Please hold little one's hands!

[RedRuby]

My sister uses them all the time with her twins also 3.

Yes, we in many other parents of twins we know use some sort of "leash" for their little ones. In fact, our girls were first introduced to their "bracelets" at DL.

When I can, I typically loop my side over the handle of the stroller, so that I can push the stroller without my arms being stretched out in opposite directions. The girls seem to have a little bit more freedom when they are attached to the stroller(s), as do I.

 

[RedRuby]

I really appreciate parents using these leashes. It makes me feel so much better knowing that that particular little one is in no danger of escaping their parents.

Now if we could just call it something else, besides a leash. Maybe "Protective Child Restraint", or the "Not Gonna Runna Away Child Harness". LOL, I dunno -- but when I hear leash, I see dog.

Yes, for similar reasons, we call them "bracelets" in our household, but it doesn't quite have the same meaning in public

 

[barb45]

I don't think they were ever officially called leashes - that's what people call them. I think they were originally referred to as harnesses (not much better though). I don't care what you call them - they are just plain smart.

 

[kerry34]

I have five kids and only had to use one on my oldest child. She hated holding hands for a long period of time, and also used to get herself unbuckled from her stroller constantly. The wrist harness was great for me, I got my fair share of looks but it made us both happy because she could walk and I didnt have to worry about my little girl getting lost. Your children are precious and I say do whatever works for you to keep them safe, dont worry about anyone else.

 

[pandora174]

I feel so much better. We used the wrist leash for my son when we went to SW this past Feb. He was 26 months & very active. We only used it when he wasn't in the stroller & wanted to walk. I felt safe that he wouldn't run off or in dark exhibits that no one could just pick him up & get lost in a crowd. But jeez the dirty looks we got was horrible ! We had people mumbling behind our backs but we just ignored them & said loudly "Wish people would mind their own business" . I just don't get it. When I'm on vacation I mind my own business & am so happy to not be at work & spend some time with my family. Why must some people be so critical & judgemental ? I was worried about doing the same for our next trip to Disney in Jan when he'll be 3 & twice as active, but I feel better now !

 

[PatsGirl]

Like I said in an earlier post, I am also "Leash Mother" for lack of a better term, but I agree that not all children need them -- it depends on the child. My DD probably didn't need it as much as I did at that point but my son, first child, oh....

This child was a Houdini in a Diaper. Could not restrain him in anything. Let's see: out of the crib at 8 months, over the side night after night, finally put him in a toddler bed at 10 months old, got tired of him crawling into the living room when we didn't even realize he was out of crib, lol -- at least with a bed we know it was a possibility; over the child gate guarding the second story stairs, decided he'd get less hurt if we didn't have it, decided to put pillows at the bottom for when he feel which was often until he finally mastered them at probably 18 months; carseat -- what a joke, this kid could un-entangle himself in less than 10 minutes, couldn't take road trips. When we finally found something that kept him confined, he screamed and he screamed every time we put him in it (until he was 5 years old) God help me this is true! Thank you babysitters!

Now my DD walked at 8 months but loved her highchair, would sit for hours, at home and in the best restaurants, screamed when I took out her crib at 3 years old , went from infant seat to car seat to booster and still complains to this day at 8 years old that it's hard to see out the window , and until last year paid for her own stroller at the mall because from 5 years old until now (except at WDW, here we go... ) I refused to pay

 

[MOMOFMNM]

Kristen-

Where did you get the numbers in your signature to make the statement "98% of the teenage population does or has tried smoking pot"? You might want to take another at those numbers. Latest 2004 research shows that only approximately 19.6% of teens 12-17 have tried smoking pot, and a majority of those who try it, try it once and stop.

seems remarkably low for the teenage population especially when asking about TRYING pot...statistics can be found and proven anywhere...the point is, with my signature, I have NEVER and will never smoke pot or even try if for that matter and I am just making a statement about my life experience. BTW she probably got it from me no, I won't look it up or change it however if provoked I am sure on the world wide web I can fond some website supporting this research somewhere...

 

[Luv2Roam]

I think leashes for kids (and dogs ) are a great idea.
I would rather have a few disapproving looks than a lost and possible gone kid.

Once we were walking into Mk and a mother had her young son on a leash.
I told her I was happy to see that. Like others have posted it is not uncommon to see kids way out of the eyesight of any guardian. I see it all the time.

The mother thanked me, as she was concerned of just the opposite -- disapproval from others.
I told her would rather be safe than sorry.
WDW is such a busy place and things can happen rapdily. And many guests have vacation mode on and do things they may not otherwise do. (Or don't do things they would otherwise do.)

 

[JoiseyMom]

I bought one for our son's second trip, he was 18 months. We were there over xmas break. When he wasn't in his stroller he was in the harness. My child's safety is more important then looks from strangers.

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

seems remarkably low for the teenage population especially when asking about TRYING pot...statistics can be found and proven anywhere...the point is, with my signature, I have NEVER and will never smoke pot or even try if for that matter and I am just making a statement about my life experience. BTW she probably got it from me no, I won't look it up or change it however if provoked I am sure on the world wide web I can fond some website supporting this research somewhere...

You can laugh, but if you'd like, since you feel that stats can be found anywhere, forget about stats, and lets use a little common sense. The 12-17 population in 2004 was roughly 25 million kids. Using your percentage, 24.5 million kids have tried pot and only 500,000 have not.
Look at it another way, if your teen goes to a high school with 2,000 students, only 40 kids in the whole school have not tried pot. Or in a class of 40 kids...only one kid in that class has not tried pot?!?! Now I'm no expert, but common sense dictates that your numbers might just be a touch off.
Some people might thing that American is going to hell in a handbasket, and that teens today are totally out of control, but I for one, have alot more faith in the large majority of teens today to do the right thing.

 

[jjarman]

My sister-in-law said her brother and family were in the Magic Kingdom when someone got their baby snatched right out of the stroller. So, it can happen anywhere, even at Mickey's place. The story had a happy ending, the place went into lockdown and no one could leave without the parents looking at every baby who people tried to get out. The kidnapper even changed the baby clothes to look like a girl, but got caught.

Sounds a lot like an urban legend. Sorry. Don't believe it.

 

[dani0622]

I do not have any children yet, but will probably use a leash when I do! I was surprised to see so many children wandering aimlessly around the parks in April it made me so nervous! I am curious to the people who said others made negative comments about the leash, what they were? I can't believe someone would actually have the nerve to say something to someone else about something like that!

Can we stay on topic here too? The whole pot conversation thing? thanks!

 

[jjarman]

Please don’t flame me but I can’t understand why you don’t just put a young child in a stroller. DS stayed in a stroller until his feet were literally dragging the ground. He never, ever, ever got out of or was allowed out of a stroller at a store. I knew when I was pregnant that if I just started out from day one not letting him out of the stroller he would not know he could get out. I just made it a rule with DH and my mother that we never let Sam out of the stroller in a store. I hear friends and others say their kids throw a fit when they are in the stroller but these are the parents who thought it was cute when they were first learning to walk to let them walk with them in the mall. Once a kid learns how fun it is to walk in the stores you can’t stop them. I was never mean about it with him. He just never knew there was that option.

 

[meandtheguys2]

We misplaced our youngest (5) for about 5 minutes last year and it was the worst 5 minutes of my life! He was with us and then he wasn't. He seriously learned a lesson that day. He knew what to do and followed thru with our directions if lost, but it was horrid!

Name tags, we don't sweat. It only takes 5 minutes of being near us to know the kiddo's names.

98.8 % of social statistics are made up as needed. I wouldn't sweat those either!*smilie*

 

[MOMOFMNM]

You can laugh, but if you'd like, since you feel that stats can be found anywhere, forget about stats, and lets use a little common sense. The 12-17 population in 2004 was roughly 25 million kids. Using your percentage, 24.5 million kids have tried pot and only 500,000 have not.
Look at it another way, if your teen goes to a high school with 2,000 students, only 40 kids in the whole school have not tried pot. Or in a class of 40 kids...only one kid in that class has not tried pot?!?! Now I'm no expert, but common sense dictates that your numbers might just be a touch off.
Some people might thing that American is going to hell in a handbasket, and that teens today are totally out of control, but I for one, have alot more faith in the large majority of teens today to do the right thing.

reguardless, I am one who has not in my 28 yrs and that is my point, unless you can go to my signature and change it, I am going to leave it. Thank you for your imput and I never said anything about America going to hell in a handbasket...geesh. Whatever...I like my siggy, don't read my posts if you don't agree with it or like it...

 

[missypie]

The one image burned in my brain from our recent trip to WDW is of my DH's BACK...he constantly speeds ahead of the rest of the family...it's our job to keep up. At least the kids are older now. He did that even when the kids were toddlers. I know for a fact that we could be abducted, fall and break a leg, whatever, and he would NEVER know because he speeds ahead and never looks back.

 

[SplashLover93]

my family had a big scare in downtown disney when my brother decided to not wait for us in once upon a toy to play with lincoln logs , when we all loooked away he was gone we went around the store yelling and found him calmly playing lincoln logs it always scares my mom that we might lose him in the parks but most of the time there are 8 of us so we all have someone to watch him when we go on rides

 

[carolinagirl]

I want to start this reply with stating that I don't disagree with harnessing young children in order to keep them safe. So please don't think that what I am about to share is representative of disagreeing with the practice.

I would caution that harnesses (or leashes) need to be used with caution and care. While at Dollywood several years ago (before I had children) my husband and I were inside a restaurant having lunch and people watching through the window. We saw a group walk by and a mother had a child on a harness. The child looked to be about 4 years old. She was several steps ahead of the child and obviously more concerned about getting where she was going than keeping an eye on the child. The child was lagging behind and she gave the leash a yank (I am guessing to hurry the child along) causing the child to lose their footing and lunge forward head first into a light pole. I felt so sorry for the child! So please be careful.....whether using a leash or not!

 

[AnaheimGirl]

Please don’t flame me but I can’t understand why you don’t just put a young child in a stroller. DS stayed in a stroller until his feet were literally dragging the ground. He never, ever, ever got out of or was allowed out of a stroller at a store. I knew when I was pregnant that if I just started out from day one not letting him out of the stroller he would not know he could get out. I just made it a rule with DH and my mother that we never let Sam out of the stroller in a store. I hear friends and others say their kids throw a fit when they are in the stroller but these are the parents who thought it was cute when they were first learning to walk to let them walk with them in the mall. Once a kid learns how fun it is to walk in the stores you can’t stop them. I was never mean about it with him. He just never knew there was that option.

No flames, but just to answer your question...

All kids are different. My older dd was like your son. Perfectly happy in the stroller. Never even attempted to get out. But then, she's a pretty mellow person. When she was little, I also wondered why anyone would need to use a harness.

My younger dd taught me why. She hated to sit still from day one. She was crawling within a week after she learned to sit upright. She figured out how to wiggle out of the stroller harness and climb out shortly after that. So it's not because we let her out to walk in the mall (never assume anything!), she just doesn't like sitting still. It's her nature.

If a child would rather walk than sit still, and there's a safe way to do it, why not let them? She's much safer walking with a harness than sitting in a stroller that she will quickly tire of, stand up in, and possibly fall out of -- onto a hard tile mall floor, or concrete walkway ((shudder)). I'd rather not take that chance.

 

[crazee4mickey]

We noticed so many little kids just "wandering" when we went in December 2004.
We had mentioned it within our family several times as little ones were just trailing along behind or parents would be sightseeing and the little ones would wander off! Other times you would see infants in strollers and the parents would wander off somewhere in the store and leave the stroller and child behind I guess they thought it was easier then trying to move the stroller around!?
I kept wondering if people get a false sense of security at WDW and get that "nothing will happen here" attitude ...it just made me very uneasy.