Sort of OT - Child leashes

[Avonlady1001]

Anyone know where I can buy one? Without having to order online? I'm traveling a LONG way with two little ones, and my DD2 is a runner. Sprinter is more like it. I'm taking an umbrella stroller for layovers, but I also want her to be able to run and stretch her legs while we're on the ground. The only way I can feel safe doing that is with a leash. I just don't know where to look. Online will take too long to deliver (we're leaving Saturday.)

Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?

They have a really cute one in walmart - it can be used either as a wrist strap or as a harness...it has Elmo on it. I think is was around $5-6. My daughter is 2 and rips the velcro wrist one right off. LOL

You will get lots of looks from clueless people when use it- just ignore them & know you are doing whatever it takes to keep your child safe!!

 

[katiebsmom]

My DS is 18 months old and I plan to get a harness before we go to Disney next month. I'm prepared for the self righteous, indignant, do gooders that will stare and make comments. My word to those who judge is, you've never felt the ENORMOUS LIFE CHANGING adrenalyn (sp?) overload experienced when your child takes off and dissappears into a sea of humans that suddenly all look alike when you're in panic mode LOL!!! All in an instant you have thoughts that pass through your mind about what might be happening that would make Steven King's writings look like child's play.

BTW, we're taking my DNephew with us as well and his father is giving him a whistle LOL!!! I thought this was a great idea (providing he remembers that it's only blown in an emergency separation LOL!!!)

Stare all you want at this Mom with her harenss .

 

[trulygoofy]

I see kids with harnesses with a bear backpack and I think they are cute. I only used one once and never did again...mine was way too elastic and DS tangled himself around a stranger in a store Only my son could get into trouble on a leash!

 

[1Prince3Princesses]

I have a FIST FULL OF "LEASHES" when I am @ WDW. It is the only time I use them. When we get home I wash them and put them back in the front pocket of my suitcase before the luggage it put away. I have quadruplets and have all 4 kids by myself ALOT. I usually only travel with my 22 year old nephew who has CP. My husband is NOT a big Disney fan and I let him stay @ home and keep earning the paycheck that allows myself and the kids to travel. I have a GGGB set and 2 of the girls are very active, 1 of the girls is VERY VERY active (ADHD), and my son is a wanderer with a touch of ADHD and possible Autism. I'm only 1 person who cannot chase 4 kids in 4 different directions and my nephew's handicap only allows him to help so much. While @ WDW I've had moms come up to me and ask If I bought the harnesses on property because they have had scares while there and wanted to buy one immediately. That ALL being said, I bought 3 of them @ BabiesRUs and 1 of them @ KMart. I'd rather be safe than sorry.

 

[all4fun]

I have a FIST FULL OF "LEASHES" when I am @ WDW. It is the only time I use them. When we get home I wash them and put them back in the front pocket of my suitcase before the luggage it put away. I have quadruplets and have all 4 kids by myself ALOT. I usually only travel with my 22 year old nephew who has CP. My husband is NOT a big Disney fan and I let him stay @ home and keep earning the paycheck that allows myself and the kids to travel. I have a GGGB set and 2 of the girls are very active, 1 of the girls is VERY VERY active (ADHD), and my son is a wanderer with a touch of ADHD and possible Autism. I'm only 1 person who cannot chase 4 kids in 4 different directions and my nephew's handicap only allows him to help so much. While @ WDW I've had moms come up to me and ask If I bought the harnesses on property because they have had scares while there and wanted to buy one immediately. That ALL being said, I bought 3 of them @ BabiesRUs and 1 of them @ KMart. I'd rather be safe than sorry.

First, you're my hero!!

and I wanted to add I've seen the wrist kind sold at the baby care center @ MK - so they do sell a very basic one but I'm not sure how much they charge for it. I prefer to see kids in the harness type though because there is less potential for them to be hurt since there's no pulling on the arm that way. We used the basic nylon type we got for about $5 at Target (w/the Parents brand babyproofing stuff I believe). I think the little animal back pack ones are just too cute! I did say something to one grandma on our last trip that was using one and she mentioned that the only problem w/it was that it was rather warm to wear - so if you're going during a very warm season you might want to take that into consideration.

hth!

 

[Mono~rail]

I found a website on the history of the child harness (or whatever terminology one prefers to use). These are NOT a modern invention and have been around for centuries. So parents "back in the day" most certainly did use child safety harnesses.

http://histclo.com/style/other/teath.html

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Brief excerpt:
The practice of harnessing children increased significantly in the late-19th and early-20th centuries. The main reason for this was the urban expansion at this time, especially in London where the traffic was really dangerous. There was less danger in the more traquil countryside. With all the horse carriages interwoven with those new engines called automobiles, London, Paris, New York, and other large cities became a dangerous place for small children. For children having to go to park, school or stores, the harness appeared as a useful device for nurses having to lead sometimes more than one child at the same time. . . The practice of harnessing children is strongly related to cars and crowds.
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Hmmm Interesting. Says Coolio has 20 posts but when you do a search on his name nothing shows up. Maybe they were all deleted? Methinks we have a troll

Search hasn't been working lately.

 

[SharkyGoddess]

I've personally seen this happen way too many times to not mention this, since it hasn't been addressed.

When using the leashes, you still need to keep your children close. Otherwise if you are too busy looking one direction, while your child darts another, you run the risk of tripping people, or "clothes lining" their legs with the leashes. Not only could this cause your child to be injured, and severely if a large person falls on them, but you could also cause injuries to those who have been tripped.

 

[Mono~rail]

I tried the monkey backpack ones from Wal-Mart on my twin dds, and they absoutey hated them. One cried and woudn't walk, and the other one just plain hated it! It was like putting a cat on a leash. She got down on the ground, rolled around, and pulled on the rope part while she made this horrible screeching cry.

I thought they would prefer wearing those over holding our hands, but I was wrong. They held my hand much better.

 

[o2bacelt]

I got a great one in the UK while visiting my inlaws, instead of having one point of contact on the back, it has two forming a u-shape or set of reins (like horse reins) and they are FANTASTIC! It lets you steer through crowded areas.

My DD, now 3, walked at 8 1/2 months, NO ONE needs a baby that small that walks, trust me. We had her in an airport shortly after her 1st birthday and someone made the comment that my daughter would need therapy after being kept on a leash. She was running ahead of me with her father. I stopped and explained that I'd rather have my DD, who couldn't talk and was only 13 months old, on the end of a leash than lost in an airport not able to tell anyone who she was.

Nothing burns me more than people who have absolutely NO CLUE what it's like to have a very young very active kid who likes to run and run and did I say run?! She's now 3 and when we go to Disney or the zoo, she's usually on those reins so I know where she is because in the blink of an eye she'd be climbing into cages at the zoo or running off and getting lost. I don't care how many times I tell her to stop, hold hands or to stand still when there is so much neat stuff to look at most toddlers forget all that and want to explore.

 

[PiperPizzaz]

If someone gives me a dirty look I think I will give the Faulkers sign.
People rarely give us looks or say anything to us Dh is 6'4", too bad.

 

[susandklein]

Hi
Babies R US or Toys R Us has nylon web harnesses for about $6.00. They are light weight but very secure and will work fine. The mokey back pack ones look so cute,but I heard comments from moms saying they are quite warm amd unconcomfortable in the summer.

We just retruned from our first trip to Disney and had a great time. Both girls wore their harness and we all enjoyed ouselves without having worries and stress about getting separated.

Susn

 

[BevS97]

I like in the UK - the use of reins is extremely commonplace - just like carseats are used for carsafety, reins are used for road safety - you only have to see a kid dart towards a road full of traffic to know you want them restrained.

We used the sort with a U shaped strap when they are little,

and then a wrist strap but I attach it to a belt loop or small bum bag.

One thing I will say - Don't add anything else on to make it longer, they need to be short or they become a safety hazard for other people who will trip over the cord. When on the reins my DD is no more than a few feet away from me.

 

[CJ's Mommy]

I bought one at Target a while back. I think it is made by Eddie Bauer. It's the one that looks like a back pack, we got the puppy one and the "leash" is the puppy's "tail". It is VERY cute, and DS loves wearing it. Good luck!

 

[ILVPoppins]

Not only do they save the parents back but also the poor kid from having to walk around all day with their arm up in the air. I would imagine that after several days of that they would be sore.

 

[ZPT1022]

WalMart carries them. We have one that looks like a monkey backpack. DS loves it!

We got a bear at Target! My DS LOVES wearing it. He is three and on the autistic spectrum. We were worried that with his sensory issues he would hate it but he doesn't. He has no concept whatsoever of safety so it is essential for us.

Back in the day, parents taught their young children to stay with them, totally defeating the reason for a leash. If you want your child to grow up, being a spoiled poodle just like ur pets at home, then go ahead and put them on a leash. Parents, using proper parenting skills, can make their children stay with the rest of the family.

I mean, leashes are for dogs, not people....unless young children are not people too in your book. That would be VERY sad. I'm not judging, and nothing against you, but IMHO, people who have a prejudice against young children are very stubborn and self centered. Just breaks my heart.

 

[ZPT1022]

I like in the UK - the use of reins is extremely commonplace - just like carseats are used for carsafety, reins are used for road safety - you only have to see a kid dart towards a road full of traffic to know you want them restrained.

We used the sort with a U shaped strap when they are little,

and then a wrist strap but I attach it to a belt loop or small bum bag.

One thing I will say - Don't add anything else on to make it longer, they need to be short or they become a safety hazard for other people who will trip over the cord. When on the reins my DD is no more than a few feet away from me.

I like that one!

 

[BizziBee]

I tried the monkey backpack ones from Wal-Mart on my twin dds, and they absoutey hated them. One cried and woudn't walk, and the other one just plain hated it! It was like putting a cat on a leash. She got down on the ground, rolled around, and pulled on the rope part while she made this horrible screeching cry.

I thought they would prefer wearing those over holding our hands, but I was wrong. They held my hand much better.

Funny, I have this for DD and she LOVES it! She is 18 months and we are going to WDW when she will be 20 months. I have been practicing with her to get her used to it and it I say, do you want to walk with your monkey? She streaches out her arms for it to be put on. Kids are so funny!

 

[Michelle1123]

Back in the day, parents taught their young children to stay with them, totally defeating the reason for a leash. If you want your child to grow up, being a spoiled poodle just like ur pets at home, then go ahead and put them on a leash. Parents, using proper parenting skills, can make their children stay with the rest of the family.

I mean, leashes are for dogs, not people....unless young children are not people too in your book. That would be VERY sad. I'm not judging, and nothing against you, but IMHO, people who have a prejudice against young children are very stubborn and self centered. Just breaks my heart.

Wow. Dont come crying to us when your child gets abducted in a few years.

If I love my pet enought to put it on a harness, I will do the same for my child. My children stay by me, and I use a harness as an extra precaution - not because of my child, but because of other people, like perverts, child molestors, ya know. The stuff you read about all the time and never think will happen to you.

 

[BizziBee]

Here is a picture of my DD Abigayle(18 months) using her Monkey leash at Niagara Falls today. I bought it for our disney trip in September.

 

[HBC writer]

This quote is sent in reply to Mono-Rail quote #46
I am the author of the HBC website on Children Walking Harness. It was written four years ago. Since then, it is less a controversial issues with the advent of "puppy" and "monkey" harnesses. But, as a matter of usefulness, I believe that British harnesses (Mothercare or Boots) are still safer than the single leash harness made in USA. The double clips under arms on British ones can provide a better stability to the first stepper and in sliding the clips at rear, it can be used with toddlers until 5 years old. You can find a lot of them on eBay u.k. at baby harness or child harness . For people outside UK, prices are very reasonable and shipping near the same as in Great Britain.
For some people who want to hid the harness because they find it too much ugly, I suggest OSH KOSH jumpers or overalls. Just put the harness under the front bib in letting side clips outside. The harness can be worn the day long on outings without being noticed. The leash could then be added only in crowdy places.
Two limitations. First, it is useless with harnesses like backpacks, Elmo or Safety First. Also, it cannot be used in winter when the child has to wear some heavy coat. If some wants to look how it is like, you can post at my email address.I made some pictures on a mannequin explaining how it works. A picture is like a thousand words.