Looking for kid leashes / harnesses advices

OP, I understand your concern about traveling abroad, but please keep in mind that MILLIONS of families with kids the ages of yours - including families from all over the world - successfully navigate Disney each year without physically attaching themselves together.

Please just keep in mind how your children are going to feel. I know some of them think it is a good idea now, but when they see they are the only ones their ages being leashed, I guarantee you they - especially the older ones - are going to be embarrassed. Plus, other kids are brutally honest, and you don't want something said to them by other kids to ruin your vacation. Someone already said to expect stares from other parents, but also expect other kids (who don't know any better) to make comments to your kids. Even if they are in English, they will still understand the looks.

Please, please don't scare your kids into being leashed to you. And please don't allow them to be embarrassed and have that make your trip less than fun for them.

Everyone else suggested wonderful alternatives. You are going to a place that is extremely focused on children, so if under any extremely rare circumstance one of them does get separated from you, the cast members are superb at reconnecting them with you.

OP, I understand you being worried, I have three children, with my oldest being mentally handicapped. Even when he was small and a runner, I never harnessed him. I kept him in the stroller until he understood he had to stay with me. My youngest was fearless and she also stayed in the stroller until she stayed with us. I have to agree with the majority of the posters regarding the appropriateness of harnessing a child older than 3.

While it may seem that harness/leashes are common place in the U.S. - they are not. Most children 3 and older go to preschool and learn the rules of staying with your group. At Disney I might see a handful of them on children 3 and under. In everyday life it is a rare that I ever see them.

The samples you linked to - look at the photos, most of those children are preschool ages. The one page that shows an older child is actually a PET product company that is selling a harness to be used by Autistic children with their service dog. "Child Harness is used in unison with Autism Assistance Dogs or a caretaker."

I agree with others that if you use this on your children there will be lots of stares, pointing, snickers and don't be surprised if someone says something to you. My point is that the odds of you losing your children are negligible but your trip could be ruined by others reactions to leashing kids their age since here it is not okay to do so.

- MANY Disney World CMs are multi-lingual and if not they will find one quickly. Teach them to look for the CM badge.
- Teach them some basic english before you come, kids pick up language very quickly.
- Dress everyone in the same bright tshirt each day so you stand out.
- If your cell won't work buy a throwaway for the trip to give them your number.
- Everyone carries a small backpack where they can keep info needed, water, snack.
- Put cards in the backpack with travel details, names, your phone number etc.
- On arrival to each park pick up the French Park Map then circle with marker what would be your meeting place if lost. I suggest the First Aid since there is only one. Circled they could always show a CM who will get them there.
- Have ID shoe tag or bracelet made for each with name and contact information.
- Work with them on a plan. One thing we said is if in a show or attraction and we get split, no one leaves the exit area until we are all together again.

I honestly would be shocked if you all got split up, while crowded at times it is not difficult to remain together as a family. Hope you have a great trip!

I actually wore a harness as an older child on a few trips (although never at Disneyland) so I hope this can help from a different perspective. I don’t mean to provide parenting advice or say who is right or wrong – just provide some information from a different viewpoint.

I don’t remember every tiny detail but I remember my attitude changing as the trip went on. For the first few times, I certainly wanted to hide it but I eventually realized no-one actually cared that much. Of course it was unusual, but I think I was more conscious of other people than they were of me. At the end of the trip, I remember ordering food at a counter without it bothering me.

Honestly, in the long-term I really didn’t mind and it was certainly less of a deal by the end of the trip (which was in the U.K.). I’m not saying everyone will or should feel the same way, and I’m not arguing for or against the harnesses, I’m just trying to say we’re all individuals and we all handle situations differently, sometimes in ways we don’t perhaps expect ourselves too. If this is true for some kids, it’s almost certainly true for some parents too.

I just realized I forgot to mention that if you would like to know where the harness I had came from, let me know and I’ll find out.

I used harnesses on my 2 girls age 6 and 8. I found a site www.dandeecorp.com. A mother in Idaho designed a harness for her daughter when she could not find a suitable one. The worked very well for us. We used them on our trip to Washington DC. The girls fussed bit at first,but soon realized that they had more freedom within limits on their leashes as we toured the sites. They also wore them on our trip to Disneyland a year later. We all had an enjoyable time having peace of mind with the girls leashed in the large crowds in the park.

Also, There is a lady named Elaine and she makes harnesses for older children. You can find her at her website www.childharness.ca
She is in Canada. Write her and she can make you 3 very nice walking harnesses. I can sense you will feel much better having your children safe. These harnesses are very strong and secure with all the buckles in the back. Do what you need to do. I have such wonderful outings with my girls knowing they are safe and have some freedom within limits.

I agree with the previous post. We are all different and need to do what we feel best. The harness and leash provide much piece of mind. It is not realistic to hold hands all day. I find the previous poster sharing her memories of a leash quite interesting.Your children will wear them and accept them once they learn and understand the freedom and safe limits of their leashes. You will enjoy your visit that much better.

I have had several of my children get lost. If you can wear a carabiner clip on the side of your shorts/pants sort of like a handle, I would have your children hang onto it. That way youre the one on a leash not them. But if you really want to have a leash for them, by all means do it. Youre the parent, and if it keeps them safe and connected to you, do it. Dont worry about what others say, or how they look. Most people wont, but just be confident that youre keeping your child safe. The backpack versions are the best ones Ive seen. I agree with a stroller to transport them both which would prevent them from being separated.

Every single time (3x) in the parks when my kids were lost, they were never helped by cast members. It was usually done by a bystander who wanted to help them find their parent. So make sure you teach your children how to spot a Disney name tag etc and go to that person for help. The clothing thing doesn't work, because in each land they dress differently and it could be hard to spot a cast member. We always take a picture at the start of the day to make sure we have a photo of what the kids were wearing in case we have to describe them to a cast member. We also buy the tattoos with our name and number on them. They last at least 4 or 5 days. That way the kids can get wet and it wont matter, and they don't have to keep a card in their pockets. If your child is lost, I am sure they will be returned to you. The only thing we have noticed is that they are shook up. So reassure your children you will find them and you wont ever leave them there, it may just take a few minutes for you to get there. The places our children got lost were places like when they call kids to come out to do something, or exit a ride and you aren't right with them, and large crowds moving, like through the castle. So just be extra vigilant when you see large numbers of people.

KJMAX1 said:

If you can wear a carabiner clip on the side of your shorts/pants sort of like a handle, I would have your children hang onto it.

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This is a good idea, but I don’t think it would work for a 10 year old. When I was 10 I was at my mum’s shoulder height and we would have tripped over each other all the time if I had to be close enough to hold a clip on her waist.

Also, just going on memory, I don’t think I would have liked having to stay that close to my parents (although I was older than 10 when I wore the harness). I remember being held closer in large crowds, but most of the time I just walked along in my own space as the harness let me.

My 18 mo was able to unclip any of those harnesses so it was useless after that. Your kids need another option, like waterproof temporary tattoos with your cell phone on it, or a gadget I recently saw that is a bracelet with a GPS thing inside that your kids wear so your phone app can find them if you get separated. Disney is VERY good at dealing with separated kids.

Picodegallo said:

Hello all !
I don't know if anyone here will be able to help me but i think this forum is the most indicated place to look for advices
Here is why i need you :
We are a french family who will make a month long trip to USA and of course, we'll spend several days in the disney parks and other theme parks.
Our 3 kids are 6, 8 and 10.
None of them speaks a single word of english and we are TERRIFIED that any of them could get lost in parks or other crowded places we'll visit.
So we're looking for some kind of leashes / harnesses to physically connect them to us.

Here in france, there is no way to find those kind of harnesses but they seems quite popular in USA.
I'd like to order the leashes / harnesses before our trip (in november) so we'll have them ready.

I've made a quick search on this forum about the leash topic and I know that some may think :
The 2 older are way too old for a harness...
We'll look like "dog walkers" with all our kids tethered to us...
We are "bad parents" that can't control their kids...
That being said, can you please share with us your experiences with leashes / harnesses and let us know what kind we should use ?

Thx a lot !

Fanny

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http://www.amazon.com/Kinderkord-Parent-Child-Safety-Restraint/dp/B00E6VT2C6 We have bought these and they work wonderful. The sting retracts so it looks like a watch, we have even placed the parent end on the stroller handle and attached the child to the other end. They have like an s hook that you twist to seperate. I bought one of these years ago and it broke, the company was remaking them and they were not for sale yet. I emailed them and they sent me one anyway! My children we are using them on are 5,9 now but have used them since they were 2 years old. You could order and have it delievered to your hotel when you arrive.

At 8 and 10 no way should your kids need to be physically attached to you, unless they have some sort of learning disability. I am not anti-tether by any means, but they are not for older children. I don't know of any 10 year old that wouldn't be mortified to have to be attached to their mom or dad.

I also wouldn't call tethers a popular item in the US. Very few parents use them, very few. In fact, I can't remember the last time I have seen one in use. If you somehow have the impression that the majority of parents use them here, you couldn't be more wrong. Only a tiny number do.

maxiesmom said:

At 8 and 10 no way should your kids need to be physically attached to you, unless they have some sort of learning disability. I am not anti-tether by any means, but they are not for older children.

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I completely understand that it is unusual to use a harness for an older child, but I don’t think it’s as simple as saying if the child has special needs it’s ok, if they don’t then it’s not ok. I think it has far more to do with the overall situation – the place being visited, the number of kids, the parents concerns, the atmosphere, etc.

I don’t have any special needs and my parents clearly didn’t use a harness with me for that reason. When I told them about this thread, they said they used the harness not because I wasn’t mature enough to stay close by (although I wasn’t the most mature 12/13 year old!), but because we were going to an extremely busy city where they didn’t know about how safe and distracting it would be – not just for me, but them also. They didn’t know the cultural trends about crossing roads, waiting in lines, and boarding trains, etc., and decided that having a harness for me was a better option overall than the stress and anxiety of constantly having to make sure I was nearby, while also figuring out the city, the subway and the buses, and watching for pick-pockets, and other such things.

I understand some might see this as lazy parenting or being over protective but knowing how hard they tried so we could see somewhere new and do it safely, I don’t think that would be fair. As all of us know, handling worries is just part of life and children and parents do it everyday. If parents have done everything they can to ensure the best trip for everyone and a harness is the solution, then it shouldn’t be dismissed just because it is slightly unusual.

maxiesmom said:

I don't know of any 10 year old that wouldn't be mortified to have to be attached to their mom or dad.

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I obviously speak from my own memories, but I do think some people (and I’m not speaking about any specific contributors to this thread) generally see this a little dramatically. I wanted to be cool and independent like any other 12/13 year old and while I wasn’t happy the first few times I wore the harness, I got over it pretty quickly. My parents knew I probably wouldn’t be too happy at first, but did enough to reassure me that it was best for all of us and anyone who did judge wasn’t worth worrying about. Looking back, I can’t even remember if anyone stared or said anything. Every child is going to react differently and while I consider myself to have been pretty normal for 12/13 years old, I’m not for a moment saying that all children of that age will react the same way; everyone is (thankfully) different. All I’m saying is that in hindsight, despite my initial feelings, I adjusted to it reasonably well because I knew why I had it.

hsgeiser said:

My 18 mo was able to unclip any of those harnesses so it was useless after that.

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This is the same kind of thing as above – I understand this might be true for younger children, but I don’t really think it’s applicable for an older child. Because I knew why I had the harness, I knew not to try and take it off. My parents explained their decision clearly enough so I learned to accept it. Without trying to be repetitive, maybe I was an unusual 12/13 year old in this sense, but if the harness is the best solution, then the child should have at least some understanding as to why it is the best solution.

I totally understand that Disney is different than a big city, and that my parents were planning a trip before the internet made research easier, but this doesn’t mean some parents won’t have similar concerns now as mine did then. Disney is escapism for many of us, and if parents are trying to find the best way of escaping their own anxieties for the good of their whole family, then surely that’s in the spirit of Disney.

Wow, the amount of judgement going on in this thread is a bit much. Can you not understand being in a strange new place and not speaking the language making you more worried about safety?! I'd absolutely be worried too and looking for advice. Not criticism. Sheesh.

I'm tempted to get some sort of attachment device for my 6 year old, he is such a wanderer. Has been a runner since he started being able to walk, and will NOT hold a hand. If I were concerned enough I'd absolutely buy a leash and let the haters judge. My kids safety comes first. Period.

OP - if I were you, I'd rent a double stroller for the 2 youngest and make the 10 year old stand/walk with you and keep one hand on the stroller handle at all times. Attach a short rope/tether to the stroller for her if you feel like that would help. I'm renting a double stroller for my 2, so the 6 year old can just hop in when we are moving and I wont have to worry about losing him. My son is so far out of a stroller, but I know he will be tired and exhausted and happily ride in the stroller to save his energy and being walked on by other guests.

Hope you find a solution that works, have a great trip!

I think her concerns are very valid and I would probably be thinking about the same solutions. I like the GPS solution and the card. I would personally sew the information in a back pack or have them wear a lanyard with a zipper that has your info in it. Findmespot.com has small GPS devices for 99.00 and they track very well. I use them when we go for long trips to the mountains with my children and they are Teenagers. Good luck and have fun!!

I think having options (like the double stroller idea suggested by Meeko5) is really wise. The point about being more tired than usual is also really important, and I would perhaps think carefully about the GPS idea as this won’t be that effective in preventing them from getting separated whereas a harness or basic tether strap would be. That said, if that works for the situation, then great!

In terms of possible options, I asked my parents about the harness they got for me and they said it was a sailing harness - it was obviously safe and came in bigger sizes than the safety harnesses for toddlers. I quickly googled and found this:
http://www.marineoutfitters.ca/index.cfm?category=10014|11257&product=31881844&code=900000020563
http://www.marineoutfitters.ca/index.cfm?category=10014|11257&product=31881844&code=900000020563

I don’t know if this helps or not, but hopefully it provides some more options.

I completely understand that it is unusual to use a harness for an older child, but I don’t think it’s as simple as saying if the child has special needs it’s ok, if they don’t then it’s not ok. I think it has far more to do with the overall situation – the place being visited, the number of kids, the parents concerns, the atmosphere, etc.

I don’t have any special needs and my parents clearly didn’t use a harness with me for that reason. When I told them about this thread, they said they used the harness not because I wasn’t mature enough to stay close by (although I wasn’t the most mature 12/13 year old!), but because we were going to an extremely busy city where they didn’t know about how safe and distracting it would be – not just for me, but them also. They didn’t know the cultural trends about crossing roads, waiting in lines, and boarding trains, etc., and decided that having a harness for me was a better option overall than the stress and anxiety of constantly having to make sure I was nearby, while also figuring out the city, the subway and the buses, and watching for pick-pockets, and other such things.


I am so glad to read Liskeard's reply because we too had the same concerns in Washington DC. For many of the same reasons and concerns,we put our girls in harnesses. My oldest does have ADHD but is manageable with her meds. But we were in a strange city and the leashes gave us peace of mind as we toured about.

As for our Disney trip,again the large crowds and the unfamiliarity of the environment, the leashes helped so much. The girls were very excited and at times took off on instinct when they saw something that interested them. It is just not feasible to hold hands all day long. So they had their freedom within limits. They too understood the reason for the harness and it was no longer an issue for them. As for the security,I was able to secure the belts and straps ( which were all in the back)with safety pins to make sure they were unable to remove them. Once they got off the ride,the leash went back on and off we went. We actually got some very positive comments and often heard "wish we would have thought of that" Yes it is a bit unusual for an older child to be on a leash and harness,but in places such as these,it makes for a much less stressful and enjoyable time. Hope this helps.

Picodegallo said:

Clearly ! I know it's an irrational fear but it's the first time we travel abroad with all of them and i REALLY don't want to take any chance.
We have done some more searches on the web on found some solutions that might fit the kids.
http://www.angelfire.com/in2/dandee/harness_order.htm
http://www.letsgobaby.co.uk/baby-tr...ety-harness#hikashop_show_tabular_description
http://www.pacific-rain.com/harness.htm
http://www.amazon.com/Jeep-Safety-H..._sim_75_7?ie=UTF8&refRID=170NJAPPVTPNR2RNW4WR
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B011XO04NE?&psc=1
Have some of you used them ?

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OP has made it clear that they plan to use one. OP is looking for feedback. IF OP is trolling and you are worried about that, responding feeds trolls. Assuming it's a legit post, OP is specifically looking for feedback on best choices for their situation.

OP, the last two you have listed (From amazon) are too small for your children (first one states up to 50 pounds, second one specifies for toddlers). The second one looks small. I would recommend the one from angelfire or pacific rim. They are specifically designed for older children, and it looks like they have been made for children with special needs (autism, etc) so they should serve the purpose you are looking for without breaking.

I believe this is a concerned parent. I know the feeling of being in a strange city. The harnesses worked very well for us as I have previously stated.

Anyway, I have used the Dandee harness. It works very well for us. The only thing I did not like was the leash. I replaced them with stronger leashes (a 4 ft leather dog leash) which worked fine.
I can answer any questions about them.

I am not real sure the site is still working,but you should try to contact them.

Also I mentioned in my earlier post a lady named Elaine. She is in Canada. She makes harnesses for kids of all sizes and ages and even adults. Her site is www.childharness.ca
She makes a very nice secure harness. The buckles she uses require 2 hands to open and they are on the back of the harness. She even has videos of how to put the harness on and off. She also has accessories such as buckle covers and crotch straps if needed.

She has received very many nice comments and reviews.

I would really recommend you contact her and share your concerns. She is very helpful. She designed a a harness for her 2 boys when she could not find quality harnesses for them.

susandklein said:

I believe this is a concerned parent. I know the feeling of being in a strange city. The harnesses worked very well for us as I have previously stated.

Anyway, I have used the Dandee harness. It works very well for us. The only thing I did not like was the leash. I replaced them with stronger leashes (a 4 ft leather dog leash) which worked fine.
I can answer any questions about them.

I am not real sure the site is still working,but you should try to contact them.

Also I mentioned in my earlier post a lady named Elaine. She is in Canada. She makes harnesses for kids of all sizes and ages and even adults. Her site is www.childharness.ca
She makes a very nice secure harness. The buckles she uses require 2 hands to open and they are on the back of the harness. She even has videos of how to put the harness on and off. She also has accessories such as buckle covers and crotch straps if needed.

She has received very many nice comments and reviews.

I would really recommend you contact her and share your concerns. She is very helpful. She designed a a harness for her 2 boys when she could not find quality harnesses for them.

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Even the site you linked to mentions that half the harnesses are for toddlers and the other half for older children with special needs such as Autisim. I usually agree that each parent needs to do what is best for their kids. But it seems the OP is under the impression that harnesses and child leashes are common in the US. And they are not. As long as they realize they will not be blending in, and will instead stick out, then I guess she should do as she feels right. However, I think a 10 year old is more than capable of being told to stay with their parents, and then following thru with that without being harnessed to their parent. These children are from another country, they are not special needs or disabled in any way. I'm assuming they are not stupid and know to stay with mom and dad when out and about.

OP, there is NO way I would harness children that age! They may not 'get it' now, but when they get to Disney and you harness them, everyone, and I mean everyone, will do a double take and they will fast become miserable and embarrassed. A stroller for the two youngest will fit in far better as people tend to stroller their children there far past the ages that are necessary.

Seems like at your children's ages they should be listening to your advice to them - maybe that would benefit them by making sure they listen to you now.

Have a great trip, but please don't make your children the center of jokes, laughter, and finger pointing, because even though they don't know English, that type thing is universal.

And, as more security, as you've been advised, make sure they have info to give to cast members with your cell number.

I think you really are worrying needlessly. We went to a Fr. speaking island for a couple weeks when our oldest were 6 & 3. For the most part we held their hands, but they 'knew' to not leave our sides, and we were very attentive to them. Your two oldest, especially, are well old enough to get the picture.

We also speak French at home and my youngest (3yo) understands English but doesn't speak it yet. In July I wrote with a Sharpie on their Magic Band 'If lost please call #######'. I then repeated multiple times during the day that if she gets lost to find a mommy (easier to recognize than a CM) and to show her band. Luckily we didn't need that but she knew the drill as we often repeated and practice the worst case scenario.

I don't have suggestions for harnesses or leashes.

Bon voyage!