Child harness/tethers at the park

[jrmo]

Anyone have one/recommend one of these? I'm concerned about DD2 not wanting to stay in her stroller or darting off, but I'm wondering if lots of people use them at WDW or will I get dirty looks for "leashing" my kid? I'd much rather be safe than sorry at a place as large and crowded as DW, but you know, you still hate to be judged as a parent...
TIA!

 

[summerrluvv]

This usually becomes a heated debate on another board I frequent. I purchased the "munchkin" brand one at Walmart the other day. You can do the harness style, or strap from wrist to wrist. They also had the backpack style with the furry animals. My DD doesn't like to hold my hand at all (she'll hold DS's). So I got this for long lines or when she wants out of the stroller. I'm prepared to get dirty looks, but my child's safety trumps other people's opinions

 

[purvislets]

I absolutely use mine when we go. The one we have is a backpack style with a lime green "leash" that leads from the back. My daughter is a runner and it helps me keep her at arms length. She always holds my hand when she's wearing it so it doesn't really seem like a leash per se.

I could care less if people give me dirty looks. I'd rather endure a few of those than have to deal with the stress of trying to find a lost child.

 

[All American]

I bought the furry animal one at Walmart. It buckles across the chest and the tail can be clipped on or off. My daughter's 4 and still loves to wear the thing.

 

[gladstoneganderfan]

I bought the furry animal one at Walmart. It buckles across the chest and the tail can be clipped on or off. My daughter's 4 and still loves to wear the thing.

I will second this model. We got the dog & the monkey. They worked great. Plus, the strap is easy to take on & off for pictures. If you take the strap off, they look like a backpack.

As far as the dirty looks & comments, the worst were from teenagers! I had several feel the need to express their opinion of my "leash". I loved the little girl who was telling me how cruel I was. Then her Mom walked up & said, "Oh , that looks like the leash I had for you. Thank God for that or we would have never made it!" The teenagers face was priceless.

If anyone was obnoxious about it, we would tell them DD has rabies & we wanted to make sure she didn't bite anyone!

 

[LovePug]

I could care less if people give me dirty looks. I'd rather endure a few of those than have to deal with the stress of trying to find a lost child.

I totally agree. On our last trip I didn't need something like this because DS was not walking on his own, yet. He is now and will hold my hand most of the time, but can get brave and take off on me at times . I bought one to take with us just in case. If I don't need it, I won't use it. If he's in one of his rambunctious moods, then on it will go. It'll keep him happy being able to walk around "like a big boy" and I won't have to worry about losing my mind.

 

[summerrluvv]

If anyone was obnoxious about it, we would tell them DD has rabies & we wanted to make sure she didn't bite anyone!

That made me truly laugh out loud I'll remember that line!!

 

[gladstoneganderfan]

That made me truly laugh out loud I'll remember that line!!

Another funny was when we met Push, the talking trash can in Tomorrowland. The first thing he said to DD was "Hello bungee jumper!"

 

[jellybeans0607]

I've used one at disney many times. We have used the simple wrist one and the puppy backpack. I've never gotten a dirty look there, but i did get many "oh i'm so getting one of those next time".
I've used it in Boston at the museum and at the T stations and I *always* get dirty looks and rude comments. But hey, I have 3 kids and I take these field trips solo. So screw everyone else. If something happens to my child, I have to live with it, they get to go on with there sad judgemental lives.

 

[SLK1]

Forgive me, but I USED to be the mom giving the dirty looks! I thought, "Oh, they have to leash their child; they should be able to control their child". Fast forward to three more children and I will probably be shopping for my own "leash" soon! I'm just too tired to do the controlling anymore!!!

Good luck!!!

 

[SueM in MN]

The one problem I have seen happened with long leashes. The child got ahead of the adult and got kind of tangled with people who were between the adult and the child.
That doesn't look like it can happen with the shorter leashes.

 

[summerrluvv]

Another funny was when we met Push, the talking trash can in Tomorrowland. The first thing he said to DD was "Hello bungee jumper!"

 

[amandaraye]

My goodness people just need to keep their opinions on such matters to themselves. Anyone who gives a dirty look for a child wearing a harness is likely the same kind of person who would give a dirty look if you lost your child. Everyone's a judge these days. I mean, I could see if the child had a collar around his neck and a leash but sheesh a cute little harness or wrist strap or *gasp* a cute furry animal on their back?!? You've got me thinking about picking one up now for our trip.

 

[genius118899]

To be absolutely honest, I'll probably laugh, but I don't have kids yet, so take my reaction with a grain of salt! I honestly think they're cute, I just don't see them a whole lot, so I'll most likely look at you a little funny.

 

[mickeymaker2003]

My daughter had the red Elmo one that I bought at a garage sale since I knew she wouldn't hold hands--she's got the 19 month old independence streak going. I just couldn't bring Elmo to Disney--it just didn't seem right since he's not a Disney character. I made my daughter a Cinderella harness instead. I used the white buckles from the red Elmo and used the Elmo one as a pattern, bought 1" and 2" white straps and 2" sew on velcro from the fabric store and embroidered Cinderella's coach and horses on the front of white straps before I put it together. She was SO cute when she had it on with her Cinderella costume for the MNSSHP. She loved the harness. She would hand the adult end of the harness to whoever she wanted to walk with. When she wanted someone to carry her, she held the adult end of the harness herself. It was easy to take off and put on and it didn't impede her movements at all (except to make it so she couldn't get too far away). The strap is a good length and the loop for the adult end is just big enough that you can slide your wrist through it, so you don't have to actually hold onto it.

I only heard one negative comment about it the whole 10 day trip. Many parents were asking where they could get one. If you get to Disney and decide you need a strap, Disney sells the one that attaches to the child's and parent's wrist. If your child has belt loops, you can loop it through the belts loops so they can't slither out of it (not listed as an option on the package, but it looked like it would work). The stores don't have them sitting out, but some have them behind the counter. I saw someone buy one in a store that is right next to Splash Mountain in MK as I was killing time waiting for my turn at Rider Switch.

 

[JackJack08]

I have never used one...because I didn't have to. My kids are really good, about staying close and holding our hand. But I would use one, in a heartbeat, if need be. Who gives a hoot, what anyone thinks. If people weren't making rude comments about this, it would be something else. Tell them to go fly a kite!!!! Keep your kids safe....and your sanity intact!

 

[squirrel]

I wish my neighbour brought one for her son! He was all over the place.

If anyone was there the same time as me, I'm sure you saw him.

He took off on me while his parents were on a ride. I had to chase him in a crowd and hope that my niece didn't get lost while I grabbed him! I then made him stay in the stroller until his parents returned.

 

[lilybrooke14]

I picked one up at Babies R Us that looks like a pink purse. It straps around the waist and across the chest messenger style, and then you can choose to add the "leash" clip on or not. DD thinks it's a toy, and doesn't mind wearing it at all. Plus, she can carry around little trinkets in her purse.

She darted away from me in Target the other day, through a little area in the isle where I had to move some stuff out of the way to catch up with her. She got a pretty good head start, and she got out of my sight. She ran down the next isle (unbeknownst to me) and then doubled back. I wound up running down one end of the shoes while she ran at the other end of the shoes. She ran, giggling, and never even looked back. I couldn't get to her until we both bottomed out into the clothing section. I was so mad, I was spitting fire. It was more than a little scary. And you know? Lots of people saw her get away, and dart off, and NO ONE stepped in to stop her. I've seen that happen in the store before, and I'll usually step in front of the little one and try to delay them until the parent can catch up (without actually touching them if possible), but everyone just watched.

Anyway, sorry for the novel. My point is, we're SO taking it with us. And it'll probably go everywhere with me from now on anyway, just in case she needs it. I could really give a flip what other people have to say about it. She's a runner. She'll bolt if given any opportunity. It keeps her safe. The end.

 

[summerrluvv]

To be absolutely honest, I'll probably laugh, but I don't have kids yet, so take my reaction with a grain of salt! I honestly think they're cute, I just don't see them a whole lot, so I'll most likely look at you a little funny.

But given the explanations people just provided for using them, I would think you would avoid the "funny look" now

 

[genius118899]

But given the explanations people just provided for using them, I would think you would avoid the "funny look" now

Oh, I COMPLETELY understand why people use them, and would never make a rude comment about "leashing" your kid. I personally just think they look funny, but there's a good chance that if I ever have kids I'll resort to them. Doesn't change the fact that I think they look a tad silly.