Alternative to baby "leash"

[delmar411]

How does one, "gain independence," when chained to someone else??? Just curious.

Who said I didn't allow them to explore things? There's a difference between allowing them to wander around on their own and allowing them to explore.

Who said I didn't allow them to have any fun. It's called paying attention to what they're doing and stopping them when they're doing something (possibly) harmful to themselves or others.

I'm curious just how many toddlers you were parenting at the same time? I find it beyond hard to believe that you have more than 2 eyes, 2 arms and 2 arms so you clearly weren't parenting more than 1 child. So stop telling people with multiple children that they should simply focus on ONE child. It's rude, condescending and makes you look foolish.

 

[kerriemiller]

check this out

We have one of these

http://www.rei.com/product/705792/rei-tagalong-child-carrier

 

[Suellen]

I'm curious just how many toddlers you were parenting at the same time? I find it beyond hard to believe that you have more than 2 eyes, 2 arms and 2 arms so you clearly weren't parenting more than 1 child. So stop telling people with multiple children that they should simply focus on ONE child. It's rude, condescending and makes you look foolish.

I've had two small children ~ at WDW ~ by myself. Guess what??? I did it with NO LEASH and NO STROLLER! Even better??? I came home with the same two kids I left home with.

2 Weeks, 2 kids, 4 parks, 3 hotels, 4 airports ~ 1 adult. 0 lost kids.

It is not impossible.

Of course not every family is the same and you need to do what you need to do... but please don't make this sound like an impossible task. I'm also not super mom either.... so I know that and am not claiming to be in anyway shape or form.

Watch them, talk to them, hold hands (not 100% of the time) they can learn the right thing to do.... my youngest at the time was 2 the oldest was 4.

 

[delmar411]

I've had two small children ~ at WDW ~ by myself. Guess what??? I did it with NO LEASH and NO STROLLER! Even better??? I came home with the same two kids I left home with.

2 Weeks, 2 kids, 4 parks, 3 hotels, 4 airports ~ 1 adult. 0 lost kids.

It is not impossible.

Of course not every family is the same and you need to do what you need to do... but please don't make this sound like an impossible task. I'm also not super mom either.... so I know that and am not claiming to be in anyway shape or form.

Watch them, talk to them, hold hands (not 100% of the time) they can learn the right thing to do.... my youngest at the time was 2 the oldest was 4.

That's not twins. Try again. Huge difference between 2 (toddler) & 4(preschooler).

If you took (2) 2yr olds on your own w/o strollers and harnesses then yep I'll simply bow down to you.

 

[Suellen]

Yes you are right ~ those with multiples are far more superior.

Correct me if I am wrong... OP had ONE child.

FWIW... two of either of my kids at the same ages still wouldn't have been leashed. And my youngest is far from an easy child. Even two of her and I wouldn't resort to leashing her as I would my pet.

As I've said before though.... I don't care or judge what others do.... as long as your leash doesn't trip me or one of my kids (or any other guest for that matter) we are good.

 

[Mandak22]

Ds is two and a very fast runner. It is a challenge keeping him close and not running away. He also hates the stroller. Any strategies for me? Dh is really against the leash but I am worried we need something

We ordered a Minnie Mouse backpack (that's what we called it) leash, from Toys R Us 2 years ago. They only sold them online, and they had a Mickey one. My daughter loved it, she like to put it on and run in place, she thought it was hilarious, she even did it at home. She loved it because it was minnie, and we were at Minnie's house. We also did a stroller, which ended up carrying all of our stuff mostly, rather than her. She's 4, and I'm planning on taking it just in case in August, because she thinks she's 12.

 

[Scotico]

I've had two small children ~ at WDW ~ by myself. Guess what??? I did it with NO LEASH and NO STROLLER! Even better??? I came home with the same two kids I left home with.

2 Weeks, 2 kids, 4 parks, 3 hotels, 4 airports ~ 1 adult. 0 lost kids.

It is not impossible.

Of course not every family is the same and you need to do what you need to do... but please don't make this sound like an impossible task. I'm also not super mom either.... so I know that and am not claiming to be in anyway shape or form.

Watch them, talk to them, hold hands (not 100% of the time) they can learn the right thing to do.... my youngest at the time was 2 the oldest was 4.

I can't believe people have such a hard time controlling their kids that they have to resort using a leash. Do you all also use a leash whiel dining at the restaurants or do you let them run free. I never had a problem with my 2 girl running away from us while at the parks, grocery store, restaurant, beach, etc.... We tell them that if they run off, we will pack up and leave or they will sit out for 10 minutes. It always works.

 

[gwynne]

I can't believe people have such a hard time controlling their kids that they have to resort using a leash. Do you all also use a leash whiel dining at the restaurants or do you let them run free. I never had a problem with my 2 girl running away from us while at the parks, grocery store, restaurant, beach, etc.... We tell them that if they run off, we will pack up and leave or they will sit out for 10 minutes. It always works.

To each his own...One of mine walked well between 10-11 months old. I guess I could have strapped her permanently in a stroller. But, we chose to be flexible. Occasionally I used the stroller, sometimes I held her hand, but when it was appropriate, we used reins. They were quite handy in zoos, parks, international airports, and on short walks where a little freedom was appropriate. She truly liked to stop, smell the flowers,look at whatever was at her level. Yes, I also taught safety, hand holding. It was never all or nothing with me. I believe strongly in giving toddlers and small children lots of opportunity to walk, exercise, explore, and enjoy their world.

 

[luvmy2babies]

I will tell you this. I forgot ours on this trip and although my runner is doing better, he still took his opportunities. It might have been chasing a bird or just for the fun of running. It might have been the few times I figured, I would not buckle him into the stroller because we were only going a little ways before parking it again. I wished I’d had it for the crowded situations when he wasn’t in the stroller. It wasn’t a big deal in open space, but I wished I had it so he would not have been able to take off and dart through a crowd of people. I’m chasing and saying excuse me and it could have been my imagination or the situation, but it felt like people slowed down or got in my path while I was chasing him. And of course you can’t touch anyone’s child these days so no one stopped him. So much for that “if I’m lost look under my bracelet” tag he was wearing. People just watched him run and gave me bad looks when I was chasing him. They would probably have preferred he was in a harness. He ended up walking more on this trip than planned because of the wind from TS Debbie blew the stroller cover off on 3 different days. Most of the time he was great because of the progress we have made in this area, but I wish I had it.

You can teach and teach and teach and punish and punish and punish. That has worked with other things. This particular thing for us has only improved with maturity. My son does not see the difference in running from me in our yard and running from me in a crowded place. He’s getting there, but he isn’t there yet. The thing the child has to hold on to, he’d just drop it and take off if he really wanted to. Every child is different even with the same parents. My daughter stayed with me and I never would have needed one with her. My son is just totally different.

People can say whatever they want. If your child never ran off, great. I know what that is like. Like I said, I had one that never ran off. Now I have one that does. But he also sits well in his stroller when he is in it, did 8 TS meals during out trip, sat well on the plane and on the Disney transportation. Running is just something fun for him. When I use the harness, he walks right by me. There is never enough of a lead for him to trip anyone with it. My son has a good life and a dang good mom despite his puppy harness.

 

[maxiesmom]

It still never fails to amaze me that some posters think that their way of parenting is the only right way to parent.

All kids are not the same and what works for one may not work for another. How can so many people not get that?

Don't use a toddler leash if you don't like them, or find that you don't need one. But geeze o pete, can't posters stop being so condescending of those who parent in a different manner than they do?

Lots of high horses around here lately.

 

[photo_chick]

That's not twins. Try again. Huge difference between 2 (toddler) & 4(preschooler).

If you took (2) 2yr olds on your own w/o strollers and harnesses then yep I'll simply bow down to you.

Just like there's a huge difference when you have a special needs 2 year old in that mix. I've gone alone with a special needs 2 year old and "average" 4 year old to crowded theme parks with no leash and no stroller. It worked for me but YMMV.

It comes down to the kids. I've seen toddler age twins who behave far better than my youngest. And I've seen single five year olds that needed to be leashed and bungied to a parent. Do what you need to do.

 

[M likes the mouse]

I would also never judge families that use any kind of restraint. That does not mean that the kids can't behave, that does not mean that this is bad parenting either. Disney World might be the only place where the parents use them.
While on a grand gathering a few years ago, my sister bought a monkey backpack for her then 4 year old son. Did she need it anywhere else? No. Is he the runaway type of kid? No.
But he does not speak English and he would not have been able to look for help if he had gotten lost. The restraint offered the liberty to walk on his own instead of using a stroller, while offering him the knowledge that there was somebody looking out for him at the other end. He actually asked for it as soon as he got out of his stroller.
Each family has it's own reasons for using them or not. As long as it's done respectfully, both for the kids and other guests, I do not see a problem with them being used.

 

[twinboysmom]

Yes you are right ~ those with multiples are far more superior.

Correct me if I am wrong... OP had ONE child.

FWIW... two of either of my kids at the same ages still wouldn't have been leashed. And my youngest is far from an easy child. Even two of her and I wouldn't resort to leashing her as I would my pet.

As I've said before though.... I don't care or judge what others do.... as long as your leash doesn't trip me or one of my kids (or any other guest for that matter) we are good.

Sound pretty judgemental to me. Nobody with multiples said they were superior. But I can assure you, it is different. A 4 year old and 2 year old is a lot different than 2 year olds. A 4 year old has much more ability to follow directions and to understand consequences. They have better communication skills and are less impulsive. So no, it's not the same.

Op, I harness my boys when needed. I have one child that sometimes runs and one that runs frequently. I do it because I love them and not because I am a lazy parent. Do what you need to do to enjoy your vacation and to keep your child safe. We have been 5 times since the boys were 18 months and used the harnesses different amounts. Not one person has said anything but positive comments to us.

 

[twinboysmom]

I will tell you this. I forgot ours on this trip and although my runner is doing better, he still took his opportunities. It might have been chasing a bird or just for the fun of running. It might have been the few times I figured, I would not buckle him into the stroller because we were only going a little ways before parking it again. I wished I’d had it for the crowded situations when he wasn’t in the stroller. It wasn’t a big deal in open space, but I wished I had it so he would not have been able to take off and dart through a crowd of people. I’m chasing and saying excuse me and it could have been my imagination or the situation, but it felt like people slowed down or got in my path while I was chasing him. And of course you can’t touch anyone’s child these days so no one stopped him. So much for that “if I’m lost look under my bracelet” tag he was wearing. People just watched him run and gave me bad looks when I was chasing him. They would probably have preferred he was in a harness. He ended up walking more on this trip than planned because of the wind from TS Debbie blew the stroller cover off on 3 different days. Most of the time he was great because of the progress we have made in this area, but I wish I had it.

You can teach and teach and teach and punish and punish and punish. That has worked with other things. This particular thing for us has only improved with maturity. My son does not see the difference in running from me in our yard and running from me in a crowded place. He’s getting there, but he isn’t there yet. The thing the child has to hold on to, he’d just drop it and take off if he really wanted to. Every child is different even with the same parents. My daughter stayed with me and I never would have needed one with her. My son is just totally different.

People can say whatever they want. If your child never ran off, great. I know what that is like. Like I said, I had one that never ran off. Now I have one that does. But he also sits well in his stroller when he is in it, did 8 TS meals during out trip, sat well on the plane and on the Disney transportation. Running is just something fun for him. When I use the harness, he walks right by me. There is never enough of a lead for him to trip anyone with it. My son has a good life and a dang good mom despite his puppy harness.

Very well said. Sounds like my boys. They are doing better with maturity. I have punished and punished and left more places than can be imagined. They can't be locked up in the house all the time so we have to venture and learn. It is also unfair to my usually more behaved child to continuously force him to sit at the house because his brother is by nature a runner. My boys have poor communication skills (they are in therapy) and as this improves, the listening and understanding improves. Unless someone has had a child like this, they can judge and judge but truly do not understand that you cannot force them to behave.

 

[Suellen]

Sound pretty judgemental to me.

What exactly did I say that was judgmental????

All I care is that I don't get tripped by the leash (tether, harness, rope... whatever you want to call it). Period.

Honestly I could care less what others do with their children. They are not mine to raise.

I never said mine were like having twins. EVER. They were both toddlers at the same time. Youngest one walked at 9 months old and really had no concept of right and wrong. I allowed her to walk when it was safe and wore her when it wasn't. So if you are keeping track that makes the other 31 months... certainly not a preschooler at not yet three. So yeah... I've had two toddlers... actually a walking infant and a toddler at the same time. NO ~ not not two two year olds.... but two toddlers which was the post I quoted. Perhaps you are confused because the example I gave was of the time I traveled ALONE with two small ones. We had many trips with the two little ones and now harness, leash needed for them. For OUR family.

Honestly.... the only time I noticed a kid leashed/tethered/harnessed was when my then 4 year old asked why another kid was being walked like a dog. She was 4 and didn't know that was an insulting question. I explained best I could.... but really that is the only time I notice them if they aren't running in front of me.

So no I don't judge you. I don't actually care. I care that my kid can behave without it and that's it. Was it ever EASY? No. It is a lot of work ~ but in the end was worth it to ME. Everyone should do what they need to and what works for THEM.

Not sure how much more clear I can be.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

The way I see it, the keep-small-child-close options are:

-stroller
-backpack style safety harness (I think much of the debate on this stems from people using the term "leash," and there tend to be irrational emotional responses to that word)
-holding hands (practice this a LOT in crowds beforehand for maximum effectiveness)
-carrying (not so pleasant for mom and dad)

Holding hands for little ones is not so pleasant, imagine walking around with your hand held above your head

 

[TLSnell1981]

What exactly did I say that was judgmental????

All I care is that I don't get tripped by the leash (tether, harness, rope... whatever you want to call it). Period.

I'm sure, you are very observant and pay attention to your surroundings (and your kids). So, I seriously doubt, this will be an issue. At least, any more, than a child walking next to their parent (or pushing a stroller, wheelchair, operating an ECV, etc)

 

[Suellen]

I'm sure, you are very observant and pay attention to your surroundings (and your kids). So, I seriously doubt, this will be an issue. At least, any more, than a child walking next to their parent (or pushing a stroller, wheelchair, operating an ECV, etc)

Well... sometimes I'm watching my kid... not others kids... if these kids dart as fast as their parents are saying... this could be a hazard.

I have been injured by the stroller to the heel though..... so I guess it really is all a danger.

So to those that tether/lease/harness/rope.... honestly now... I'm curious... at what age is it no longer appropriate in your eyes?

I really am just curious. Not trying to be rude here... not that I ever am though I guess it comes across that way.

 

[kamik86]

Call it a "tether" and remind him that NASA tethers astronauts to the Space Station when they're outside working.

It's because they love their astronauts and don't want to see them drift away...

I haven't read the whole thread but thank you for this. I don't even have kids but DH (and me some too) have seen so many kids being almost dragged along on those things so they look so much like someone walking a dog on a leash... thinking of it this way makes it seem much much less cruel. (As would not forcing the child to move by pulling them by the tether)

 

[rachellm]

My complaint with the backpack harnesses were people using them in the play areas. The parents were standing letting the kids run around, nearly tripping and/or decapitating other kids (depending on their size.)

Fine for walking around. Not okay for playing!