Child Leashes

[TSR6]

Discuss......

I don't have a child, but if or when I do, the child would not be leashed. Personally, I beleive that it's a child, not your dog, so save the leash for your dog. Most of the parents who use leashes just use it as a way to let their kids run around while the parents do their own thing.

They are becoming more and more popular at WDW, and you see them all the time. I've become tangled in the leash with the ever so popular "running leashed child, oblivious parent" syndrome several times.

So comment, I want to hear what ya'll have to say.

 

[palmtreegirl]

Not a fan of them but to each his/her own, it's a personal choice.

 

[chadfromdallas]

Child leashes are great. Places such as WDW can get so crowded and a child can become seperated from the family very easily. It happened to me a few times when I was younger. I'd be using one if I had a child

 

[chobie]

I think we have enough threads going already attacking parents for the choices they do or do not make. Don't leash your kids if you don't want to and good luck in your quest to be the perfect parent someday.

 

[DWhittles]

Ya know, 5 years ago, even 3 years ago I agreed with you...and then PJ started walking. He's one fast kid! He can boogie when he wants to. I got a leash. He doesn't understand stop and he doesn't understand holding hands yet. I've used it on him in Manhattan and it's a wonderful thing. He's free to feel independent and explore, and I'm free to breathe normal and not run after him like a crazy lady yelling "PJ come here, stop, come here, stop..."
Never ever say never...

Diana

 

[icebrat001]

Child leashes are great. Places such as WDW can get so crowded and a child can become seperated from the family very easily.

ITA, it only takes 2 seconds and then the poor little toddler is lost.

 

[snoopy]

I'd do whatever I had to keep my child safe, regardless of what other people thought.

I tried using a leash while at WDW with my then very active 2 year old. I was there without my husband, and with the 2 year old and his 5 year old brother. No way was I taking any chances. Unfortunately, the leash did not work for us, he would wrap himself up in it and it ended up more of a PITA then anything, hence its eventual home in a MK trashbin.

 

[MrsKreamer]

Never speak in absolutes!

 

[Rowena]

I used a "leash" on both my kids when they were 2-3 years old. Because they liked to move around and not be confined in a stroller all day at Sea World or Disneyland, because they were very FAST, and though I may be biased, I think they are very cute. After having older women stalk us around a grocery store or a woman in a vegas hotel telling us to put our son in a dress because he's "too pretty to be a boy", I knew people can be a little
I didn't want to lose either of them in a crowd of people I don't know.

When you have children, I think you have every right to make this decision and even change your mind about it. I used to not be fond of them...before I had my children.

 

[Chicago526]

Well, when I first heard about them, I felt the same as the OP. But the more I thought about it, and the more I heard of kids disapearing when parents "just turn away for a second", the more it makes sense in certain situations, WDW being one of them. It does NOT give the parent the right not to watch their kids and make sure they stay out of trouble (like tangling up with other adults).

 

[KirstenB]

Ya lost me when you said "I don't have a child, but when or if I do...". I could write a book about the things I said I would/wouldn't do before having kids. Good thing I don't have to eat all those words, or I wouldn't fit thru the front door!

 

[jgmklmhem]

We kind of use one (we take the sling and undo it and wrap it around her waist) on our youngest when in a public place such as the airport last week. We had a 3 hour layover and she wanted to walk everywhere which is fine but she is still very short and holding her hand for long periods of time hurts my already enflamed shoulders (especially that week since we had just come from Pensacola and I was helping my dad remove hurricane debris). Probably hurts the kids too to always have their arms reaching upwards. When we reached our gate to sit we blocked off a few of the ample seats and let her run free, but when walking around the airport it was nice to use. It let her walk herself and stay close enough that she didn't get trampled (using the sling basically just gave us a maybe 1-2ft radius instead of a longer one. I see it as another tool and if used correctly who cares what others think. We use close contact (sling as evidence) and co-sleep so I don't think she is lacking in that department. I don't understand why it only has to be used for a dog. It doesn't hurt the child. We don't yank her around by it but use it more as a guiding tool to keep her close. Allows them a little more freedom and saves both of our shoulders.

 

[tiff211]

I like the kind that looks like a backpack on the child. I haven't used a leash on any of my girls but I would rather use a leash than go through the terror of not being able to locate your child.

 

[Kitty 34]

I was leashed when I was a toddler and it didn't affect me one bit except for barking now and then at my DH and teens!!!

 

[meandtheguys2]

I don't know, I bet historically speaking kids were leashed before dogs... We thought about using one once, but did fine without. I have found thru experience that you can have 3 adults, and two kids waching a 5 year old, and still walk off without him...but maybe that just makes us oblivious...

 

[va32h]

Personally, I believe that people who don't have children, but declare what other parents should do with their children, are very foolish.

But anyway, leashes...never used them for my older two, thought about using one with my youngest, she's a tricky one, and could easily figure out how to "undo" the harness. She unbuckles her stroller and has just about figured out how to unbuckle her carseat in her unending quest for Total Freedom from Restraint.

As for other parents using them - not really any of my business, unless I end up tangled in one. But then, I don't like being rammed by strollers at WDW either. Or tripping over toddlers running loose. Or getting shoved by unruly teens.

Hmm, can we possibly get all these things banned at WDW? That would sure help with the crowds!

 

[NMAmy]

I didn't use one with dd because I just didn't have to. She always stuck pretty close and would either hold on to my hand or a piece of my clothing--and would never wander off. At 14, I still catch her in the mall or at WDW occasionally (when she's not thinking about being cool) with a small piece of my sleeve or my jacket between her fingers.

I have been out in public with other children before and understood why some parents use a leash. Some kids are just harder to keep track of.

 

[cardaway]

Problem with them is that to protect your child you create a safety hazard for other children and adults.

People walking around theme park shouldn't have to be on the lookout for running into other people's leashes. It isn't a dog park.

 

[JESW]

Not a slam on you op, but it is VERY easy to say the things you will and won't do if/when you have children - when you don't already have them. Oh, before I became a parent there were things I SWORE I would never do...ha!

Anyhow...I never did use a leash on my kids since they didn't need them. Both my kids stuck to my side for the most part and did not venture off in crowds. BUT...if I had a child who wandered or RAN off then I would have done what I needed to do to keep them safe. I also don't like the looks of them, but I don't fault the RESPONSIBLE parents for using them. I am also not a fan of children who can talk using pacifiers, but hey, maybe there is a reason for them.

There are also threads about medicating children. Again, don't knock it until you are living it. Our life was a living hell with our son until we got help and yes, medication was part of it. A hijack of sorts, but we are ALL perfect parents...that is, until we actually HAVE children...

Jill

 

[Cantw8]

I was leashed when I was a toddler and it didn't affect me one bit except for barking now and then at my DH and teens!!!

yeah, but do you pee on fire hydrants or bite the mailman?