Is this bad of us???

[Iceguy]

I really don't know how I feel about this and need some honest opinions about it.

My DW and I have this little stuffed monkey, with a pocket, that our DD (20 mo's) loves to wear like a backpack. The kicker is that you can attach the 5 foot "tail" to it and it turns it into a child leash, and that is what is troubling me.

I can honestly say that I can't see us using this leash much at all, except at places like WDW. I just know that when we get to WDW in December, with her older cousins (5 and 8) and her older brother (4), that there will be times when she wants to get out of the stroller and walk and play around with them. This is when I can see us using the leash.

From a I'm-gonna-do-whatever-I have-to to keep track of my kids thinking, that leash is great. From a how-dare-you-have-a-kid-on-a-leash train of thought, I'm wondering if it is such a great idea.

What are your thoughts on these type of things?

 

[DawnM]

Just be prepared for dirty looks and shaking of heads around you if you use one.

We tried it ONCE and my 18 month old just didn't "get" it and kept falling down because he would run around the other way. After one day we gave up.

Dawn

 

[BayouMouseketeer]

I used to be deadset against "leashes" of any kind forkids. Period. No excuses, I used to say. "Teach your kids to stay near" was my motto! Then, DD, at just under 2 years old, disappeared in the middle of a large department store! I literally turned my back to look at something and she darted to the other side of the store and was heading down the escalator when a little old lady found her! It was the most terrifying 5 minutes of my life! I went the next day and bought a leash that went from her wrist to mine. What I found was that she hated the thing so much, she did learn to stay next to me! But, from that experience, I changed from there is no reason to use one ever to you do what you gotta do to keep your kids safe! Good luck! If she loves it, anyway, I think she'll do fine with it!

 

[jennilouwho]

I am all for them and was all set to use one on my DS who will be 17 months when we go in Oct. However, I just barely tried it at an airport flying alone with him to visit my parents and it was more trouble than it was help. He'd just melt down if I didn't go the direction he wanted to and then fall with it. I finally gave up and had to carry him when he'd meltdown about hand holding. He's getting better about hand holding though, so hopefully by next month we can rotate between the stroller and that. If she'll use it well I don't see a problem with it though.

 

[Lora]

My girls always sat well in the stroller and never really had that need to get out of it in places like WDW, malls, etc., so I never even had to consider using one. I certainly don't think poorly of anyone who does. What's the difference if a child is belted into a stroller seat or belted into a backpack with a long "handle". When you think about it, we restrain our children in lots of ways - cribs, play pens, strollers, car seats, high chairs.

Take the monkey and his tail and have a great trip!

 

[MousekaMaddi]

I did it (DH stayed home for work) alone with 18 mo old, had never tried it before and she had no prob with it, nor did I, but SOOOOOOOOO many people give me that "look", i happily used it all week despite the looks, and we had a safe wonderful time, it gave her sooo much more room to roam and I could just enjoy her dancing to the sights and sounds of WDW
Go and have a wonderful time

 

[Wishes]

I have seen these on little ones and not only do I think they're a great idea but the kids look so adorable with that little animal "hugging" their back! I wish they would have had these when my DD was little. She was very independent and we spent a very long day chasing her through the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago one vacation when she was just your DD's age. She was never the type of kid to feel scared if Mommy and Daddy weren't nearby! I went to every gift shop in that museum asking if they had "baby leashes" I didn't care at that moment what people thought of me - I wanted to keep my child safe and hard as we tried to "teach" her to stay by us it just wasn't going to happen that day so we just ended up leaving. Use the little monkey if your DD won't stay by you or you feel nervous about the crowds. The safety of our children is much more important to us then what others might think.

 

[ksumn1]

I don't see a problem with it, since it's a safety issue in your eyes. I actually made a wrist leash out of a rainbow striped, beltlike material for our 3 year old DD's 1st trip. It had velcro and attached to her wrist and a loop for me to hold. SHe owre it maybe twice. Once at Wishes, and on the way to the PSB Breakfast in EPCOT, since she kept trying to run ahead of us. I did egt a couple of "looks" and was even chastised by a stranger. "If you can't control your child, you shouldn't bring her to WDW" she said "It's not her I'm really worried about, ma'am it's the other 10000's of people here I'm concerned about" I replied. Don't worry about it. You're doing what you feel is necessary to keep your child safe.

We went in June and it was crowded, I was worried we would get seperated. But actually the crowds scared her a little, and she stayed close.

 

[Sammie]

As to whether leases are appropriate is truly your decision, my only advice based on many visits to WDW and alot of observing, 5 feet of leash is going to be too much in crowded situation.

I saw a child on a leash, get this far out of reach, and suddenly a large group of people got between the parent and the child and pushed into the leash, pulling the child down and almost stepping on him.

Just be careful that if you use it, you keep it closer to you.

 

[BizziBee]

If its the one sold at Walmart, I have it. I bought it for our WDW trip(We leave on Sat). We are in the parks for 10 days, and there is no way my 20 month old will be in the stroller for the whole time, and she is a good stroller kid! I have been using it on her for the last few months, and I love and so does she. I have used it anywhere, shopping, Farmers market, on a walk down the street, and I've never had any bad looks. Most people think its adorable and she looks cute. I don't care what ever anyone else thinks, she is my DD and I want to keep her safe and NOT lose her in a crowd. She will walk holding hands, but I don't want to put that much responsibility on a 20 month old.

Here is a picture of her using it just over a month ago at Niagara Falls, ON

 

[scrapquitler]

I harnessed my kids when they were little, and I did it without any guilt.
I thought about it like this: Its no 'meaner' than making them stay in the stroller, and I am responsible for keeping them safe. It is a lot more fun for them to be able to explore a little bit on their own than it would be for them to have to be right immediately next to me. Another thing to think about, consider where you child's arm is when you are holding her hand. Would YOU like to walk around all afternoon with your arm held above your head? Its uncomfortable for the child to hold their arm up like that all day (and when you hold their arm like that it is all to easy to dislocate the shoulder or the elbow).

Of course in a very crowded situation, I would not let the leash out very far because I'd worry about someone tripping or tangling in it.

 

[disney_fan_fam]

Normally I wouldn't use one. But at WDW I am. Who really cares what people think!

 

[amyhughes]

I was one of those parents that look at those leashes with utter disgust. Then my eldest turned 4 and decided to start hiding in Department Stores. The last time he did it I almost had the store on a full on Amber Alert. Now, if the leash is threatened he stays really close and hangs on to my belt loops! It's your kid and their safety, hang the crowds looks!

 

[SandrainNC]

We plan on using one. I was afraid the animal one would get hot because it is kind of fuzzy, so I started looking online. I found one that is a real toddler backpack with a harness that attaches. I had to order if from England though! But it is very cute. And people can look at me all that they want. It is either the harness backpack or sitting in the stroller all day, which would not be fun. My youngest is so short we cannot hold his hand long because of the bending over to do it.

Sandra

 

[disneyjunkie]

What are your thoughts on these type of things?

I could never use one of those things.

I think each parent should do what they feel is best for his/her family.

 

[Feralpeg]

I see them used all the time at WDW. Don't worry about what others will think. Do be aware that they can be a tripping hazard for other people.

 

[Hannathy]

I hate them and would never use them but that is me and you are you. And we are all allowed to have our own viewpoint.

I especially hate them on older kids, although I still don't like them on the 2 and under set it is a bit more understandable.

 

[Iceguy]

BizziBee...that is the exact one we have!

To everyone else, thanks for the input so far. I'll be honest, I'm leaning towards using it.

 

[katerkat]

Totally OT, I love your shirt - very cute the way it drapes in the back!

On topic... Me, I've never used a leash and I have a fairly active toddler. But, he's more likely to run in circles around me rather than run away from me.

 

[alloyd1170]

When my son was 2 (before the cute backpack leashes) I rigged a leash to a fanny pack to use at WDW. That was the only time I needed it, and several people commented what a great idea (one woman said she wanted one for her hubby!).

With dd now 2, its a whole different story. Ive begun to use them shopping around home. She refuses to sit in a stroller or cart. If I let her walk, she either stops to look at everything (making a quick trip not so quick) or she will bolt across the store before I know it. Sure I get some looks, but in my book, safety is more important than some dirty looks. The cute backpack leashes that are out now make it a little easier. I get lots of how cutes now. You could probably rig a leash to one of the WDW backpacks (ie plush Mickey) to make it even more special.