The kid leash

Mamamonzo

So I don't know if this is a controversial topic being a FTM..so sorry if it is.  What are you thoughts on the little leashes...harness things?  I don't even know what the proper name for them is.  I honestly don't think they're a bad idea in a huge crowd, however, the other day DH and I were walking through the mall and watched a dad yank the leash so hard that his kid fell to his butt.  I just saw another one all hooked up (a young trick or treater)  I was just wondering what others thought about them? 

Sisimama10

I wouldn't ever put my kid in one.

Mamamonzo

Sisimama10 said:

I wouldn't ever put my kid in one.

I think I would feel like I was walking a dog. Lol

Twirple

Personally, I told myself that I would never use one, and I haven't.  However, there have been times that I thought about reconsidering.  I used to judge people who use them, but I don't anymore.  I think it is better than letting your high energy toddler run out into the street!

I would totally judge the father that jerked his kid off his feet though.

Sisimama10

Me too! If I have to wrangle my kid in a crowd when she was younger I would put her in her stroller. Now I just hold her hand.

jessech89

I'm a triplet, all three of us had to wear them in crowds until we got old enough not to wander off. I hated it! We always got tangled up. Looking back I feel bad more for my mom than myself though. Poor woman had to put up with three screaming leashed toddlers!

KatieGummow

I imagine they would be so embarrassing.  Especially when the older brother or sister holds on to the leash.  I totally get why they are useful, and they are safer than having a child run loose, but I think I will have DH or a babysitter stay home with the child while I shop...

ETA; didn't make sense

TallaB

My dog is a great listener, and I have to leash her. So, if my toddler is a flight risk who doesn't listen, I have no problem leashing them. I could probably leash the toddler and the dog together and have my hands free!

But seriously - to each their own. If your child is a flight risk or a horrible listener or throws a fit in the stroller/holding hands, then whatever works.  But, don't yank the kid around!!

kalmte214

You can buy shirts that say "Free the leash kids."

I don't think kids belong on leashes, but who knows, I may think differently at some time.

jobabyyy

I don't think i'd use one...but I think it's a better alternative for those who just let their kids run around public places...

CurlieWhirlie

I totally do not judge parents who use these in crowded, stressful situations with highly mobile toddlers. I have never, just because I prefer to stay out of situations like that with my kid, but I do completely understand why these were invented. 

RebeccaY1

I don't judge these people because I don't know their child or their reasons for using this.  

summershanty

I have no problem with people using them if the kid is a runner.  Rather the kid be safe than possible wander off, be kidnapped, etc.

Rrrrrachel

I think if your kid is an early walker/runner they can be a sanity saver. I don't judge. We haven't felt the need,though.

Alana1977

I used one with my daughter when snd wS three. We were in a busy mall buying winter boots. She was sitting in the aisle trying on a pair and I turned around for all of five seconds to ask the clerk to grab a differ size. Long story short she was missing for fifteen minutes and the whole mall was on alert. We bought one the same day.

KatieGummow

Alana1977 said:

I used one with my daughter when snd wS three. We were in a busy mall buying winter boots. She was sitting in the aisle trying on a pair and I turned around for all of five seconds to ask the clerk to grab a differ size. Long story short she was missing for fifteen minutes and the whole mall was on alert. We bought one the same day.

This makes me change my mind.  Sorry you went through that!

katiedidthat

We've used the wrist-to-wrist straps with my niece. When she was about 3 she bolted on a busy street in Washington, D.C. and slipped out of my sisters hand. From that point on, we made it a point to make sure she couldn't get further away from us than 2 feet. You do what you think is necessary to keep your kid safe, if someone isn't hurting their kid- it's really none of your business. I'd rather see a kid walking happily with a harness/backpack on than one screaming and crying in a stroller on a sidewalk.

amhah09

Twirple said:

Personally, I told myself that I would never use one, and I haven't.  However, there have been times that I thought about reconsidering.  I used to judge people who use them, but I don't anymore.  I think it is better than letting your high energy toddler run out into the street!

I would totally judge the father that jerked his kid off his feet though.

This. I swore I would never use one and I still say I won't but there are times I know it could be really handy. I have other mom friends who use them and love them too. I don't judge people who use them because after all, safety comes first! But yeah it's NMS.

strawberrytree

My kid is really good about listening and staying close to me so I don't feel I need one, but if I had a runner I wouldn't hesitate to get them for things like crowded festivals, malls, the zoo, etc. Personally, I would rather see a 3 year old who has trouble listening and staying close on a leash than strapped into a stroller all the time. 

My big parenting rule is 'never say never.' 

Sarahjess06

I always thought I would never... And I haven't. That being said I have thought about going and buying one many many times. There was about a 6 month period, I wouldn't taken son out in public bc he was THAT bad.

MamaFantastic

they are very VERY necessary in certain situations and with certain types of children.  i have a 3 year old with a give-a-damn type personality who loves to run away from me for the heck of it.  i'd totally consider using a leash in an airport, Disney, etc.  we've never actually used one with him but i do not judge people who choose to use them.

this is one of those cases where i will very boldly and confidently say "do NOT judge until you've been there!" to any FTM who becomes all aghast and indignant at the idea of a kid leash.  the "just use a stroller, just hold his/her hand!" comments make me laugh.... hard.

don't judge until you've been there, and even if you HAVE been there...  don't judge until you've been in a crowded, hectic place with a perennial bolter who has no sense of danger or consequence.

for me, the "my kid is alive and by my side" factor trumps any sense of shame or guilt in using a product of that nature.

Mamamonzo

@spasticfantastic Well said! 

cfthoct292011

I like to take my niece pretty much everywhere with me and i used one qhen we went to the aquarium one year. Simply because it seemed like all of NJ was there and people were so close together. DH likes to just let her run off but im paranoid because he wasnt holding her hand at times. Other than that time I wouldnt use one unless i end up in a crowded place like that again but i keep it in my car. You never know what can happen qhen chaos surrounds you.

Cecilbear

Oh, those make me so sad. However, I love the look of a trail of little kids on a fieldtrip all holding onto a rope. I will never tie my children up, but I think it's cute and okay to ask them to hold onto something while in public--even if it's just my hand. 

FTMapr2014

First off, yanking a kid off his feet, not cool.
I used to judge parents who used these very harshly. But then a coworker who is a single dad told me how necessary it was for his kid and I completely understand. I hope I never need one but if I have a runner, it will be considered.

NYJodway

My sister used to use one for my nephew in potentially high-risk situations for him: airports, the zoo, etc... he was an extremely strong and fast runner and climber.  It was absolutely the best way to ensure his safety, and I'm so glad that my sister had the wisdom to prioritize the safety of her child and not inappropriate judgments from strangers. 

Of course, now that he's an adult, he and my other nephews run a parkour/free running training academy.  There are times when I'd like to put them all on leashes now, but they tell me they're too old for that. 

Beckypooh09

Not for me and I hate to judge but I just can't help it when I see a kid on a leash.

Rrrrrachel

"You'll never tie your kid up?" So you don't plan on using strollers, car seats, or baby wearing? Because those all restrict your child's mobility, too.

It's a tool. Period. It can be used well or used poorly but I don't get all the pearl clutching about it.

strawberrytree

Cecilbear said:

Oh, those make me so sad. However, I love the look of a trail of little kids on a fieldtrip all holding onto a rope. I will never tie my children up, but I think it's cute and okay to ask them to hold onto something while in public--even if it's just my hand. 

Lol. Because two-year-olds are renowned for their ability to follow instructions at all times, even when they see something so cool they absolutely must run and check it out. My kid is better than most at following directions and even he has bolted when he saw something irresistible. You better start praying you don't get a runner. 

kwolslager

My mom used one on me! She had three kids under 4, and going anywhere was a challenge. She said going to the grocery store she'd have the youngest in a front pack, the middle in the seat on the cart, and me on a leash. She had an elderly man stop and scold her for it once.

I know that they also make leases on little kid back packs. They really come in handy when you're going somewhere crowded or not safe for a little kid, such as walking on a ferry. I mean, they have a pretty good rail, but the leash definitely gives parents a peace of mind.

cdominique11

. I have one with my 3 year old. That was the best $15 ever spent. My son is autistic and sometimes he want to walk around, rather than being in a stroller or basket, so that's when it comes in handy.
Now yanking a kid or treating them like an animal is not called for. When I'm ready to move to another location I simply tell my son "let's go". Some people treat their kids like that cause they don't care.

Mamaengen

I feel like the insane rates of child abductions in this country are reason enough to leash kids who run away. We wore then as children and we're not scarred for life (we actually thought it was fun), so I don't see anything wrong with it. I feel like, while it might be a bit embarrassing bc I know people might judge me for it (go figure-they do for breastfeeding in public too!), I think my job is to keep my kids safe. So, if that's the best way to do that, then I'll let the scoffers scoff. They will anyway. At least the kid is safe still.

thomas930

I'm not ashamed to say that I used one with my daughter and believe it or not, she loved her "monkey backpack" as she called it. She would bring it to us in the house and ask us to put it not her. She was also a child who learned to walk by 10 months old and absolutely hated the stroller even more so after shw learned to walk. You can't expect a 1 year old to always hold your hand.

I only judge when I see misuse. 

AcaAwkward

We don't have one at the moment, but I have definitely thought about investing for places like the airport, the fair, tailgating, etc. DD is decent about holding our hands 70% of the time, but the other 30%... WATCH OUT. Having a runner, even an occasional one, can be so stressful and scary in a crowded public place. So... NOPE, do not judge one single bit. Unless I saw Yank-age. Not cool. 

I actually think DD would love the little animal backpack versions -- we saw a little girl the play area in the airport with a puppy one and DD was fascinated by it!

hlm184

My mom used to use one on me, until I started using it to clothesline (yes, deliberately) strangers at the mall.

I'm totally cool with them.

twinklemoon

I don't like them.

babybarnes87

My MIL used them for DH's rambunctious younger twin sisters (one was a runner). I think it's acceptable to use for certain kids/situations/environments. No judgment here!

Mustardseed2007

karissamonzo said:

So I don't know if this is a controversial topic being a FTM..so sorry if it is.  What are you thoughts on the little leashes...harness things?  I don't even know what the proper name for them is.  I honestly don't think they're a bad idea in a huge crowd, however, the other day DH and I were walking through the mall and watched a dad yank the leash so hard that his kid fell to his butt.  I just saw another one all hooked up (a young trick or treater)  I was just wondering what others thought about them? 

I saw something very similar on our last trip to WDW. I saw a mom yank her kid and he fell over crying. Then she was yelling at him about how it was his fault he fell.

 

I too used to think they were NBD, but that has made me rethink whether I would use one. I totally see how they can be practical, and I would never yank on my kid like that. But it also made me start wondering if your kid could be running while you are stationary, that probably could cause your child to be unintentionally yanked back by them and really hurt themselves.

 

abbeylanecb

I quickly learned never to say never in parenting, of course not abuse. If you need it use it. No judgment from me.

Eta: I tired it once with my 2 year old and he literally laid on the ground and wouldn't move. I think it freaked him out. We never tried again but he is pretty good at holding hands.

Cecilbear

Rrrrrachel, No, I don't plan on using them. I think that's okay of me to say. My parents had 4 little kids under 7 and they never used one though they traveled the country over with us. It's something I just don't believe in. If it's an idea you like, then please don't worry about what I think. It's okay for us to feel differently.  

WhiMiMa

Someone bought us one and my son loves playing with it. We haven't chosen to use it out, but he loves wearing it and having us hold the leash...works great for imaginative play. They don't bug me, but it is awkward to see parents dragging their kids by the leash