did you ever use a child "leash" at DL?

[abookworm]

OK, I know some people have strong feelings about these-but I'm guessing they didn't have an extremely fast toddler run away from them either
Anyway, my older 2 never had a problem w/ running and I never gave the leash things much thought. Now I have a 2 yr old that is not only very fast (freakishly fast for that age!) but very obnoxious! You'd think the term "terrible 2s" came from him!
Anyway, I've always used carriers in the past but now that he's older (28 mos) he just wants to be free and won't stay in my back carrier more than 30 minutes on a good day. he'll stay in a stroller about the same amt of time but then is freaking to get out.
Soooooo....a child harness/leash thing sounds like the best option for DL where he can get lost in the crowd in seconds. My Dh says he's not taking him WITHOUT one!
Did anyone else use one there? Did it work well? Do people scoff at you like you are a terrible parent
thanks
Ann

 

[tacomaranch]

I love the leash. Yes, we use a retractable dog leash on our son. However our DS has autism and he will be gone in a second. I know mom's will say that I should be able to control him, but if they wanted they could spend a day with my DS and they would use a leash also.

In the end, I am the mom and I have to keep my son safe from harm. He doesn't get that a bus will kill him. I use a leash to keep him safe.

Good luck. Remember you will never again see these people anywhere again in your life. Who cares what they think. Do what is best for your child and you.

 

[kribit]

Do whatever you as a mom feel is necessary to keep your son safe. We never had the need to use one because my kids love the stroller, but I saw PLENTY of parents using them and I wouldn't have hesitated using one if it was necessary. Even though people call them leashes, I like to call them "leads." They have so many different kinds now and from what I've read on here plenty of places to buy them.

 

[dijid]

I've used a leash for my DS. My older DD never would have needed one. But DS was a wanderer. We didn't use it consistently, and one of the times we didn't use it he got away from us. We were absolutely panicked for probably less than a minute before someone returned him to us. You see, our family was wearing matching shirt and I had made unique, matching hats for the kids. It helped a stranger recognize who he was supposed to be with immediately. Needless to say, we wore matching shirts and the kids wore those hats the whole rest of the trip!

 

[Merriwind]

I never did, but I wouldn't have hesitated if I thought I needed one for my child's safety. My Dsis was lost for about an hour in a department store one evening when we were little. (Early 70s, so this was before Code Adams). I still remember how scared my parents were. We were so lucky that she was safe and sound. Do what you feel is best and enjoy!

 

[wardfamily1]

Yes, I used one last year on my then 20 month old DS. I got the one that went on his wrist and was elastic, so he never got hurt if he tugged on it. It worked out great, especially during the theater type shows. He would never sit still, so he stood in front of me during those shows. I would highly recommended them!

And to the people who have never used one and think they are horrible, I say "Don't judge the parents until you've ran a mile in their shoes after their child."

 

[KariC]

I've never used ours at an amusement park, but we have used them with our twins. We did get strange looks....but as a mom, there are a lot of times when I feel vulnerable. I would much rather provide my child(ren) with some freedom with boundaries that I set, rather than have them wander off and get lost or snatched. I've had some friends that didn't think they were "nice", and other friends who swore by them. Needless to say, my twins still play with the children of the friends who used them. Not saying the leash was responsible for well-behaved preschoolers, more the like-mindedness of the parents.

So, use one if it's best for your family. He'll probably like it more than being strapped in the 5 point harness of his stroller all day. Thankfully, ours will now stay in the stroller, most of the time, without being buckled in. Of course, I can't even tell you how many times each day I told my DS, "Aidan, stay with your family" when we did the world in '05.

 

[TMB1203]

I haven't used one, just because my 11 yo was always very good. My 3 yo likes to walk and thinks he is much older than he is. I am going to get one for this trip. Don't really care if other people don't agree with them. My son's safety is the priority and I would rather be safe than sorry.

If you think you should use one, by all means use it.

 

[karibritt01]

I used them for DS when he was younger, and was always so thankful I had it. Some people would look at me funny, but I just returned the look and didn't care. Who are they to judge you, anyway? Like someone else said... you don't know them, and will never see them again anyway, so let them think anything they want! Most people laughed, though... my DS was so fast he wrapped more than one unsuspecting person before they knew what was happening! Needless to say, but they understood the leash perfectly! Use the leash, keep your child safe, and have fun!

 

[BostonMickey]

We have never used one for our DS2(almost 3) and DS5(almost 6). We have talked about it, but have never felt the need. We do see the use of them though and have no opinion of parents who use them. I did notice, on our last trip, that a leashed boy got his lead tangled in a strangers legs. It made for an awkward situation that could have been worse. So I would recommend keeping vigilant about the other park goers as well as your own children. Good luck and enjoy.

 

[WildGrits]

I never used the leash, but when my youngest was little, I did use the wrist to wrist lead in airports.

Don't worry what others think, they aren't the ones whose hearts will be in their throats if your little ones is lost.

 

[abookworm]

Actually, it was the wrist to wrist thing I was going to try first. But if that doesn't work well for us then I'll get the harness.
thanks everyone, his safety is the priority so it doesn't matter what others think

 

[soibn]

I am so against these, children are not dogs period. Unless of course you are going on a ship or boat, I don't think a child should have to where them. If you kid runs off, then you run too period. No one ever said it was going to be easy raising a child, so you better run. Besides running is good for you and keeps you in shape.

 

[PistonsFan]

I have a very fast almost two year old. I bought one of the little backpacks with a "leash" but I don't think I'm even going to take it to WDW. I've tried it out just walking on our sidewalk and he just pulls against it until he falls down (he actually acts like a dog on a leash!) He does better just holding my hand, plus I'm hoping he will be content in the stroller for the most part!

 

[TMB1203]

I am so against these, children are not dogs period. Unless of course you are going on a ship or boat, I don't think a child should have to where them. If you kid runs off, then you run too period. No one ever said it was going to be easy raising a child, so you better run. Besides running is good for you and keeps you in shape.

I'm assuming you don't have kids....obviously this is an ignorant statement that the OP should ignore.

 

[soibn]

OK, I know some people have strong feelings about these-but I'm guessing they didn't have an extremely fast toddler run away from them either
Anyway, my older 2 never had a problem w/ running and I never gave the leash things much thought. Now I have a 2 yr old that is not only very fast (freakishly fast for that age!) but very obnoxious! You'd think the term "terrible 2s" came from him!
Anyway, I've always used carriers in the past but now that he's older (28 mos) he just wants to be free and won't stay in my back carrier more than 30 minutes on a good day. he'll stay in a stroller about the same amt of time but then is freaking to get out.
Soooooo....a child harness/leash thing sounds like the best option for DL where he can get lost in the crowd in seconds. My Dh says he's not taking him WITHOUT one!
Did anyone else use one there? Did it work well? Do people scoff at you like you are a terrible parent
thanks
Ann

Okay first off my son is 3 and he is actually pretty quick. I don't have a problem running after him. And if he is being bad, then we leave the park. That will teach any kid a lesson. So I suggest to all of you parents, to keep up. I notice alot of parents do not keep their eyes on their children very well.
Plus that is what a stroller is for, if they get out of the stroller and cause havoc. Take them home, they don't deserve to be there period with bad behaivior. I know sometimes its hard to do that, because you just spent a whole bunch of money. But your kid will probably never do it again, once you leave the park.

 

[Lady V]

OK, I know some people have strong feelings about these-but I'm guessing they didn't have an extremely fast toddler run away from them either
Anyway, my older 2 never had a problem w/ running and I never gave the leash things much thought. Now I have a 2 yr old that is not only very fast (freakishly fast for that age!) but very obnoxious! You'd think the term "terrible 2s" came from him!
Anyway, I've always used carriers in the past but now that he's older (28 mos) he just wants to be free and won't stay in my back carrier more than 30 minutes on a good day. he'll stay in a stroller about the same amt of time but then is freaking to get out.
Soooooo....a child harness/leash thing sounds like the best option for DL where he can get lost in the crowd in seconds. My Dh says he's not taking him WITHOUT one!
Did anyone else use one there? Did it work well? Do people scoff at you like you are a terrible parent
thanks
Ann

thre was a thread about this exact thing about 2 weeks ago....

anyways, I will say that I don't agree with them. I think holding their hand is better. To each her own.

 

[Disney_Dreaming]

I don't agree with them.

 

[soibn]

I'm assuming you don't have kids....obviously this is an ignorant statement that the OP should ignore.

Actually, I do have a son who is 3. And he mis-behaives all the time. I just had an incident with him not too long ago at Disneyland, where we had to leave the park. When we went back to the park this year, he behaived like an angel. I give him 3 warnings and that is it. There is no need for me to have him on a leash. If he takes off running, he knows what no means. And he knows, what go home means too.

 

[Monkeyfeet]

I don't agree with them for our family, but I also do not have a child with special needs. Also, dd is our only right now.

However we do not put dd in a stroller either, she hates them. Someone said to me that at least a child on a leash is getting excercise and that has made me more accepting of them.

I would rather see a child on a leash than a mom fighting with her child to get him into a stroller and thenn calling him bad. Seems quite harsh.