Help! How to keep LO from running off in public?

crysbena · October 2011

Any ideas?

I've tried "practice", snacks.... not sure if anyone else has ideas. Is a leash my only choice? If you've used one can you make a recommendation?

TIA

MissNikki007 · October 2011

Duct tape.

shakes · October 2011

I kind of scurry around him and keep redirecting him back to the stroller, it's a lot of work, but he likes being able to run around like a nut. I don't let him out of the stroller if I'm alone and we're outside walking near a road. I have visions of him running into traffic. Mall, yes.

JKB1986 · October 2011

Oh I'm interested to hear the responses! I'm dreading taking LO places without DH once #2 gets here in January. I have nightmarish flashes of me with a baby in the cart and a toddler on the loose and the cart is trapped between a bunch of other carts and I have to choose between the baby and cart or the toddler. Tongue Tied

peakboo5 · October 2011

Glue candy on your pants? I think it's inevitable unless you use a leash.

ames71 · October 2011

I usually just hold his hand. Tightly.

avbliss · October 2011

I hold DDs hand, tightly. With #2 on the way however I am planning on teaching DD1 that she can either ride in the stroller or hold onto the stroller or we leave, period. I don't care if we have no food left, if she runs off then we leave. A friend of mine has a baby and a 3yo and at the Zoo he was running around everywhere. Several times she walked away from sleeping baby in the stroller to chase after him, I don't know what she does when she's alone with them and no one to stand by the stroller, it's really unsafe.

12bailey18 · October 2011

I use the "leash" on occasion if we have to walk far and I'm by myself with both kids. Other times I just simply (in a firm tone) say "Hand." and hold out my hand. If he doesn't hold my hand, we don't move. If he wanders I say "No" then "hand" and he comes back. I have to say it's taken a lot of practice and now he even reaches for my hand first on occasion. At the beginning I held his hand tight and didn't give him much option...LOL. He then started getting it. Maybe practice around the neighborhood first?

12bailey18 · October 2011

12bailey18:
I use the "leash" on occasion if we have to walk far and I'm by myself with both kids. Other times I just simply (in a firm tone) say "Hand." and hold out my hand. If he doesn't hold my hand, we don't move. If he wanders I say "No" then "hand" and he comes back. I have to say it's taken a lot of practice and now he even reaches for my hand first on occasion. At the beginning I held his hand tight and didn't give him much option...LOL. He then started getting it. Maybe practice around the neighborhood first?

Oops, you already said "practice" sorry! Anyway, we bought our monkey backpack from Wal-mart. It's simple and DS loves it.

JoannaJes · October 2011

When DS was around that age, I just brought really awesome (read: something he would be psyched to eat) snacks for him to eat while he was "restrained", either in the stroller or in a shopping cart. I wore DD at the time. But mostly, I never gave him the option of being free unless DH was around to help. While walking in a parking lot, I would give a choice of either walking and holding my hand, or me carrying him. Sometimes he didn't want to do either, so I would make the choice for him and just carry him in.

megann831 · October 2011

I use snacks and/or a pacifier in the stroller, and there are times that I let walk with her and let her explore where she wants.

For those of you with new LOs coming, I'm planning on wearing mine for as long as possible. I wore DD alot, and now while I have to chase after her, I can't see any other way to do it.

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