3yo DD who likes to "take off"...

[HappyLawyer]

have you let her know this behavior is not ok, explain the safety concerns and give her consequences when she does this, i am not trying to be harsh but we must be so careful with our little one, and make them understand about danger that can happen.

 

[kdtwiss]

di not read through everything, but here is my take:
I would explain to her that she needs to stay with you and why (very simply but honestly). I would then take her on some practice runs. Go to some places that she REALLY enjoys, and let her know beforehand that you expect her to stay right next to you at all times, and if she does not - you will leave. You need to be prepared to do so. I would do this at least 3 times before WDW. BE POSITIVE that if she wanders from you in the slightest that you leave immediately. Do not give in to her pleas of "I won't do it again" or kicking and screaming. Leave NO room for her to think she can wiggle out of her resposibility, which is to stay with you. Be sure the places youo try are places she LOVES so she WILL be upset if you need to leave. She is old enough to get it! Then whatever the outcome is - talk about it wrt WDW, and let her know this is exactly what will happen in WDW if you wander. BUT be prepared to follow through! This is a lesson she really needs to get before you go there. I will tell you we lost sight of 2 our ours (oldest son is autistic) for about 2 - 3 minutes tops (which btw is all it takes for something really bad to happen) and the cast members were of NO HELP WHATSOEVER. They told me to go find security. They told me they had no way to communicate with security and they were not allowed to leave their posts. Despite my hysteria - AND the fact that my son is autistic, two different cm did the same thing. When you lose a child in WDW consider yourself on your own. WHen my husband found them (not very far away) and came back over to me - the CM muttered "maybe if you watched your kids you would not lose them" or something similarly insulting. My point is, if you can not get it through to your dd about staying with you, as much as you dislike the leashes (I do too) you may want to reconsider.

 

[Mom to Jordan]

I agree with a lot of what has just been said. I belive that children should be disciplined and taught the rules and what will happen if they break them. There are some children however that just refuse to obey. Then it is the parents place to ensure the child's safety while they continue to discipline and teach the child. While I am sure loosing a child at WDW would be a true nightmare, I have a bigger concern about a child that breaks away from a parent in a parking lot or near a street. I think that every child lost at WDW has been returned to parents, a child that darts into the street may not be. Only two weeks ago, five miles from our home a little girl, darted out into the street from beside her mom right in front of her home. A neighboor comming home from her teaching job with her own small children could not stop in time and hit the child. She lived four days on a vent with total brain damage. That neighborhood with never get over that. Only two year ago another child on a sunday walk with mom and dad did the same thing. Children are too precious to take chances with. Some are easy to discipline, some or hard. If disciple is not working, than as a parent, you must find another way to keep your child safe.

Jordan's mom

 

[rgribik]

I'm not a leash person either, but I am going to get them for my twin boys for our trip in Aug. Has anyone attached the wrist to wrist ones on their belt loops? I was wondering if that would work, or if they would be falling over more than walking? I could explain safety to them until we all turn purple, but if they get excited and see something and take off in different directions I would be in trouble. Another concern is them just getting caught up in a crowd of people and being pushed out of my sight, so I'm going to try the "leashes" this time.

 

[pbharris4]

I'm going to say what you don't want to hear, but you have to ask yourself why you would ask such a question when you don't want to hear the obvious answer: I suggest you try to get over your general dislike of reins, and find a design that you can live with.

Your child is a runner, and she is nearly 3. By your own remarks, this is a recurring problem, and you were concerned enough about it to post a question here re: what to do about it. I would say that if your efforts at breaking her of the impulse so far have failed, she is not going to learn the lesson easily, so if you don't restrain her you will be taking a chance that she will get away from you. You really don't want to take a chance at WDW, and if you can't take a chance, your only real choice is reins, and probably harnessed reins at that. Strollers only work where you can take them, and you cannot take them into ride lines. A little one can dart under the rails and into the crowd in an instant, and unless you're a hurdler, you can't follow very fast from that position.

Just wanted to say that if I had to get a harness, I'd get a harness. I would do whatever it took to keep my children safe. I am an excessive worrier (literally). So I am always thinking ahead of possible situations and trying to head them off (which is why I asked the question in the first place). My Dd doesn't run off EVERY single time and in every situation. She does sit in the stroller, but does like to get out and roam around and I can't blame her.

I am not a first time mother and have no qualms about picking her up kicking and screaming if it's something she shouldn't be doing or is unsafe. At home, if she does something she shouldn't do, I tell her to get in the time out chair. She might not like it, but she gets on there on her own and stays there until I tell her to get off. She is just starting to test out her independence and believe me when I say that she does have to have some, but I know the standards that are set now will make a huge difference for a long time to come. I am a pretty strict parent. Also, I would never put my Dd in harms way. I know my DD the best. I am also a SAHM so I am with her all the time.


I was simply looking into the harness or hand buddy thing as an option. If I keep my DD in the stroller the whole time of course she'd want to break loose...who wouldn't? My plan is to let her out in non crowded areas (Toon Town or whatever it's called) Ariel's Grotto and walk more around the resorts, to burn off that energy. She'll get tired and want to ride the stroller. It will also be really hot. Honestly, I think we will be fine without a harness. But I am keeping the option open. To each their own on the harness thing. I am not saying anyone is wrong for using them or not. A person has to do whatever is right for their child.

 

[mdhkitten]

Pam,

Very well put! My daughter is good when we're out and doesn't mind being in the stroller, and I'm not a parent who normally would use any type of restraint on her, but I will use her monkey backpack harness (or at least have it with me) for when we're waiting in line for a ride and I get too tired from holding her or she wants down. I know that she would be running all through the queus and I would be crazy! LOL

 

[pbharris4]

Those monkey ones are cute! If you have used the harnesses or things like that before..do people tend to get caught up in them? Adults don't always tend to watch where they are going either and was wondering if any kids have been knocked down or adults have got stuck in the straps.

 

[mdhkitten]

The reason that I like the monkey one is because the "tail" isn't too long, so your child can't wander several feet ahead of you. I like it because I can put Emily down near me, kind of like holding my hand, but she can go a little farther, but yet she isn't holding my hand so that makes her happy. I wouldn't think you would have a problem with one like that because she would be near you..............with longer ones you could always wrap around your hand and not give her as much run. Good luck!

 

[pbharris4]

Thanks for the info!

 

[TinkerbellMama]

I was simply looking into the harness or hand buddy thing as an option. If I keep my DD in the stroller the whole time of course she'd want to break loose...who wouldn't? My plan is to let her out in non crowded areas (Toon Town or whatever it's called) Ariel's Grotto and walk more around the resorts, to burn off that energy. She'll get tired and want to ride the stroller. It will also be really hot. Honestly, I think we will be fine without a harness. But I am keeping the option open. To each their own on the harness thing. I am not saying anyone is wrong for using them or not. A person has to do whatever is right for their child.

I am also not a "harness person" but bought one before our last WDW trip with a 12 month old who was walking well. I didn't take it out of the package and decided to keep it in reserve in case we needed it. We never did, and I returned it to the store after our trip (keep your recipt if you try this method!)...
We're going back with an almost 2 year old in October and I don't think I'll bother with the harness this time. Our son is a runner but I have pretty much perfected the art of keeping up with him, distracting him while waiting for things, and knowing his (and our!) limitations and working around them. He is also an only child and there will be 2-4 adults (or more) with him each day, so we can take shifts if we have to. For us, his free ranging will not be a problem. For others, it might seriously detract from their vacation. Only you know which scenario is yours. I just wanted to say that it CAN be done without a harness, but perhaps buying one and not opening the package would be a good compromise for you, as well. Good luck!

 

[RuthLS]

Wow, I thought I had the only 3 yr old that would run off at the drop of a hat. I'm feeling a lot better about that after reading this thread.

The first time I saw a harness was pre kids at a red sox game. A mom had a daughter with one one and every time she wiggled or leaned or strayed even the slightest, the mom would pull on the leash like she had a dog. It was then and there that I said no harness. Of couse pre kids I also said, no pacifier, not tv. We just weaned my 3 yr old off his paci and guess where the two kids are now? Watching "Wonder Pets".

So, I realized a lot of why I said I wouldn't do things was partly b/c I didn't know better, and partly b/c of what I "thought" was right based on what others said or I thought they would say or think.

We are planning a May Disney trip and at first I said no harness. I thought about it and realized it's because I was worried about what others would think. After much reading on these boards. (The harness quesiton comes up quite a bit). I realized the best choice for us is a harness.

I absolutely agree in being firm, setting boundries, etc. And for the most part it does work. But I just can' take the chance of him squeezing through a crowd to never be seen again. For my son and our family..I think it's the best thing. So our two sons will have the choice of stroller or walking with the harness.

I wanted to comment on the wrist things. Keep in mind...as I've read elsewhere..that's it's very easy for a child to dislocate an arm with those if they get ahead and trip or get tangled up in a crowd.

The OP might also want to consider what I've read here somehere before as well. Someone suggested going to the pet store and getting a cat collar and leash for the childs wrist. That way the child can pick out the colors and designs and you can get a better fit..like a bracelet. But there is still the risk of an arm getting pulled.

Anyways, harness or no..it's an individual choice. For me, the more I thought about it I realized it was a matter of safety. And it's not hurting the child. I probably wouldn't use one in the mall or at home or at a red sox game. But at a large theme park-I just can't see risking it.

 

[scraptoons]

Consider that even the best "behaved" children that stick by your side can easily get separated from you in the crowd. The five of us had a hard time staying together at a 2nd grade school event today.

I'm not a big harness person. But like another poster said, reading these posts got me to thinking its not a bad idea for my 2 yr old DS who loves to take off.