Alternative to baby "leash"

[kisaacs]

We are taking a stroller for DD4 and DS2, but my dad loves to carry the kids on his shoulder so they can see. Since that gets crazy tiring, we got my dad this for Father's Day. I think they're going to love it, and it might work for you:
http://piggybackrider.com/

Kristen

 

[MCoryB]

I vote for leaving the child at home with a babysitter (he's 2; he won't mind) and letting the adults enjoy the trip.

 

[deegack]

I have handles the girls hold. They work great for them and I either hold one end or attach it to the stroller

 

[deegack]

I vote for leaving the child at home with a babysitter (he's 2; he won't mind) and letting the adults enjoy the trip.

Lol if I told my dd that she was staying home while I went to Disney there would be hell to pay.

 

[jm106]

I vote for leaving the child at home with a babysitter (he's 2; he won't mind) and letting the adults enjoy the trip.

A big part of some adults enjoying the trip is doing it with their families. my kids would mind if I left them and many families dont gave babysitter willing to keep kids for a week.

 

[Suellen]

Tomorrow, the moment you go out there door, put your arm in the air. And hold it there. All day.

Have fun with that.

Better, have someone much taller jerk on it every so often. Get distracted, walk one way, have the someone jerk it the other way. Enjoy the awesome feeling of shoulder separating.


The next day, put a soft harness around you and have the "someone much taller" show you the way to walk with that. A bit different than the arm up in the air.


I've never understood the prejudice against dogs that shows up in the toddler "leash" hatred posts. Just like NASA, we love our dogs and children, and want them to not run away, be stolen, or run into traffic and be smashed. That's why we use leashes/harnesses/leads/tethers.

No prejudice against dogs. I love my dog too and I love my kids and I don't want them to get lost. I just also wouldn't feed my kids from a bowl on the floor even though I love my dog and I love my kids and I don't want them to go hungry.

THAT being said....

I absolutely never felt the need to hold either of my DD's hands ALL DAY. We rode rides.... at... sat on the bench.... let them run and play. Seriously... it isn't like a 24/7 thing... Also perhaps because I am short and my DD's are tall.... but they were NEVER stretched straight up at full extension.

I still think the leash systems/backpack system/tether... whatever you choose to call it ...is unsafe for the child and those around them.

I personally wouldn't use one..... but to each their own.... unless I get face planted when you look left and your kid darts right and the lease becomes a trap. Then we have a problem.

 

[Granny square]

Here's my take on a father reluctant to use a tether:

1. Buy the backpack tether. Show it to him and make sure you emphasize the term tether, not leash. If he goes for it fine. If he doesn't like it, bring it with you anyway. Stow it away in your park bag.

2. When you get to the first park- give DH custody of DS and the stroller. Let him handle the issues of DS wanting out of said stroller. Let him take DS by the hand in the crowds and/or carry him.

3. When DH starts complaining about how hard it is to keep DS from breaking away and/or wants you to carry DS- pull out the tether and see what he says then.

At least, that's what I'd do.

I agree. They give the freedom from the stroller in a safe way. I missed when you are traveling, but if it is during the slow season you can give a lot more running around time. None of that concern of losing them in the crowd.

 

[BlovesC]

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...

This is just a fantastic comparison. Whoever manufactures the child 'tethers' should totally make a commercial with kids on the moon!

 

[maxiesmom]

Tomorrow, the moment you go out there door, put your arm in the air. And hold it there. All day.

Have fun with that.

Better, have someone much taller jerk on it every so often. Get distracted, walk one way, have the someone jerk it the other way. Enjoy the awesome feeling of shoulder separating.


The next day, put a soft harness around you and have the "someone much taller" show you the way to walk with that. A bit different than the arm up in the air.

I absolutely agree with you. It doesn't matter if you have the arm pulled all the way up or only part of the way, after a while, it has to be uncomfortable.

And as to the suggestions of carrying a child when they are tired, that is not too safe either. If you have a child on your shoulders, it is way to easy for them to suddenly shift and end up on the ground. Not to mention whacking their heads on the low-hanging signs. My brother in law did that one! And when you are hot and tired, do you really want to be trying to carry a hot and tired child?

I would take the harness/leash/tether along. If your child doesn't want to be in the stroller, put the tether on him. No discussion.

 

[Ariel8676]

I vote for leaving the child at home with a babysitter (he's 2; he won't mind) and letting the adults enjoy the trip.

Aww.. i have been taking my kids since my oldest was 8 months old..1-2 times a year. I would feel so guilty leaving one of my children home from a family vacation..especially to WDW!!!

My 3 girls were very good, they would hold hands or hold the side of the stroller if they needed to walk for a bit..then they woudl go back in the stroller with no problems. My son (2) is a runner and has a TON of energy..but i praise him everytime he holds hands or holds the side of the stroller, and will sit..if he is not buckled..lol And he is starting to understand now that those are the rules.
With all that being said, do what you think is best for you and your child and dont worry what anyone else thinks. If you husband does not want a leash/tether whatever you want to call it then tell him he can be responsible for the baby for the first day..all day.. and see what he says ..lol

Good luck and have a great trip!!!

 

[Hannathy]

Absolutely better. Also better than holding hands all day.

Tomorrow, the moment you go out there door, put your arm in the air. And hold it there. All day.

Have fun with that.

Better, have someone much taller jerk on it every so often. Get distracted, walk one way, have the someone jerk it the other way. Enjoy the awesome feeling of shoulder separating.

Don't know why I would do all that. Why would I be holding hands all day, non stop? No need to. Only ever held hands crossing the street or for very short periods in a crowd rush. Certainly never just walking around the park. Never understood the need to hold hands all the time, my kids just stayed with us.

 

[staceyatdisney]

Lots of practice with consistency now with consequences. No matter where you go he has to stay right with you, or you leave immediately, Going for a walk to the park, he runs you go home immediately and he has a time out. Going for ice cream, he doesn't stay, no ice cream and you go home. grocery store, with you or into the cart or home. Every single time, no exceptions.


I'm with your DH, hate them.

Of course this is the way to go. However, at age two you'll likely get mixed results - consequences are a big concept. However, all children are different. FWIW, we found the leash to be more trouble than it was worth in the parks with our two year old. In crowds it was a real pain as people were tripping over it.

Honestly my spouse talked me into going to Disney with our two year old - I thought he was too young. Was he too young? He probably was. Was the trip a total disaster? No it was not, but it did take a few days to figure out what we could and could not do.

There was enough visual stimulation to keep him in the stroller for a time, but when he wanted out, we let him out. The alternative would have been strapping him in which starts the meltdown process. Obviously, we held his hand when there was a ton of people around, but we did let him walk on his own. He ran a few times but for the most part it wasn't too too bad. Also, we had fairly good results when we told him he had to hold on to the stroller if he wanted to walk on his own.

IMO you have to go expecting to not see everything in the parks. At first we did not, so we were disappointed. Once we adjusted our expectations and accepted that fact that there was going to be a certain amount of (normal) stress keeping our son in line, we had a better time.

We also:
-Avoided the really long lines
-Kept him on his nap schedule
-Spent lots of time at the resort pool
-We hit every splash area, which allowed him to burn of some of the unlimited energy

Hope something here helps you. Enjoy!!

 

[ttintagel]

No matter how well you teach them, some kids are born to run. Me, I was a wanderer at that age. Something would catch my eye, and I was so quiet it took a few minutes for folks to notice I was missing. Of course, we didn't go to many big, crowded places, so it wasn't as much of an issue.

I look at the tether as an insurance policy. Teaching the kid is your primary method of keeping him with you, and the tether is the backup plan. It's like training wheels.

 

[Scrappy_Tink]

Hand cuffs and duct tape!!

Or you can do the "Modern Family" route and buy him a pair of princess shoes with heels...though you wouldn't want him to get to attached to them!

 

[GreenCntryGirl]

I'm with your husband.

This is one of the those times where I have to ask, "Who is the parent?"

Why would a child get to tell a parent they are not going to sit in a stroller?

I know. I know. I'm mean.

 

[Art 1]

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

Parent him, teach him how to behave in public.

 

[NotUrsula]

FWIW, we found the leash to be more trouble than it was worth in the parks with our two year old. In crowds it was a real pain as people were tripping over it.

You had it too long. The rein on a safety harness should just be long enough to barely touch the ground at the child's feet, which is normally going to be no more than about 30 inches.

 

[phorsenuf]

This is just a fantastic comparison. Whoever manufactures the child 'tethers' should totally make a commercial with kids on the moon!

An astronaut is tethered because he can float away, which is out of his control. He is not choosing to take off.

Teach your child to listen and stay with you and he won't need a tether.

 

[Mickey Gator]

The alternative to a "baby leash" is a "responsible parent".

 

[Scotico]

Those "leashes" ae just wrong. Why don't you just bring some bowls to the park and make them eat and dring out of those. Teach your kids to stay with you and you won't need a leash. My 3 year old and 6 year old stay with us the whole time. The 3 year old is either in the stroller, holding our hands or holding the stroller and my 6 yo walks by herself or holds our hands.