Kid "leashes"

[tarak]

OnlyDisney - I love that Mickey harness. Honestly, I don't think they even had the backpack type when I got one for my oldest. I'll have to look for one like that if I think I'll need one for my youngest daughter.

 

[rachael95]

We used a leash with our son who was a runner. In the two years I used it, I only had to deal with one negative comment. We had a Mickey leash and a Pooh Bear one. I don't think I could have done Disney if we didn't take his leash. He loved them by the way. We'd wrap the leash around Mickey's head when our son was allowed some leeway.

I didn't know they made Mickey ones! I'm going to go find one now. Those are cute.

 

[rachael95]

Aww, it looks like they don't make the Disney buddy harnesses any more.

 

[bella2117]

Aww, it looks like they don't make the Disney buddy harnesses any more.

I looked all over for them to. You would think they would be all over the place. Bummer.

 

[OnlyDisney]

OnlyDisney - I love that Mickey harness. Honestly, I don't think they even had the backpack type when I got one for my oldest. I'll have to look for one like that if I think I'll need one for my youngest daughter.

I didn't know they made Mickey ones! I'm going to go find one now. Those are cute.

I bought the Mickey & Pooh Bear leashes at Walmart years ago, I think it was sometime in 2010. I haven't seen them since, but of course I haven't been looking (and I don't shop at Walmart anymore).

It's too bad they don't have them anymore. There were super cute!

 

[OnlyDisney]

I actually just did a search to see what I could come up with, and ebay has some....

 

[rebekah8284]

I used a Littlelife daysack with my son. They have very cute packs that look like animals and have a hood hidden inside the pack to keep your kids head dry if it rains. They have a "leash" that you can attach to the daysack so that when your child walks they are independent but you still have some control of them. I used it with my son when we went out all the time as he never wanted to hold my hand. He now will hold my hand when we go on walks, however when we go to Disney I will have his wrist strap on him while holding his hand. This is because he is Autistic and he will run off if something sparks his interest without any thought of what is in his way. I don't want to risk losing him or him getting hurt. People may look down on you for it but I would rather have my child safe then hurt or lost. People are so quick to judge without knowing all the facts.

 

[spectrecat]

My older son hated the leash, and surprisingly (given his temperament and behavioral challenges,) he quickly learned to either stay in the stroller, walk with a hand, or ride in our ergo carrier. My other Ds was a runner, and when we went when he was 2, we loved the "monkey pack-pack" as he called it. We didn't use it like a leash....he would have to hold our hand, and the leash would be around our wrist. My goal was to teach him to walk with us, and the leash was to protect any darting away...

Oh, and pre-kids, I was totally one of those judging people that thought my kids would never be on a leash....at a crowded amusement park, I'll do what it takes to be safe.

 

[RoosMama]

My DD is active, but not a runner (she actually wants to hold my hand everywhere she goes), but for all the talk about judging on here and those who are worried about it - I recently listened to a podcast with Dr. Harvey Karp who wrote the Happiest Baby/Toddler on the Block books. You've probably seen them at the bookstore. Anyway, he said that the leashes can often give kids more independence, not less, because they are able to move around at their own pace rather than holding your hand or being stuck in a stroller. So even experts are for them.

 

[maxiesmom]

My DD is active, but not a runner (she actually wants to hold my hand everywhere she goes), but for all the talk about judging on here and those who are worried about it - I recently listened to a podcast with Dr. Harvey Karp who wrote the Happiest Baby/Toddler on the Block books. You've probably seen them at the bookstore. Anyway, he said that the leashes can often give kids more independence, not less, because they are able to move around at their own pace rather than holding your hand or being stuck in a stroller. So even experts are for them.

The only problem I have with them is that some parents use them as a substitute for paying attention to their child. I've seen them at the mall where the adult was on one side of the aisle on the child on the opposite side, with the leash strung out ready to trip anyone walking by. I think a child can moving at their own pace while wearing one is where the trouble comes in. A child still has to move at the pace of the adult or vice versa.

 

[kellyjeanie]

The only problem I have with them is that some parents use them as a substitute for paying attention to their child. I've seen them at the mall where the adult was on one side of the aisle on the child on the opposite side, with the leash strung out ready to trip anyone walking by. I think a child can moving at their own pace while wearing one is where the trouble comes in. A child still has to move at the pace of the adult or vice versa.

How would that be different than if the child was in a stroller, or in a carrier? They'd still moving at Mom's pace but with no freedom at all.

And SOME parents misusing them doesn't mean they should be banned, or even seen as anything other than a useful tool. SOME parents misuse car seats. SOME parents do a lot of things. In other words, the problem is not with the tool, it's with the parents using them.

 

[maxiesmom]

How would that be different than if the child was in a stroller, or in a carrier? They'd still moving at Mom's pace but with no freedom at all.

And SOME parents misusing them doesn't mean they should be banned, or even seen as anything other than a useful tool. SOME parents misuse car seats. SOME parents do a lot of things. In other words, the problem is not with the tool, it's with the parents using them.

I never said they should be banned. But the poster I quoted stated the leashes were good, as they let a child move at their own pace. That I don't agree with. It is the letting them move at their pace while you move at yours that causes trouble.

 

[kellyjeanie]

I never said they should be banned. But the poster I quoted stated the leashes were good, as they let a child move at their own pace. That I don't agree with. It is the letting them move at their pace while you move at yours that causes trouble.

Ok I'm sorry, I may have been a bit hyperbolic - apologies for putting words in your mouth.

 

[RoosMama]

I never said they should be banned. But the poster I quoted stated the leashes were good, as they let a child move at their own pace. That I don't agree with. It is the letting them move at their pace while you move at yours that causes trouble.

Oh, I absolutely agree that they can be a substitute, and can be misused. But I see a lot of people stick their children in carriers for hours on end without letting them move at all, which I don't think is good, either.

Originally, I was actually not stating my opinion, I wanted to share what I had heard from an expert pediatrician. I don't use the leashes, personally, but I thought it was interesting to hear another angle - one that I hadn't thought of!

 

[jbuey22]

Oh, I absolutely agree that they can be a substitute, and can be misused. But I see a lot of people stick their children in carriers for hours on end without letting them move at all, which I don't think is good, either.

Originally, I was actually not stating my opinion, I wanted to share what I had heard from an expert pediatrician. I don't use the leashes, personally, but I thought it was interesting to hear another angle - one that I hadn't thought of!

I guess this was one of my original points. Alot of parents do stick their kids in strollers for hours on end. I believe this is because they are so young and this is the safest option. I dont disagree with this. What I disagreed with, and I spoke of earlier is taking your children to disney at such a young age. Now dont jump down my throat, but I realize that not everybody has the situation that I have. I only had 2 kids and I waited till the youngest was 5 before I went. Mostly I guess because I am always struggling for cash and wanted to wait until they were old enough to remember the trip. It worked out perfect for me. My son, who was the youngest (5) at the time of our first trip, does remember the trip and it left such an impression that he fell in love as we all are. I strongly feel that taking a child at 2 years old, is not so much for the child as it is for the parent.

That being said, I feel that if a parent takes their child at 15 months or 2 years that is great as long as they can afford it, then god bless. I guess if I had the cash I might have done the same, because I love Disney that much.

But if you do take your kids at that age then a leash seems to be the obvious choice, even if the child is NOT a runner. At the age of 2 you definitely need to protect your child. So i no longer feel that the leashes are so offensive to me. But I do feel that a parent that uses them for their convenience and without regards to other people including their own child is wrong.

So I know that some families need to please all of their children and may have to take a child at such a young age because other children in the family would be neglected to wait 3 or 4 years to wait until the youngest is of the right age. But to have a only child of 15 months or 2 kids with a 15 month and a 4 year old, is a bit of a waste of money for the childs sake.

That was my original point and that is where you see alot of parents using leashes when they wouldnt have to if they have waited until the child was a bit more mature.

That is all I have to say about that anymore, and I definetly have changed my mind about the leashes, only to disagree about taking 2 kids at the age of 15 months and 3 years and insisting on using a leash, when waiting another year and a half would eliminate the need for the leashes and give the children a much better remembrance of their first Disney visit. Again for some families it makes sense because of the ages of the other children.

But if you have a 15 month and a 3 year old, why dont you leave them with grandma and take a trip with your spouse that you can truly enjoy and wait a year or 2 to take the kids.


Just my opinion please dont think poorly of me for seeming selfish, I am only a little frugal because I cannot afford Disney Trips that often. But even though I break myself I have done Disney several several times since our initial Family trip in the year 2000

I think I have done well. Every time I feel we can afford a vacation I ask where do they want to go, and time and time again they say Disney dad. That makes me feel good. They love the magic that they feel when they are there. It takes them away from the every day struggles at home and makes them sing and enjoy the corney rides and attractions that we do not mind seeing over and over. Now my kids are 18 and 21 and we cant help but count down the days until we arrive.


That I am proud of. I have taken other vacations with my son and my wife with my daughter. They go to the mall of america and my son and I have done raod tripd down the old Rt 66 that we love doing. But as a family its always Disney and it always will be. That makes me feel good and I hope that for everybody. So if you take you kid at 15 months then that is great, just be careful NOT to force it so much on your kid as to have them rebel and hate those vacations.

God Bless!!