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

[C.Ann]

Let's see.. The child is yours.. Only you know your child's behavior.. You are the adult.. You are responsible for your child.. You are responsible for your child's safety..

I say do what you feel is right.. Who cares what anyone else thinks?

Have a great time!

 

[corey2]

I agree with CAnn. You have to do what is right for your child and family. No one really knows your child like you do. I never had this problem with my two, but I certainly have had moments when I thought everyone was staring and judging my parenting skills.

 

[MelodyMack]

I have never had to use a child restraint leash with my daughter because she was always a stroller junkie. However we have certainly seen many children wearing them at the parks, and always offered their parents a big smile. Do what you need to do OP, and have a great time!

Frankly, I wish they made them for adults. My husband is always wandering off to the Grotto to get a peak at Ariel......

 

[northriver]

Frankly, I wish they made them for adults. My husband is always wandering off to the Grotto to get a peak at Ariel......

 

[momz]

We have the puppy-dog harness/backpack. My son is 3 now, and he no longer needs it. I did, however, take it with us to the mall for Christmas shopping in December, but did not need it, he has learned to stay close. When we went to WDW last January, son was 2 1/2. It was a wonderful tool for navigating through the crowded airport. He was also not keen on staying in a stroller, like a little Hoodini, he can work his way out. He was happiest when he could be wandering and exploring the world. There is absolutely nothing "wrong" with him, he is a bright, inquisitive child. The harness allowed him some freedom of movement, and gave me some piece of mind. Children are very unaware of their environment, barriers have no meaning to them. If given the opportunity, he could get past any fencing to try to catch a bird, or pet a duck, or touch the pretty water in the pond. We did not use it for discipine or to control his "horrible behavior". He is a normal kid who behaves predictably in ways that make sense to him, but may not be safe. Putting a harness on a child in no way makes you a "lazy parent" or indicates your child is "not smart" and therefore incapable of learning how to behave. For some kids it is appropriate, for others, not necessary.....just my 2 cents.

 

[abookworm]

Children are very unaware of their environment, barriers have no meaning to them. If given the opportunity, he could get past any fencing to try to catch a bird, or pet a duck, or touch the pretty water in the pond. We did not use it for discipine or to control his "horrible behavior". He is a normal kid who behaves predictably in ways that make sense to him, but may not be safe. Putting a harness on a child in no way makes you a "lazy parent" or indicates your child is "not smart" and therefore incapable of learning how to behave. For some kids it is appropriate, for others, not necessary.....just my 2 cents.

very well said
thanks

 

[drakethib]

We never have as of yet and I sure don't think anything is wrong if someone wants to do so to with children.

 

[Luv'sTink]

Your kinda damned if you do and damned if you dont on this board.

It is rude to let your kid run around where they could trip someone and it is wrong to try to use something to control their child, that isn't going to hurt them. Double edge sword there!

I guess it is OK to be running through crowds of people chasing your kids. That in no way is bothering anyone else.

 

[Stimpy]

I don't think many people in this thread have said it was absolutely wrong. Even many of the people that choose not to use one, myself included, said that it wasn't "bad" to use the restraint.

Personally, I think it's up to each parent & family individually. If you want to use it, that's great. If you don't, that's great too. Don't worry about what other people think! Do what you feel is best for your personal situation.

 

[soibn]

That is great, well said. They should have been born with them.

 

[soibn]

Glad to see I wasn't the only one offended by that comment! Personally, I would not use a leash for my own children but I do not judge anyone that does. Each parent needs to do what's right for their family. Do not judge me as being unconcerned because I choose not to use a restraint!

I am absolutely concerned for my children's safety! (Which includes a very active Jedi and extremely active, fast, strongheaded Princess in the midst of the terrible 2's)

Dh is a police officer and I worked in law enforcement myself for several years before becoming a SAHM. Believe me, I know what dangers are out there. One of the reasons I left my job was due to the safety of my children.

We take our kids quite often to very crowded places and they know that they have 2 choices....hold our hand/stay in stroller and have fun or we leave....no if ands or buts. Again, that's how our family does it, if using the leash works better for your family, that's great! I absolutely agree there are cases where it is necessary but not for us. So please don't assume I don't care about my child's safety!

Finally, I have a mother who does the same thing. Common sense people. Again some people have many good excuses for them. But why can't we try other avenues before using the leash.

 

[Fintastic]

We used one on our then-20-month-old when we flew a couple of years ago, so obviously I don’t have a problem with leashes. As with anything else, if a parent uses a leash as a babysitter, there’s the problem. Just like strapping your kid into the stroller and then turning your back because you assume your kid can’t get into trouble. But if you use it as backup for that “just in case the kid runs” scenario but you’re still very attentive to your child’s actions, I don’t think a leash is that big of a deal. Leashes, playpens, baby gates, etc. are parenting TOOLS, not replacements for parenting.

 

[FSUDisneyGirl]

i had to add that i was at the magic kingdom 2 days ago, and saw many "puppy" backpacks with leashes. most parents i saw were holding their kids and not dragging them around! yay!

however,as i was going into philharmagic, this one lady was yelling at her son (looked to be about 3) and pulling him backwards because apparently he had wallked into the wrong row. the poor kid looked like he was going to fall over! just wanted to share my experiences

 

[Shoshana]

Ii bought an "Au Pair" for my December trip with my 3-yr-old. The child wears a fanny pack which is a stuffed animal with a zipper pouch and the adult wears a regular fanny pack. The two connect with a retractable leash. I didn't want the back pack version because it would have been uncomfortable when sitting.

I was worried about ordering and carrying food, etc., and ensuring that she didn't wander off. After a day of using it intermittently, I realized that we just didn't need it. There was no way she was letting me out of her sight. If she wandered ahead of me by a few feet, I could always keep her in my line of vision. If it had been terribly crowded, it would have been difficult to use and manuever through the crowds.

 

[Mari annie]

both ds dd was very social, and loved to run/hide and just be kids, never wanted to loose them.........so yes, and they work fine!

They are now a tween and teen and when we go now to the parks and they see kids on a "leash" they laugh and can't believe it, and we always laugh too and say, yes, you were both such little ramblers and we are sure glad we used them!

7 days to WARM FL WEATHER!!!!!