Toddler Leash

[mla2177]

Would it be bad to use one on a 6yr old? I will be alone with both kids................I don't want to lose him either, and we're going in July!

 

[MarilIncredible]

My FIL hates these toddler leashes b/c his mother used one on him back in the 1940s, but my DH and I think they look like a pretty good idea, and the backpack ones are very cute!

 

[PearlySwan]

oh mickey one is a cute idea.. where did you get urs?

^^^ Look for Mickey Mouse Harness Buddy on Ebay. Here's one listing: http://cgi.ebay.com/Disney-Baby-2-1...tem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item335dde0fc2

 

[BLTLDZ]

I remember all the things I said before I was a parent! This was one of my past "no, nos" until....I had my daughter who was wild and crazy in the womb and worse on the other side! Never say never! LOL!

I'm not a mom yet, but let me tell you, my future hubby & myself think that these are BRILLIANT!!! It is WAY too easy to lose your child. I've returned many a lost children in the past two years that wandered off!

Last year in MK, and then two weeks later at the beach here in NY.

 

[TandLMommy28]

The backpack ones, definitely.

People who scoff just don't understand that you're doing it because you LOVE your child and you KNOW your child.

I used one for my son for quite some time. We had the monkey one. I used to slip the handle through my wrist and then hold his hand, NOT the leash. It made him happier about it, but if he took off, or I got distracted, the tug on my wrist would quickly remind me to grab him back!

And I used it at the International Kite Festival last year, all day. Well, until right before we were leaving, when we were packing up. And guess what? My not even two year old followed Daddy (who didn't know!) all the way across the park to the bathrooms. I couldn't find him and that is a terrifying place to loss a child--scary woods on one side, OCEAN on the other. Luckily Daddy realized he had a follower before long but it was scary for ME not knowing... I never felt bad leashing him after that.

However, he HATES his monkey so we have been practicing staying with mommy. That generally involves going to Target and practicing walking around holding hands and even following mommy without holding hands to make sure he pays attention to where I am. But I always bring the monkey to public places and say "Hey, if you don't stay with mommy, you're getting the monkey!"

 

[michellejed]

I wish they made them big enough for DH! He is always wondering away and I have to try and find him!!!

We used one of those stretchy coil things years ago for DD 4 at the time, I attached a soft headband to each end and she was able to walk freely, I love the backpac ones now, so cute.

 

[ccgirl]

We went in May and I used the monkey backpack one from Target. My son LOVES LOVE LOVES it and actually wears it around the house. The monkey doubles as a stuffed animal he can sleep with. There is a small pouch where we could keep his binky and a snack. I love the ones your are looking at. The backpacks are much bigger and look much more functional. My DD was not a runner but my DS is as quick as they come. You will find people on here that absolutely HATE these. I always say, it is better to have the child wear it than have the child kidnapped or wander away. Even the most vigilant parent can "lose" a child. It takes a split second. Here is a picture of my son walking his harness. I just thought this was funny....

 

[Mrs. Charming]

I remember all the things I said before I was a parent! This was one of my past "no, nos" until....I had my daughter who was wild and crazy in the womb and worse on the other side! Never say never! LOL!

LMAO.. that sounds just like my DD!! That child is a *tornado*!!

 

[disneyfan2kids]

Word of advice... try not to put it on your child and allow him/her to walk 15 feet to your side...causing an 18 foot "no walk zone" for everyone behind you because they can't get around your leash without stepping over/under it.

Pet peeve of mine...

 

[MusiqChic99]

We had a monkey backpack one for my son...see picture of kid walking leash. That's what ours looks like. We've only used it a few times. I used a stroller at Disney. We held hands walking to the rides. My son is good about holding hands though.

We found that the harness didn't work for us. We didn't mind the idea at all but my son felt too free and would just run. If you didn't run with him then he would fall down. Seriously I dont know how many times I picked my son up off the floor of the mall. So I went back to the stroller...which he doesn't mind at all.

I hope it works out for your child though. I have no problem with the concept of it, it just didn't work for us.

 

[MadilynnsMomma]

We went in December when my daughter was newly 2 years old. We used the Kinderkord wristbands and loved them (we still use it for Main St strolls, the mall & zoo trips) - I will be taking her again in October (solo ) and will be bringing it as well. I am also one of those paranoid mommas and had these bracelets made as well. They worked great and we still have a bunch to use when we go next!

Kinderkord: on Amazon.com - a STEAL at $12!!! We paid $26.99 last November!!!


Wristbands: Mabels Labels $21 for 30

Hope these help! They certainly worked well for us - and continue to!

 

[MadilynnsMomma]

Would it be bad to use one on a 6yr old? I will be alone with both kids................I don't want to lose him either, and we're going in July!

Go with the wristband one, I bet your 6 year old won't protest... TOO much!

Word of advice... try not to put it on your child and allow him/her to walk 15 feet to your side...causing an 18 foot "no walk zone" for everyone behind you because they can't get around your leash without stepping over/under it.

Pet peeve of mine...

AGREED!

 

[JessGWI]

My mother used to "tether" my sister and I back in the 80s with the good old ones that were clipped to your clothing or on your wrist. Rest assured, we both ended up ok. In fact, the one time we were left un tethered, I got lost in the Hanes Mall in North Carolina, and I think my mom was much more traumatized than I was.

 

[pixiefairy]

First off...can I just say how refreshing it is to see this discussion not going up in flames, lol?

We have the monkey one. My now 5 year old is a wanderer. He's getting better, but he still likes to explore without thinking that he'll get lost. My youngest is now 3...and he needs the monkey this time around. I love the idea of a mickey one and I need to find one of those!

Back in the day, when my grandmother had her twins (my uncles...identical twins)...she actually hooked dog leashes to the back of their overalls. Too bad she didn't patent the idea, lol!

 

[wtccheermom]

Would it be bad to use one on a 6yr old? I will be alone with both kids................I don't want to lose him either, and we're going in July!

If likes to wander maybe you should!! It sure beats using a stroller since he is big enough to walk.

 

[WoodDisney]

I think they are just fine. I always say when given a "look" by others..."Think how your arm would feel if you had to hold a much bigger person's hand for hours"

I second the WalMary puppies/monkeys they wash well and hold up too.

 

[verticalchaos]

Word of advice... try not to put it on your child and allow him/her to walk 15 feet to your side...causing an 18 foot "no walk zone" for everyone behind you because they can't get around your leash without stepping over/under it.

Pet peeve of mine...

THIS!!!!!

There are enough newly enchanted mermaids learning to use their legs to deal with and strollers and scooters to watch out for without having to worry about tripping on or worse (and as has happened to me) getting wrapped around the legs by a toddler who's not being watched that closely "because they're on a leash". (And yes, that was what the parent of the wrap-around toddler said. "Oh...sorry. I wasn't paying attention because he's on a leash so he can't get lost.")

 

[Disney Spaz]

I just had to chime in. I have 3 kids, DS 20, DS 19 and DD 4. DS 20 was an easy baby. I guess that's why we thought " hey let's have another!" Well DS 19 was awful when he was little. He would run away just to see if we would chase him. He would drop on the ground if you tried to take his hand and scream "this is not my mommy." By the time he was 4 I was carrying pictures of him and I through the years to prove he was mine. Rarely and I cannot stress rarely enough we would go out in public. I would use a harness then because then he felt he had the freedom he wanted but I still maintained control of where he was. It was so bad I had to grocery shop at the 24hr store and go in with him around 2am. Fast forward to today he is still a very strong willed and internally motived to get what he wants young man but in a much more positive way. He graduated high school early so he could attend college sooner and already knows what graduate program he wants to study and where.

So don't let all those glares and head shakers make you feel like a bad parent you are protecting your child and their safety while allowing them a level of freedom.

 

[verticalchaos]

Just to clarify, I don't have a problem with them in general (having a friend whose daughter has ended up with dislocated elbows because she's a flopper, I'd definitely suggest the harnesses rather than the wrist leash). My problem is, as has been stated, with the parents who let the children go to the full extent of the leash and block off that much distance around them and endanger others walking nearby or trying to pass.

 

[ntsammy5]

We leashed our son starting in 1979 and we got very hostile looks back then. Mostly in airports, but it was fairly uncommon at that time.

He's 35 now and has become used to the leash.