Child harness/tethers at the park

[toostsmom]

I just got back and saw tons of little ones on "leashes". I have an adhd nephew who we couldn't take anywhere without a tether when he was little, so I get it. They make them so cute now - I don't understand why anyone would have a problem with a parent wanting to stay attached to their child in a huge crowd.

 

[mjkacmom]

My twins had leashes starting at 18 months - it was the only way I could take them out by myself without a stroller. The LOVED them! They called them their "Elmos" because he was on the harness. Even with DH around, they were so handy for parades, and nightime crowd events. I could care less what people thought - one of my twins was a runner, and pretty darn quuick!

 

[purvislets]

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.

Any idea how much these are?
The one I have for DD is back pack style, but for MNSSHP she's going to be tinkerbell and her costume will get in the way of it.

 

[PattnFmly]

We used them on DS#1 when he was little. He was a runner, laughing all the way, and would hide from us. So his independence took a while to earn! DS#2 always stayed right with us, and still does. We had a fanny pack one, that DS thought was great! We gave him $(his own quarters!) to keep in it, as well as tissues and a crayon and small flip notebook. He never minded wearing it and loved having his own "stuff" - just like in our backpack!

 

[buzzmom3]

I am considering getting one, too. My DD will be 16 months and is good about staying with us but I am thinking the excitement might get the best of her! I don't want to take the chance that something might catch her attention and she takes off.

 

[tinkerlisa]

I have been debating getting my DS(15 months) a harness. My other son loved his stroller and didn't mind being cooped up in it for awhile. However, my youngest screams when I try to put him in it! He hates being strapped into anything actually!

I asked my mom's opinion on the matter and she made me feel like garbage for even considering it! She said she never treated me like a dog and kept me on a leash!
I am just worried about his safety. My son doesn't understand the whole hand holding thing yet and he makes shopping trips unbearable!

I am glad that others do this. It has made me feel better about my decision to buy one!

Whoever said they told ignorant people their kid had rabies was genius! I wish I can think of snazzy things like that to say!

 

[tinkerlisa]

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.

That's an awesome idea! Was it expensive to make? I would love to make a Mickey one for my DS!

 

[Schmeck]

I've witnessed two nasty accidents at WDW involving the types of leashes that have the long, sometimes coiled strap, like telephone cords. One child got knocked down by a person walking between the child and parent, and another child got dragged down by a stroller!

So, please avoid the long straps, and don't let the little one get far enough away from you that someone tries to cut between you!

 

[MSSANDRA]

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!

100% agree..

DS was a dream toddler and I never even considered one. FF to DGS and what a difference. He hates the stroller and loves to run. He is almost 2 and we are almost a year away from his first trip so we will see. I have been working on his staying close by and stopping when I say stop. I have quit using a stoller at the mall but of course will take one to WDW. I try to give him as much walk room as I safely can and then insist that he hold hands when I deem necessary. I really do not like the harnesses but if we were going to WDW tomorrow I would for sure have one on the bottom of the suitcase just in case.

I too remind parents to be very careful of the cords. We saw a child at a local festival really hurt when someone tripped over the cord.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

If you haven't used one for your child yet, be sure to try it out a few times and make sure you're both comfortable with it before a big trip. We bought a harness when my son was 15 mos. He wouldn't take even one step with it on. As soon as I put it on him, he would just sit on the ground and not move. We finally gave up that idea! Smart little dude with a mind of his own!

 

[scottish mum]

When we went the 1st time with DD who was almost 2 we used the harness style and it worked a treat, she was happy at walking like a big girl and we knew she was always safe. I also took the wrist strap with us but she didn't like it but i found another very handy use for it. As she was out all day she wanted her teddy with her, i was afraid we would lose it and then nobody would ever sleep again, so we put one end round teddy's belly and looped the other over the handle of the stroller. It meant if she dropped teddy it would just hang down as it was always tied to the stroller.

 

[TheRatPack]

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.

LOL, I'm right there with you! I have 5 kids....the older 2 are 'okay' on trips and such but the younger 3 are hard to keep up with (5, 5 and 3). The 3 year old we strap in a stroller and the 5 year olds we had the backpack style harness. We didn't get any dirty looks, but a few laughs and even a few 'odd' looks. But who the heck cares....I'm keeping up with my kids the best way I can (without holding sweaty hands all day). I'll endure the looks we get all day long...as long as I don't lose one of my kids

 

[princessmom29]

If you haven't used one for your child yet, be sure to try it out a few times and make sure you're both comfortable with it before a big trip. We bought a harness when my son was 15 mos. He wouldn't take even one step with it on. As soon as I put it on him, he would just sit on the ground and not move. We finally gave up that idea! Smart little dude with a mind of his own!

Mine HATED it the one and only time I tried one at DH's insistance. Screamed bloody murder and tried to get it off. It never came out agian, and we did fine without it.

 

[mmaikisch]

I have one for my 2 yr old dd. She hates to hold my hand or be in her stroller, so for me to feel she was still safe, I bought her the pink purse one from babies r us. She loooooooves it (she's such a girlie girl anyway and has 3 other purses without the leash). I'm sorry, I can't figure out how to post pics yet, so here is the website if you would like to see it. It was soooooooo worth it for us, and she will definitely be wearing it to disney in Dec. =)

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3188799

 

[lovemred]

We had one for when we went on a cruise. We never ended up using it, but practiced with it at home before the trip.

We pretended he was a "horsey" (bridle and rein). To make it fun, you could even say whoa to stop!

 

[summerrluvv]

I have one for my 2 yr old dd. She hates to hold my hand or be in her stroller, so for me to feel she was still safe, I bought her the pink purse one from babies r us. She loooooooves it (she's such a girlie girl anyway and has 3 other purses without the leash). I'm sorry, I can't figure out how to post pics yet, so here is the website if you would like to see it. It was soooooooo worth it for us, and she will definitely be wearing it to disney in Dec. =)

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3188799

That is so much cuter than the plain one I got. I think I might pick that up for her! Thanks!

 

[bushdianee]

I used the pink purse harness for Dniece 2.5 this summer. I bought it at Babies R Us for about $14. She also has the monkey and puppy backpack ones but I thought they'd be too hot for WDW in late June. She was able to wiggle out of the purse one a couple of times but she left it on when we needed it. DB (her Dad) had no problem with a harness since he uses one with her at our zoo, but another DB (hsi twin!) did. But then he was the brother who let his kids run wild! We really didn't need to use it too much but always had it with us just in case.

 

[cel_disney]

We are minkey backpack harnes owners!! DS2 has used it in disney twice!

I dont remember getting any dirty looks 2 weeks ago when we were there, but I might have just ignored them! I did get several compliments on it though!!

I just shove the strap into the backpack (still connected) whenever he was at a playground type place and needed to run free..and most times when I was putting him in his stroller I didnt remove it!!

 

[Shelley Chiarats]

I think they are so cute and really like the idea of giving the youngsters freedom to move around, explore a bit, get some exercise, and still be safe. The argument that I liked best against the people who insisted that kids should just hold Mom/Dad's hand was to ask how would you like to walk around for hours with your arm in the air. So next time someone says that, just tell them to raise their arm like in school and leave it there for an hour because that's what it's like for toddlers when trying to hold the grown ups hand.

 

[bonita_babe232]

When my DS 4 (3 at DL now almost 5) went to disneyland, we had a leash and told him if he wasn't good he was gonna be wearing it, he was good so we didn't need it but i would have used it if needed. Now DS2 wears his ALL the time!!!! Hes a runner and doesn't listen to anyone but his dad... so he has his on all the time when DH isnt around, and when we go to DL next october we will take it if hes still being the "adventrous" little guy he is now.... and i will use it for my DD too when she is old enough if she needs it!!! You see them alot more often now, which i think is great!!!!! I don't care what people think aslong as my children are safe!!!!

Edit*** and i think most people who giving dirty looks or are nasty about it, either 1. don't have children 2. don't have a few young children all close in age or 3. don't have a child that has adha or some other personality trat that makes them over active....