I have a runner!

[mamabear0222]

And here we go.......

Lol you said what I was thinking. Mamas of twins think alike

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[twinboysmom]

Lol you said what I was thinking. Mamas of twins think alike

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Yep, that "active parenting" thing. Wouldn't know anything about that

 

[jennylyn_b]

Yep, that "active parenting" thing. Wouldn't know anything about that

Too funny lol I don't have twins but I have a tornado. She's cute with her red curls but look out lol

 

[harrowgirl]

pinning for later for reference:

But I have the same issue with my son, who will be almost 3 when we go the first week of May. He also is a runner and doesn't care where we are. I am TERRIFIED as to how this is going to go. He refuses to walk with the leash. Need to practice more in the next 2 months I guess.

We've been going to McDonalds and practicing waiting for food and sitting for dinner - hope to move up to a real restaurant soon (something sit down, but fast service)

I feel for you. It is very stressful with a runner!

 

[AshleeH]

I am not anti the kid leash (by any means! Safety first - absolutely), but in two months, I would think you could get him to the hand-holding phase. One of my sons never liked to hold hands, but consistency on our part (and not letting him get away with pulling free) and he learned within a few days what was expected of him. He's 6 now and he actually reaches for my hand more than I reach for his now.

But if the kid leash works for you - go for it! It's an extremely hot button topic on these boards, but it's a backpack with a tail, not like the child will be in a choke-collar. I've had a couple of scary near-misses (losing my kids in crowded play areas or turning around and finding them in the next aisle after only three seconds free). I didn't have runners, but a few seconds or minutes not knowing where they are can seem like hours - and it is terrifying!

 

[mamabear0222]

What about the wrist links? They have worked for us in the past. I'm thinking about using them even when they are 5. The crowds are huge after fireworks....I'd lose it if my littles got lost in that large crowd.

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[richkaryn]

What about the wrist links? They have worked for us in the past. I'm thinking about using them even when they are 5. The crowds are huge after fireworks....I'd lose it if my littles got lost in that large crowd.

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That's what I referred to in my previous post although I couldn't think of the exact name for it--thanks for refreshing my memory!
(Of course from there everything went down hill with the "socially humiliating" and "active parenting".) I myself would rather use a wrist link than have to lug 35lbs of child around in my arms all day, but hey, to each his own

 

[nhmommy]

Keep him in the stroller or hold his hand when he is out of the stroller.

And be sure he has no fun at all.

I would take the leash and at the first sign of running on goes the leash. Better to have it and not need it.

This sounds like a more reasonable idea.
How else do you let them play in the water spouts and explore?

 

[cmh314]

This thread makes me think of a really funny episode from Modern Family last season. They go to Disneyland and the little girl is a "runner" so they have her wear one of the backpack harnesses. One of the parents hates the idea so after a while they ditch it and she's running everywhere. Then grandpa comes up with an idea to save the day. He get's her a pair of princess dress up heels in the gift shop, which she loves and while wearing them she can't walk fast enough to get anywhere without her parents. Genious problem solving!

 

[brooke789]

We have 2 harnesses for our twins. I don't have a problem with people judging their use when it keeps my children SAFE. If I'm out by myself with them they'll be in the harnesses if I need them. One is a runner and luckily the other is not, but it is still only takes a second for one of them to be out of your sight.

 

[melindae10]

I have been working with him and he is getting better at holding hands! Still have a ways to go though. Luckily he has no problems with strollers but I know you can't take those everywhere. Actually his preferred mode of transport is you carrying him, ummmm I have been working out but not enough to be to carry a 2 year old around all day. We will bring the harness and use if needed, better to safe than sorry! My parents are also going with us, so hopefully between 4 adults we can figure this out. Although, when we went to the aquarium we had 6 adults and he still was running off...

 

[omgninjas]

I used a wrist strap with my oldest DD, because she's a hurricane trapped in a tiny little girls body. And I don't mean at WDW, that thing came to the mall, walmart, the grocery store, everywhere until she learned that taking off was not a winning decision. By the time we first visited Disney, she knew what was expected of her.

And yes, we also keep her occupied and "actively parent" (do people think these kids are duct taped to a skateboard and we're towing them along in our wake?). Sometimes, kids need a reminder, such as a tug on the wrist, when they forget to hold a hand and start wandering. Sometimes, you've got a hundred things going on and as an adult, feeling that tug is a reminder that you need to catch a miniature Houdini while they're still in sight.

Youngest DD was never as bad, thank goodness. She's a bit more laid back, likes to take it easy.

 

[melindae10]

Eh...I don't care what other people think about my parenting. I know that I am doing what is best for my child and it is more important to keep my chiild safe than to worry about what another person thinks about the harness I might be using! I know my son is a good kid in normal situations, but the aquarium, DISNEY, not normal situations so I will do what I have to do to keep my children safe and to have a enjoyable vacation!
I will have to look into the wrist things, we are going in April and I worry about the heat from the backpack harness.

 

[PrincessTiggy]

Harnesses, tethers, or basically leashes are humiliating and socially inappropriate. Our active boy took active parenting. I would scoop him up all of the time, carry him while pointing out all that there is to see. The moments we could get him in the stroller we kept him occupied with food toys and again, all of the stimuli. Sometimes we could point him in the right direction. The good news was for our guy is that he would tire himself out and cash out in the stroller. That let us relax for a while. Good luck.

Hoooooboy....My greatest fear would be to lose my kid in a crowd so i will suffer a little humiliation...I will be at WDW in April and my little bundle of energy will be wearing a socially inappropriate backpack...

 

[EagleScout]

I think most parents' greatest single fear is harm to a child, so when I see a child in a harness or "leash" of some sort, I just assume that is a decision that was made by the parents in the best interests of that child and that family's safety/etc. And please take comfort that almost every parent is "with you" - at most, take heart that many of the nasty looks are just a reflection of general tiredness/crankiness or a "thank goodness that is not me (or is no longer me)". We strongly considered a leash for at least our first trip, but ultimately decided not to, but we also did some stroller time, but there was also definitely a fair amount of "pick up, pick up PLEASE" time, which I usually induldged, along with a fair amount of walking, which also sometimes led to running, etc., but then also led to "pick up PLEASSSSE" time. I would also sometime carry if he would not stay nearby. At our next trip, he will 40 mos (3.5 years old), and we are really working on less carrying (and he is also getting heavier), and he is getting more mature/behaved.

 

[AllieV]

I have a runner. He'll run anywhere anytime. I was terrified of losing him at disney. He's a pro at slipping his little hand out of mine and disappearing. I got all the kid ID stuff, a harness, and even a beeper finder. The latter is a little plastic bear that clips onto his shoe (or whatever) and beeps out at 95 dB (as loud as a fire alarm) when I pushed the remote control button. You follow the sound and find the kid. It was a last resort option that I hoped not to have to use.

In the end, the runner never left my side. I couldn't believe it. He was so intimidated by all the people and all the stimuli that he didn't dare run.