Need baby harness recommendation

[briannesmom]

We have decided that we are going to need a harness for our DD (17 months) for our trip next week. Anyone have an recommendations for a brand or type of harness? She is pretty good about staying in her stroller but I know at sometime she will want to get out and walk around. She is a speedy little thing and hasn't got the hang of the hand holding yet. We don't plan on using it to walk her down Main Street or in other crowded areas. It will be nice to use in less crowded areas so she can walk a bit without us worring about her taking off into a crowd. She started walking just a week after our last trip so we didn't have to worry about it then.

Thanks!

Amy

 

[minkydog]

A lot of people don't approve of harnesses, but I thought it was a life-saver for my kids. My first one didn't like to be confined. It didn't take him long to realize that holding hands was a better thing. All he had to do was see the harness and he'd straighten up. My middle one was a runner--she would bolt just when you least expected it. She feared nothing. She never did get a clue and we used it with her for about 3 years. My youngest one has autism and is a runner as well. He is also Houdini, so we had to be creative to keep him in the harness. He still uses it on the school bus.

I don't know the names of any harnesses, but the ones i liked best had wide straps and zip up the back. They never seemed to dig into their skin and that back zipper foiled them every time. They come with a 4ft "leash" and I have seen people put a longer leash on them but I wouldn't. The idea is that you are trying to teach your child to stay near. Besides, a10ft leash just looks like a dog.

 

[alloyd1170]

There are several types out there. One is a cute stuffed animal backback type (I think Ebags may have them, otherwise do a Google search). Some people use dog leashes. Walmart/Babies R Us have a standard nylon harness thats cheap and works fine. There's also an elastic wrist leash-stay away from this one. You dont want anything that can stretch as the kids turn it into a game of tugging and pulling back. Also, you dont want anything long as it can interfer with people walking around you. What I did was to take the leash part off a harness and either attach it to my sons belt loop, or to a childs fanny pack. I like this better than a harness because it doesnt show up in photos. I just tucked the leash into the back of his shirt when not needed, but was a grab away if he bolted. The fanny pack is nice because then he can carry some snacks or the autograph book. They do make one with a leash on it, but its so small and doesnt zip so you really cant store anything in it. My husband is against the leash thing, but he wasnt with me when I took my son the first time. Its a life saver in crowds and in lines (my son wanted to bolt out of line, but couldnt). After parades, I folded up his stroller and walked him through the crowds. It was much easier than navigating a stroller. Other parents commented on what a good idea it was, and even some wives said they wanted one for their husbands. Dont worry about what others think. The safety of your child and peace of mind you get far outweighs others opinions! Hope this helps!

alison

 

[NotUrsula]

Though they are very difficult to find in the US, the very best kind are the European designs, such as those by Clippasafe: http://www.baby-boom.co.uk/acatalog/HarnessesReins.php

Note the top photo; the position of the straps on the back make it impossible for jr. to remove, but the buckle is not in the center where it would jab him in the back while wearing the harness section in a stroller or highchair. The best feature is that the walking-rein drapes from shoulder to shoulder, and if you drop it, stops slightly below the child's knees, where he won't be tripping on it. This short length also helps to prevent passerby from getting between you and your child as you are walking. Also note that most of the photos show children wearing harnesses in highchairs, these harness sets usually also have short loop attachments that will clip around the chair slats, preventing a child from ducking out of his highchair.

American chest harnesses usually have a single longer strap anchored in the center of the back. They are effective, but not as versatile and easy to use as the european designs. Wrist harnesses are pretty useless for most kids, they are too easy to wriggle out of.

 

[BevS97]

we use exactly the kind that NotUrsuala has shown - it is very effective and we also use it in our highchair every single day, therefore my dd is quite used to wearing it and doesn't object when we wear it outside.

Even better, the one we bought has Princess on the front.

 

[cdrn1]

We used the cheap Walmart kind ($5) a couple weeks ago when we were at WDW and it worked great. Abby had more freedom than she would have had without it, and since she has just learned to walk we also saved her from a couple tumbles just by a little pull on the harness.

 

[Dragonfly8124]

I have a harness for my DD too. I bought mine at Babies R' Us and it works great. I had one for my oldest DD when she was a toddler too. I got the looks, comments, etc. "she's not a dog", but I'd respond "she's not missing either". Oh well, I don't have patience for that. Children that age can't stand to sit all the time and like to walk around. My toddler now is VERY independent and this gives her her "freedom" while still being safe.

 

[asktriplets]

the cheapie harnesses from walmart that i found are red and have elmo on the front...we practiced using them before we left and my kids actually asked for their "elmo belts" while there. that said, we didn't use them as much as i thought we would because we had 6 adults with us. this april, it'll be just dh and i, so you'd better believe we'll be bringing the belts!

 

[SnowBound]

I agree with BevS97 on the type and Dragonfly8124 with the comments, and I might add that if anyone is bold enough to voice their disapproval, look them in the eye and tell them that you do not wish to see your child on a milk carton. It shuts them down every time.

 

[crazywig]

i used the red elmo one last june with ds who had just turned 2...i actually got a lot of positive comments from other park goers many who had older children and said 'wish i had used one when mine were small'.

i like how the elmo one has a swivel hook in the back so the 'leash' doesn't get tangled. i'm taking it again in 3 weeks.

 

[Digger In FLA]

I agree with BevS97 on the type and Dragonfly8124 with the comments, and I might add that if anyone is bold enough to voice their disapproval, look them in the eye and tell them that you do not wish to see your child on a milk carton. It shuts them down every time.

it won't shut me down. those things are disgusting. take the time to pay attention to your child and you won't need to put them on a leash. my favorite at the parks are the 400 pound parents in ECV's with their kids on a leash like snow dogs because they're disgustingly obese. anyone that puts their kid in one of those is a lazy parent. our daughter has made it to 11 without being leashed. you people make me sick. what's next, are you going to crate them at night? take lots of pictures of them in their leashes at WDW, they'll be happy to see what you thought of them when they grow up. smack them on the nose with a rolled up newspaper when they do something wrong. I can't believe this is a thread. you don't deserve children, they're obviously nothing more than dogs to you.