Alternatives to a leash...

[tofubeast]

I can't believe I am even posting about this as I used to be one who would look at a parent with a leash and think, "How could they?" Now that I have a toddler, I don't judge. (lesson learned)

I was wondering if any of you have had success with the Gripsterz StayAlong Walking Handle?

Also, I remember seeing people chat on this board about a harness that has a stuffed animal with a "grip handle" for lack of a better word. Do you know who makes those and how they are?

Any other products? TIA

 

[DoryDorito]

I remember getting ours at target. That was a long time ago, but they should have something like that. .

Be sure to blow off the criticism you're bound to hear on this subject. After all, shame on you for caring about your child's safety.

 

[adventure_woman]

Would your toddler keep that on? My 2 year old would have that off in a flash! That being said, the only time I have used our 'leash' is when I wanted to give her freedom where she couldn't have it otherwise. I never 'walk' with her on it. I have used it in our downtown area, when we were standing around talking by the side of the road and I wanted her to be able to play and be safe by not going into traffic. The other time I used it was at Disney, when we were waiting for the parade. It was just me and my 2 daughters and I wanted to watch my 4 yr old play, but there is no way I could take my eyes off the 16 month old. The leash allowed me to look up without losing her!

 

[tulipgrl7]

My toddler wouldn't hold on to that at all, so it wouldn't work for us. In the past we have used the animal backpack with the leash. I hate that we sold it recently, because I would use it for my daughter at disney. She is way independent and wants to walk, but there are too many people around to let her roam. I am hoping she doesn't fight us to sit in the stroller.

 

[tofubeast]

Thanks guys. My toddler used to be great in a stroller, but now she wants to walk. I'm just a bit nervous with the crowds etc because sometimes she does slip out of my hands and run off. We are working on that of course.

 

[jorose01]

My now 7 year old was a "runner"! The first couple of trips to disney world we used the dog backpack leash. It was from Target or Walmart. It was a life saver. Standing in line a couple of times other parents asked me where in the park they could get one. That made me feel much better about leashing my son!!!

The only complaint I had from him was the stuff dog would get hot.

Have a wonderful trip!

 

[dsneprincess]

I found a plush Mickey Mouse backpack pal with an attached parent strap. My son loves wearing Mickey on his back & it is quite the hit at Disney as he fits right in!

He gets to explore, but safely. We also used with success on some docks in Charleston SC this past summer. He would have been in the drink without it, so success!

 

[Leajess99]

My youngest daughter wore the Monkey backpack with the parent strap. http://www.target.com/p/eddie-bauer-harness-buddy-monkey/-/A-11119070 - This one. We even used it on our first trip as she was worried about being separated and she was easily distracted but refused a stroller. I never heard a bad word while at Disney about it.

 

[Woodmnky]

I don't recall where I saw it so it may not help, but I have seen a wristlet cuff that you can wear and your child wears the other. This encourages hand holding, but doesn't allow them to run off unexpectedly.

You know your child best and if their safety is at stake with them not being tethered to you in some way then by all means do what you have to do.

 

[lucifie]

We have the stuffed animal backpack and I never got a negative comment about it. I mostly got comments like, "I wish I had one of those when my kids were little" and people asking me where I got it. Even though I love the concept, in practice it didn't work out that well. It wasn't long before the kids realized they were still "confined" when wearing it and it got to be like trying to put a cat on a leash. If we were in a crowd it was easy for them to get it tangled. The last time I tried to use it DS was 2.5. We were going into a store, but he wanted to wear it. I put it on him and he threw a fit when I tried to hold the other end. Finally, I gave up and I was just going to let him wear the backpack, so I took the "tail" off so he wouldn't trip over it and he threw a fit about that. After that it got put away. I'll probably still take it when we go to Disney because our youngest will be 2.5, but I don't know how much we'll use it.

You could do what they did on an episode of Modern Family and put your toddler in high heels.

 

[tartemis]

Thanks guys. My toddler used to be great in a stroller, but now she wants to walk. I'm just a bit nervous with the crowds etc because sometimes she does slip out of my hands and run off. We are working on that of course.

Honestly, just keep an eye on her. It isn't that hard. I have taken two toddlers (at the same time) by myself to Disney -- neither one rode in the stroller that much, and I didn't lose either one.

I get the concern, but it isn't like you are talking about a gaggle of children. If you are even relatively diligent, there will be no issue. No leash (or substitute product) is needed.

 

[crisi]

I can't believe I am even posting about this as I used to be one who would look at a parent with a leash and think, "How could they?" Now that I have a toddler, I don't judge. (lesson learned)

Thanks. (wait until they are teenagers.....all those "my kids won't" come back to haunt you.).

 

[jorose01]

Sometimes diligence isn't enough! My oldest was a runner and he would be take off in a flash. Every child is different - my youngest would never leave my side without telling me first! If I had had him first I too would be peddling the diligence advice!

My advice is to find something that works for your family! I think the mickey backpack is a great idea!! If you are worried about her wearing it, have it be a surprise from Mickey for her trip!

 

[Leajess99]

Sometimes diligence isn't enough! My oldest was a runner and he would be take off in a flash. Every child is different - my youngest would never leave my side without telling me first! If I had had him first I too would be peddling the diligence advice!

My older kids were good about staying with me. My youngest was the runner.

 

[2binak]

We used a backpack harness similar to this one. DD loved the freedom of being able to walk and we loved being able to keep her close by. She loved that her backpack looked just like Daddy's.

http://www.amazon.com/Eddie-Bauer-B...r=1-11&keywords=backpack+harness+for+toddlers

 

[DannysMom]

I get the concern, but it isn't like you are talking about a gaggle of children. If you are even relatively diligent, there will be no issue. No leash (or substitute product) is needed.

It depends on the temperament of the kid in question. Some kids naturally stick close to Mom and/or Dad -- some do NOT. I suspect you had the former. If you have ever had the latter, you know better than to ever judge the measures another parent takes to keep their kids safe.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards App please excuse any typos.

 

[la79al]

I thought I needed one of the backpack leashes (I've seen them at Target and Walmart) with DD4 when she was little. I thought it would be an extra precaution. Once I put it on her though, there were 2 options. I could give her the 'handle' tail or she would drop to the ground and refuse to move. After I had DD2, I found out that I had no idea what a runner was. DD4 could be trusted (at age 2) to walk next to me in the parking lot with no problems. DD2 can't even set one foot on the ground without a very firm grip. I have seen the wrist leashes at the dollar store but it would take my DD about 15 seconds to take that off. There's no way anything would work that she had to voluntarily hang onto. DD2 hates riding in the stroller so if she hasn't improved with her listening skills by March, our monkey leash will be joining us at DW. She plays with it at home so I know she won't mind wearing it and honestly, it would be easier to deal with 2 kids and the stroller by myself if I know my non-listening runner is tethered .

 

[tartemis]

It depends on the temperament of the kid in question. Some kids naturally stick close to Mom and/or Dad -- some do NOT. I suspect you had the former. If you have ever had the latter, you know better than to ever judge the measures another parent takes to keep their kids safe.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards App please excuse any typos.

I'm not judging, just trying to give a dose of perspective. My first was a runner -- for 1 week. We would immediately leave where we were or stop doing whatever was fun (which was a huge inconvenience, but having a runner and a newborn I couldn't trust that I would always be able to catch her) and she quickly learned that running away led to bad consequences and stopped.

If someone wants to use a leash -- that's their rightful choice. The OP was looking for an alternative to a leash and the stroller and frankly, old fashioned diligence is an alternative. I'm sure there are others.

 

[toy]

I had a runner once. I bought her a bright pink leash/harness. I took her out in public and politely told her to stay with mommy. She smiled sweetly and took off the first chance she got. I planted my feet and let her get as far as the leash allowed. When she ran out of leash she landed flat on her butt. She never ran again.

 

[adventure_woman]

You could do what they did on an episode of Modern Family and put your toddler in high heels.

THAT was funny....I love that show!