Looking for Medical Allert for small child.

We purchased a medical alert bracelet for our son when he was about 15 months old directly from Medical Alert (medicalalert.ca in Canada and medicalalert.com in the US). In Canada we pay a one time fee for a lifetime membership. In the US I think there is an annual fee which would add to the cost. They provide a variety of bracelets to choose from in a wide price range. My son also has a metal sensitivity so we did end up having to get one of the more expensive ones. The nice thing about Medical Alert is that they keep a detailed file regarding your childs medical condition which is accesible worldwide. Unfortunately the bracelets don't come small enough for very young children but we had ours sized at a jewellers for a small charge. I kept the links so that I can get it sized back up as he grows. I have heard (at least in Canada) that generic imitation bracelets are available at department stores like Walmart. They are not as well made and you don't have as much choice in what they say. Hope this helps. I also recall that this has been widely discussed on this site before so you might want to do a search of the site as well.
JLS

My son is 14 months old and we went ahead and ordered him the "small" bracelet from MedicAlert. I did it over the phone and the rep told me that there is also a "child" bracelet but she read me the actual dimensions and the emblem was only something like 1/8" smaller, plus the "child" emblem does NOT have the red symbol. She told me that they actually don't recommend that one because it's not as noticable as the regular one. Anyway, Isaac is pretty small even for 14 months and his bracelet is fine. It came in the mail and I sat down with my pliers and removed about 5 or 6 links to make it fit. Sure, the emblem covers nearly half his wrist, but it works and it doesn't seem to bother him.
I'm in the U.S. and I think i paid $35 for the bracelet and first year's membership. it will be $20 every year thereafter to keep his information active.
Miriam

Hi! I ordered mine from a company called Medic Assist. Their website is [url="http://www.medicassist.com."]www.medicassist.com.[/url] The bracelet was only $14.95. You also pay extra for engraving and for the red medic alert charm. All totaled w/shipping and handling I paid around $35 (US). My son is four and has been wearing it since he was 3.
**One point though,it is listed that the bracelet we use has small parts and is a choking hazzard for children under 3 yrs. (I think that is why I waited until he was 3 to get it.) Still, that is probably a consideration for any jewelry you put on a child under 3 yrs. Just an FYI**
[This message has been edited by kelly01 (edited March 20, 2001).]

I think my son was about 18 months when I got his Medic Alert. I ordered the smallest one but you can take it to a jewler and have links removed to make it even smaller. I do pay an annual fee but I like that if anything happens, medical people just have to call the phone number any time of day or night, give the number on the bracelet and they can have my son's medical history, emergency contact information, whatever I want to list on my account. It's a piece of mind I don't mind paying for. The bracelet itself never comes off my son's wrist, he plays with it, takes a bath with it, swims at the Y with it, etc. I think I put it on him at such a young age that he never noticed it. Now that he's two and noticing everything, it's just a part of him and he doesn't play with it or try to take it off.

In the Main Discussion Board under the following topics you will find a lot of info and options -
MedicAlert's # 1-800-432-5378 Thread started by Coco on March 27, 1999
Medic Alert Breakage Thread started by Coco on March 19, 1999
MedicAlert Bracelet Info Thread started by Anna on August 13, 1999
Hope this helps,
Sue in Sunny Arizona