Baby harness?

[Daisy57b]

I never thought I'd even be thinking of using one of these, but I think I'm going to get one - just in case...Hopefully DD1 will sit in her stroller, but after running all over the outlet mall chasing her and not getting much accomplished, I think I might have one on hand. Have you used one and was it ok? Which one? I don't think I want one with the stuffed animal on the back, because that will drive her absolutely nuts. Any suggestions on this??

Thanks!!

 

[mjkacmom]

I used them with my twins starting at about 18 months - it was seriously the only way I could take them out myself without a stroller! Ours was a harness, with an Elmo on front, and they LOVED them. Even if DH was with me, they were a lifesaver at parades and crowded events - ds was a runner.

 

[Disneychix]

I got one for our Florida trip last year. DH was totally against it but I brought it with us anyway. It was most helpful in the airport when we had our hands full with lots of luggage. DS isn't so much of a runner but he hates holding hands. I did get the backpack type and DS loved it.

 

[Poohs#1fan]

I just stumbled upon one last night on Babies R Us that is a purse for the DD. Not sure how good it is, but I think I'm going to try one. DD loves her purse now, so she may keep it on.

 

[design_mom]

I had one of the non-backpack harnesses for my DD when we went (she was 2). She did not care for it, but sometimes it was good as a threat. "If you can't hold my hand, you'll have to ride in the stroller or wear the harness. What do you choose?"

The best thing I found, especially with a one-year-old, was a soft-structured baby carrier like the Ergo. (You can see a picture of it in my avatar.) It was a God-send.

 

[daleswife]

I used one of those backpack buddies. The Monkey one...My son LOVED it. He was 21 months and he said he had a pack-pack like mommy!!! He seemed ok with it. I got it cause I honestly couldnt see making him sit in the stroller all day long.....Gonna use it next september too.,..

 

[disneybridetobe]

We have the Monkey Backpack Harness for DD-18mos... I love it, and she is proud as a peacock to wear it. I'm not even sure she realizes it's a harness. It's the best $9.00 I've EVER spent. My DD is a runner, and she's *VERY* friendly, so this leash is a lifesaver.

 

[ScotsMinnie]

yup we have the backpack buddy one too. We have a bear and his name is Barney. DD would wear it all day if she could - she loves him. Not as obvious a harness to so instead of attracting disapproving looks from nosey strangers I get smiles! Not that it would have made any difference. I feel secure when she has it on especially in busy places. She is at the stage of not wanting to go in the buggy and does not always want to hold hands. At least she is safe this way.

 

[all4fun]

We used a simple nylon harness type on ds when he was a 2-3 yrs old. It worked very well and served it's purpose. Funny thing was is that he absolutely hated to hold our hands and loved to run away from us, however when he had the harness on, his behavior actually became more compliant and we had way fewer problems. I guess the "leash" provided him with a physical boundary and since he knew he wasn't going to get very far he just didn't try. I did loop the lead and tied it so it would barely touch the ground if we dropped it. That way, it wasn't a tripping hazzard to him and when we were holding on to it, he was always close enough to us that it wasn't a tripping hazzard to others.

We just got back and I saw lots of LO's in the little Monkey and Puppy backpack harnesses. Those are really cute although I have heard that they can be really warm to wear so be aware of that if you're trip is planned for the warmer parts of the year.

hth

 

[ScotsMinnie]

they might be warm if worn over a tee shirt or the like. DD wore strappy tops so was not too bad and didn't wear it constantly - just when it was needed.

Obviously at home there is no chance of her overheating in it!!!!

 

[3boymthr]

I didn't have the harness but an actual tether. My DH called it the baby leash. I used it for my oldest DS when he was @ 2. I had it for middle DS too. (Youngest was not a runner and still will hold my hand). It was awesome. It was a piece of 1 inch wide blue and white striped elastic that was about 4 feet long had a loop that went over my wrist, or I'd loop it around the stroller handle, and the velcro part that was adjustable and went around his wrist. They could stretch it out a good way. But usually they would not go far when the tether was on. Eventually when I got the tether out they would calm down and not run away. Safety1st used to make and sell these. I got it at Babies R Us.

 

[*Seanaci*]

Go buy one. Don't even hesitate. Especially if you're taking a Disney trip.

We have a monkey backpack/harness, as well as a generic blue harness. We took both on this trip, but my son liked the monkey one best. Whenever we'd take him out of the stroller for any reason, that monkey would go on and he got to a point where he quickly learned if he let us put the monkey on, he could get down and walk a little provided we felt it was safe for him.

Also, if you've never used a harness on your DD, start out slow. We actually started putting the monkey on my son 2 months before our trip to get him used to how it felt on his back. Then after a month of just wearing the monkey, we added the strap used by the adult to hold on to them, again, to get him used to how far he could go before he'd be tugging. The monkey did bug my son at first when we started making him wear it around the house, but after a few days, he was used to it and would wear it all day and not even realise it was there.

Don't think twice about not getting one, or not using one because your daughter won't like it. They are a life saver. Proof of that is at the airport, we put the monkey through the xray machine first, mom would go through with my son, then she'd grab the monkey and put it back on him while the other 3 of us would gather shoes, bags, and jackets. In fact a TSA agent at Orlando airport on Saturday commented on how organized we were while mom strapped Keegan back into the monkey while she waited for the stroller. The agent said that a few days prior, a little boy had taken off and run away from his parents and it took them quite a while to find him. She said that if the parents had had a harness, the situation wouldn't have been so scary.

 

[disneybridetobe]

Go buy one. Don't even hesitate. Especially if you're taking a Disney trip.

We have a monkey backpack/harness, as well as a generic blue harness. We took both on this trip, but my son liked the monkey one best. Whenever we'd take him out of the stroller for any reason, that monkey would go on and he got to a point where he quickly learned if he let us put the monkey on, he could get down and walk a little provided we felt it was safe for him.

Also, if you've never used a harness on your DD, start out slow. We actually started putting the monkey on my son 2 months before our trip to get him used to how it felt on his back. Then after a month of just wearing the monkey, we added the strap used by the adult to hold on to them, again, to get him used to how far he could go before he'd be tugging. The monkey did bug my son at first when we started making him wear it around the house, but after a few days, he was used to it and would wear it all day and not even realise it was there.

Don't think twice about not getting one, or not using one because your daughter won't like it. They are a life saver. Proof of that is at the airport, we put the monkey through the xray machine first, mom would go through with my son, then she'd grab the monkey and put it back on him while the other 3 of us would gather shoes, bags, and jackets. In fact a TSA agent at Orlando airport on Saturday commented on how organized we were while mom strapped Keegan back into the monkey while she waited for the stroller. The agent said that a few days prior, a little boy had taken off and run away from his parents and it took them quite a while to find him. She said that if the parents had had a harness, the situation wouldn't have been so scary.

Very well said. Just do it. You really won't regret it.

 

[philnphyl]

We have a monkey harness but my DD hated it so I can say that we've never used it. She's 3.5 now and is pretty good about holding hands -- but 2 years ago, forget it! We were chasing her all over the place.

 

[Hoosier Mom]

If you buy a harness, you might practice with it before your trip. We got the doggy backpack one. We put it on our 18 month old at the airport (flying to Disney). For us, it didn't work. Our stubborn son wanted to go his way, not ours, and in protest he would just sit down. Same thing happened in The Land at Epcot. If he didn't get to walk where he wanted, he sat down. So we were going no where fast.

I ended up selling it at a second hand store.

Good luck! Have fun on your trip!