Looking for kid leashes / harnesses advices

[Pesky]

There are temporary tattoos you can use with your name and phone number and even hotel. Also bracelets with that info. Or a good ol' Sharpie pen on the arm or ankle (covered by a sock is nice). I will say that leashes are common with younger children but in the states not usually with children at that age unless there is another reason. And I hear you on losing your kids -- we live in the states and it is still petrifying! When I went to Disneyland a couple years ago, I not only made sure they had our phone number, but we practiced how to identify a Disney castmember (worker). They have a very established protocol for lost children. Might be good to talk with your concierge and familiarize yourself with the process too, like where to go and pick up kids. Then DH and I were each assigned a kid. Easier with 2 than 3 but maybe one takes the littlest and the other takes the older two and you swap at some point. We held hands a lot and made it through our visit with family intact. Try not to let the worry overwhelm your trip -- odds are very good nothing will happen and you will all stay together. Have fun!

 

[amerikiwiroo]

Have you considered getting walkie talkies or cheap prepaid cell phones? It doesn't keep them physically connected but makes it easy to find them if anyone does get separated.

 

[Tiffylv]

.

 

[Thing 1]

I think the only way you are going to convince typical children of those ages to wear a lease is to scare them. Not a healthy plan. I would look at all the offered alternatives to insure their safety and choose what would work for you. Learning a bit of English is quite helpful. Teach them to say," my parents are lost and here is the number." You can give them cards or write the number on them. Even if they say it in French, the CM will find someone that can understand them. Show them a CM and simply tell them to look for one if they are lost. They are times when crowds can be huge and we hold hands, but there are also lots of less crowded times when allowed even young children to walk near us and not even hold hands. Maybe working through some of your fears would be helpful in making a better trip.

 

[EmilyS90]

Your two older children should have the ability to stay near you and not wander off. Try a stroller for the youngest.

I like the card idea.

Don't put a leash on your children. Toddlers are one thing, but they ARE much too old. And at this point they Should KNOW not to wander off from you.

 

[tseitel]

I see this as a safety concern, but the other way around! If you are all hooked together, people around you might get caught, especially in crowded situations. You will not be able to enter any ride line like that, or get on any ride, so it would be a lot of hooking, unhooking. I think you might be overthinking things here,& scaring your kids in the process. Definitely do as pp's have suggested. Teach them to say something like "no English, please call mom" & they can hand them your preprinted info card. I'm sorry, but to do as you have planned is just insane.

 

[mollyandsam]

We used this on my youngest son, who is a runner. http://www.amazon.com/Baby-Buddy-To...pebp=1437600928685&perid=08VCAKPXGB0KH2JFXFQ4

It would fit an older child, it's very adjustable. He's almost 4 now, and we still do use in on rare occasions (fairs, etc), because he's not quite there yet on being able to actively seek help from an employee. We will be bringing it to Disney next month (it's light and takes up basically no room in my bag) in case we feel like we need it. Actually, my 7 year old asked if HE could use it the night we stay for the fireworks, since his brothers will be in strollers. He's afraid of getting separated from us in the dark when it's so crowded - and that's a judgement we'll make in that moment.

You probably won't need it, but honestly everyone has different comfort levels and you need to do what feels right to you.

 

[eeyoreandtink]

We used this on my youngest son, who is a runner. http://www.amazon.com/Baby-Buddy-To...pebp=1437600928685&perid=08VCAKPXGB0KH2JFXFQ4

It would fit an older child, it's very adjustable. He's almost 4 now, and we still do use in on rare occasions (fairs, etc), because he's not quite there yet on being able to actively seek help from an employee. We will be bringing it to Disney next month (it's light and takes up basically no room in my bag) in case we feel like we need it. Actually, my 7 year old asked if HE could use it the night we stay for the fireworks, since his brothers will be in strollers. He's afraid of getting separated from us in the dark when it's so crowded - and that's a judgement we'll make in that moment.

You probably won't need it, but honestly everyone has different comfort levels and you need to do what feels right to you.

Be very careful with this in a crowd. A friend's daughter got a dislocated elbow when she fell in a crowd wearing one. It was awful. She fell forward,and it snatched her arm backward, popping the elbow out. I never thought about the safety risk until I saw it happen. Chest harnesses are much safer.

 

[mollyandsam]

For us we were going to loop the cinched part around my hand, and let him have the hand hold section, so it's less an issue - if he gets jostled, he just lets go, but we also feel the slack and know to stop. Sort of like holding a belt loop, but a little more comfortable.

 

[missbrooke06]

Ultimately OP, it's your decision. But do prepare yourself - you will absolutely get many stares (I try to be nonjudgmental but a harnessed 10 year old would strike me as extremely odd and I think my gaze would linger a bit) and likely some rude comments. I suppose the positive is your kids won't understand it but you'll need to be able to brush it off.

 

[FrozenDuck]

I also agree that your children are too old to be harnessed or leashed, even if you've scared them into "wanting" it. Holding hands, walking close by, etc. are all sufficient, and I imagine that after a couple of days in the parks, you'll all feel quite comfortable and silly for thinking it was necessary.

I brought both a harness (the animal backpack style) and a wrist-leash last fall for my 2 year old, just in case, and didn't use either. We're going again this fall, and my soon-to-be 3 year old definitely won't need it.

If you can't find a leash for older kids, just bring a dog leash and clip it onto their belt loops. {sarcastic}

 

[eeyoreandtink]

For us we were going to loop the cinched part around my hand, and let him have the hand hold section, so it's less an issue - if he gets jostled, he just lets go, but we also feel the slack and know to stop. Sort of like holding a belt loop, but a little more comfortable.

ok, that makes sense. I assumed since you said it could be adjusted to fit older children you were velcroing it to the wrist like in the picture. That's how my friend had it when her DD fell and it jerked her elbow out of socket.

 

[Picodegallo]

Hi all, thanks again for all your answer and advices, i really appreciate it.
I have read very carefully all you messages and have gotten quite a few good ideas.
The tatoos, the ID cards etc...
Anyway, i'm still very decided to find some kind of physical link between us and our kids.
I've understood all your concerns about possible injuries caused by a leash in a crowd but the idea is clearly not to let them roam 2 meters in front of us !
The leash should only be a BACKUP for hand holding and suprevision as all of you know, you can't have 100% efficient kid supervision
You've ALMOST convinced me that the leashes will be useless but i really prefer to find something and not use it in the end than not get anything with us and regret it.
Anyway, the girls are now enthousiactic about the idea so clearly they'll not feel bad wearing anything that connect them to us.

 

[missbrooke06]

OP, I'll be very interested in how this goes. Please update us after your trip

 

[katyjeka]

• I'm not a huge supporter of harnesses for OUR kids but never felt it was any of my business what others do. I can understand your concern as we spent a month in Puerto Rico and knew nothing but German. We were ok in the more populated areas but the areas off the beaten path were a little different. I worried a little more than usual but we had no issues. The people tried really hard to communicate with us and the kiddos. My advice wear shirts of the same color so to make it easier to keep track of each other and use the buddy system. When kids out numbered adults in our house we went with this and it works great. Have a great time in the wonderful USA.

 

[disneypolybride2008]

Please don't, especially for the older. Have them hold hands in crowded places if you need to. Many castmembers speak other languages, including french.
I have used hold on handles for when my two were younger. Those worked well for keeping them together when they wanted out of the stroller
http://greaterthanonekids.com/

that is a great idea!!! i am going to buy one for our dd4, DH thinks she is too old for a harness, which i disagree to an extent, but that hold on handles product is a great idea!!

 

[Marbel]

OP, are you concerned about them getting lost or abducted? If it's a fear of them getting lost, I agree that holding hands would be the best approach. All the other ideas already mentioned are good too ... going to a CM, wearing something distinctive so as to spot them easily, having a cheap cell phone, carrying a translated card, and so on. What time of year are you going? We were there in very heavy crowds and it wasn't bad enough to get separated. There are a fair number of Quebecois who go to WDW also. We heard french surprisingly often.

 

[Picodegallo]

OP, are you concerned about them getting lost or abducted?

Clearly ! I know it's an irrational fear but it's the first time we travel abroad with all of them and i REALLY don't want to take any chance.
We have done some more searches on the web on found some solutions that might fit the kids.
http://www.angelfire.com/in2/dandee/harness_order.htm
http://www.letsgobaby.co.uk/baby-tr...ety-harness#hikashop_show_tabular_description
http://www.pacific-rain.com/harness.htm
http://www.amazon.com/Jeep-Safety-H..._sim_75_7?ie=UTF8&refRID=170NJAPPVTPNR2RNW4WR
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B011XO04NE?&psc=1
Have some of you used them ?

 

[gwynne]

nt

 

[mjkacmom]

Oh for goddess sake, you are going to probably the safest place on the planet, not a third world country. I still can't believe this isn't a troll. It's a big amusement park with tons of security, with visitors from countries all over the world. If one gets this nervous going to a theme park, one should probably never leave the house. As a mom to five, no typical child over the age of four is going to be fine with being harnessed to the family.