Toddler 'Leashes'

Shelley - posted on 08/13/2009

Obviously, this is an old thread, but it just makes me think of Katt Williams:







I think this is a common American attitude toward child 'leashes'. I can easily see how one's attitude could change after actually having kids or living somewhere where walking is more common to the culture. I've always seen it the same as Mr Williams, but I have 14 month old twins. Who knows what's in my future?!

Alison - posted on 08/13/2009

Yes I thought this one had been laid to rest, but then I noticed it flash up on my screen. I thought it had been reopened for debate and thats why I put a comment on here about the main page. I wasn't trying to restart something. I thought others on here had restarted it. Even so, if people don't want to talk/read posts on this issue, they don't have to. No harm done.

Angie - posted on 08/12/2009

No its fine! I was thinking the same thing! :) I thought that is what you were saying, but wasn't entirely for sure...

Joy - posted on 08/12/2009

I just mean that this thread was gone for a long time and then it started on the Welcome page and I'm just over it. LOL I guess I shouldn't have made that earlier comment, but it's true. Here we go again....only this time I'm not gonna spend days and days defending myself or any of the other moms who use them. Sorry Angie...that earlier comment wasn't directed at anyone in particular....just the topic is back lol

Jodi - posted on 08/12/2009

I have never used one, but I don't have a problem with people who do. I can totally understand why they may need to. However, I have seen mothers in the local supermarket using one (and our local shopping centre is very small and rarely very busy during the day and totally safe), and I thought that would have been the ideal opportunity to not use the leash and use discipline to teach the child good habits, so I felt they were just using the leash because it was easier, not for safety.



You don't see them much in Australia. It sounds like it is not as common as in the US. I guess I have never really needed to use one with my kids. I wasn't having to cope with more than one toddler at a time because of the age gap of my kids. And they have both always been very good at holding my hand when near the road, or in a crowd. Usually if we went to a crowded place we took the stroller anyway and by the time they were 3, they didn't want to go in the stroller and they were old enough to lay down the law that they stay with me or they go into the stroller. They didn't want to go in the stroller, so they did as they were told. But it really does depend on where you live. We live on a busy road, but just a small walk away we end up in quiet courts and at the bicycle tracks.

Angie - posted on 08/12/2009

What do you mean joy?

Krista - posted on 08/12/2009

If someone wants to use it, that's fine, but I personally never would. My son holds my hand and doesn't let go if I tell him to. I started that at a young age. I realize things can happen, but I just don't see myself ever using one.

Joy - posted on 08/12/2009

Oh please, here we go again.

Angie - posted on 08/12/2009

I HATE THEM! :) Does bailing twine considered the same thing?!?!?!? hahaha, No I haven't wrapped bailing twine around my daughter.

Deanne - posted on 08/11/2009

I seriously needed one for my son, but he just sat on the ground or fought me the whole time to take it off. So we worked it out in other ways.
I was a 'leash kid'. Mum would never take it off me ;-) But I was an amazing little turd!

Alison - posted on 08/11/2009

I've noticed this one has come back up on the welcome page again. I'm not sure it ever went away. It seems like some of the comments are more tame on there these days (at least in relation to the leash issue).

Jennifer - posted on 08/11/2009

I think the backpacks are adorable! My husband and I have been planning on getting them for our kids years before we decided we were ready to have kids. If they had been on the market when I was a kid (and my parents could've afforded them), I would have wanted one. I don't think it's cruel to put a leash on your kid to keep them from running off or, heaven forbid, from getting snatched. I also don't think it's cruel to leash a dog, kennel a dog, or put a collar on a dog. Some people think setting boundaries for dogs is cruel - just watch any of the myriad of dog shows about out of control dogs. Some people probably think swaddling is cruel. Can't please everyone.



I don't think the backpack-harnesses hurt children, and as far as I can tell, they are not a safety risk. The children aren't going to get their feelings hurt that other people see them in the harness. What they will have is a tangible, physical representation of boundaries at a time when they might not understand it or think about it consistently.



On another note, I've seen parents who strap those things on to their kids go running around after their children as their children drag them from place to place. lol. It's not always the child being forced to follow their parents around. :)

Stacey - posted on 08/11/2009

Quoting Lisa:

I wish I had one! My youngest is a running, climbing, screaming ball of fury. If I had seen this a few years ago when I only had my 1st child I would have been one of those "disgraceful! tut tut, all you need is a firm hand" ladies. Sam is a gluestick kid, Luc is a ping pong ball. You grow and adapt. And get better equipment. I have never seen one for sale in my neck of the woods. Once I saw a woman checking into the same hotel as Luc and I, with one on her daughter - Luc was playing bumper cars with everyones luggage - and I smiled at her and said "where did you get that?", she shot me a dirty look and grabbed her daughter and scurried away. I figure she has had a lot of negative comments and because I was obviously content with my pet orangutang playing trampoline in the hotel lobby, she thought I was going to heap more on her. It was a serious question!! My solution has been to instigate iron-clad rules and no amount of screaming, clawing and chest pounding will sway me from my resolve. At 2.5, he is now more conducive to cooperating, but I have to be quick as lightening - today he almost bolted across the busy parking lot at the shoe store - I figure it is good for my aging reflexes...

i did that too to find out where they were lol turns out they were at walmart so i went and got one...holy cow my son can be a handfull ,people can tell me that i dont know how much i can handle but little do they know anything about me. Both children were a surprise and i FIRMLY do NOT believe in abortion and adoption i just dont. Children should be with their parents unless parents will harm the children. so say what you will infact i dont even know why its such a big deal ..because everyone on here says people have different styles...so why sit on here and complain about them?...if you think you are doing a good job then leave it at that and your child won't be on a leash or will...either way sitting here judging people who put kids on leashes isn't going to stop anyone. Atleast that;s what i learnt after me posting up is it bad to have a leash for your child. Some people agree some people dont...i just dont see the big deal..really...

JL - posted on 08/11/2009

Well I just got back from picking my daughter up from school. I get out and wait for her by the pick up door along with many other parents instead of waiting in the car because she is only 6 and I don't think she is ready for walking or riding a bus and the car pick up area where you can just stop and pick up the kid without getting out is always crowded. Anyway so I have my crazy 23 month old son with me and we are waiting outside and boom it starts to rain and I mean pouring down. My son whose hand I am gripping onto starts his yelling I STUCK routine because he wants to run out into the rain instead of staying under cover. After pulling and pulling he finally gets out of my grasp and off he goes before I can grab him up. Needless to say all the other parents are watching and laughing hysterically as my 23 month old son is running through the field in the rain yelling MOMMY ITS WAINING DIS IS FUN!



Now I am home and my daughter and I are both dry while my son I had to strip down because he is soaked from head to toe. Yeah....he listens and stands right next to me..No extra assistance from any backpack with a string products needed here..*sigh*

Esther - posted on 08/11/2009

lmao Lisa - I love the pet orangutang. I bought mine at Target. Here's a link: http://www.target.com/gp/search/187-9451...

Sharon - posted on 08/11/2009

rotfl lisa. ebay baby! or amazon.com



I actually rarely shop on ebay any more because the insane shipping prices negate deals on the items. but amazon is awesome.

Jinglebones - posted on 08/11/2009

I wish I had one! My youngest is a running, climbing, screaming ball of fury. If I had seen this a few years ago when I only had my 1st child I would have been one of those "disgraceful! tut tut, all you need is a firm hand" ladies. Sam is a gluestick kid, Luc is a ping pong ball. You grow and adapt. And get better equipment. I have never seen one for sale in my neck of the woods. Once I saw a woman checking into the same hotel as Luc and I, with one on her daughter - Luc was playing bumper cars with everyones luggage - and I smiled at her and said "where did you get that?", she shot me a dirty look and grabbed her daughter and scurried away. I figure she has had a lot of negative comments and because I was obviously content with my pet orangutang playing trampoline in the hotel lobby, she thought I was going to heap more on her. It was a serious question!! My solution has been to instigate iron-clad rules and no amount of screaming, clawing and chest pounding will sway me from my resolve. At 2.5, he is now more conducive to cooperating, but I have to be quick as lightening - today he almost bolted across the busy parking lot at the shoe store - I figure it is good for my aging reflexes...

Esther - posted on 08/11/2009

Quoting Joy "the historian":

I don't know about some of you but I find it rather difficult to sit down and try to talk and reason with a wild 23 month old little boy. I can tell my son no, come here, stand by me, don't do that, stop running, hold my hand and so on but lets get real he doesn't listen and he really does not comprehend. All he knows at his age is that there is something over there that I want to run to and touch.

With my daughter I did not use a backpack with a string attacked to it because she was very shy and stuck to me like glue my son on the otherhand well like I stated above he takes off as soon as he can. Even at home he runs around and hardly ever stops. When I go to the mall or to a store like Target I put him in a stroller or buggy but let me tell you half of the time in the buggy or the stroller is spent with him yelling out loud...I STUCK I STUCK HELP ME DOWN DOWN. Which is rather embarrasing because I am thinking people probably think I have kidnapped this kid with all his yelling about help me.

In some places you just cannot take a stroller..the stores do not have the room plus sometimes he just needs to walk instead of being strapped in but like I said before he is a runner and does not fully comprehend me saying to him stop walk with mommy. He wriggles from my hand and wants to run so I tried the monkey backpack which in my opinion is cute as hell. Well I WISH THAT THING HAD WORKED FOR ME. See I have 2 kids and a husband who is in the Army. He is usually gone and I don't live by family that can help me so I have to take both my kids with me if I want to get groceries or go to appointments. I cannot stay locked up in my house or keep my kids locked up in my house. I thinks those things are great if they work because they let your kid walk and teach them that they have to stay close to you without making them feel like your are holding them back with your hand. Unfortunately it did not work for my son..everytime I put it on him he backs up yelling WHOA WHOA and throws himself down on his butt. SO I have to drag him around and spend most of my time chasing after him or holding him while he screams HELP ME I STUCK.

Oh and not only does my kid eat off the floor but I have two dogs and he also eats out of the dog bowl, drinks out of the dog bowl, and sometimes he climbs into the dogs kennel and sleeps in it. So I guess my kid is part dog?!?

I'm laughing so hard Joy at the "I'm stuck" thing. Hilarious!!! I'm sure it's not as funny when it's your kid and you're in the middle of a store - but it's absolutely cracking me up. It reminds me of a story on Dr Phil once where a little boy who had been instructed about child abduction, would have temper tantrums and then when his mom would try to carry him back to the car he would yell (at the top of his lungs) "Help me, help me - this is NOT my mother!!" - LMAO.

Anyway, I have a leash too. The backpack kind. With a doggy. Never thought I would, but I had to do something, so I got one. It's absolutely cute (I even proudly posted a picture of Lucas wearing one on my profile page) and it worked for a (very) short period of time for us. I too have had people on COM tell me that I should just tell him about the dangers of kidnapping. I invited them to explain it to him and while they were at it, explain the Israeli Palestinian conflict to him as well. Give me a break.

ME - posted on 08/11/2009

My hubby is a manager of a small coffee shop in the subs of Chicago...He once had a family come in to his store with a child on a "leash", he whistled at the child like it was a dog, and said "come here boy, want a treat"...the Mom got irrate, and the dad laughed his ass off...I have no personal opinion of parents who choose to use these things, but I won't be using them, at least not with my son, for any kind of everyday use. He is VERY well-behaved, and the one time he got over-tired and acted up, I took him home from his tumbling class early...I GUESS I could see how he might be safer on a "leash" if we were in disney world or something...but otherwise, they are not for me.

Sharon - posted on 08/11/2009

I use leashes on my well trained dogs to keep them safe.



Why would I do less for my child? A leash isn't supposed to be simply to control your dog, it keeps them safe.



Its not just because a child will run off either. Although that was my primary reason for getting one.



We were frequently in crowded situations. I'm extremely watchful and keep a hand on my children at all times. But predators are getting bolder and bolder. In other countries its becoming "the thing" that children are snatched out of their mothers' arms.



I'd sort of forgotten but I took my SS and oldest to a virtual reality arcade while my younger son was an infant. I stood there with one hand on the stroller handle watching the other two run around. Nothing ever moved the stroller. He was sound asleep.



Then I felt some jostling. I yanked the stroller and there was my husband holding the baby - still attached to teh stroller by the leash on his wrist.



He had no idea I'd attached it (baby wasn't walking yet) ok ok ok it was my husband and I didn't go two whole minutes without looking at the baby. But what if? What if it were someone else I'd over looked?



I dunno. Its a safety for me.

JL - posted on 08/11/2009

Now once people start putting flea and tick collars on their kids or having homeaway chips placed into their skin then I will get worked up.

JL - posted on 08/11/2009

I don't know about some of you but I find it rather difficult to sit down and try to talk and reason with a wild 23 month old little boy. I can tell my son no, come here, stand by me, don't do that, stop running, hold my hand and so on but lets get real he doesn't listen and he really does not comprehend. All he knows at his age is that there is something over there that I want to run to and touch.



With my daughter I did not use a backpack with a string attacked to it because she was very shy and stuck to me like glue my son on the otherhand well like I stated above he takes off as soon as he can. Even at home he runs around and hardly ever stops. When I go to the mall or to a store like Target I put him in a stroller or buggy but let me tell you half of the time in the buggy or the stroller is spent with him yelling out loud...I STUCK I STUCK HELP ME DOWN DOWN. Which is rather embarrasing because I am thinking people probably think I have kidnapped this kid with all his yelling about help me.



In some places you just cannot take a stroller..the stores do not have the room plus sometimes he just needs to walk instead of being strapped in but like I said before he is a runner and does not fully comprehend me saying to him stop walk with mommy. He wriggles from my hand and wants to run so I tried the monkey backpack which in my opinion is cute as hell. Well I WISH THAT THING HAD WORKED FOR ME. See I have 2 kids and a husband who is in the Army. He is usually gone and I don't live by family that can help me so I have to take both my kids with me if I want to get groceries or go to appointments. I cannot stay locked up in my house or keep my kids locked up in my house. I thinks those things are great if they work because they let your kid walk and teach them that they have to stay close to you without making them feel like your are holding them back with your hand. Unfortunately it did not work for my son..everytime I put it on him he backs up yelling WHOA WHOA and throws himself down on his butt. SO I have to drag him around and spend most of my time chasing after him or holding him while he screams HELP ME I STUCK.



Oh and not only does my kid eat off the floor but I have two dogs and he also eats out of the dog bowl, drinks out of the dog bowl, and sometimes he climbs into the dogs kennel and sleeps in it. So I guess my kid is part dog?!?

Stacey - posted on 08/11/2009

people have different views and we all know that ...i personally couldn't give two shits anymore what people think of me when i use it because of course nobody is going to care about how I feel about my childs life..instead they seem to associate things with animals....its funny because my child doesn't walk on all fours.....or wear a collar for that matter...and he sits at the table when he eats and drinks...sounds pretty human to me :) oh but wait...he must be a dog....hes wearing a BACKPACK that has a string attached to it...OMG!!!...see how stupid that sounds????

Stacey - posted on 08/11/2009

i dont tie my child up when he acts up..if hes not listening when im trying to get something done i just work around him...i wouldn't tie him in a chair. i dont even use it all the time only when im going places that are full of people and traffic its nothing to do with laziness or anything like that its so i personally i dont know about anyone else can keep him from bolting off and stop at every stoplight and teach him to wait for the walk light to come on and look both ways instead of him bolting off when im trying to teach him and getting hit by a car...id rather my child live then die ....and if they weren';t helpful they wouldnt be made or sold also my family home visitor wouldn't be telling me that they are a good idea either...

Cathy - posted on 06/27/2009

Quoting Christa:

Quoting Catherine:

Quoting Christa:

What do you know I agree with you Traci :-) I personally don't like them and get really frustrated when I see parents using them. I suppose there may be different lifestyles that need them, but I can't think of any. I feel it does come down to discipline and not putting children in situations they are not ready for. Someone mentioned they might run into the highway, my child has never and will never be put in a situation where they could run into the highway. Like I said I guess different lifestyles may warrant it, but I just can't see a good reason to use them. I do find it a little abusive, granted I wouldn't call it child abuse, but when you are at home and your child won't sit still so you can get something done would you tie them to the chair? I view both behaviors similarly. But that's just me, everybody has their own parenting styles. :-)

 

Tie a child to a chair? Isn't that what the harnesses in pushchairs and in highchairs do? I personally wouldn't risk not securing my baby safely into either.

That's not what I was getting at.  You don't tie them there to restrain them and keep them from acting up, at least I don't.  Those are used so they don't slip out.  I don't see the leashes as a saftey precaution.  Like I said I don't put my children in situations where they need a leash.  Like walking down a busy street is not where we take our walks.

I never used a harness (we don't call them leashes in the UK) to stop my son acting up. It was purely a safety precaution. Ofcourse discipline was used for the most part to control his behaviour. But if he bolted infront of oncoming traffic he was protected.

I don't drive. I don't live in a place with good public transport. Walking is a big part of my life. I could strap my kids into a pushchair and let them be lazy. Or I can encourage walking as part of a good healthy lifestyles and know they're safe.

I don't view leashes, harnesses, reins, whatever you choose to call them any different from a seat belt in a car, harness in a pushchair or highchair or bars on a crib. They are all methods of preventing a child from getting seriously hurt.

Christa - posted on 06/26/2009

Like I said other lifestyles might warrant them, but I don't see a need. I'm not trying to tell you how to parent, you do what you think is best. I just don't agree with them. It's just my opinion. I chose to live in the suburbs so I don't have to walk down busy streets. Again it's the lifestyle I think is right to raise my children. You may make your choices accordingly.

Joy - posted on 06/26/2009

Last thing I'll say on this subject is that if I didn't walk down a busy street to take our walks, then we wouldn't take walks at all. We live on a busy street. There are no parks near my house and I rarely keep the car during the day. Christa, do you suggest that we not go for walks? Should I keep my son in the house 24/7 or confine him to a stroller when he's outside and not let him get any exercise? No. So we walk where there is a lot of traffic and while I hold his hand, I also have a strap around my wrist that is attached to his backpack so that IF he gets out of my grasp, he can't go far. Good grief, if I confined him to the stroller every time we took a "walk" then I'd be getting crap for never letting my child get exercise.

Christa - posted on 06/26/2009

Quoting Catherine:

Quoting Christa:

What do you know I agree with you Traci :-) I personally don't like them and get really frustrated when I see parents using them. I suppose there may be different lifestyles that need them, but I can't think of any. I feel it does come down to discipline and not putting children in situations they are not ready for. Someone mentioned they might run into the highway, my child has never and will never be put in a situation where they could run into the highway. Like I said I guess different lifestyles may warrant it, but I just can't see a good reason to use them. I do find it a little abusive, granted I wouldn't call it child abuse, but when you are at home and your child won't sit still so you can get something done would you tie them to the chair? I view both behaviors similarly. But that's just me, everybody has their own parenting styles. :-)

 

Tie a child to a chair? Isn't that what the harnesses in pushchairs and in highchairs do? I personally wouldn't risk not securing my baby safely into either.

That's not what I was getting at.  You don't tie them there to restrain them and keep them from acting up, at least I don't.  Those are used so they don't slip out.  I don't see the leashes as a saftey precaution.  Like I said I don't put my children in situations where they need a leash.  Like walking down a busy street is not where we take our walks.

Megan - posted on 06/26/2009

Oh just an addition... i dont think they are a substitute for good parenting... but a backup measure. Many of us lock our cabinets with cleaning stuff in them AND tell our kids not to go in them! same type of idea. I think that you should discipline your kids but take measures to "protect them from themselves" when need be. If your kids are school age they shouldnt need a leash at all!

Megan - posted on 06/26/2009

I think that they are handy tools for parents... and NOT abusive at all. We put our kids in carseats to protect them... this does the same thing. Not all kids need them.. but some do. When my baby is older i may get one because we live in the middle of town and there is a lot of busy traffic. I watched a guy get hit by a car two blocks from my house as he tried to cross the street... and i want to protect my baby from accidents like that. Toddlers just dont have enough self control to know better that to bolt out into the street.

If you use a leash you aren't treating your baby like a dog. That is like equating keeping your baby in a crib to caging a dog in a kennel. Not at all the same. I dont think you should leash them forever but it is a good idea if they are little and walking about. Plus it is much better to let kids walk about and get exercise than to have the constantly confined to the stroller or carrier. And constant hand holding when you are in the mall or grocery store can be exhausting- but you cant let your kids wander around at their own accord.

I think it is a great idea... and those cute backpacks they have! ADORABLE! LOL- my uncle was apparently a "bolter" back a million years ago and my grandma DID use a dog harness on him. Imagine the nasty looks she got back in the 70's! and amazingly enough he doesnt have to go to therapy because of it. lol

Cathy - posted on 06/26/2009

Quoting Christa:

What do you know I agree with you Traci :-) I personally don't like them and get really frustrated when I see parents using them. I suppose there may be different lifestyles that need them, but I can't think of any. I feel it does come down to discipline and not putting children in situations they are not ready for. Someone mentioned they might run into the highway, my child has never and will never be put in a situation where they could run into the highway. Like I said I guess different lifestyles may warrant it, but I just can't see a good reason to use them. I do find it a little abusive, granted I wouldn't call it child abuse, but when you are at home and your child won't sit still so you can get something done would you tie them to the chair? I view both behaviors similarly. But that's just me, everybody has their own parenting styles. :-)

Tie a child to a chair? Isn't that what the harnesses in pushchairs and in highchairs do? I personally wouldn't risk not securing my baby safely into either.

Alison - posted on 06/26/2009

I know I've beaten this one to death, but I personally think that making a child walk longer distances is a good opportunity for them to be outside and get pleanty of exercise. I suppose the whole running into the highway argument depends on how much you walk. The more you walk by the highway, the more risk there is that a toddler will break free.



I was even advised to use a harness by a health visitor to give my son more confidence while he was learning to walk. My parents also advised me to get one so he could walk on ahead and explore his surroundings. I suppose it all depends on how you view things, but I looked at it as a positive thing to give more freedom rather than a restraint.

Christa - posted on 06/26/2009

What do you know I agree with you Traci :-) I personally don't like them and get really frustrated when I see parents using them. I suppose there may be different lifestyles that need them, but I can't think of any. I feel it does come down to discipline and not putting children in situations they are not ready for. Someone mentioned they might run into the highway, my child has never and will never be put in a situation where they could run into the highway. Like I said I guess different lifestyles may warrant it, but I just can't see a good reason to use them. I do find it a little abusive, granted I wouldn't call it child abuse, but when you are at home and your child won't sit still so you can get something done would you tie them to the chair? I view both behaviors similarly. But that's just me, everybody has their own parenting styles. :-)

Christa - posted on 06/26/2009

What do you know I agree with you Traci :-) I personally don't like them and get really frustrated when I see parents using them. I suppose there may be different lifestyles that need them, but I can't think of any. I feel it does come down to discipline and not putting children in situations they are not ready for. Someone mentioned they might run into the highway, my child has never and will never be put in a situation where they could run into the highway. Like I said I guess different lifestyles may warrant it, but I just can't see a good reason to use them. I do find it a little abusive, granted I wouldn't call it child abuse, but when you are at home and your child won't sit still so you can get something done would you tie them to the chair? I view both behaviors similarly. But that's just me, everybody has their own parenting styles. :-)

Cathy - posted on 06/26/2009

Quoting Traci:

LOL...I could never do that to my kid, either! I mean, I don't throw my kids' food on the floor like a dog, there's no way I'm gonna put a leash on them, you know? I say, put the time into your kid and teach them to listen or put them in a stroller.

If your child has an underlying condition, such as autism or something...then I can understand the need for that. But if your kid is perfectly normal, be a parent and use some discipline, LOL ;)

Autism is rarely diagnosed at the age when harnesses are needed. I just thought my son was difficult !!!!

Traci - posted on 06/25/2009

Yeah, Joy, I totally understand...didn't mean to offend, it's just when I think of those I automatically think of "walking the dog". LOL I understand why women do it, it's just not for me :)

Joy - posted on 06/25/2009

When we go grocery shopping, we sometimes let him walk. He likes to "help" push the cart. We don't use the harness then. When we go to Wal Mart, same thing. This may change in the future as he loses his fascination with pushing the cart and starts trying to run away from us more. When we do use the harness, I ALWAYS still hold his hand. The harness is a good back up, just in case his sweatty hand slips from mine while we are near the many cars we have to pass on our daily walks. At the same time, I am teaching him safety by telling him how to properly cross a street, which side of the street is safer to walk on, etc. He's only 20 months but I figure it can't hurt to start teaching him now. Maybe if I lived in a less populated area I wouldn't feel the need to harness him. But we have to walk through a parking lot, past 20 cars before we even get to a grassy area.


And Traci, I wasn't offended except I didn't like that you implied that those of us who use the harnesses are treating our children like dogs. You also implied that we are not good parents if we harness, when it is just the opposite. We are being good parents (in our way) BECAUSE we harness. It's a safety measure that we feel we need. You may not use them and that's your choice. Doesn't make either of us poor parents...just means we make different choices.

Amie - posted on 06/25/2009

I don't really feel one way or the other on this topic. I can understand why people use them though. I probably should on my toddler and maybe our son to be honest. That girl can move,she's 2, and my god is she curious about everything. Our son is the same way, he's 4. He's a lot faster than she is though. LOL! They also are very personable children, I can not stand that!. It's not that I don't want my kids to be friendly but there is no reason to say chat up every person you see. All it would take is for me to turn my head for one second to deal with one of the other three and I could lose a child to some perv who thought it'd be a good idea to take them. That terrifies me.
So for now, when we're out... we have a double stroller for our youngest two, our oldest holds our sons hand and she holds onto mine. Makes for pushing the stroller interesting but it works. LOL. I'm glad when hubby is home, he pushes the stroller then.. haha.

Traci - posted on 06/24/2009

And, no I don't rarely go out...we're out all the time and my kids behave. They know I mean business. There is no reason a 4 year old should have to use that. At age 4 kids should know how to listen. My kids are 6,4, and 1, we are out all the time and I always get complimented on their behavior by strangers.



I'm not supermom or anything...Heaven knows they misbehave from time to time, but when they do there are real consequences that keep them from messing up again (until they forget again, LOL :)

Traci - posted on 06/24/2009

I wasn't trying to offend ladies. Sorry! ;) I've only seen people use those things at the mall. I mean, that's just lazy. How's your kid gonna get hurt at the mall? If the kid won't listen, they need to be in a stroller, I think. And isn't the thread called "Toddler Leashes"??? That wasn't my term, don't shoot the messenger! LOL :)

?? - posted on 06/24/2009

I think most people who think of kids in leashes also assume that people use it when the child is 5+ years old! I think the leash dealios are PERFECT for 1-2-3-4 year olds that have an attention spans like goldfish and the curiousity of the discovery channel!!!!!



At 1-4 years old - I don't think relying on discipline in public is not the best idea, most situations where people use the back pack leash or the wrist leash it's a safety measure not just cause the parent doesn't want to / is too lazy to discipline or have to pay attention to their child.



I have yet to meet a 1-4 year old that abides by road safety, thinks about "stranger danger", obeys their parents word 100% of the time when they are in public. If your child does, 100% of the time, good job!!!!!!! Your child is a rare creature! And I'd also have to assume you very rarely go out lol

Sarah - posted on 06/24/2009

I think it all depends on where you are really. I mean in town or near busy roads, crowded places etc, i think it's not a bad idea. If mum's were using it all the time everytime they left the house, in the park or whatever, then it's taking it too far!
I don't think the putting the food on the floor thing is a fair comparison really.
I can see why people may not want to use them i guess, but i don't think it's a bad thing to use them.
As for the discipline thing, that takes time, and while they're learning there are certain situations where it's better to be safe than sorry i reckon! :)

Alison - posted on 06/24/2009

Quoting Traci:

LOL...I could never do that to my kid, either! I mean, I don't throw my kids' food on the floor like a dog, there's no way I'm gonna put a leash on them, you know? I say, put the time into your kid and teach them to listen or put them in a stroller.

If your child has an underlying condition, such as autism or something...then I can understand the need for that. But if your kid is perfectly normal, be a parent and use some discipline, LOL ;)

Lol. My son does eat off the floor sometimes, runs barefoot outside and is allowed to run nude round the house. I suppose the leash is all part and parcel of the same thing. he he

?? - posted on 06/24/2009

If your child is "perfectly normal" they will listen when they want to listen, not listen when they are supposed to listen and they will take whatever discipline they get if they really want to do something they know they shouldn't do but do it anyways. Sometimes that extra lil precautionary step is not only necessary, but the responsible thing to do.



I'm sorry Traci but I have to disagree with you, in some situations, it would be bad parenting to rely on the idea that discipline is what will keep a toddler from doing something that could be not only harmful but could cause death or the disappearance of a child. I would rather know my son is attached to me with a cute back pack than hope that when he sees that lil puppy and starts running after it onto the highway he will stop and think "Oh no. Mommy will be mad."



A parent should know that just because your toddler is disciplined doesn't mean they always listen lol perhaps your toddler is dull and boring or doesn't like to explore or test their boundaries... or perhaps your toddler won't explore or test their boundaries because mommy beats them if they do LOL



I hope Traci, you weren't implying that any mom who chooses to take the precaution of using an adorable backpack leash or an extra strap around the wrists so that their child doesn't run out into traffic or chase a dog around a corner and end up getting taken by someone, is a bad parent or a lazy parent? I certainly wasn't implying that EVERY mom who DOESN'T, has a boring child or beats their child.

Joy - posted on 06/24/2009

Quoting Traci:

LOL...I could never do that to my kid, either! I mean, I don't throw my kids' food on the floor like a dog, there's no way I'm gonna put a leash on them, you know? I say, put the time into your kid and teach them to listen or put them in a stroller.

If your child has an underlying condition, such as autism or something...then I can understand the need for that. But if your kid is perfectly normal, be a parent and use some discipline, LOL ;)

I AM a parent and I DO teach my son to listen and I DO use discipline.  The "leash" as you call it, is a backup only for me.  I don't walk him like one would walk a dog.  It's an extra safety precaution, that's all.  If you lived where I live and had to take your daily walks where I have to, you might change your mind.

Traci - posted on 06/23/2009

LOL...I could never do that to my kid, either! I mean, I don't throw my kids' food on the floor like a dog, there's no way I'm gonna put a leash on them, you know? I say, put the time into your kid and teach them to listen or put them in a stroller.



If your child has an underlying condition, such as autism or something...then I can understand the need for that. But if your kid is perfectly normal, be a parent and use some discipline, LOL ;)

?? - posted on 06/22/2009

I have an inkling I'm gonna need one for Gabriel! His dad had one when he was little (I hear about it all the time from his mom & grandma), he always ran off, he wanted to see everything, he wanted to chase every dog & cat he saw, he wanted to climb everything that you could possibly climb, and the harness was the only thing that kept them assured that he wouldn't get lost, taken, attacked by an animal, fall off something or get hit by a vehicle.



Some people NEED things like this, or be doomed to a life of staying inside because if they told Devon "we're not going anywhere until you agree to hold my hand" he would say "alright, cool ! I'll be in the yard." or "ok, I can climb things here." So they had to find something to keep him under wraps while they were out



Our son is like his daddy in every single way that he can be so far, so I'm thinking as he gets older, he will be more and more like daddy. I am definitely open to any possibilities - especially if he's gonna be like his daddy in THAT way. He will be leashed, or he will be strapped into a stroller....... I'm not ok with staying home 24/7 cause he wants to run off and explore! There's a time and place for that, and while we're out runnin errands is not that time or place!

Savannah - posted on 06/22/2009

I have used one before and it was a disaster! My son just sat down when he realized he couldn't run off and yelled LET GO LET GO! ha ha. I think they are great if you kiddo uses them, especially when you have a carseat in one hand and cant go chasing after a litle kiddo. I have talked to plenty of people that thought they were cruel... until they had their own children, that is. I think they are great. I would rather my kid not get hit by a car.

Alison - posted on 06/22/2009

Quoting Joy:

Quoting Alison:

My post will probably annoy some anti leash people because I think the "monkey back pack" is very cute. I've only ever seen one and my son thought it was "Curious George" (a monkey in a kids show for the benefit of those who didn't know) and kept trying to follow this child around to look at it. He asked if he could have one and I said no because he is getting to old for a harness now. I wish I had known about them when he still needed one. I might get one anyway if the leash part is designed to come off.

Yes, the leash part comes off.   They have them at Wal Mart for only $10.  The monkey one is very cute.  As for the "backpack" part...really it's only big enough to maybe hold a sippy cup but I'm sure later on we'll use it to carry a small toy or whatever my son can cram into it lol

yay. I'll head to Wal Mart when I get back to the states. he he

Joy - posted on 06/22/2009

Quoting Alison:

My post will probably annoy some anti leash people because I think the "monkey back pack" is very cute. I've only ever seen one and my son thought it was "Curious George" (a monkey in a kids show for the benefit of those who didn't know) and kept trying to follow this child around to look at it. He asked if he could have one and I said no because he is getting to old for a harness now. I wish I had known about them when he still needed one. I might get one anyway if the leash part is designed to come off.

Yes, the leash part comes off.   They have them at Wal Mart for only $10.  The monkey one is very cute.  As for the "backpack" part...really it's only big enough to maybe hold a sippy cup but I'm sure later on we'll use it to carry a small toy or whatever my son can cram into it lol