harness for toddler

[lfortin16]

Does anyone have any idea where I can get a harness for my toddler? She is very quick and I'm already stressing about her getting lost when we go to WDW in July.

 

[CaFeeney]

We got a very cute monkey backpack/harness at Target for around $10. Best $10 I ever spent...no flames please, we all need to support each other as parents to make the correct choices for our kids.

I was afraid that I would get disapproving looks but actually I had about 8 people ask us where we got it. My DD was in a stage where she wanted to walk all the time and hated the stroller, she was also in the stage where she found it fun to run and have us chase her. In all of the WDW crowds I felt a lot better with her backpack and she never minded wearing it (now this was October so it wasn't too hot).

 

[SandiKB]

I've picked up both the monkey type and the regular type, just a plain harness, no backpack at Target/Walmart. The regular type might be better for the hot summer months.

 

[WIDisneyFan]

We got a very cute monkey backpack/harness at Target for around $10. Best $10 I ever spent...no flames please, we all need to support each other as parents to make the correct choices for our kids.

I was afraid that I would get disapproving looks but actually I had about 8 people ask us where we got it. My DD was in a stage where she wanted to walk all the time and hated the stroller, she was also in the stage where she found it fun to run and have us chase her. In all of the WDW crowds I felt a lot better with her backpack and she never minded wearing it (now this was October so it wasn't too hot).

We used one very similar that was a dog that we got at Wal-Mart and it worked great.

 

[glenski]

how many disapproving looks have you gotten so far? We will be taking our DS3 who is autistic to WDW in May. He is extremely active and very fast. I'm a little concerned about all of the glares and stares we will get if we use a harness AND a guest assistance pass. Maybe I'm just being paranoid. What are your experiences? Thanks so much for your input.

 

[ktlm]

I wouldn't worry about what other people do or think. Do what is best for your family. I'm sure you will get stares from some people, but I think most people at WDW, even those who don't generally agree with the harnesses, will understand why people would do it at WDW with the crowds etc. One warning though.... our DD (now 5) was a wild child as a toddler and until I had her I was against the harnesses. Once I had her, I completely understood why people do it, although we never did. We considered it for WDW when she was 2, BUT were advised (actually I think maybe saw it here on the boards), that it can be dangerous if you have a runner (which we did), as opposed to a wanderer. Someone had a kid who liked to take off running and they did it with the harness on and when they took off at full speed and pulled it to where there was no slack it caused them to fall back and basically crack their head open on the pavement. Seems like other runners parents chimed in and had the same thing happen- at least the falling and hitting their head part. The Harnesses are fine if you have a walker, but if you have a sprinter, you might want to be careful.

 

[glenski]

Thanks so much, KTLM. I'm more scared of him cracking his head open than anything else. Not sure if the harness will be a good idea for him since he is a runner.

 

[ccgirl]

We got a very cute monkey backpack/harness at Target for around $10. Best $10 I ever spent...no flames please, we all need to support each other as parents to make the correct choices for our kids.

I was afraid that I would get disapproving looks but actually I had about 8 people ask us where we got it. My DD was in a stage where she wanted to walk all the time and hated the stroller, she was also in the stage where she found it fun to run and have us chase her. In all of the WDW crowds I felt a lot better with her backpack and she never minded wearing it (now this was October so it wasn't too hot).

I have the same one. No need to say no flames though. You were doing what you thought was right to keep your child safe. Anyone who thinks that is wrong is just plain nuts.

Anyway....my son loves his so much he wears it around the house often.

 

[ccgirl]

how many disapproving looks have you gotten so far? We will be taking our DS3 who is autistic to WDW in May. He is extremely active and very fast. I'm a little concerned about all of the glares and stares we will get if we use a harness AND a guest assistance pass. Maybe I'm just being paranoid. What are your experiences? Thanks so much for your input.

Didn't notice because, quite frankly, I don't care. I'm doing what is best for my child and that does not affect anyone else's trip so I don't give a rat's patootie!

 

[Mrs. Sojourner]

I've picked up both the monkey type and the regular type, just a plain harness, no backpack at Target/Walmart. The regular type might be better for the hot summer months.

We inherited the monky kind from a friend. (I swore I would never use one of those, and didn't with my first two kids), but my 3rd absolutely loved "her monkey" and requested to wear it all the time. She still talks about that stupid thing and she is now 5 and hasn't used it since she was 3!
I don't really remember getting looks, and I'm probably pretty paranoid about that kind of thing.

 

[SandiKB]

I have the same one. No need to say no flames though. You were doing what you thought was right to keep your child safe. Anyone who thinks that is wrong is just plain nuts.

Anyway....my son loves his so much he wears it around the house often.

Yup, what she said!!! I've gotten to the point where I don't really care how people look at me anymore! I've used the harness on my 2nd DD and on my last DD, my other kids did not need it. My last DD is a strong little thing, and I'm not in my 20's (or 30's lol) anymore, and really, just don't have the energy to chase her!

 

[2binak]

We used this backpack. It's very lightweight and I like that it has two straps across the front to help keep the child's balance should they try to run off.

http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/pro...ogle&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=shopping

We practiced with is around the house before we left for our trip so that DD was used to it.

how many disapproving looks have you gotten so far?

We actually had many people asking us where we got ours & saying "I wish we had one!" I didn't notice any stares or glares. I'm sure there were some, but we were doing what was best for us and our DD. We didn't let her walk with the tether stretched all the way out. Instead, we kept her next to us with the tether kept short. We also didn't use it in very heavy crowds. In heavy crowds, she went into the stroller.

 

[feezle]

We have the monkey as well. Much better than keeping her in the stroller all day and MUCH better than you blinking and them getting lost.

 

[jgates]

With my son (now 26) we had a wrist strap so it was around both of our wrists. He would let me know when he wanted to use it - lots of people - large crowds, etc.

With DD we lost her in the mall one time. It took several minutes for my son & I to find her. When we found her we immediately walked down to Target & found the first one they had more around the body type of harness. Never regretted it.

She was wearing it in Disney one time in Tomorrowland and a dad came RUNNING up to me asking me where I got it. Evidently Jr. had already pulled a disappearing act.... Believe it or not on that trip we had just seen them in the small shop that is basically underneath the TTA entry area (somewhere in there) so I sent him there. I have no idea if Disney still carries them but they did several years ago! We had requests from parents other places we traveled to also.

We only really had criticism one time - that was in a park in Indiana - they had a walking trail & to get to it you had to cross the river on a swinging bridge with rope type sides. I was walking ahead with DD & her harness type unit. My mom was behind & 2 older women were just harping about me dragging her along like a dog (she was actually dragging me LOL!!!!). My mom didn't indicate she knew me, just asked if they thought it would be nicer if the little girl fell through the side of the swinging bridge (yes it was very possible on that thing - very easy). They kind of looked at the bridge again & just went 'oh' & shut up.

I think the ones they have now are so nice & so visually appealing compared to what they used to have. Feel no guilty unless you are dragging your kid behind you - odds are you will be running along with your arm outstretched being drug along by your child!!!