Please hold little one's hands!

[meatballsmom]

Flame away. We used a leash with DGD 16 months. She is just too fast to take a chance with and it only takes a moment of distraction. She didn't seem to mind, and a couple times we saved her from a fall by the sheer fact that we were hanging on above her. I doubt that we messed her up for life.

No flames here either!! I used a leash with my 3 yo (just turned 3). I loved it. Didn't have to worry about him getting too far from me and it made him feel more like a big kid to not be holding mommy's hand all the time. The only thing to be aware of is people just plowing through the leash. That happened a few times.

 

[Marseeya]

Loose tots drive me nuts!

I worry for their safety and I worry about the safety of those around them. Haven't these parents noticed how many people don't notice anything around them, let alone a little one underfoot? I can't tell you how many times I nearly tripped over a small child and I'm a slow, cautious walker. I'd feel horrible if I fell on and squished a little one, and I'd feel even worse if my vacation were ruined by a twisted ankle or knee

Or I don't know what's worse, the parents not paying attention to their wandering tots or the ones who are paying attention to them, but not doing anything about it. They'll just sit and beam proudly while junior waddles around in the crowd.

As for the leashes, I do get a chuckle when I see them because I think it's funny, but my oldest went through a short (thankfully) phase where I had to use one with him. He wouldn't stay in a stroller and wouldn't hold anybody's hand at. all.

 

[meatballsmom]

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.

I'm sorry I have to disagree here!! Obviously you don't have an active child. I wouldn't let my son out of the stroller when he was younger too and he always was in one in stores. But as soon as he could figure out how, he would stretch his feet out move the stroller over to the point it was dangerous to him and others. By the time we went to Disney, when he was turning 3, he would sit in the stroller when he was tired, but wanted to walk around like everyone else too. And yes he was the type of child that would wander or run. So the leash came in handy.

P.S. I don't know of any child who would sit in a stroller for the entire day. You must have a very calm child.

 

[NotUrsula]

There is an official name, and "leash" isn't it.

These have been used in Europe for hundreds of years, and in England are known as walking reins. (If you read pre-20th century literature, you might also recognize the older name, "leading strings".)

BTW, walking reins probably saved my sister's life once, when my mother fell and knocked herself out on the curb just as she was getting ready to cross a very busy street. Imagine what might happen if YOU got hurt while you were responsible for a toddler in a busy place.

 

[AnaheimGirl]

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.

OMG! What an idiot! That poor child.

 

[poohpcgirl]

I have also used one of the harnesses. We are working very hard teaching our 3 year old how important it is to stay with us and come when called. But being 3, he likes to think you are playing sometimes and Zap....he can move fast! We have not had to use it in about a year, which is great. But since this is our first trip with him to such a HUGE place, I am going to bring it along with me, just in case. I will have 6 adults and my 9 year old Godson along, so we should have enough eyes. But its better to be safe than sorry. I have gotten a few rotten looks from time to time. But hey, like you all said, kids are different. Some take to it better and quicker than others. Hopefully, mine will be so well behaved it will not be needed....
HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL....He looks all sweet and innocent... don't let the picture fool you. He is all rough and tumble boy....
LOL

 

[meandtheguys2]

It's the sweet looking ones you gotta look out for! We had plenty of eyes with us last trip, but none of them were watching DS5! I thought DH had him, he thought my mom was with him, and mom thought I had the little guy!

 

[taximomfor4]

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.

Because exercise is important, even starting in toddlerhood. Just look at the increase in childhood obesity. Now I am not stating that strollers are the CAUSE of obesity (disclaimer to protect from flaming). Just that it is never too early to begin putting physical activity into a lot of the day.

Anyway, why should a little kid have to spend so much time in WDW in a stroller? takes a lot of the fun right out of it, for many kids.

We do not use a leash (well, I did for dd11 when she was tiny). My youngest dd (2, almost 3) does lag. But we always have one parent or oldest dd trailing her. We WANT her to be able to explore a little. Sometimes she finds things we would have quickly walked right past. At Epcot, she found the prettiest little lizard sitting behind a bench near Canada. The WHOLE family, except her and I, had already passed it. She also loves to step on the glittery sidewalk stones at night, as they light up. Learning is not all done at preschool and if giving dd a little room to wander (under watchful eye even though strangers might not know that) enriches her day, I will continue to allow it.

I LOVE to see kids running around excitedly at WDW. Helps me live the magic vicariously! (Of course, this is only if they are not running around in a dangerous or crowded area).

Yes, I know my opinion is completely opposite from most here. But just wanted to chime in, as one of the parents of wandering, meandering little tikes.

 

[jjarman]

I'm sorry I have to disagree here!! Obviously you don't have an active child. I wouldn't let my son out of the stroller when he was younger too and he always was in one in stores. But as soon as he could figure out how, he would stretch his feet out move the stroller over to the point it was dangerous to him and others. By the time we went to Disney, when he was turning 3, he would sit in the stroller when he was tired, but wanted to walk around like everyone else too. And yes he was the type of child that would wander or run. So the leash came in handy.

P.S. I don't know of any child who would sit in a stroller for the entire day. You must have a very calm child.

Actually he is ADD and so constantly in motion. He just never knew he could get out of a stroller. He was never able to unfasten it. I have pictures of him at 6 Flags as a 2 year old in the stroller. Now, I didn't force him to sit there all day. He got out to see things or to go on rides. But when he was through it was back into the stroller. My brother and his wife have two very active kids, 3 and 18 months. They also don't know they can get out of the stroller at the mall. So far that is all they have done except for me taking them to the zoo. I did let the 3 year old run but the zoo was practically empty and I had my 14 year old son to corral him. The 18 month old never tried to get out of his stroller. It really can be done.

 

[jjarman]

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.

Sounds like our two are the same. We did try once when he was too tall for the stroller one of those hand holder things. He hated it and could slip it off easily. Fortunately we moved at about that time and with job changes, he didn't have to go with me to the mall that much. He was a very active kid but fortunately in this instance very cautious so he didn't wander much. I would not hesitate to use a harness. My beef is with parents who let their kids just wander. I could never let my child just wander. I don't care how much exercise they need or how much they need to stretch their imagination. There is a place for that. In a huge crowd of strangers is not, IMO.

 

[taximomfor4]

My beef is with parents who let their kids just wander. I could never let my child just wander. I don't care how much exercise they need or how much they need to stretch their imagination. There is a place for that. In a huge crowd of strangers is not, IMO.

To each their own. I don't approve or disapprove when I see parents with kids in harnesses, and don't look for approval or disapproval when my dd is walking near us. Under constant supervision. And not in jammed places full of people. But in the less crowded areas, it is probably not for some stranger to have a beef with.

Opinions are just that, opinions. Most parents will do what they feel is best for their children. Most parents will seek to protect their children. I am certainy one of those...and do not feel comfortable assuming others are doing wrong when no harm is being done.

Everyone please note: I did previously mention that I, too, used harness with one of my kids, and continue to use the stroller most of the time for youngest dd (2). Even 5yo ds has to hold onto the side of the stroller. But my yyo gets to walk sometimes. In public, even in WDW (Just not in the busiest times, in the bottlenecked areas.) So nobody out there think I am taking the opposite stand!! I approve of harness use, stroller use, and walking without handholding under a close eye.

p.s. Can the person posting about the walmart (I think it was) backpack leash thingy (monkey, wasn't it?) put some more info on here? That sounds really good, I might need one of those for dd who will be weaning from the stroller in the next year or so.

 

[letsgoagainsoon]

I'm glad to see that so many people are actually not flaming us for using the leash, harness, don't loose your child strap! I always said that they looked ridiculous and I would never use one. That is, until I had my own very active 18 month old DS, who doesn't like to be in a stroller all day! Last night I went out and purchased one at WalMart, so if you are at WDW next week and you see a happy little boy with a red Elmo leash, please wave!!

 

[Tink&SquirtsMom]

I also cannot stand people who walk ahead of their children or let them straggle. We were at DL for dd's first birthday. My brother and dh were waiting to ride Matterhorn and a toddler slipped between the fence and wandered towards the track. This is right near the part where the track goes over water. So he was in danger of being hit by the ride, and of falling in the water. A couple of men scaled the fence, but some cast members got to him first (the ride was also stopped). It felt like it took forever but I think it was probably all of 10 seconds. We all noticed the toddler in trouble before the parents.

So after seeing that of course, I have no problem with the harnesses. My kid just won't wear one. My dd (Zoe btw so I had to laugh at the Logan and Zoe comment since Logan is what I would name a baby boy if I could have one now) would have been fine with it. But my ds is Mr. Independence. He will walk with me if he can hold my hand. If I try and hold his hand forget about it (yeah us adults think thats the same thing, right... well not to him). If I put a harness on him he fights so hard to get away, whereas if I let him walk with me and hold my hand he walks right with me. He knows I mean business though if he wanders he immediately gets put in the stroller. This is one rule I do not slack on at all. We use a stroller (for our almost 5yo too), to get between lands and usually in the lands we park the stroller in a central spot and walk to the rides there. We'll see how this plan translates in WDW where the parks are so much bigger then at DL. I'm so anxious about the kids getting separated for me though. My mom was laughing at me when we took her with us on our last DL trip, because I kept lecturing her before parades and shows ended to hold the kids extra tight as the crowds dispersed, about having the kids walk between us so they were holding two sets of hands, etc, etc. She told me it was a wonder she didn't lose me as a kid, since I wasn't then giving her advice on how to keep track of me.

 

[nanalisa]

I used a harness when granddaughter was little. She liked to escape the stroller and stretch her legs but boy could she run. I bought a cute pink harness at the Osh Kosh store and she didn't mind it a bit. I was surprised how many positive comments I got for using it. The "leash" part attached at the back so she thought that no one was even holding her hand. She doesn't even remember it.

 

[Tink&SquirtsMom]

Thats the kind I need where he has his hands free. I bet he wouldn't fight that soo much. Hmm... I haven't seen those around here. But now you have me thinking.

 

[babybunrab]

I had real trouble finding the kind that don't have a wrist strap for the child when DS10 was little. I did a quick search ("child" "harness") just now and found a bunch of places on-line that have something called the 'kid-keeper' which looks like what I used with DS (a chest-harness thing instead of a wrist strap). It allows about 21/2-3 feet of distance between parent and child, so child has some freedom of movement to look at those lizards and things.