Toddler backpack/harness

Sep5Bride · March 2014

Has anybody used one of these? Do they work well? I'd like to take my toddler to the zoo, etc when it gets a little warmer and it seems like a good way to let her have some independence while keeping her from running too far.

DawnLilly · March 2014

We go a lot of busy places and DS holds my hand the whole time. I train dogs so the backpacks for kids make me cringe. My dogs can remain at my knee in a crowd, my son should be able to. But, its easy because I'm 60" and DS is already 35" so it's not difficult for us to hold hands for an extended period of time.

ah625 · March 2014

If you feel that your child is safer, use one. Don't let the judgement and comparisons to pets from others sway you from parenting your child as you see fit.

emberlee3 · March 2014

DD is a runner. And I can't just take off after her and leave DS alone in a public place. We are taking a trip next week where DH will be on his own with the kids in crowded places quite a bit. We got this backpack/leash:
https://www.brica.com/by-my-side-safety-harness-backpack-neutral/

Haven't used it yet, but she loves backpacks, so I think she'll be ok with it.

maryxc1 · March 2014

I haven't tried one but I think they are an excellent idea. They aren't meant to be used as a leash, just an extra safety precaution if the child bolts.

[Deleted User] · March 2014

The user and all related content has been deleted.

Katie829 · March 2014

ah625 said:

If you feel that your child is safer, use one. Don't let the judgement and comparisons to pets from others sway you from parenting your child as you see fit.

This exactly. I have a runner. She hates being in a stroller, carriage, baby wearing. She likes to walk. If you were to stop and look at things she will run. Yesterday she ran on me, I got her and picked her up where she jumped out of arms onto the ground. She was fine. I get comments about how my child misbehaves whild being contained and comments if I were to use a harness and treating my child like a dog. I am doing what is safest for my child.

spikeinc · March 2014

We got one for our upcoming trip to Disneyworld since there will be so many people and I feel safer that way. When we are at the zoo, I just park the stroller, let her run and follow behind her. If I had more than one child, I might have her wear it more often but for now it is easy to follow her around. She also doesn't enjoy holding hands.

Sep5Bride · March 2014

Thank you so much for all your comments, ladies! It has been very helpful!

baloneydisc · March 2014

We bought one of the Brica ones to use at Disney World (and in the airport). I do use it occasionally at the zoo. DD loves her "pack-pack" and wants to wear it any time she sees it.

Smh619 · March 2014

I've been toying with the idea myself. For when we go to the zoo, aquarium, etc... I haven't bought one since I'm still on the fence about the idea. My son is a momma's boy and I don't think he'd take off on me but I do get nervous about crowds and just letting him run free.

Heyjordynhey · March 2014

I'm so glad you posted this because I'm going through this same thing right now. I broke down and got one that's made by animal planet and it's a monkey backpack. Ds is 15 months and has been walking since 10 months and is extremely independent and wants to walk everywhere and I thought this would give him a lot of freedom and indepence within reason. I took him into babiesrus today just to see how he did and he loved it! I got some stares and I didn't even care. Ds was happy and that made me happy isc

Heyjordynhey · March 2014

LalaMama81 said:
See, I'd totally side eye a kid in a store using one - there's no crowds there like in an airport, etc. What's the point at BRU? I use stores, the zoo, etc. as safe places to teach them how to walk with me. 15 months is quite young to master that, though, so walking in a store isn't an option at that age. You go in the cart or in the ergo.

The only reason I took him in the store in it was to test it out to see how he liked it plus I had to get diapers. Kill two birds with one stone. I'm not trying to get him to master anything I'm teaching him independence within limits.

Heyjordynhey · March 2014

LalaMama81 said:
We can agree to disagree, then. And I'm not anti backpack harnesses, I just don't think they are teaching tools, I think they are safety tools.

Yeah everyone has their own opinion on things. No one is ever going to agree with everyone. Part of life.

Katie829 · March 2014

LalaMama81 said:
See, I'd totally side eye a kid in a store using one - there's no crowds there like in an airport, etc. What's the point at BRU? I use stores, the zoo, etc. as safe places to teach them how to walk with me. 15 months is quite young to master that, though, so walking in a store isn't an option at that age. You go in the cart or in the ergo.

But my child will not stay in the carriage or an ergo without a huge fit and if I have to go grocery shopping then a harnessed backpack would be necessary (although I have never used one).
A harness was something I side eyed before having children. But my child is independent and a runner.

Heyjordynhey · March 2014

Katie829 said:

LalaMama81 said:
See, I'd totally side eye a kid in a store using one - there's no crowds there like in an airport, etc. What's the point at BRU? I use stores, the zoo, etc. as safe places to teach them how to walk with me. 15 months is quite young to master that, though, so walking in a store isn't an option at that age. You go in the cart or in the ergo.
But my child will not stay in the carriage or an ergo without a huge fit and if I have to go grocery shopping then a harnessed backpack would be necessary (although I have never used one).
A harness was something I side eyed before having children. But my child is independent and a runner.

I agree

DawnLilly · March 2014

Every child is a runner. Every trip should be a learning experience. A harness does not give a LO more freedom, it gives the parent more freedom. Do I have to chase after him, yes. Do I sometimes constantly repeat "That's too far", yes. Do I have to be constantly vigilant, yes. I would not change the way I do it.

[Deleted User] · March 2014

The user and all related content has been deleted.

Heyjordynhey · March 2014

DawnLilly said:
Every child is a runner. Every trip should be a learning experience. A harness does not give a LO more freedom, it gives the parent more freedom. Do I have to chase after him, yes. Do I sometimes constantly repeat "That's too far", yes. Do I have to be constantly vigilant, yes. I would not change the way I do it.

I don't agree that it gives the parent more freedom, because you still have to do just as much if you were holding his hand, so what's the difference? Again every parent is different and every parent has a different parenting style, no one will ever fully agree on something. Not just parenting in life as a whole

ObLaDi · March 2014

We just bought one for DS (haven't received it yet). At almost 15 months he loves to walk/run on his own, but is completely disinterested in holding hands or staying close. To me, it will be a way to keep him safe while restraining him less than I would by putting him in a stroller or cart.

emberlee3 · March 2014

No, every child is not a runner. DD is a runner. As a toddler, DS was not.

acbfreire · March 2014

We got one to travel (airport). DD loved it! She hates to hold hands for long periods. She felt free enough to explore and I felt safe.

orangecrush32 · March 2014

I actually just bought one for DD this weekend. She refuses to stay in her stroller for extended periods of time without screaming and does not hold hands. (When you try to she screams bloody murder and it looks like you're abducting her.)

She is definitely in the testing limits phase and thinks it's hilarious to run off. We were in the mall on Saturday and she got far enough away that I tried to call her back. She grinned at me and took off running. Thankfully my mom was there to watch the stroller and she didn't run into anyone.

I think the backpack harness will be fun for her to wear and good for me so I know that even though she's out exploring she can't get too far.

My husband is adamantly against having a "leash kid", but he has never taken her anywhere remotely busy.

JulesDiane · March 2014

I have 2 runners. It was okay when I had just 1 kid to worry about (although I have lost her before), but when they run in 2 different directions, it's just too much. I also got the Brica backpack harness.

CamoBride2010 · March 2014

I've been toying with the idea of getting my daughter a little wrist leash. Like all toddlers she loves to run and is very independent which is great but there are just some places I worry about her safety. Like last week we came out of the library and I was hold her hand with one hand and had our 500 library books with the other and she wiggled free and took off for the parking lot! So I ended up dropping all the books and chasing her down. Instances like that I think it would be nice to have just a little one that snaps around her wrist as a sort of reminder that we must hold Mommy's hand. Then if she would have taken off I'd still have a hold on her. The wrist ones are super small so I could just keep it rolled up in the diaper bag in case I ever felt we needed it.

mellie86041 · March 2014

We have a backpack leash for 15mo DD. She's very independent, so we got it so she can walk around places on her own, but it's still on our terms. I think it's definitely more for safety, but it is still a great way to teach her boundaries. I typically stay close enough to her that she's not pulling on the leash part, but on the off chance she takes off while I'm in the middle of something and doesn't listen when I tell her to stop, I have the leash to physically keep her close. We had an incident before we had the leash at the public library while I was checking out books and couldn't hold her. Even though I had an eye on her the entire time, she was able to take off and make it out the front door by the time I was able to drop the books I was holding and run after her. So the leash is definitely for piece of mind. I don't think it necessarily give me more freedom, since I still have to stay close to her and watch her as much as I did before. And we really only use it for places like the library since she can get around the shelves so quickly and it's hard to see her, the zoo (ours is very small and rarely crowded), walks through the mall on rainy days, and the airport, which is actually the only crowded place I would ever consider using it and only because using a stroller there is such a pain. DD is so small that if we're in any large crowd, she constantly gets run over by people who can't see her if she's walking, so we make her use the stroller.

She also didn't learn to walk while holding our hands, so now whenever we try to get her to hold our hands while walking, I think it throws off her balance and she trips a lot. But every now and then, she'll grab on to one of our hands on her own.

ttimmerman · March 2014

If you have a runner and it makes things easier for you and safer for your kid, then stick a leash on them. I've never used one personally, but I couldn't care less if other parents do...I don't see it as a whole lot different than confining your child to a stroller or carrier. If they're too little or unreliable to trust walking in a crowd, then it's just another method of keeping them safe.

OCTOberMOM18 · March 2014

Nicb13 said:

Katie829 said:

See, I'd totally side eye a kid in a store using one - there's no crowds there like in an airport, etc. What's the point at BRU? I use stores, the zoo, etc. as safe places to teach them how to walk with me. 15 months is quite young to master that, though, so walking in a store isn't an option at that age. You go in the cart or in the ergo.
But my child will not stay in the carriage or an ergo without a huge fit and if I have to go grocery shopping then a harnessed backpack would be necessary (although I have never used one). A harness was something I side eyed before having children. But my child is independent and a runner.

Neither will DS but I don't think these harnesses are the answer (in a store at least). I'm speaking now about a grocery store only: I work my ass off teaching DS that when we are in the store, he has to stay in the cart and that's final. Nope, it doesn't always work and he throws major fits some times but it takes bargaining, reasoning and explaining but I get him to understand and he stays in the cart the majority of the shopping trip, then he can get out and DH will chase him around. It's a work in progress but it's the ONLY way DS will learn to behave in stores. I also have to plan the timing of these trips very well (can't be tired or hungry)

I think these harnesses can be totally fine on an outing like the zoo or whatever but I personally don't use them. I don't judge other parents for using them at all. Whatever works for you.

**And come on people, these "harnesses" basically are leashes and that's OK to compare the 2. It's not ripping on your parenting or saying you're treating your kid like a dog. That's just silly.

I don't understand forcing a child to sit in a cart versus allowing them to happily explore while wearing a harness. My son started walking at 9.5 months and is now at 17 months exactly what you would expect, super FAST and super STRONG. There is no way I could get my shopping done and chase him around the store. But there is also no way I'm forcing him to sit confined to a cart. The harness is PERFECT for store situations. I'd side eye someone for keeping an energetic toddler cooped up screaming in a cart or stroller WAY before I'd ever judge someone for using harness. Compare the two and tell me which is worse to the child. Until my son can fully understand the concept of holding mommys hand I'll use his harness with no shame. He's happy to explore and I'm happy to let him without worrying he's going to bolt out the exit while I'm reaching up for some frozen peas.

OCTOberMOM18 · March 2014

LalaMama81 said:

I think some of you have unrealistic expectations for what a young toddler should be doing or is capable of doing.

Of course they don't nicely hold your hand and walk in the parking lot. Of course they might pitch a fit about being in a cart. Of course they'll run away in the mall/zoo/store if given the chance.

And, for the millionth time, I'm not even anti-harness, just that they are stupid in most of the situations mentioned.

Why on earth is a cart or ergo a better option than letting them walk in a harness? Why confine them? THAT seems cruel to me. I completely understand what my son does is NORMAL toddler behavior but I refuse to confine him or risk him bolting into a crowd. Let him happily explore.

OCTOberMOM18 · March 2014

Sounds to me that people are just more accepting of strollers and carts versus a harness which I just can't wrap my head around. Forcing them to sit versus walking themselves. My son is a happy kid who, because I don't make it a miserable experience for him, loves our shopping trips.

OCTOberMOM18 · March 2014

It is all up to the personality of the child. Mine hates being confined and the only place I force him to be is his car seat. All other places, I roll with it. If my mom happens to be with me running errands guess what, no harness and she chases him while I'm shopping.

OCTOberMOM18 · March 2014

Nicb13 said:

OCTOberMOM18 said:

LalaMama81 said:

I think some of you have unrealistic expectations for what a young toddler should be doing or is capable of doing.

Of course they don't nicely hold your hand and walk in the parking lot. Of course they might pitch a fit about being in a cart. Of course they'll run away in the mall/zoo/store if given the chance.

And, for the millionth time, I'm not even anti-harness, just that they are stupid in most of the situations mentioned.
Why on earth is a cart or ergo a better option than letting them walk in a harness? Why confine them? THAT seems cruel to me. I completely understand what my son does is NORMAL toddler behavior but I refuse to confine him or risk him bolting into a crowd. Let him happily explore.

Cruel? Is that a joke?

Have fun refusing to "confine" him and totally missing the point here

If he's throwing a fit and wants out, yes, its cruel to me to force him to sit. Especially when there are other options. If he's happy riding in the cart with me, that's where he sits. He wants out while I'm shopping? Sure, out you go and here is your harness. Problem solved.

laurelita42 · March 2014

Every kid's different. My kid stays in a cart whenever possible- if a store has one, she's in it without question. Not because I hate harnesses, but because if she's on the ground, she wants to run and go crazy. If I put a harness on her and let her walk, she'd go nuts trying to get away from me. However, she knows the rule is to sit calmly in the cart until I'm done shopping. It never crossed my mind that someone would think that is cruel. SMH.

OCTOberMOM18 · March 2014

Nicb13 said:

OCTOberMOM18 said:

Nicb13 said:

OCTOberMOM18 said:

LalaMama81 said:

I think some of you have unrealistic expectations for what a young toddler should be doing or is capable of doing.

Of course they don't nicely hold your hand and walk in the parking lot. Of course they might pitch a fit about being in a cart. Of course they'll run away in the mall/zoo/store if given the chance.

And, for the millionth time, I'm not even anti-harness, just that they are stupid in most of the situations mentioned.
Why on earth is a cart or ergo a better option than letting them walk in a harness? Why confine them? THAT seems cruel to me. I completely understand what my son does is NORMAL toddler behavior but I refuse to confine him or risk him bolting into a crowd. Let him happily explore.

Cruel? Is that a joke?

Have fun refusing to "confine" him and totally missing the point here
If he's throwing a fit and wants out, yes, its cruel to me to force him to sit. Especially when there are other options. If he's happy riding in the cart with me, that's where he sits. He wants out while I'm shopping? Sure, out you go and here is your harness. Problem solved.

I'm glad this works for you, really. My son likes the store too...in the cart. This isn't a competition. We have different ideas of what works for grocery store trips and as lots of parents probably know, it isn't easy finding what actually works for your kid.

If I let DS do the opposite of what I'm asking him to do every time he threw a fit, we'd have a problem. If I let him down every single time he threw a fit in the cart, he'd be the boss, not me. I just don't think that's right for my child.

If forcing my child to know boundaries is cruel, then I guess I'm cruel.

My son knows boundaries, I just pick my battles. See my carseat comment above. Is it going to take me longer shopping with him walking around, yes. Can I find a few spare minutes to let him have some fun. Sure can. And I felt your "you mean leash?" comment to the OP oozed judgement.

JENandJEH · March 2014

I have no problems with backpack harnesses/leashes. None at all. I used one with DS1 a few times in the airport.

DS2 is a runner. His version of exploring would be to run like a maniac from one shelf to another and pull things off. I cannot get shopping done with him behaving this way. He is allowed to walk next to the buggy and if he begins to run or pull things off the shelves, he goes into the buggy. Of course he throws a fit. He's 2. He wants to do only what he wants to do but sometimes, that's just not an option. I'm all for him exploring when it's safe and in no way a nuisance to others. Other people shouldn't have to worry about dodging my toddler in the store while they're trying to get their shopping done.

I think the suggestion that forcing him to sit in the buggy is cruel is absurd. They are toddlers...throughout their life, they will be forced to do MANY things that they don't want to do. Until he is a bit older and can behave better/not run like a maniac in the store, he'll ride in the buggy. A backpack leash on him would be pointless because he would keep running and get jerked back every time the slack ran out of the leash.

Like Nicb said, I think it's fine to teach boundaries and not getting his way every time he throws a fit. We all have different parenting styles, you do what works for your child, I'll do what works for mine. DS1 would have behaved perfectly with a backpack harness and would have happily walked and just looked around. DS2 would not and that is why I parent him differently and have chosen to really work on establishing boundaries and him needing to behave a certain way in certain situations.

OCTOberMOM18 · March 2014

Nicb13 said:

OCTOberMOM18 said:

My son knows boundaries, I just pick my battles. See my carseat comment above. Is it going to take me longer shopping with him walking around, yes. Can I find a few spare minutes to let him have some fun. Sure can. And I felt your "you mean leash?" comment to the OP oozed judgement.

Well, that's literally what they are but nope, no judgment out of me. Really. You can slap lipstick on a hog but it's still a hog. You can call it a backpack/harness or whatever but it's still a leash. Sorry if that makes people defensive.

Why did you feel the need to bring that up to the OP? Like you couldn't figure out what she meant by harness? You had to clarify it as a leash? It's been my experience that those saying "leash" are usually the ones who will not use one.

Also, it may not seem like it but I'm not looking for an argument. To each their own but to force MY son with his personality to sit in a cart/stroller/etc. would be cruel. I know his limits and I know how to pick my battles with HIM. So I freely admit I probably project his personality onto those other screaming toddlers I see in strollers and carts and I do feel bad for them.

It also just seems strange to me that some refuse to use a harness but will happily use a cart or stroller.

LimaD · March 2014

Before I became a mom I totally side-eyed the whole harness backpack thing. My DD is extremely independent and among other things, won't let me hold her hand when she walks. I can see where a harness would be great if I had more than one child in a busy place (like an airport) for their own safety. As for now, she's my only child so I can handle it. But I have accepted that in the future I may purchase a harness depending on what my other kids are like.

You know your situation best. Work with your child when you can, but if you feel like you won't be able to keep as close of an eye on your LO and the harness is necessary, by all means use it

[Deleted User] · March 2014

The user and all related content has been deleted.

laurelita42 · March 2014

OCTOberMOM18 said:

Also, it may not seem like it but I'm not looking for an argument. To each their own but to force MY son with his personality to sit in a cart/stroller/etc. would be cruel.

OCTOberMOM18 · March 2014

laurelita42 said:

OCTOberMOM18 said:

Also, it may not seem like it but I'm not looking for an argument. To each their own but to force MY son with his personality to sit in a cart/stroller/etc. would be cruel.

I know exactly what it means. Restraining him when I don't have to is cruel in MY opinion. Is it going to scar him for life, no.

DawnLilly · March 2014

JandACoffee said:

OCTOberMOM18 said:

Nicb13 said:

OCTOberMOM18 said:

My son knows boundaries, I just pick my battles. See my carseat comment above. Is it going to take me longer shopping with him walking around, yes. Can I find a few spare minutes to let him have some fun. Sure can. And I felt your "you mean leash?" comment to the OP oozed judgement.
Well, that's literally what they are but nope, no judgment out of me. Really. You can slap lipstick on a hog but it's still a hog. You can call it a backpack/harness or whatever but it's still a leash. Sorry if that makes people defensive.

Why did you feel the need to bring that up to the OP? Like you couldn't figure out what she meant by harness? You had to clarify it as a leash? It's been my experience that those saying "leash" are usually the ones who will not use one.

Also, it may not seem like it but I'm not looking for an argument. To each their own but to force MY son with his personality to sit in a cart/stroller/etc. would be cruel. I know his limits and I know how to pick my battles with HIM. So I freely admit I probably project his personality onto those other screaming toddlers I see in strollers and carts and I do feel bad for them.

It also just seems strange to me that some refuse to use a harness but will happily use a cart or stroller.

FYI, I call it a leash and we are planning on using one... And actually when she first said backpack/harness I was trying to figure out what she meant exactly because I have been thinking about getting DD an actual little kid backpack recently cause she loves mine and had been looking at those car seat alternative harness things for when DD is older (like a lot older of course) since seeing them on the car seats for the littles page the other day. I think of it as a leash. I kind of find it funny when people are offended about it being called a leash. DH was asking if we could attach a retractable dog leash to it the other day, and sadly I think he was being serious... :P (that I am not okay with by the way!)

And DD goes in the cart or my arms when in store even if she is screaming bloody murder (fortunately this doesn't happen often) because as others said, she just wants down so she can tear stuff off the shelves and a leash isn't going to prevent that. I don't think I'm cruel for not letting her destroy things that aren't hers even though sometimes she really isn't happy about it... She needs to learn that she has to listen to what I say even if she doesn't like it all the time.

I'm laughing so hard right now because my DH asked if it would be okay to put one of the collars on DS. You know, just set to beep so he knows he's getting too far from the house while we're outside working or playing. I also sincerely hope he was joking.

Want a personalized experience?

Toddler backpack/harness

Re: Toddler backpack/harness

Choose Another Board

Search Boards