[TikTok | @jesmartini]https://www.tiktok.com/@jesmartini/video/6896905621824654598?is_copy_url=1&is_from_webapp=v1

Brilliant Tip From TikTok Helps Mom Find Her Lost Son

Parents have a lot to balance and deal with when they take their kids out for errands or shopping. Besides balancing the endless list of things they need to do for their families, making sure that their kids stay directly by their side can be pretty difficult when they're out and about.

Every parent's worst fear is having their kid go missing when they're out.

Having their little one run away and out of sight is enough to bring on a complete and total panic attack for any parent.

While it sounds like "neglectful parenting" to some, many parents have lost a child in public places.

Unsplash | Artur Tumasjan

More often than they want to admit, it's common for parents to lose sight of their child when in public places like stores and even airports, according to parents' accounts.

But what do you do when you can't find your son or daughter?

Unsplash | Jomjakkapat Parrueng

Many begin to panic when they can't locate their child, unable to think clearly about how to operate. Some call 9-1-1, while others run for the store's management or anyone nearby.

Recently, one mom remembered a video that she saw on TikTok when her own son went missing in a store.

Unsplash | Todd Cravens

An Australian mom was in her local K-Mart when she realized she could not find her two-year-old son, Nathan. She began panicking immediately but a tip that she learned from TikTok helped her immensely during those awful moments.

The mom remembered a TikTok video talking about this exact situation for parents.

[TikTok | @jesmartini]https://www.tiktok.com/@jesmartini/video/6896905621824654598?is_copy_url=1&is_from_webapp=v1

The TikTok video suggests that parents should not stay idle or quietly go to the security or management in a store. Instead, parents should immediately tell anyone in the nearby area that a child is missing.

The video urges parents to yell their child's full name loudly.

[TikTok | @jesmartini]https://www.tiktok.com/@jesmartini/video/6896905621824654598?is_copy_url=1&is_from_webapp=v1

Parents should also begin loudly describing their child's clothes and appearance.

The video says to shout out their details repeatedly so that every adult or person in the nearby area begins to look for the missing child.

The original TikTok video came from a mom of three named Jess Martini.

[TikTok | @jesmartini]https://www.tiktok.com/@jesmartini/video/6896905621824654598?is_copy_url=1&is_from_webapp=v1

The mom says it has worked with her own children and she wanted to share the advice.

"Now you've got every single person who is around you looking for your child instead of just you and, best case scenario, somebody finds your child and they return them to you.

"Worst case scenario is somebody was walking away with your child. They're more likely to let them go because they don't want that sort of commotion."

The mom from Australia said she did just that.

[TikTok | @jesmartini]https://www.tiktok.com/@jesmartini/video/6896905621824654598?is_copy_url=1&is_from_webapp=v1

As she looked for her son in K-Mart, the mom gave her son's name and description to anyone nearby.

"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 mom said people responded immediately.

"I had every adult around me on alert. They all threw aside what they were looking at and started searching too," she told The New Zealand Herald.

Shortly after, Nathan was found.

The mom said it was thanks to that video that she was able to locate her son.

"So to all parents out there, if your child goes missing, do not search in silence or just call out their name. Shout out loud and clear. Say that they're missing, give a description and repeat, repeat, repeat!"

Many people on TikTok chimed in with advice and commentary on missing children.

[TikTok | @jesmartini]https://www.tiktok.com/@jesmartini/video/6896905621824654598?is_copy_url=1&is_from_webapp=v1

One woman said, "A parent searching for their child loudly like that is a battle cry" and that everyone would jump in to help.

Another told parents in this situation not to be "ashamed."

[TikTok | @jesmartini]https://www.tiktok.com/@jesmartini/video/6896905621824654598?is_copy_url=1&is_from_webapp=v1

Some moms may feel ashamed or "worried about being judged" for losing their kid, but they shouldn't be. This person said they would, "drop everything to help a stranger look for their kid."

One mom offered some expert advice.

[TikTok | @jesmartini]https://www.tiktok.com/@jesmartini/video/6896905621824654598?is_copy_url=1&is_from_webapp=v1

One mom said security in a retail store shared that if a child is kidnapped, the kidnapper might change the child's clothes but they usually won't change their shoes. So, moms should always remember which shoes their child is wearing.

Another mom said to always tell a worker.

[TikTok | @jesmartini]https://www.tiktok.com/@jesmartini/video/6896905621824654598?is_copy_url=1&is_from_webapp=v1

Many stores are trained in protocols for this type of problem happening. One person shared that once she lost her daughter in Target and they, "locked the doors immediately."

One mom said she's told her son to always look for another mom.

[TikTok | @jesmartini]https://www.tiktok.com/@jesmartini/video/6896905621824654598?is_copy_url=1&is_from_webapp=v1

That way, another mom with kids will know what to do and who to go to with the lost child.

Good advice!

h/t The New Zealand Herald

Filed Under: