Not losing your toddlers?

[RuthLS]

We will be at the world for the first time with kids in May with a 3 yr old and an 18 month old. Both active, way active boys.

We will be bringing two strollers. But I know I can't keep the kids in the strollers the whole time. I also know that they won't hold our hands the entire time. And my guess is...they won't stay by our side the whole time.

I've never been one for a child harness. I don't want to start a debate. But I was wondering if you use one, have had luck with it, or see other parents using them in the park. After all a harnessed child is better than a lost child in my opinion.

We are also looking into those wrist to wrist things. Do those even work?

Any thoughts or advice so greatly appreciated!
Ruth

 

[flipturngirl]

you could use the wrist to wrist things leashes. My mom used them on me and my sis becuase I was very hyper and would wonder. it is good to use

 

[ryan840]

I also used the wrist leashes. My son hated it when we put it on and forget about it within a few minutes. I'd much rather be considered "cruel" than lose my son!

 

[fan of the TTA]

you could use the wrist to wrist things leashes. My mom used them on me and my sis becuase I was very hyper and would wonder. it is good to use

yes. i agree. they are good to use

 

[hannahsmomma]

If you are worried about losing a child, I just have to give a warning...be careful in Honey I shrunk the Kids playground. Actually I would avoid it all together. When we went two years ago with my dd (4 at the time) she got lost in the tunnels that connect to the slide. It was the scariest 5 minutes of my entire life!!! When the CM found her and brought her out, it was like "what mom? no big deal, I just couldn't find the slide." Of course I was a sobbing mess! When we go back with my ds I will be using a "leash" with him.

 

[In Luv with Disney]

Where do you get those wrist to wrist thingies???? This would be GREAT for my hyper 4 year old!!!!

 

[ryan840]

Where do you get those wrist to wrist thingies???? This would be GREAT for my hyper 4 year old!!!!

I got mine at the dollar store... One thing to keep in mind with a four old- they would probably be very easy to take off so keep that in mind.

 

[all4fun]

I've used the safety harness on my now 33mos old. It was a lifesaver at the airport, WDW & most recently, DL. DS has some motor delays (improving thanks to P/T - thank you Ryan, my ds's new best buddy!) so he wasn't always the most stable on his feet. He was also not big on holding our hands most of the time. The harness helped us save him from many a spill. At DL I put it on him when he and I were going through Tarzan's treehouse (similar to Swiss Family Robinson treehouse @ WDW) and he was able to climb up and down the stairs to his hearts delight without me having a heart-attack every time he let go of the hand rail. Even if he did hold my hand, it could very easily slip from my grasp so it was very reassuring to have the harness on him there. Can you tell I highly recommend it?

There are some suggestions I'd like to make:
* If using the wrist kind, make sure the strap connecting parent to child is not the phone-cord stretchy kind. I have see kids following parents 10 feet behind and it's a tripping hazzard in a crowd (possibly hurting the child if someone didn't see it and tripped over the stretched cord). Make sure whatever you use that it keeps you close to your dc.

* Aside from the wrist style - there is also an animal backpack one that's really cute: See here . I've seen these at Target and Wal*mart for about $10.

hth!

 

[o2bacelt]

We're another harness family. I've got an early walking, never really crawled, super active monkey, I mean, 20 month old daughter. If she's not in a harness she'll be GONE. She doesn't like to hold hands and I suspect at Disney won't want to be in her stroller either.

The harness I've got I picked up in England while we were visiting with my inlaws. It's got reins, they are wonderful, they clip to the harness at two points instead of one, allowing me to gentle guide (steer) my daughter. I do believe you can find them online.

I would rather people stare at me that have my DD lost. She's not old enough to tell you a thing about herself or her family. Better safe than going crazy looking for a lost baby.

Hope that helps!

 

[RuthLS]

Thanks everyone for your time and posts.

I've never used one before so I didn't know if they worked, what to expect, etc.

Those backpack ones are adorable. We might go that route. DS1 has been asking for a backpack since good ol Dora.

Do they get in the way? Are they a pain to lug around?

And the wrist ones..do they snap or button or just velcro? I would think DS1 could get out of the velcro.

Thanks again!
Ruth

 

[Donnaly66]

When I took my 2.5 yr old daughter to DL in 2004, I used a custom made emergency bracelet. It went around her wrist and stayed on for the entire week, even after swimming in the pool several days. And, they are very strong...you have to cut them off, you can't just tear them off and believe me, at first, my daughter tried.

You can order them at crisis care services .

I originally ordered the Emergency cards for my wallet. My daughter's daycare had the owner come by the preschool and show us the product. I renew my cards every year. I will be ordering the bracelets for each of my kids during our WDW trip this June. Although instead of putting them around their wrists, I will probably put them around their ankle instead.

It gives me peace of mind knowing if she got lost, someone could look at the bracelet and call me right away on my cell phone.

 

[dis-happy]

Leash Mom here! Make sure you walk down the street and practice once or twice first. Even after WDW the leash stayed in my purse--for the longest time my youngest ds would not want to hold hands in parking lots, etc., so the leash was a lifesaver. He didn't mind it as much as me grabbing at him.

 

[mjh8955]

Having lost a toddler at the Honey I Shrunk the Kids Playground, I can assure you there is no worse feeling in the world than not being able to find your child in a sea of thousands of people. My DD3 went the wrong way out of a climbing thing and did not come out where she was supposed to. A few frantic minutes later I saw her across the playground - a man had her by the hand taking her out. I pushed and shoved wall to wall people to get to her. I was pretty sure that from the back he looked like a convicted felon or sex pervert or something. Turns out he was a pediatrician traveling with his family and trying to get my crying daughter to a CM for help. I was shook up for the rest of the day. I always thought harnesses or straps were stupid but if you have a child who wanders you honest to goodness need to protect them. There are just too many people around and it's too hard to keep those little ones in sight.

 

[danjoealexis3006]

Donnaly66 were can I get these braclets? I looked at the velcro ones and I know my kids would not keep them on. I also looked at the ones for the shoes but my kids are going to wear shoes at the waterparks. I would love it if you could post a link to where to get these!

 

[RuthLS]

I've read on the board somewhere here that people have made their own.

Print out a strip of paper on your computer with your childs information and then laminate it. I bet you could even use several layers of clear packing tape to keep it waterproof.

I also read somewhere that you could have dog tags made but with your kids info. You could then attach it to clothing, shoes, wear as a bracelet or necklace.

Lastly, I read somewhere else that the police always ck under the right arm of a child for information. Put their information on a piece of tape, name tag, sticker, etc. and stick to their shirt under their right arm. I guess if you stick it in plain site I stranger could walk right up and say their name and lead them away.

I plan to do a combo of all of the above just to be on the safe side.

Ruth

 

[graygables]

I grew up in Europe, traveling in the back of a station wagon. Everyone is required to have a seatbelt, so they made a harness kind so kids could ride in the back cargo area. Whenever we arrived at our destination, my parents would often leave me in the harness (even up to 8-10 yo) and hold on to the strap. The catacombs in Rome and the Turkish markets we visited were a lot less scary, knowing my Dad "had" me.

I used harnesses on all my DDs. They could easily get out of the standard wrist thing. With my youngest when she got older, I did go to petsmart and let her choose a matching collar/leash b/c they have tons of funky designs, and got the smallest collar for a "bracelet". That worked pretty well. I've also seen people put a fanny pack on the child, then use a standard leash attached to the pack. I, personally, don't care what other people think...my child's safety is paramount.

 

[lclark0621]

If you use a wrist to wrist one, PLEASE be careful! Those are only reccomended for ages 5 & up! The reason is, a shoulder can become dislocated very easily in the younger ones. Something as simple as a tug in the wrong way, or someone else tripping over your teether, could easily dislocate a little one's shoulder. Plus little ones, dont have the patients to leave them on. Some figure out how to take them off very quickly.

We use the regular harness for DS when we are in WDW. We got ours' from One Step Ahead. It works great!

We dont use it as a leash. We use it as a harness. It is just a bit of extra security. My DS has a tendency to take off running at full sprint & he is fast & small!

I keep my eyes on DS at ALL times. I never just pull him along or tug the harness. We just walk as we would normally. I just feel better knowing DS cant bolt off after something.

On hand holding, remember an adult is much taller then a toddler or young child. So while it may not see like a big deal to us, imagine holding your arm straight up for LONG periods of time. It WILL get tired & ache. It is the same thing in little ones. After holding hands up high for a while, their arms get tired.

A harness is NOT a leash. It is a saftey harness. It is NO different then a stroller, and in fact, it is better. In a stroller kids are COMPLETELY confined & cant walk or explore anything. In a harness they are still safely "attached" to a parent, yet they can walk, explore their surroundings, and have fun.

Anyone who says anything negative about "kids on leashes", obviously doesnt have kids...

 

[RuthLS]

Lynn,

thanks for your honest post. I agree about kids not being able to hold hands. That's why I was looking into these alternatives. I know DS1 will bolt and then DS2 will follow.

Good point about the wrist things. I just thought it would be less invasive on children that have never worn a harness. I don't care about what people think, or looks. But I care about the comfort of my children. Neither one of them has worn one, so I am worried about how they will feel. DS1 has sensitivity issues-pants and shirts have to be just right etc. So I'm concerned about him the most.

But I could see him getting hurt with the wrist one. He's a quick one. I know of a preschool teacher who was holding hands with a 2 yr old. The 2 yr old dropped to the ground without warning and dislocated her shoulder.

Now I'm thinking maybe we should go with a harness. Are they big enough for older kids. DS1 is 3-today! But is the size of a 4-5 yr old.

Thanks,
Ruth

 

[lclark0621]

Ruth,

There are SO many different kinds of harnesses out there for kids. My DS is a big kid for 2.5. He is 37 inches tall & 35 lbs. The one from One Step Ahead, fits him fine.

But if you think your child wont like a plain harness, how about one of those backpack ones? They sell them online & in some stores. It is a backpack that is an animal & the parent holds the "tail". Some of them are SO cute. Your child might be more willing to wear it if he gets to pick out an animal backpack or something. I think some are big enough to fit some small toys & a snack or two in them also. He will feel all grown up with his own stuff.

Also start working with the harness early. My DS usually only wears his at WDW. And it has been about 11 month since our last trip. So we busted out the harness this week & started using it to get him used to it again. He is perfectly fine & does not mind it. It will probably help that we are going with a friend who has a DD my DS's age. She will also be wearing the same harness. So they will match.

 

[deekyd]

I found this on Deb's AllEars and am considering getting these for my 2 kids for this trip.

http://www.whosshoesid.com/