using a leash on your toddler? - need tips on going out with 20mo & newsborn!

Ashley - posted on 08/17/2010

I have a 20 mnth old son, how is very out going and hates to hold my hand. I brought a harness with a leash attached, we use it if we are walking to the park and dont need a bag BUT if we are in the car and my son has is bag (lunch box, drink and nappies) i will put his bag on him and attach the leash to the back pack that way he feels like a big boy but he can not runn away from me. you could always put a harness on your Son and attach the strap to the pram/stroller. hope this helps

Kimberly - posted on 08/14/2010

We have a leash for my daughter too. She is super independent right now and just discovering her freedom.. read: ignores me and wanders away when I call her back... and going out with a newborn and toddler is bad enough!! My MIL hates them, but I don't care. With the people out there, I would rather my babies be attached to me so I know they are safe!! Now it's still tough because she does pull away from me even with the back back leash on, but that is something we work on. I vote Yes to the leash.

Vanda - posted on 08/14/2010

my sister has one and she thinks its great they do come in handy and alot safer then the leash on the arm, as i would worry about hurting there arm at least with the harness you have more support for you and your child and plus i wouldnt care if anyone looked as everyone has been there with there child so just ignore them if they do

Mia - posted on 08/14/2010

i havent used a leash thing since the time we got barked at and today i braved a shopping trip with my toddler holding onto the trolley rails. and guess what? i lost him! we were down a busy ile and he took of in the gaps infront of me and i couldnt get to him. i couldnt shoot after him coz i had my daughter in the trolley capsule thing and there was no room for me anyway! i went and got my husband from the deli meats section and he ran around the store looking for Isaac. Just caught him as he went out of the store through an empty check out!!!! Cant believe it, no one helped to catch him and i could have lost him for real.
so deffintatley going to look into the harness thing with back pack. hopefully i wont get as many looks with that one, but now i dont care as i know that i need to do that for my sons safety.

Charmaine - posted on 08/13/2010

i have a 21 month old and a 4 month old i recently brought a childs back pack it is a monkey and the tail is extra long and u hold it so the kids thinks is a bag but is really a harness it is fantastic!!! I have my dd2 in the baby carrier or pram and let dd1 walk and ever since she has had it she has started holding my hand! i love my harness and thinks theres nothing wrong with them

Jennifer - posted on 08/13/2010

I think the term "leash" makes it seem like a form of child abuse (imo). But a safety harness can be a great way for a toddler with emerging independence issues.
We use the harness with my son when he needs to stretch his legs and feel like he's a big boy (he's 21 mos.) He'll fight being restrained in a stroller or strapped into a grocery cart. But he doesn't see the harness as being confined against his will. He's so happy to be walking around that he thinks he is more free to roam than he actually is. It's a win/win for our household. :)

Vanda - posted on 08/13/2010

i think them hand leashs are cruel you are better off with a harness they are much better you can get ones that are like backpacks to put on your child, i dont use anything on my daughter as she is quite good and walks along with me and my partner but we all cant be that lucky i personally would suggest the harness that fits around them as i think having something attached to there wrist is wrong and cruel

Mia - posted on 08/13/2010

hmm i think people dont really get the whole leash until they find them selves using one. i used one a couple times with isaac when i was heavily pregnant and couldnt run after him, and i wasnt "carrying anything" but it was a way lot easier for me. and also, it worked better than using my hand at the time coz he could wonder of a little bit, he had a little independence that way, where as the hand is more restrictive.
but what put me off using one was when my next one was born & me & hubby went to the shops, i was using one on isaac and i had some 30year old guy with nothing better to do "bark" at us for like a whole minute non stop. that was very embarrassing!
but thank you for the reasurance that im not the only one to consider using it and that at least the people that are in the same situation as me dont feel its too drastic.

Eliz - posted on 08/13/2010

I'm not a big fan of them but I do believe if they are used properly they can be a good idea. What I mean by propery is as a back up messure for making sure they don't run off and not using them like dog leashes. Some of you reading this will probably think "who would use it that way?" but let me tell you about my step sons mother. I took her to the grocery store to get some chicken and instead of using the least as a back up messure and holding his hand (she had nothing else to carry) she used it like a dog leash. She only held the leash and when he started to pull from her she would tug on it like you would do to get a dog to heal. It was terribly embarassing since people were watching her. Put the leash around your wrist and try to hold his hand when you don't have a bunch of things to carry. Its a very good preventative messure if your child won't listen and tries to run off.

Anna - posted on 08/12/2010

I used to be 100% ANTI-leash and would think parents were terrible for using them. When I became a mom and my daughter started walking, we bought one. I don't think it only prevents them from running off, it also helps prevent someone from taking them. If she was harnesed into the backpack and I had ahold of her, no one would be able to easily snatch her. We got her a backpack one which she enjoyed however it didn't take long for her to want to hold my hand and we didn't need it anymore.

Shelly - posted on 08/12/2010

Nope! I have a 2 and 4 year old....my 4 year old is fine walking with me, but the 2 year old is a runner!!! and I am not willing to risk his safety, just cause some people stare and give me looks like I'm crazy for having him on a leash. You do what works best for you!!

Caitlin - posted on 08/12/2010

I had one for my daughter when she first started walking because she refused to hold my hand and would go anywhere, now she holds my hand fine, so it`s not so bad and I carry the baby in a snuggli for brief outings.. I do have a stroller, but when I go shopping I find it is easier to have the snuggli and my daugther in hand (or on a leash). A leash is there to keep your child safe, not drastic. You need to make sure they don`t run away from you because you can`t always bolt after himm with a newborn. I prefered the leash to the arm rein, but only because i've seen too many moms using the arm rein to drag their kids, which doesn't look healthy. The leash is cute (mine is a puppy backpack with a "tail" that is a leash) and it allows her to wander a bit, but lets me keep her reined in and away from danger.

Sarita - posted on 08/12/2010

No its not too drastic. My 20 month old son has suddenly discovered the freedom of running away from us so we have invested in an arm rein. This gives you and your son a lot more freedom. It works for us. Just try it as they are not very expensive.I was advised against the harness and reins as you end up straining your back.