Would You Microchip Your Child?

It's wonderful in theory... until we find out the chip causes cancer or some weird govt plot is tracking us or something. Also, the chip only comes into play once the person is found, no tracking. Kidnappers would just dig the chip out of the kid and plant it on a raccoon or throw it in a river... scary.

(and yes, my dog is microchipped)

Nope. I have the alternative of an engraved bracelet with my name and telephone number that he wears when we are out in large crowds.

No. Too much room for weirdness for me. I get freaked out when we start talking about bar codes or microchips in anybody!

the cat had a microchip & it still took 5 years, what good did it do?

No way! That is the mark of the beast.

I have a GPS locator on mine.

Microchipping doesn't transmit. You have to take the animal in and get it scanned at the vet with a special machine.

GPS, however, will locate -even if turned off- as long as the battery and sim card are in the same device.

It seems a bit too "1984" for me and I am not sure how it would really work as far as getting your kids home safe and sound. The microchip does not locate the lost pet - it is not a GPS device. It simply contains your information so if the pet is found and scanned for a chip, the pet can be returned to you. Unfortunately, a microchip is not going to prevent your child from getting lost or snatched in the first place and unless it somehow has GPS technology, it will not tell you their location.

No, and I've had one kidnapped, my son.

Nope, far too Big Brother/1984 for me.

I would get an ID bracelet or necklace for my kid if I was truly concerned with them getting lost.

No!!!

I'm very overprotected of my kids and worried about them all the time. But I would never microchip myself,nor my kids. It goes against what I believe in as a Christian. So No.

It would depend. If Alex's diagnosis was more severe then probably yes. I could see my sister doing it with her oldest who is Severely Autistic and non verbal and the fact that she Does try and run away all the time. But for my "typical" kids, not so much. I like the idea of the GPS units that can be put in shoes etc a lot more...they actually track, where a microchip has too many variables.

Absolutely not.

Why on earth would anyone do this? If your child is lost they will most likely be returned to you by a well-meaning citizen.

And if they're kidnapped (WHICH IS HIGHLY UNLIKELY), the kidnapper isn't going to take them to have their chip checked.

I would microchip the hell out of my kids.

Absolutely not! I don't trust the ways in which it could be abused, and if they start putting it in clothing I will remove it...

No. I don't own my child. Plus that's just wrong in my opinion on many levels.

Simple answer, Yes.

I would microchip any child or family member that has a tendency to run, get lost, forget or can not communicate well for sure. I would also microchip my child if they did not meet the previously mentioned qulaifiers. I have seen too damn many amber alerts, senior alerts and other issues to think it is not wise. As well there are too damn many "John and Jane Doe's" in this world and a micro chip would help. I get the government and who would regulate and all the other nasty horrible "big brother 1984" implications that come with it, but that does not stop me from wanting my son to be safe. Furthermore I would microchip MY SELF in the event it is needed.

Hell no - neither my child nor my pets will ever have electronic devices stuck in their bodies unless it's necessary to sustain life (e.g. a pacemaker).

No. Chips aren't always effective for pets, either. If the shelter has the wrong kind of scanner or doesn't follow protocol your pet Fluffy might still be put to sleep or never come home.

My cat is chipped. If he is found and turned into a shelter or Animal Control, he would be scanned and they could call me on my cell phone.

Maybe I would consider it for a child, I don't really have a problem with the idea. But it wouldn't work unless many people did it. Until it is common, who would think to scan them? In the meantime, my daughter is old enough to tell someone who her parents are and their phone numbers. So, the chip would only help if she were unconscious or dead?? Hmmm.... If I could find out sooner, again, maybe. Not knowing really sucks.

A microchip does not transmit, or connect to GPS to share location, it only contains identifying information. An ID bracelet that can't fall off or get lost. That's all.

Yes I would... just as I have my cats microchipped. I would hope it may have an optional GPS locator linked to it also that the child takes over once they hit 21 and can change the password or ability to have it on or off.

My kids enjoyed watching a documentary series about future inventions. Apparently at some point microchips will be embedded into our clothing. So this question might be moot.
The idea of having someone having access to where I and my loved ones are at all times is downright creepy. I don't think it's worth the benefits of tracking someone if they get lost.

Nah. My main thing is that if they don't transmit, then what good are they? If my kid goes missing, every police station in the area is going to have the info they need to ID her if someone finds her and brings her in, so the microchip would be unnecessary. It's different than a missing animal. When a child goes missing, hundreds of people search. Animals only have their owner, MAYBE the owner's friends and family. I don't know how many strays I have taken in over the years because I couldn't find their owner. I KNOW that if my child was missing and someone found her, they wouldn't simply decide to keep her, they would notify the police. The chip would be completely useless in a kidnapping situation too, because all it does is verify identity, not locate the kid.

Then if they DID have GPS tracking, I don't want her to be able to be 'tracked'. I don't care who 'controls' the info... anything done on the computer like that has the potential to be hacked, and I don't feel like it's safe. What if some crazy person saw my adorable kid in the store, decides she is just tooo cute, somehow taps into the frequency of her 'chip' and is able to stalk her? I HIGHLY doubt that would happen... but what if? I'm not concerned about privacy, after all she's my DD... I have a right to know where she is... but no one else does. I MIGHT consider it if it could be guaranteed 100% secure info, but I don't see how they could do that.

No, It seems like a security risk. Especially if it's not removed before adulthood.

My youngest yes.

My older two. No. I have faith that they stay where they are suppose to be...Because I keep track of them...myself.

Maybe once they were older....and ''Hanging out'' more away from home.

Heck no.
It makes you an overprotective parent.
it would be different if you lived in an unsafe place with a lot of crime.
we don't have to deal with that, so no.

That's a really interesting question. I think if my son was younger, and it was legal, I'd consider it. I'll be interested to hear what other's think about this.

If you ever had a child lost in a city where you knew no one you would think about it but I like the ones where they can be found by the police, Alzheimer's patients have them. They have some sort ot transmitter or something.

I'm sure it's an infringemen ton our rights, but I would sure think about it.

I wouldn't do it to my children. Then we would all be required to wear some chip that probably contained everything about us and when we walk around or in any building they could scan and know where people are. That could be a dangerous thing.
But our bulldog was dognapped from our house and we got a call 3 months later and he was 2 states away, a lady had found him running along a freeway ramp. He was wearing a spiked collar which was not ours. We got him back because of that chip! So I think it is a great idea for pets, because so many of them get lost/stolen.
As for kidnappings, the chip would have to have a gps signal so you could track. The kidnapper isn't going to take them anywhere to get scanned.

no way.

i love my right to privacy. and who knows WHO might hack into the database. Perfect - all the pervs out there now know where all my kids are at this exact moment. I don't think so.

EDIT: Riley says that they don't transmit. But still - NO.

I don't know...on the one hand it seems extreme and crazy, but if it were a chip with GPS traking abilities (the ones for pets are not) I can imagine it would be useful. If your child were lost or kidnapped. Maybe a watch or cell phone or somethig would be best, though a kidnapper might be smart enough to get rid of it...scary to think about...

Updated

I don't know...on the one hand it seems extreme and crazy, but if it were a chip with GPS traking abilities (the ones for pets are not) I can imagine it would be useful. If your child were lost or kidnapped. Maybe a watch or cell phone or somethig would be best, though a kidnapper might be smart enough to get rid of it...scary to think about...

I bet if Baby Lisa was microchipped her parents and police would know where she was.
I would. My pets were microchipped too. If my kid wondered off, got stolen out of his bed, got lost, was out with friends and disappeared then I would know where he was wouldn't I? Sounds a lot better than being panicked.
L.

5 years WITH a micro chip? Nah, I'd forego that.
ADDED~ what if the chip became loose in the blood stream and caused a fatal heart attack or stroke? I think being microchipped is just too weird.
As with ALL things handy or delicious, IT WOULD CAUSE CANCER.

It depends. If it was invasive, probably not. However, I read a few years back that there was forthcoming dental technology where they may be able to add a microchip to a sealant, or something like that. That being the case, I wouldn't hesitate. To put it in perspective, it may sound odd, but car theft is down. Why? Because cars, due to technology, are much harder to steal.If child snatchers knew there was a high risk of being caught, they may be less apt to do it.

I would like to say yes, but no probably not.. As much as I want to keep him safe and know what he's doing at all times, it would probably drive me to insanity...

I would. In a heartbeat. I've often thought that is a wonderful plan. Just think of all the abducted kids out there that could be reunited with their families.

Oh, how I've daydreamed about the ways technology could help me relax about my kids' whereabouts, but alas, I doubt any advances will ever take the place of good old fashioned communication. A microchip isn't a homing device, after all.

Nope,wouldnt do it. The chances of them needing it were too slim and besides back then they didnt have that stuff. But it made me think of how my son feels about things. He says the flu shot is a scam by the government to implant a tracking device in us so they can track us from a satellite in space! Im sure after I get my flu shot this fall that the feds will want to know every time I go to the bathroom or if Im in the kitchen cooking.

No, I wouldn't put anything under their skin due to risk of infection/allergic reaction. But I would have no problem microchipping their sneakers. I know some parents of teens using GPS on their cell phones to check they are where they are supposed to be....

Nope wouldn't do it. My cats arent chipped and the whole mark of the beast thing terrifies me.