Child Leashes

[jellymanoffspring]

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.

If you did not see the leash and walked into it then you certainly would not have noticed the parent trying to keep their active child near them and in sight and you would have walked between them!!!

Thus separating the parent from their active child and if they lost sight of them at the wrong moment..then they may have gotten separated for longer than a second!!!

I had a wrist to wrist t one that I used ,rarely, with my DS but my DD3 is fast and likes to explore.....so would you rather see her connected to me ..or see me dragging her by the arm(as she drops to her knees) or yelling in your ear for her to get back to me...... your choice!

( I hope her independence and confidence serves her well later in life...but right now.... )

 

[Valentine]

I have to say that I hated the idea ... and STILL hate the term "leash" when referring to a safety device for the little ones.. but.. whatever... I recently have changed my tune on that one since the birth of my new nephew. He is quite the inquisitive 2 year old!! I found a GREAT alternative to the "leash".. someone mentioned it in a post above in a quick passing note... but is is a tot tether.. sounds so much more pleasant.. doesn't it?? It is a vest type harness that is a backpack.. designed like an animal.. the one I got my nephew looks like a dinosaur. He is cute! But the best part is out of the backpack comes the animal's tail.. which is what you - the ADULT - hold onto. My nephew loves it.. and it is not that long of a tail.. just enough to give him so leeway.. but not enough for others to get caught up in unless the are way too close to you and your child... here is link if anyone wants to check them out....

www.tottenders.com



Kathy

 

[Aimeedyan]

I care about my girls just as much as a parent who uses a leash.

Of course you do! I meant that instead of griping about parents who leash their child to them, maybe we should be griping about parents who don't care for their safety at all... you know? Not that the opposite doesn't care, just that in the world of things to gripe about - parents who obviously care about keeping up with their child doesn't make the list. There is nothing harmful about leashing a child, so I don't see the big deal in it. There are lots of other parenting choices that bother me a lot more. Does that make sense, LOL?

 

[Danvers]

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

 

[Southern4sure]

I've only met a few perfect parents and oddly enough they did not have any children. I had an adorable little fanny pack looking "leash" for my son for those times when he didn't want to be in his stroller. We never had the opportunity to use it in the MK or elsewhere where the crowds were too heavy. Story Land in NH being the most crowded place we used it. Like them or hate them....it's an idividual choice.

As for the "so popular "running leashed child, oblivious parent" syndrome"...well, that street can go both ways. It's my experience that these leashes aren't so long as to put much space between parent and said "running leashed child" that someone walking by without children might notice the leash and not try to walk through it. Unless, of course, it was someone walking around the MK with the "I'm the only one here that matters syndrome."

Just my opinion....for what it's worth.

I havent read the entire thread but this is what I was thinking. When my youngest was a toddler, I did use a "leash" but it wasnt so long that he could get that far away and cause a problem. Maybe the leashes are made longer these days..... I didnt like using the leash but Im so glad I did. I would rather see a leash used instead of being run over by mom/dad who are running after their child.

 

[TiggerCat]

TSR6: you posted - "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."

What is there to discuss? Firstly, you have closed any discussion of the matter by telling everyone to save the leash. Secondly, since you don't have children you really can't make an informed comment. Perhaps you should walk the walk before you try and talk the talk. That said, it really is an individual choice since it is every parents responsibility to ensure that their children remain safe. I don't think that your opinion is going to matter to them in the least.

 

[nativetxn]

I would do whatever I needed to do to keep my child safe. If that includes using a guide or whatever you want to call them, then I'm using one.

Katholyn

 

[cardaway]

This is about keeping them safe.

If that were true there wouldn't be 6 foot models. No way a 6 foot tether keeps your child safe. Six feet is enough for them to get into the street, to touch something dangerous, to quickly cross into a path and have a stroller or guest hit the tether.

Even 3 1/2 feet (which is the shortest maximum I found in my search) it is a danger to others. Try walking around the park with 3 1/2 feet between you and the person you are with. 42 inches, that's wider than every door in my house.

I could buy it was about safety if the maximum was about two feet. Not much different than holding hands at that point. Anything else (IMO) is about comfort and convenience while not caring about the people around you.

Put it this way. How would you react if two CM's walked around with 42 inches of parade route rope between them and darted in and out of the paths, aisles, queues. How would you react if you didn't see the rope in time and got tripped up?

A kid weighs much less than a CM and is going to get the worst of many trip ups with their tether.

 

[cardaway]

I had a wrist to wrist t one that I used ,rarely, with my DS but my DD3 is fast and likes to explore.....so would you rather see her connected to me ..or see me dragging her by the arm(as she drops to her knees) or yelling in your ear for her to get back to me...... your choice!

Much rather see dragging or hear yelling.

The tethers give them the freedom to dart around and they are are too young to be looking out for things.

I really don't know what happened to simple hand holding in crowd situations. When it's really bad (think the exit walk after Illuminations, Fantasmic, or all day Saturday in the MK) there is no way even two feet of tether is going to be safe for your child or the people around you.

 

[totalia]

So its better to have your child run off when your back is turned or you aren't looking at them for two seconds?

I think some of you have your priorities messed up.

Your childs safety (in that they cannot run off in extremely crowded spaces or take off suddenly with you unable to catch them) comes first before any perception that it might relate to the leash your dog wears.

 

[zagafi]

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.

Talk to me when you have twin toddlers heading in different directions. I've not used one, but have sense enough to never say never! I look at it this way--their safety is paramount. What others think isn't.

 

[Lil_Tink]

I dont agree or not agree...As I have read many things good here about them..Would i like to be in one..NO.. If i had kids would i put one in one..Probly not. .But different peoples have different needs and do different things..Which is fine with me

 

[aprilgail2]

I really don't know what happened to simple hand holding in crowd situations. When it's really bad (think the exit walk after Illuminations, Fantasmic, or all day Saturday in the MK) there is no way even two feet of tether is going to be safe for your child or the people around you.

Exactly...I taught my daughter from when she was a toddler that when we were out she had to hold hands with me....no need for a leash,...she would hold my hand and I would know right where she was...next to me! Holding hands is much safer, no one can trip over the leash and drag the child down etc....
She saw a child on a leash once and said loud enough that they heard .."why are they walking their child like a dog".....boy did she get a dirty look from the walker!

 

[WDWFAN9]

If that were true there wouldn't be 6 foot models. No way a 6 foot tether keeps your child safe. Six feet is enough for them to get into the street, to touch something dangerous, to quickly cross into a path and have a stroller or guest hit the tether.

Mom of 4 here chiming in with my experience.....

I used a harness with a 6ft dog leash attached to it to keep my third child safe while I watched her older brother and sister play base/softball. It was the summer I was very pregnant with my fourth and I was exhausted keeping my toddler either sitting in her stroller or on my lap for the big kids' games. At the softball games I would sit on a blanket under the trees (no bleachers) and DD could wander 6 feet in any direction without getting away from me. At the baseball games I would sit in a lawnchair by the bleachers and again, DD could wander 6 ft around me in safety. This really saved my sanity that summer.

However, I have to agree that using a 6 ft leash (or whatever you want to call it) in a crowd does have the very real possibility of tripping someone. I was lucky that my little ones were content (for the most part) to stay in their strollers when we were at WDW.

And to the OP, if there is one thing I've learned in raising 4 kids, NEVER say never!!

 

[TDC Nala]

I think if you feel that your choice is between the "leash" and a chance at losing a small child who doesn't understand the need to stay close, leash 'em.

 

[Pete's Mom]

I never had a need to use a leash. Of course, I only had one child to handle and I kept him by my side all the time. I also explained to him as soon as he was old enough to understand that there are bad people out there who might take him away. He is 8-1/2 now and is still very conscience of where he is and his surroundings.

To each his own though.

 

[Aidensmom]

We purchased one for my son, who was 2-1/2 at the time, for a weeklong trip to WDW. We never ended up using it though as he was content to remain in his stroller.

However, the posts comparing a child's leash to walking a dog actually gave me a great idea. Sometimes when I go running, the dog and my son, who is now 4, like to come with me for a mile or so. I always leash the dog, but am constantly having to pester my son to stay nearer to me so I could grab him if he got too close to the road, etc. The child leash, which has just been sitting in the closet, would be PERFECT for this. I know some of you were trying to discourage the leash my comparing it to a dog, but you just encouraged me to put it to use!

 

[RitaZ.]

They are becoming more and more popular at WDW, and you see them all the time.

Really? I go to WDW frequently and I honestly can't say that I see them all the time. In fact, I have seen very few parents using them.

As far as my opinion of them, I didn't use them with my kids, but (to me) it's a matter of personal preference.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I don't believe in it if it is for convenience....

BUT I have heard some justifiable reasons to use them--like to prevent your child from getting kidnapped or killed. Some kids just take extra effort to learn their boundaries and they certainly won't learn them staying home and avoiding situations that the child could get lost in.

We just used strollers and it was find--and we have the hands on stroller/cart or mommy or daddy rule. So a leash has never been considered nor necessary.

 

[RitaZ.]

We just used strollers and it was fine--and we have the hands on stroller/cart or mommy or daddy rule.

We did the same thing.