Website Spotlight: Child ID

Child ID, an online ID card service, now offers an effective way to confirm a child’s identity and provide the guardian’s contact info.

Its photo ID cards for kids offer a simple way for a lost child to be identified and also give important information to caregivers.  Made from the same durable PVC plastic as credit cards, they resist bending, scratching and liquids.

The parent or guardian chooses a template on the Child ID website and enters the required information (child’s name, guardian’s name, and guardian’s contact information) plus optional information such as date of birth, height, weight, blood type, and allergies, and uploads a photo. Special cards for children with a heart condition or autism are available.

Bag tags are also available. These are simplified IDs with slot punches that can be attached to backpacks, cubbies or clothing.

The cost is $9.95 per card, including prompt shipping, from https://child.idcardsonline.net.

More than 464,000 missing-children reports were filed with authorities in 2017. Many of these frightening incidents can be avoided by having children carry contact information at all times.

Besides the child, it makes sense to give copies to babysitters—so that they have key information handy—and teachers, who will have a durable record of the child’s needs and medical information. For parents, keeping the ID in their wallets ensures they always have a durable up-to-date photo of their child at all times.

Having medical information always handy is crucial for children with conditions such as severe food or bee-sting allergies. It could potentially make the difference between life and death.

I had a chance to interview David Allen, Business Development Executive, to learn more.

Why was Child ID created?

Child ID Cards was created by some of us at InstantCard. As an ID badge supplier, over the years we’ve had quite a few requests for child IDs. As parents ourselves, this made a lot of sense to us. (If you look on the website, the images of the blonde girl holding the card are, in fact, those of my daughter!) So, we decided to create a standalone service for just this.

What are its advantages over other potential identification products?

All our child IDs are printed on extremely durable PVC stock, using scratch-resistant thermal retransfer printing. Basically, that means they are way more durable than other options, and the printing won’t scratch off like some cheaper card-printing technologies.

Additionally, we came to realize that these IDs are extremely useful to attach to backpacks, personal belongings, etc. So, we’ve made sure to include numerous options with a slot punch. Of course, this means a kid can wear their ID on their neck or wrist as well.

In our templates, we’ve really made all information optional, allowing parents to display only the information they want, which gives way more flexibility than an “official” ID, and allows them to put any kind of special information they deem important. Because, you know, every kid is different!

In that vein, we’ve done our best to make special IDs as parents have suggested them—IDs for children on the autism spectrum, with heart conditions, etc. I’m not aware of anyone else providing durable, professional badges for these special cases; but we believe it is totally worth the time and effort!

Of course, we also have some “novelty” designs. These came as a direct request from our own children. The son of another parent at InstantCard actually requested a firefighter ID (he liked his “regular” badge so much, but the thought it could be even cooler); so, we put up a firefighter design!

How often should parents consider getting new child IDs?

This varies for each kid and how quickly they change. We’d say that so long as the photo looks up-to-date, then you’re good to go. Of course, they should be changed if any contact information changes as well.

Really, the thing to consider is the number of cards. A lot of parents only order one, thinking that their child will simply carry it. However, a few have come to realize that it’s worth having a few for personal belongings, for the parent to keep an up-to-date photo on them, to give to caretakers, etc.

Child ID is a new offering from InstantCard. Since 2007, InstantCard has been America’s first 100 percent web-based employee photo ID card service. Using cloud-based technology, InstantCard creates ID cards quickly, easily and cost-effectively. Trustpilot gives InstantCard a five-star “excellent” rating.