Do you let your toddler walk without holding your hand in public?

Jen2124

More specifically, on a sidewalk next to a semi-busy road, in a parking lot next to you, or somewhere else where cars are in close proximity?

Almost everyone I know does and this is one of the few things I am OVERLY paranoid about. I will not even let them near the end of our driveway without holding my hand (and we live on a very low traffic road).

I see lots of people letting their kids walk next to them. I could never do it.

 Is that weird?

pincushions

We hold hands.

I know a lot of people that do so I don't think you are weird!

Ashley&Bryan

I let her walk on the sidewalk w/o holding my hand.  (Because she's never stepped in the road). In a parking lot - absolutely not.

goodheartedmommy

Yep, I only have 2 hands--if I'm not wearing the baby, someone's on their own. They're very paranoid themselves and stay near me. Usually whoever is not holding my hand will hold the hand of the child holding mine, though, or hold onto Maile's foot, or the diaper bag or something...but only to keep them close! Otherwise it's not doing much good.

Temp374386125003286

I tell Kyle that he needs to be very close but that he doesn't have to hold my hand.  He does fine with that.  He isn't the type of kid to run off though.

KoriBrett

Parking lot or driveway = always hold hands.

Walking along a busy street = almost always hold hands. ?We live close to a BUSY street and if walking we usually do, but she also rides her trike up the same sidewalk all the time. ?It's ingrained now, we get out of the car, she grabs a hand or tells us to hold her hand. lol

DS I'm sure will have to be shackled at all times.

winery

It depends. We're usually in parking lots and such during slower times so unless it's super busy, he doesn't have to hold my hand.  But he has to stay close.

On a sidewalk with cars driving by?  Absolutely.  And he has to walk in the inside.

aprilmomtobe

I don't think you are weird at all. That's my rule with DS - if we are somewhere where cars are around, we hold hands. If there are no cars around (inside a mall or something) he can walk next to me, but if he can't stay close on his own, I make him hold my hand.

Rebekah1021

Ashley&Bryan:

I let her walk on the sidewalk w/o holding my hand.  (Because she's never stepped in the road). In a parking lot - absolutely not.

This

Bellisimo

Never outside where there are cars.  I'm probably overly aware of cars in parking lots, roads, etc.  When I get him out of the car and we have to unload the baby and gear I make him hold onto the hem of my shorts or keep his hands on the car.  It works.  He stays put.  But I don't take my eye off of him anyway!

aprilmomtobe

goodheartedmommy:

 Usually whoever is not holding my hand will hold the hand of the child holding mine, though, or hold onto Maile's foot, or the diaper bag or something...but only to keep them close! Otherwise it's not doing much good.

that's so cute - the image of one of them holding the baby's foot

jmay01

My son has to hold my hand in parking lots.  Sidewalks - depends.  On our street, no.  Busier streets - yes.  He listens well though and never darts away from me.

My co-worker told me she makes her 13 and 11 year old sons hold hands in parking lots still.  That is a little much! 

 

dpdw

DS is the type to just take off & not stop even if I'm screaming for him.  We had a very close call one day, so we hold hands ALL THE TIME.  It's often a battle, but it is no longer negotiable.

esposa38

I used to let him walk w/out holding my hand when we lived in the city, as long as there was that grass-buffer-area between the sidewalk and the street, but he had to stay on the sidewalk (as in, he couldn't step onto the grass-buffer-area) and I walked next to him, between him and the grass area/street.  When we crossed a driveway or alley or garage entrance, or when we got near an intersection, I would take his hand.  He did great and always played by the rules. 

Today, however, in our new suburban neighbohood, he almost gave me a heart attack when he took off running w/out me, heading across the front yard towards the (not city busy, but busy enough) street (to go to the playground that's right across the street) and wouldn't stop when I yelled.  He scared the crap out of me and has lost all non-hand-holding outdoor-walking privileges for a long time.

sooosie

Ian likes to bolt still, so we hold hands.  I am jealous of those who let their kid walk next to them w/o worrying!

cristiana

I make him hold my hand if we're walking on a busy street. I carry him when we're in a parking lot.