A Mom’s Safety Hack: Parenting Genius or Too Much?
Parenting comes with endless challenges, but there’s one universal fear that every parent shares—losing their child. For North Carolina mom Vada Stevens, that fear led her to an unconventional solution: Apple AirTags.
Her decision, shared in a viral TikTok video, has sparked a heated debate online. In the video, Vada explains how she attaches AirTags to her children, using a bracelet design she found on Amazon. She even uses the devices’ beeping sound as a signal to call her kids back—a trick she humorously compared to “training a dog” in her caption.
@stevensfam Today we are dog training 🐶 Outfits: @Kailani Kids Mom genius: @Lacey Johnson ♬ Funny Music Background – original_soundtrack
In the clip, Vada demonstrates how it works. After activating the sound, her kids come running from another room to see what Mom wants. “I saw a TikTok about a mom who did this,” she says in the video, “and thought it was the coolest thing.”
The internet had a lot to say about this. While many parents applauded her creativity and commitment to safety, others were quick to criticize her methods.
One supportive comment read: “This is brilliant! Safety first. I’ll definitely get these for my younger kids.” Another parent chimed in: “It’s the world we live in. Keeping kids safe is what matters most, no matter what others think.”
But not everyone was on board. Critics questioned whether this approach might cause unnecessary anxiety for kids—or even cross a line into helicopter parenting. Vada, however, took the backlash in stride, playfully responding to one commenter: “Stick around. Some of these comments are hilarious. My favorite so far? Someone said I’m traumatizing them.”
At the heart of the debate is a universal question: How far should parents go to keep their children safe? For Vada, the answer seems clear. “Better safe than sorry,” she said, standing firm in her decision.
What’s your take on this parenting hack? Would you try it, or do you think it’s a step too far? Share your thoughts and tag a friend who might have an opinion!
