The leash talk

[itch1]

I was one of those judgmental people, when my oldest (16 now) was a child I used to chastise the parents under my breath of coarse. I said "I will never use one. If they couldn't control their children they shouldn't have had them."
Now in my defense my son was very reserved and always loved to hold my hand or ride in the stroller.
Now fast forward to today being the father of twin 3 year old Disney souvies who don't listen well and like to play the "come catch me" game. I have asked the wife if we should. We have thought about and will forgo them for now on this trip but if they become to much, Wally World is only a stones throw away from the Fort!
itch

 

[PinkBudgie]

I'm a twin mom too, when my boys were little I used them some. The point I didn't see made here is that they actually give them a little more freedom. They don't have to hold your hand, they have the freedom to walk around a little and stop to look at something. And with twins, you can't just let them walk next to you not connected in someway because one can run one way and one run the other way. My boys are 16 now. Do you think I should take the leashes off now? (Just kidding! )

 

[*NikkiBell*]

I have mixed feelings on the "kid's leash." My mother always had us hold her hand so there was never an issue. Strollers were also used so we wouldn't wander off. If it is a strategy that works for some parents, I say go for it. I don't think people shoule be criticized for using them though.

 

[zulemara]

I literally clap when I see kids on a leash. If ur kid is likely to dart out in front of adults, then leashes are a good idea. One time a kid tripped DBF and the parent looks at him and says "you have to watch out for the little people" Forgive him for not walking around looking at the ground because your kid might dart in front of him. ugh!

 

[2Tiggies]

Ok...so I am in my early 40's and when I was young my mother used a leash with me. Back then they didn't have "child leashes" so she actually used a dog leash. If only she patented it...we could have been rich now!! haha

I'm sure some people will disapprove that I am laughing about this, but

You obviously survived - with a sense of humor too!

 

[FairyGodmotherJen]

I'm seriously considering it for our trip in June. My youngest will be 2, and he's just completely different than the other two were. We're bringing a stroller, but he's not happy in it for very long periods of time (and, since he's a tall two-year-old, he can actually plant his feet down and stand up in the darn thing if he really wants out ). I just want him to be safe.

I was also one that used to shake their heads at people who did this...until I had my kids. I guess that sort of wisdom is something you can't get until you've been there, done that. And not everyone will go through it, because not every child's temperment is the same. It just taught me to go easier on others now!

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I wish leashes were around when my DS was young.

Our first Disney trip when he was 2 years old was a mess. About all I remember of it, is me having to chase him down or having to stop him from unhooking his stroller straps to stop him from escaping.

He's always been a wanderer. It got to be a joke when we'd go on Cub Scout trips because he'd always wander off unless he was watched closely.

At 14, he still wanders off but now he's at least got a cell phone.

We never had this problem with DD. Thank goodness.

I say for those cute backpack leashes.

 

[BriarRosie]

I'm not a parent. But I never understood why any parent (or anyone who was old enough to have a child, like me) would think these leash contraptions were wrong, especially in a highly stimulating place like Walt Disney World?

I've been known to lose track of friends while wandering around the Osborne Lights. I can totally believe little kids could easily get separated from parents there.

So I'm all for anything that improves guest safety!

 

[exwdwcm]

Yea, i was one of those- i laughed at the kids on leashes before i had my son. Now I understand it. Would i use it myself? Probably not. But now i understand where they are coming from.

is it harder to corral my son without a leash? Sure, it is work, but that's what i'm here for, right? and it's a good workout. So we keep him in his stroller and otherwise when out and about, he is holding our hands or on shoulders. He gets to roam freely where it is safe to do so (playgrounds, no crowds etc). DH and I are pretty quick on our feet to chase when needed.

but being a completely PARANOID mom myself, i now understand it. We do buy these cute little bracelets and write cell phone #s on them for DS to wear while at WDW- just in case.

 

[Disney Dad Canada]

I'm a widowed dad of three kids, son 10 (today, happy birthday), and twin girls 6 year olds. Having been a single parent for over three years, I can't tell you how many people wonder how I keep my kids from running all around without being leashed, especially since I don't own a car and we go everywhere via public transit. Then when they heard we were going to WDW, just the four of us, some relatives almost insisted, almost saying I'm being a delinquent parent by allowing the possibility of the kids running away at the parks.

Personally I never even thought of these items as an option. With my kids, I know they are responsible enough to not run away like that. This is mainly due to the fact that I've "let them go cordless" from the beginning. They know not to do the "I want I want" in stores, because they know it's not going to work, and they know that if they run away (which one of my kids did at the local zoo once) that we will go home right away afterward, and not go anywhere for a few weeks.

I'm not saying this because I believe I'm the perfect parent, far from it. I do believe the need for these items for certain children, just don't use it as an alternative to being consistent and fair with your parenting. A parent's job is to teach your children how to live in the world, not to protect them from every possible negative outcome that can occur.

Once again, I'm definately not judging other parents who use these, I just kknow what I think is best for my kids.

 

[2Tiggies]

Someone posted something really spot-on on a different topic, but also regarding children (and potentially contraversial). Some people without kids were sharing their opinions and I mentioned how my rock solid ideas of right and wrong did a miraculous change once I became a parent. This very wise DISer responded with "I was a much better parent before I had children". I really enjoyed that and looked at myself and though, "how true".

 

[jeanigor]

Your mileage may vary. Each situation is different.

Quite often I think a leash would be beneficial for me, though.

 

[mnra]

I will try to keep this short. I have three kids twins 20 and girl 23. The kids have been going to disney since they where 9 months and 3. We used what was referred to way back then as hand holders. They where not as fancy as the items used today but just when around their wrist and yours. On a recent trip my kids said look dad a leash baby and kind of laughed about it. I remembered back to when I did that with them and asked them "Did it bother you to wear those" My twins replied no we thought it was fun since when we where a little older like 3 to 5 we would intentionally go in different directions to see you try to handle that. We all laughed about it and I remembered back to when they where young and enjoying the magic that disney brings and still brings to my family. In addition I thought gee they where messing with me at that young of an age. As for people using them.To each his own and lets all enjoy the magic that disney brings to each of our lives.

 

[Kaa]

My mother, brother and I were flying overseas out of JFK when my brother was 4 - back in the 60's. My brother ran off and was missing for the most horrific 3 hours in my mother's life. When we were boarding the plane a few hours after finding him, imagine the "I coulda had a V8" moment my mom had when we lined up behind another mom with 2 young children with leashes. Because of this, I used one on my son when traveling when he was very young. He learned quickly that he didn't have to wear the contraption if he behaved and held our hands, so he only had to wear it once to WDW. He was 3 at the time.

 

[kaligal]

I wouldn't do it, but I don't have any problem with others doing it. Never considered other people's child-raising any of my beezwax.