question about safety "harness"

[ameemom]

I've seen kiddos at WDW with those safety harnesses, and have pondered the possibilty as I"m chaing my 20 month old... but I have... memories of being a leash child. I can even remember what color is was .. So, I'm kind of iffy about the whole thing, I was wondering some of your opinions of safety harnesses.

 

[mjkacmom]

I had no choice with my twins - it was the only way I could take them in public alone without a stroller. They LOVED them, and they worked great (although ds liked to pretend he was a dog sometimes, and I'd get looks). I had to stop using them when they were about 2 1/2, only because I misplaced one, and I knew they would fight over the other.

 

[jcc0621]

We used one for DS and for the longest time if we were in a crowded place (like WDW) he wanted it on. Check toys r us, etc they sell cute one's with animal backpacks on them. The one I used was plain blue. GOt it from One Step Ahead (dot) com. We laughed several times during one trip (when he was just shy of 2 and we were waiting for a show to start and no less than 6 different parents come up to us asking where we had gotten it.

 

[imthatgirl]

my opinion on harnesses is pretty simple..use one if youd like. or dont use one, whatever.

if you arent sure whether you want to use one than bring one and you see you need it, youll have it.

 

[fivikse]

I also have twins who are runners - so I am very much in favor of the harnesses. They keep kids safe - imo.

However, I think you need to buy it and practice using it before your trip. You don't want to drag your kid around with it! (Not that you would) If your child isn't used to it and you pull it out on vacation, it probably won't go well. The stuffed animal backpack ones are cute, but I have heard they can get really HOT if you live somewhere warm. Also, some kids want to play with the animal or get freaked out with something on their back. Others love it. Good luck!

 

[everylastbreath]

Why do you care about opinions? Are any of the people who look "disapprovingly" at you when you have your child on one, going to be standing with you crying when your child is lost? You have to keep your baby safe, don't worry about anyone's opinion. Bring one if you think you might need it.

 

[tazdev3225]

I am completely in favor of them. I used one on DD when she was little because I lost her everywhere we went. She wasn't a runner but a wanderer. I have used them on her kids. Her DS is 2 and a runner and he is FAST! He too, likes to pretend he's a dog when he's on it but I don't care because he is safe. DD is expecting number 3 and with me watching a newborn, 1y/o, 2 y/o and 4 y/o I'll have the two toddlers attached to the stroller with a leash on each and be very content.

 

[ameemom]

Why do you care about opinions? Are any of the people who look "disapprovingly" at you when you have your child on one, going to be standing with you crying when your child is lost? You have to keep your baby safe, don't worry about anyone's opinion. Bring one if you think you might need it.

for now we keep her in a stroller, which she is okay in most of the time. But she gets to a point where she is done being in the stroller. I'm not really worried about people's "looks" as much as I am the happiness of my child.

 

[everylastbreath]

for now we keep her in a stroller, which she is okay in most of the time. But she gets to a point where she is done being in the stroller. I'm not really worried about people's "looks" as much as I am the happiness of my child.

If she is happy walking and doesn't mind having it on, use it if you feel you need it. Last year when we brought my 2 year old GS, for a few weeks prior to the trip my daughter would take him on walks around the block - making him hold her hand, and he did really well without the harness but we brough it with us just in case, I am all in favor of using the harness to keep them safe, that is the main priority.

 

[delmar411]

I have runners and use them quite often. My kids love getting their puppy/monkey hugs and use them willingly. At WDW I used the blue basic one from Safety First as it covers the least amount of body and weighs very little. I didn't want the baby sweating badly from it. He didn't need to take it off for napping either.

 

[Jakesmom504]

I was just about to post this same thing! DS is usually pretty good about holding hands but lately when we go to places like the mall he's starting to want his independence and tries to roam ahead of us if he knows which store we are going in. DH just commented on this the other night because we were at the mall and that's exactly what happened. I agree with the other posters who said don't worry about what others think, it's for YOUR own sanity! Personally I hate the idea of a "leashed" child, but safety comes first. Imagine how you would feel if your child got lost. If I do end up getting one, i'll try to find the one that wraps around the wrist. I like the backpack ones but we are going in Aug, and I'm thinking it's just going to be too hot for him. I will gladly welcome any suggestions though!

 

[bumbershoot]

Seems you have bad memories; have you talked it through with your parents? See if your memories go with their reality?

Brother and I had harnesses, too; it was the only way to keep us safe along with the two Alaskan Malamutes, when my single mom took us all to the beach in Monterey! I have NO bad memories of it at all.

Alas my son acts just like a sled dog when I have tried to use the harness, he goes running full tilt to the end of the lead, and tries to pull out my arm. Not fun. And then after he is unsuccessful in pulling off my arm, he generally falls, so that doesn't look nice, on top of not feeling nice, and on top of not working to keep him WITH me! So for us it doesn't work.

Get one, try it, see if it works for you guys!

Honestly, I'm generally so busy seeing the fun things in the parks that I don't even have time to register someone's facial expression, and being a person with a naturally 'stern' face, even when I think I have the most beatific expression of calm and joy, I DEFINITELY do not waste time trying to figure out if they are looking at me with disgust, or if they just swallowed a big or are suffering from heartburn at the moment I look at them.

 

[mrsgrumpybear]

I brought one with us but didnt use it. I think the lights and movement kept my kids in the stroller.

 

[raggedy couple]

Our GS is at the "No" stage. That seems to be his answer to everything. He's not even two yet! So... we got one for the trip, better safe than sorry, and he turns two on the up coming trip to MNSSHP. Hope his Mom and Dad get him used to the back pack/leash (bunny) before we go.We even let him pick it out.

 

[EthansMom]

My DS was a runner. I bought a harness for DL and pretty much only used it for our one trip to DL when DS was 18 months. But, for that one trip, it was a life saver! I didn't have anyone say anything negative to me about it, but had several parents say how smart I was!!!!

Now, I did take the harness to WDW with DD, but never used it. She's more clingy and less likely to wander off.

I never used the harness at any age that my kids would be able to remember it... DS is now 6 and DD is 4 and both listen to instructions and hold hands well enough that they aren't a big problem. But, even for older kids, I have no problem with harnesses. I would far rather see a parent using a harness on their child than see a parent desperately searching for a lost child.

BTW, I bought DS's harness at Babies R Us... it was a Safety First chest-style harness and worked well.

I did, once, see someone here on the DIS (several years back) post that people who used harnesses on their children were "treating them like dogs". My response was that I'd be far less upset if I lost my dog than if I lost my child.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

They are not for us personally but if you think you need it and your child will be happy then go for it.

 

[disneybridetobe]

We got one for DD1 (in hopes that she's walking by then!) because I know my kid! She'll jump into any friendly stranger's arms! She's the kid that the "strangers with candy" talk was designed for.

And keep her in the stroller?! HA! Not my kid. She'll just wiggle her way out of the straps and stand up. That's a load of fun This morning, she stood up on a juice box and squirted the whole thing over herself and the stroller.

I must tell ya, the Monkey backpack harness is the cutest thing ever! Soft too!

GL in your decision!

 

[disneyfreak33]

We just bought one from Target for our 2 year old daughter. It's a dog backpack. I have to say she loves it. She wears it around the house she loves it so much.

She is a runner and will go up to just about anyone. So for us it helps tremendously. We have had "disapproving" looks from people because of it and even one lady had nerve enough to come up to us in an airport and give her opinion about it. We simply asked her if she had a child and her response was no. So there ya go

We do not care what other people may think. The important thing is our child is safe, never far from eyesight, and has the ability to walk as much as she wants without running too far from us. The only problem we have is people tend not to look down when they walk and they run right into her, which annoys me.

All in all it is not for everyone but there are more benefits to a harness then not, IMHO.

Good luck in your decision.

 

[cerberus]

I have not been a "fan" of the harness, but did see why some parents would use them. Well then came along our 2nd DD, the holy terror. She will not hold hands, she runs from us because it a fun game for her, she pulls a chair into the kitchen to get on top of the counter, the list goes on and on....
We will be at least taking a harness with us in August. I would rather have one and not need it than the other way around. I have just been looking for one that is not so heavy or made to look like a cute animal since it will be so bloody hot when we go.

 

[ScotsMinnie]

Personally I think they are a godsend! They are for the safety of your child and are a world away from the tight leather reins we had as children. My DD loves her teddy back pack one.

I'm afraid if anyone said anything to me about it then I would be forced to tell them where to go. None of anyone elses business how you keep your children safe.

As you can see by this pic of DD at AK she is not exactly traumatised by it!!!