If your child's identity is ever stolen, thieves can't open a credit line. Levins explains, "They're not going to be able to take out a credit card or apply for loans or other things on credit because the credit report will be frozen." The major benefit of a security freeze is that it restricts access to a consumer’s credit file, making it harder for identity thieves to open new accounts in the consumer’s name.



You can start as soon as your child is born. The moment you have a social security number, you can open a credit report. "As soon as you have a social security number, that can dictate a lot. It goes with you the rest of your life."