Okay...Who has used a leash on their child at the Parks??

[brneyegirl24]

When my Dsister I took my DD, who was 3 at the time, to WDW in 03 I didn't use a leash on her. She never ran away from me or her Aunt Mimi. However, if you need to use one then go for it. I don't personally think I'd ever use one, but that may change if/when I have another child. As for what other people think, who cares. They aren't the ones responsible for your children...you are. If you know your child needs one, or you need one for the peace of mind it will bring you then so be it. I would much rather see a parent who has a handle on their kids by using one on them, than a child who is totally out of control, and parents who seem oblivious to it.

 

[OhioGrumpyGirl]

Absolutely use it if it makes you fell better!!! I always thought of a leash for kids as cruel until I had my own child!!! I never went anywhere without it. I even used it still last year at WDW when he was 5. He has a tendacy to wander off to see what he wants to see and since he is a male, he has "selective hearing" so he doesn't always listen to me!!!

 

[o2bacelt]

Like BevS97, we've got a set of reins that I picked up in Boots while visiting my inlaws in the UK this past summer. We LOVE them. It's cute and has Pooh on it. It is smaller than the harness we got at Babies R Us and I love being able to steer her around in a crowd. Well worth the 10 quid we paid for it.

I have a DD, who was walking at 8 1/2 months, was very active with the motor skills of a toddler and the reasoning of someone a little younger than that. She is everywhere, often doesn't hear me (or is tuning me out) and to keep her safe she's in those reins when we're in really crowded places and she insists on walking.

I have had negative comments before, we got them in Dulles Airport while waiting for our plane over to the UK, my DH had my DD on a leash and she was running through the airport. I was walking behind them and heard a group of airline employees talking about how my DD would obviously need therapy because she was on a leash. I spoke up and told them that I bet if I let one of them have her for 5 minutes without the leash they'd be looking for it. I explained her age, how long she had been walking, that she looks older than she really is, can't communicate if lost, and she'd likely need more therapy if she ran off and was lost, hurt or abducted. I think they were surprised that someone stopped them and spoke to them like that but I was going to at least impress upon them that they should at least keep their voices down when being rude.

I've gotten to the point where I could careless what other people think. If it works for you do it, it doesn't matter if someone else approves. I like knowing where my DD is and knowing that she's safe. We're taking the reins with us to WDW in March on our trip, we're also bringing our stroller and we'll see what works better.

Have a great trip!

 

[sters]

My daughter broke her leash, so we just dealt.