her kid in Disneyland and the kid was never found again. If the same thing happens to me, I know that I will not be able to live properly again. I started to pray very earnestly as I always do when I’m in deep trouble. By this time, DW also joined the search party.

After another 10-15 min, we finally found DS crying at a coffeeshop 100m away from our last rendevous pt. He was surrounded by a group of concerned aunties. Incidentally this pt proves that most women have a natural empathy towards small children. Despite seeing my DS’s panic-stricken face, I managed to give him a stern scolding. But I’ve totally forgotten about my earlier resolve to dish out some corporal punishment. I’m just happy to have DS in one piece. For today at least, I no longer cared how well he did for his spelling.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/topic/9125/has-anyone-genuinely-lost-their-kid-in-a-crowd-beforeRSS for NodeSat, 18 Apr 2026 12:37:23 GMTFri, 26 Feb 2010 16:15:02 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to Has anyone genuinely lost their kid in a crowd before? on Wed, 07 Sep 2011 06:07:25 GMT]]>I myself got "lost" before when I was very young, must be about 3-4 yo. Our HDB block was the old long type with 2 staircases one at each end and I stayed on the 10th floor. One evening, I decided to walk to the far side of the block and go down the staircase for fun thinking I will just walk back up and go home. However, after going down a few flights of stairs, I gostan back up but aye…how come all the floors looks so unfamiliar? I must have gone down a few flights, went up, overshot my floor, then go down again and then lost energy already. Realized I was lost and burst out crying for papa (incidentally wondered why I did not cry out for mama instead?). Something wet trickles down my legs, looked down and realized I had urinated in my misery. I was clinging on to the staircase metal railings tightly half-way on one flight of staircase. After a while, I saw a pyjamas clad pair of legs coming down the staircase. It was my papa! He took my hands and we walked up again and came to the correct floor. Turned out I was stuck on the 8 1/2 floor!


Mmm…I must ask my parents whether they remember this incident and confirm how old I was.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/578054https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/578054Wed, 07 Sep 2011 06:07:25 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Has anyone genuinely lost their kid in a crowd before? on Wed, 07 Sep 2011 05:41:59 GMT]]>

poppy15:
So family of 4 went on holiday and only 2 came back home! Colleague said after they came back they could not sustain the strain and later separated.

:yikes: ................ when did this happen?[/quote]

Not sure, I must check with my colleague. That's what she told me : imagine at the immigration check-point the immigration official asked how come 4 went out but only 2 came back? 😢

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/578012https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/578012Wed, 07 Sep 2011 05:41:59 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Has anyone genuinely lost their kid in a crowd before? on Wed, 07 Sep 2011 05:38:34 GMT]]>

Chenonceau:
Buy a child leash and tie it to your wrist. It is attached to the child with a child harness, and is added protection when travelling. I tend to be very absent-minded when there are lotsa stuff to attend to. I hold the child's hand ON TOP OF the wrist-leash attachment. And when I forget and let go his/her hand, I still have the wrist leash attachment. However, I still try my best to keep a hold of the hand because I fear that someone with cut the leash.


I know. I am paranoid.
I am taking note of this in case in future we travel out with our kids.
Oh no, not paranoid. Better be safe than sorry!

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/578005https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/578005Wed, 07 Sep 2011 05:38:34 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Has anyone genuinely lost their kid in a crowd before? on Wed, 07 Sep 2011 02:14:00 GMT]]>Never lost my kids before. But there is always that fear. From the time that they start toddling I will insist that they not wander off alone. My friend told me about how she was going into the lift with her son, the boy got in and the door shut on her with the boy in the lift. She was frantic. From that incident, I taught my kids never enter the lift before us,and if ever they get into any lift without us, press number 1 and get out there. Then we realise some places like hotels and commercial buildings don’t have level 1, they either label it G or L so we told them if cannot find number 1, look for number 2 or 3, the 1st number to appear on the buttons.


The other thing we told them is, if they get separated from us, to stay put and not run about to find us, we will find them. Also never to follow anyone they do not know. If someone were to grab them they are to scream at the top of their voice.

They are now 6 & 8 and will still hold on to our hands when we are out. DD is more gungho so we have to reign her in at times. So far, luckily, no chance to see if they understand what we have been telling them.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/577630https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/577630Wed, 07 Sep 2011 02:14:00 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Has anyone genuinely lost their kid in a crowd before? on Tue, 06 Sep 2011 15:05:15 GMT]]>A terrible incident which occurred to my cousin 30 years back, also overseas. My aunt brought my cousin (who was abt 3 years old then) to a department store. She was engrossed selecting goods and didn’t realize my cousin was gone. She searched frantically, screaming her name still couldn’t find her. Then suddenly, she saw her. A man was carrying my cousin, about to walk out of the store. My aunt screamed her lungs out and the security guard at the entrance became alerted. The man realized he was being found out swiftly put my cousin down and ran away. This incident was really scary. My mom told me of this incident only recently when I had my first child. Thinking back, it’s no wonder why my mom was always so paranoid and protective of me and brother when we went out during childhood years.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/577404https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/577404Tue, 06 Sep 2011 15:05:15 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Has anyone genuinely lost their kid in a crowd before? on Tue, 06 Sep 2011 14:50:32 GMT]]>It’s very important to teach the kids from young NOT to enter the lift without adults. Even when the lift has arrived, don’t dash in. I myself had a bad experience when I was 5 years old. It occurred overseas at my grandparents’ home which is in a residential cum commercial building (with massage parlor, hostels etc) The lift came and I became impatient as my family were still slooowly locking up the door. So I waited for them in the lift. But as the lift was kept at our level (L8) for too long, it shut automatically even though I kept punching the ‘OPEN’ button. I ended up moving to other levels. My grandpa ran frantically down level by level to see where the lift had stopped and to see if I walked out of the lift. My parents stayed put and waited anxiously at L8. I could see their pale faces when I finally arrived back safely. Of cos, my mom scolded me upside down for not waiting for them.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/577396https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/577396Tue, 06 Sep 2011 14:50:32 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Has anyone genuinely lost their kid in a crowd before? on Tue, 06 Sep 2011 14:25:31 GMT]]>

Strparent:
poppy15:

heard of the JB case? while in the shopping mall, the little girl was whisked off by a stranger & got all her hair cut off & changed into boy's clothings... if nt for the quick actions of the security guards, think she wld hv been lost forever... 😓


hi poppy15,

I thought this happened in Singapore about 8 to 10 years back ?
alleged malaysian syndicate ( men and women ), worked very fast in big shopping area ( like Isetan or Metro ). They bundled a girl quickly into a changing room, use chloroform on her, cut her hair off, changed her into boy's clothes, then carried her off in their arms, like a little boy who had dozed off. very pro.

I remembered that period, I was more alert with my DD as she was like 2 yrs old.

you mean it happened here before? :nailbite:

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/577380https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/577380Tue, 06 Sep 2011 14:25:31 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Has anyone genuinely lost their kid in a crowd before? on Tue, 06 Sep 2011 13:08:30 GMT]]>I have experienced at twice.Its very horrible experiences.


My first experience with my elder son.He was 3-4 yrs old.He entered the lift without me and he can't reach to press the button.When I reached the lift someone left from the lift.But the lift goes up with him.I just waited and prayed for the lift coming and he was coming back.

Second incident I almost lost her about 10 mins.I carry things in my two hands.My two kids running infront of me.That time my son in P1 and my DD 3-4 yrs old.Usually my son took care her to entering to lift without parents.They just went to nearby lift then came back to me.That day they were running infront of me and my son came back to me.I asked him where is sister? He said he doesn't know. :shock: Our house near by road.So I panicked and looking up and went to my house then go down, again searched everyfloor.Finally, my husband found one lady brought my DD to her house.She said she was standing in letter box area and crying.
Thank God for showed her.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/577321https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/577321Tue, 06 Sep 2011 13:08:30 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Has anyone genuinely lost their kid in a crowd before? on Tue, 06 Sep 2011 12:33:09 GMT]]>Buy a child leash and tie it to your wrist. It is attached to the child with a child harness, and is added protection when travelling. I tend to be very absent-minded when there are lotsa stuff to attend to. I hold the child’s hand ON TOP OF the wrist-leash attachment. And when I forget and let go his/her hand, I still have the wrist leash attachment. However, I still try my best to keep a hold of the hand because I fear that someone with cut the leash.


I know. I am paranoid.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/577305https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/577305Tue, 06 Sep 2011 12:33:09 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Has anyone genuinely lost their kid in a crowd before? on Tue, 06 Sep 2011 12:24:46 GMT]]>this happened in london recently.


a couple with their kid were in a shop. parents turned to look at some electronic gadgets and kid who was standing next to them vanished almost immediately . luckily mum only looked away for less than a minute and notice her disappearance. mum and dad rushed out of shop (located in a mall) and as it wasnt crowded were able to spot kid about to walk out of mall with another lady. they shouted for help and both the lady and kid were stopped by shoppers and security guards.

checking the video in the shop, it showed the lady just walked up next to the kid, held her hand and walked out of shop in less than a second. kid was too shocked to scream.

so no matter how many times we told our kids to scream and shout, sometimes they would just freeze cos’ such things never happen to them before. better watch the kids.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/577301https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/577301Tue, 06 Sep 2011 12:24:46 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Has anyone genuinely lost their kid in a crowd before? on Tue, 06 Sep 2011 11:57:26 GMT]]>

poppy15:
heard of the JB case? while in the shopping mall, the little girl was whisked off by a stranger & got all her hair cut off & changed into boy's clothings... if nt for the quick actions of the security guards, think she wld hv been lost forever... 😓

If I were the parent, I'll give a 5 figure reward to the security guards and volunteer to host them whenever they visit S'pore, such will be my utmost gratitude towards them.

I'm not rich but for some things, a simple 'thank you' is just not enough. I mean what's the pt of having lotsa of money in the bank but lose your child forever.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/577275https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/577275Tue, 06 Sep 2011 11:57:26 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Has anyone genuinely lost their kid in a crowd before? on Tue, 06 Sep 2011 11:30:33 GMT]]>once at bugis junction, my dd run ahead id me and told me she knows where daddy was. However instead of walking straight towards her daddy she made u 90 degree turn.


We did not know that she was missing until like 10minutes later. I tot she was at the play area next to the shop.
Aftertat panick struck,e went frantically looking for her. Thankfully a staff saw her crying and asked her for our hp no.

So glad tat we found my dd.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/577255https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/577255Tue, 06 Sep 2011 11:30:33 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Has anyone genuinely lost their kid in a crowd before? on Tue, 06 Sep 2011 10:38:34 GMT]]>

poppy15:
heard of the JB case? while in the shopping mall, the little girl was whisked off by a stranger & got all her hair cut off & changed into boy's clothings... if nt for the quick actions of the security guards, think she wld hv been lost forever... 😓

hi poppy15,

I thought this happened in Singapore about 8 to 10 years back ?
alleged malaysian syndicate ( men and women ), worked very fast in big shopping area ( like Isetan or Metro ). They bundled a girl quickly into a changing room, use chloroform on her, cut her hair off, changed her into boy's clothes, then carried her off in their arms, like a little boy who had dozed off. very pro.

I remembered that period, I was more alert with my DD as she was like 2 yrs old.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/577243https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/577243Tue, 06 Sep 2011 10:38:34 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Has anyone genuinely lost their kid in a crowd before? on Tue, 06 Sep 2011 09:52:16 GMT]]>

poppy15:
DesertWind:

When there, the younger one somehow got lost and they were looking for the kid frantically pulling their older one along. Then one concern stranger couple told them they will help to look after their older kid while they go look for the younger kid. In their panic and confusion, they left their older kid with the stranger couple. Came back, they could not find the couple and their older kid too! So family of 4 went on holiday and only 2 came back home! Colleague said after they came back they could not sustain the strain and later separated. Yikes, really make my hair stands and face pale.


:yikes: ................ when did this happen?

This sounds a lot like the story that happened in Hong Kong Disneyland. It's supposed to be an urban legend.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/577212https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/577212Tue, 06 Sep 2011 09:52:16 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Has anyone genuinely lost their kid in a crowd before? on Tue, 06 Sep 2011 09:06:58 GMT]]>

DesertWind:
When there, the younger one somehow got lost and they were looking for the kid frantically pulling their older one along. Then one concern stranger couple told them they will help to look after their older kid while they go look for the younger kid. In their panic and confusion, they left their older kid with the stranger couple. Came back, they could not find the couple and their older kid too! So family of 4 went on holiday and only 2 came back home! Colleague said after they came back they could not sustain the strain and later separated. Yikes, really make my hair stands and face pale.

:yikes: ................ when did this happen?

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/577177https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/577177Tue, 06 Sep 2011 09:06:58 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Has anyone genuinely lost their kid in a crowd before? on Tue, 06 Sep 2011 04:39:56 GMT]]>Recently my 4 yo boy ran off on us at the Changi Airport 2 - Swensens for a few seconds and already I was really alarmed!


We just finished eating dinner and as usual, my boy tends to run off straight after eating even though the rest of us have not yet finished. My hubby and maid were with me and normally, I would pay the bill and hubby/maid will keep an eye on my boy or run off with him. This time round, dunno what happened, we all walked towards the crowded entrance of the restaurant and I queue up to pay. Hubby queued up with me which I wondered why but he said he will keep me company. I thought maid is with my boy but after a few seconds I saw my maid also standing around the crowded entrance looking bored. I caught her eye and asked where is the boy? She looked surprised and said she thought the boy with Sir? Yikes! I look around, where was he?

All looked pretty alarmed and instinctively I looked towards the small indoor playground just a short distance away from the restaurant and true enough he was there playing! He has pretty good memory and without waiting for any of us, he had ran out of the restaurant, down the steps and ran a distance to the playground!

I controlled myself not to scream at my hubby/maid but just said to remind All of us that we must not lose sight of our boy for even ONE second!

When I mentioned this incident to my colleague, she told me of her friend who went to the U.S Disneyland with her hubby and 2 kids. When there, the younger one somehow got lost and they were looking for the kid frantically pulling their older one along. Then one concern stranger couple told them they will help to look after their older kid while they go look for the younger kid. In their panic and confusion, they left their older kid with the stranger couple. Came back, they could not find the couple and their older kid too! So family of 4 went on holiday and only 2 came back home! Colleague said after they came back they could not sustain the strain and later separated. Yikes, really make my hair stands and face pale.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/576719https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/576719Tue, 06 Sep 2011 04:39:56 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Has anyone genuinely lost their kid in a crowd before? on Fri, 02 Sep 2011 03:27:17 GMT]]>heard of the JB case? while in the shopping mall, the little girl was whisked off by a stranger & got all her hair cut off & changed into boy's clothings... if nt for the quick actions of the security guards, think she wld hv been lost forever... 😓

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/573301https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/573301Fri, 02 Sep 2011 03:27:17 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Has anyone genuinely lost their kid in a crowd before? on Thu, 01 Sep 2011 11:58:38 GMT]]>One horrible touch and their lives will be ruined. Ever since I have my third one, I stopped

watching crime series like Law and Order SVU which I used to find interesting. Now
the images of what happens in the series stays in my mind and I become a bit overly
protective of my kids esp knowing their tendencies to wander off. Now Singapore
is becoming more populated, everywhere there are crowds, it increases the
danger 100fold and sick people may think that they can try something
as they may feel they can get away with it as the crowds make it
difficult to find a lost kid nowadays.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/572601https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/572601Thu, 01 Sep 2011 11:58:38 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Has anyone genuinely lost their kid in a crowd before? on Thu, 01 Sep 2011 09:19:57 GMT]]>lost dd in the pasir ris library once and that was something i dont wish to happen again. the pain, the worry, the heartache, the helplessness are really unbearable. not everyone is able to help and i can still remember running all around white sands crying for dd.


i am one of those who would want to have the kids near me everywhere we go. dh will let them go anywhere they like in the toys department or library. i dont like that. too many strangers and sick people around. one touch is able to damage a child forever.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/572363https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/572363Thu, 01 Sep 2011 09:19:57 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Has anyone genuinely lost their kid in a crowd before? on Wed, 31 Aug 2011 14:01:42 GMT]]>Ds1 used to b the kind that wouldn't walk away fr me, so I was rather relax when i had ds2. When he was 2yrs old, we lost him in bugis bhg. We were looking at toys n I thot ds2 was w dh, n he thot he was with me. When we realised he wasn't next to us, we searched the aisles and called for him... Took us 10 mins to locate him quietly playing the toys at a different section! He was too short to spot, can't speak properly, n doesn't bother to respond when called :frustrated: ... Till this day (5) he still is not afriad to wander off, so we always make sure we keep an eye on him. 😓

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/571427https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/571427Wed, 31 Aug 2011 14:01:42 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Has anyone genuinely lost their kid in a crowd before? on Wed, 31 Aug 2011 13:23:11 GMT]]>This is such an old thread. Reading about my aweful experience in the first post still disturbs me. If I lose my one and only son, I think my life will have no meaning anymore.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/571407https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/571407Wed, 31 Aug 2011 13:23:11 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Has anyone genuinely lost their kid in a crowd before? on Wed, 31 Aug 2011 11:30:54 GMT]]>I have been glad that I have never lost my child until I got panicky - until about 2 months back. I was walking DD home from school and got a call from my DH. Started talking to him and didn’t realize DD had quickened her pace and gone ahead of me. By the time I hung up my phone, she was nowhere around, could not even see her 100m ahead. It was HDB area, and there was upgrading going on, with construction workers resting around at the void decks (lunch hour).


I reminded myself that she’s familiar with the area and know where she was going - until I approached the traffic junction. I could see her little figure standing at the traffic lights, and she had already walked past the zebra crossing by herself. THAT was when panic struck me. She had never gone so far ahead of me before. When I got to her, the lights hadn’t turned green, but my face had.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/571358https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/571358Wed, 31 Aug 2011 11:30:54 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Has anyone genuinely lost their kid in a crowd before? on Tue, 30 Aug 2011 03:22:24 GMT]]>

poppy15:
i almost lost my DD once, or so i thought. It was in 2009, 1 day before cny eve. My neighbourhood here had a pasar malam and it was very very crowded.


DD was with my uncle
Sometimes I wonder what I would do if it is my child was with someone else
and my child wondered off, would I blame them even though I myself
have lost my kids before? In my sane moments, I think I will say I will not but
in that moment and if kids remain lost, I don't know what I will do.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/569891https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/569891Tue, 30 Aug 2011 03:22:24 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Has anyone genuinely lost their kid in a crowd before? on Tue, 30 Aug 2011 03:20:01 GMT]]>

concern2:


Think the worst is to lose your kids at the airport in a foreign country, like what chief had experienced. Reminds me of my dream of running with my kids in a chaos, only to realize later that I wasn't holding on to my own kids!! Xiao liao!
That is the worst nightmare of a parent. To lose your kid in a foreign country
and some of those countries have a lot of child predators. Makes me :yikes:
when I think about it.

I think if we lose our kids before, sure have nightmares one. :nailbite:

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/569889https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/569889Tue, 30 Aug 2011 03:20:01 GMT