Thoughts on kid leashes?

Aussie45 · September 2014

My friend just posted a picture on FB about a leashed kid at an airport. I don't think we've discussed this before. So what say you SAHMs? Yay or Nay?

Aussie45 · September 2014

I used to judge them hard when I was young and didn't have kids. My parents are lazy people in general so I always associated leashes with being lazy.

Now that I have a kid, I would totally use one if we were going someplace where I knew I might be distracted and not able to watch her as close as normal. I'm not against them like I used to be.

chickaboo1974 · September 2014

I say as with everything there is a right way and a wrong way to use them.

I *gasp* used them on occasion, but it was more in combination with hand holding- more as an insurance that they were not going to dart in front of a car.

kcisthebombdotcom · September 2014

Depends entirely on the circumstances. At a busy airport I wouldn't judge. I did judge a woman for using one to bring her kid to story time at the library.

Andrewsgal · September 2014

I don't give a flying fuck if someone chooses to leash their kids. I don't think it makes them a bad parent if they do or a good one if they don't.

LatteLady5 · September 2014

I have a relative who used (still uses actually) a leash for her now almost four year old. She would use it in Walmart, at a friends out door wedding, the park, etc. She was just lazy.

I think they're fine in busy, crowded areas and under certain circumstances. For everyday use, no.

raraavis28 · September 2014

chickaboo1974 said:

I say as with everything there is a right way and a wrong way to use them.

I *gasp* used them on occasion, but it was more in combination with hand holding- more as an insurance that they were not going to dart in front of a car.

Precisely.....this topic comes up fairly frequently on Multiples....I don't think anyone w/ twins (or more) at toddler age judge at all, even if they don't use them.....

Twins or not, I'm team "Do What You Have To Do" pretty much across the board (that is within reason, legal, blah blah blah)

bumpuser8448316 · September 2014

I give zero fucks if people use them

Lindsay9911 · September 2014

I would use one in a busy place! DD2 is a runner and the thought of losing her in an airport is terrifying.

penguingrrl · September 2014

I love the backpack leashes! Keeps the kid safe while they learn to stay with you and hold your hand. I loved them when we lived in the city because I was nervous as hell teaching the kids to walk and stay with me somewhere where drivers really aren't looking out for kids at all. And I like encouraging kids to walk instead of putting them in a stroller all the time. I mostly saw it as a backup plan for when they wriggled out of my hand and darted to make sure they wouldn't run into a street or flat out disappear into a crowd.

I did have a few people bark at my kids as if to suggest I was treating them like a dog for putting them on a leash. I rolled my eyes. Besides, you use a leash for a dog because you love it and want to keep it safe, so why not for a toddler?

spring_time · September 2014

This is one of those things that I have softened on once having kids. I was always very anti-leash and considered parents who used them to be lazy. I have been fortunate to not need them since my kids are not really runners. However, I have witnessed enough people trying to keep their children safe to realize that people need to do what they need to do. Using a leash is not a reflection on their parenting, and it is just another tool that parents can use.

Aussie45 · September 2014

FFMC: When I was 12, I used the leash to tie my brother (two at the time) to the one of the kitchen chairs so I could back back to sleep on the couch. It was summer and I was pissed I had to babysit. *hangs head in shame*

Looking back, it's a funny story now, but it makes me cringe a bit and want to go back in time and slap my 12 year old self. Either way, we both made it out of that summer alive.

catycate · September 2014

I didn't have a runner so I've never used one but I wouldn't hesitate to if dd turns out to be a runner. I certainly wouldn't judge even if I never have to use it. Whatever keeps your kid safe, right?

hlm184 · September 2014

If DS turns out to be a runner, definitely. Even if he doesn't, situationally. We're planning a trip into the Grand Canyon when he turns 1, he will definitely have a leash when he's not in the backpack.

orangegoggles · September 2014

It's not something I'd consider at this point in my life. I do think there is probably a time and place for some people though (airports, disney, multiples, special needs, runners, etc.)

raraavis28 · September 2014

Aussie45 said:

FFMC: When I was 12, I used the leash to tie my brother (two at the time) to the one of the kitchen chairs so I could back back to sleep on the couch. It was summer and I was pissed I had to babysit. *hangs head in shame* Looking back, it's a funny story now, but it makes me cringe a bit and want to go back in time and slap my 12 year old self. Either way, we both made it out of that summer alive.

Um, I think that would be in the "wrong ways to use a leash" column.....

minerswife17 · September 2014

I see kids on leashes often, which doesn't bother me. Only one time it did. The mom had her daughter (maybe 3) on a leash and the daughter was maybe a foot or two ahead of the mom. The mom stopped to look at something and the mom yanked, then wrapped up the leash around her hand, like some people do with their dogs. That was the only time I ever judged someone for using one.

vlagrl29 · September 2014

doesn't bother me, but it didn't work for us. We bought one of those back pack leashes and DD was so independent she would go as far as she could walk on it and keep trying but would fall over. Maybe if it was like a dog retractable leash that would work better. We ended up returning it after 1 use.

minerswife17 · September 2014

LalaMama81 said:

minerswife17 said:

I see kids on leashes often, which doesn't bother me. Only one time it did. The mom had her daughter (maybe 3) on a leash and the daughter was maybe a foot or two ahead of the mom. The mom stopped to look at something and the mom yanked, then wrapped up the leash around her hand, like some people do with their dogs. That was the only time I ever judged someone for using one.

At the zoo, swear to God, I saw a girl maybe 6ish - definitely NOT a toddler, on a leash that was made of chain link, like you buy at home depot. At least 6-8' long. It was bizarre.

That's so sad. There is a total difference between using the leashes to keep your kids safe and because of lazy parenting.

minerswife17 · September 2014

DC2London said:

I never thought I would use one (I don't judge, I just didn't think it was for me) but yesterday Rhys darted off the Metro train. Thank god I was able to get out, grab him, and get back on before the doors closed. That's effing terrifying.

So glad he's okay! How scary! Momma has cat-like reflexes!

CoachK129 · September 2014

I don't care what anyone else does but they're not for me.

penguingrrl · September 2014

LalaMama81 said:

minerswife17 said:

I see kids on leashes often, which doesn't bother me. Only one time it did. The mom had her daughter (maybe 3) on a leash and the daughter was maybe a foot or two ahead of the mom. The mom stopped to look at something and the mom yanked, then wrapped up the leash around her hand, like some people do with their dogs. That was the only time I ever judged someone for using one.

At the zoo, swear to God, I saw a girl maybe 6ish - definitely NOT a toddler, on a leash that was made of chain link, like you buy at home depot. At least 6-8' long. It was bizarre.

Holy shit! That's seriously disturbing! I used the cute backpack leashes on young toddlers but that's a totally different and really weird thing!

Beth.1212 · September 2014

I think they're a great idea if you have a kid/situation that is a bad combination, like a runner in a busy store or even a normally quiet kid in a strange, busy train station. I'm neutral if the kid/situation combo seems benign - I mean, it's hard to know what's happening just by glancing at a caregiver and kid. Maybe the kid just ran away in a crazy busy parking lot yesterday and today Mom is keeping him attached whenever they're out of the house, even if they're in an empty library, b/c she's still freaked about the day before. One day's not going to do any harm.

Eskimokisses13 · September 2014

I used to judge leashes hard prior to having kids. I have now gone through the bolting stage with two kids and I now understand why some people use them. I have never used one and probably never will with my kids, but I cannot say that I haven't thought about how useful one would have been on a few occasions.

caybeh · September 2014

We have one. I've only used it maybe once with DS. He is a runner. He is getting better, but I still don't trust him enough yet. We have a double stroller now that he rides in when I go shopping with both kids. I might dig it out again to go grocery shopping with both kids.

Aussie45 · September 2014

raraavis28 said:

Aussie45 said:

FFMC: When I was 12, I used the leash to tie my brother (two at the time) to the one of the kitchen chairs so I could back back to sleep on the couch. It was summer and I was pissed I had to babysit. *hangs head in shame* Looking back, it's a funny story now, but it makes me cringe a bit and want to go back in time and slap my 12 year old self. Either way, we both made it out of that summer alive.

Um, I think that would be in the "wrong ways to use a leash" column.....

Ya it definitely was $:\$ ">

meglew · September 2014

DH and I have seriously considered one for DD2. She is a runner. I never thought I would be a leash parent, but then we had her. She is so fast and big for her age, I am afraid of her getting separated from us. She is flat out refusing the stroller of recent and going places can be challenging.

bumpuser924057 · September 2014

I have tried using them as a safeguard when I have to walk with the twins and it's always an epic fail.

likeanoldtimemovie · September 2014

I ran off twice as a kid. Once, when I was about two, at the pumpkin patch. Six months later, I did it at Stone Mountain after the laser show (it was night). They shut down the park and were searching cars for me before people could leave.

I was on a leash until I was six.

My problem was that I lived in my own little world. Mom would say "hold my hand", but she'd turn around for a second to blow my little brother's nose, pick up the stroller, etc. and I would've wandered into a store or something. The leash let me have the freedom to look at something without my mom losing me.

It also helped me keep up with the family. I was/am a slow walker.

Ilumine · September 2014

My daughter has only been spanked twice. Both times were for running away from Mommy/Daddy and into the street. She did not learn from the two swats.

FF to going to Metz France and the beautiful Cathedral. She wants out of her stroller. DH thinks its a perfectly good idea. Before he can help her out of the stroller, she bolts and takes down a 85+ year old nun.

And keeps going.

So there goes DH after the runner and leaves me and my rudimentary french to apologize to the nun.

From that day forward until she turned 3.5 she was on a leash.

Honestly, I loved it. Holding onto her hand was so uncomfortable for both of us; me bending down and her holding her arms up. It was so nice.