Toddler "leash"

[beattyfamily]

I can't believe this thread still is going and going and going.

I think we should let it die. Everyone has voiced their opinion more than once for some and Andrea has said she's gone so why continue?

I think the OP's question has been answered several times over.

I say let it go, IMHO.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Originally posted by DWhittles
.
I have stories up the wazoo if we want to start a new thread about doggies and leaving them to go on vacation...
Diana

Thankfully we don't have any kennel horrors, but when I was looking for kennels, I spent a couple days and visited at least 6 kennels and since have visited 2 more. When I kennel our dogs I drive 45 minutes (of course it's out of the way to anywhere we are usually driving) to the kennel. That's a pain when we're taking a driving vacation, but I like the place. The last time we went away we had our usual cat sitter come over 3 times a day instead of the normal 1 time a day and we left our dogs at home. I really want to find someone good and reasonable to stay in my home when we vacation, but there can be problems with that solution, too.

Yes, start a thread about kennels on the community board (I know there are our family members, but that might not fly here on the family board ).

BTW, your baby is adorable!

T&B

 

[lucy_love_]

Originally posted by BevS97
Hey Lucy

I just noticed you are from Middlesbrough - I am from Newcastle. I have had this discussion on this forum many times - I don't know why I don't just walk away from the topic now, as the end result is always the same.

I think this is definintely a cultural difference - Reins, harness, leashes, whatever you want to call them are just so commonplace over here that I can never see the big deal about them.

To give an example of how commonplace they are, it was my dd's first birthday - one of the things her grandma bought for her was a safety harness, so that when she is visiting grandma they can go for a walk around the block and she will be safe walking with granny. I have to say I thought it was rather ironic given the discussion that has been going on here over the last few days.

My kids have also been known to play at being dogs, horses, Whales (my dd loves to be Shamu) - many animals - I don't think that's degrading I think it's fun.
Whether or not I would let her crawl on the floor at the MetroCentre - well, that's an interesting question - probably not, but only because I would be worried about her getting stepped on.


Have a great trip, and bring your harness if you think it will make you trip easier. If my dd is walking by October then I will definitely have one for her. Actually, they well the cutest pink ones in Boots with Princess on the front - I thought I would take that one

Bev

hi

i totally agree with you. as for my hols. hope ivan doesnt hit. im too busy to post at the mo as its sooo close now. getting ready for my trip. shop shop shopping and the like.

love

lucy

 

[Schmeck]

If you feel the need to use a leash/harness, please do not get the kind with the long stretchy strap. They let the child wander too far away.

I saw two separate accidents where the child got pushed down/knocked down because they got too far from the parent, and someone cut between them and got caught up in the strap.

And for those that think the harness will keep your child safe from abduction, you're delusional. A small pair of scissors could cut through that strap so quickly, and security at WDW isn't 100%, even with the bag checks. Someone could carry a pocket knife inside their jacket right past the bag security.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Originally posted by Schmeck
If you feel the need to use a leash/harness, please do not get the kind with the long stretchy strap. They let the child wander too far away.

I saw two separate accidents where the child got pushed down/knocked down because they got too far from the parent, and someone cut between them and got caught up in the strap.

And for those that think the harness will keep your child safe from abduction, you're delusional. A small pair of scissors could cut through that strap so quickly, and security at WDW isn't 100%, even with the bag checks. Someone could carry a pocket knife inside their jacket right past the bag security.

Yes, true about them being a tripping hazard in crowded places. Still need to keep the child close by, on a short leash.

I think the one that I had would have been hard to cut with scissors quickly. I'm sure with some work it could have been done, but not a snip. Maybe the stretchy kind would be different, though. Nothing is a substitute for the watchful eyes of an adult. They should only be used as aids.

T&B

 

[all4fun]

Schmeck,
You make two very good points.
that's all been covered in the last 8 pages.
I really don't think anyone who posted on this thread is "delusional" enough to believe a child harness/leash is going to keep their child from being abducted. As it says right on the harness I bought: "Not a substitute for adult supervision." Nowhere has any one stated that's why they use them. Sorry that's why these threads get so out of hand. Statements like that sound a little condescending. JMHO. Hope I didn't offend.

Cheryl

 

[POOH&PIGLET]

And they lived hapily ever after.

THE END. (hopefully)

 

[ILMOUSE]

I used one on my then 17 month old dd in March when we went and plan to use it again when we go in December and she is 28 months. One suggestion have them wear it some before so it is not strange to them. We put it on our daughter and went for walks around our neighborhood. She knows that she has to hold our hand when she wears it but it is a safety feature if she lets go or tries to take off running in a large crowd. Do be careful about getting tangled up in others and take off the leash part or make sure it is in the stroller good as one person saw it dangling from the stroller and told us so it would not get caught in the wheels.

 

[don8life]

I just took my 3 kids in June by myself. I got one becasue I was afraid of the same thing and my wild child loved it. She thought it wascool that she could lead the way.
Good Luck

 

[Banshee]

I had to post!!! In 1988 my mom, dad and I took my niece (who at the time was a very active 2 year old) to great adventure. We took one of our leather show leads (for halter horses) and snapped it to the back of her overalls!!! We got a TON of dirty looks!! But we also had some moms say wow where did you get that? What a great idea!! We even gave one woman directions to the tack shop in our area!! I kick myself in the rear I wish I would have put it on the market!!!

 

[mjmcca]

I have 2 little one who are only 17 months apart. I took them to disney when they were 19 months and 2 months. I used a "leash" when i was waiting for the rides. There was no other way i could go on a ride. I traveled alone with the kids and if my older one had run off i would have had a really hard time running after him with the stroller. I just went back and they stay pretty close to me when they arent in the stroller. They are now almost 4 and 2.5. I didnt need the harness this time.

 

[justKim]

To Princess-rn, our poor opening poster (If you are still reading this thread)

I started a similar thread before taking my 1 year old daughter to WDW last spring. It amazes me how upset some people get about this topic. Geez, why do people get so uppity-sounding about how "I would NEVER put a leash on a child". Reminds me of a dear friend who can't believe that some people buy plastic toys for children or non-organic milk.

My second child is a handful and I bought a leash to take to MK. We didn't end up using it, but I was glad to have it. It's just too easy for some kids to get away from you. Just this weekend, we went to a restaurant. I was walking with my daughter in the parking lot. She was holding hands and minding me (kind of strange, now that I think about it) when my son called from behind me. I turned to him, tripped, lost hold of my daughter and she ran right in front of a car. Luckily the woman saw her and stopped the car. The driver then was nice enought to roll down her window and chew me out for being a poor parent in front of my children. I suppose if my daughter had been on a leash, she would have fussed at me for that.

Do what you think is right. For our next trip, I am looking into getting a fanny pack/leash combo. DD is very into accessories and she would love a place to keep her "jewelry"

Have a great trip!
Kim

 

[Gillian]

Thanks for the reminder to get a new harness for our May trip! DD will be almost 2 and I know she will be difficult. She's very, very strong (physically) as well as strong willed. She has no fear and wants to do everything her big brother does. Lucky for us, he's a big chicken!

DS is an escape artist. He can get out of any stroller we own. Even though he's on the thin side, we couldn't carry him for long, so we used a harness a few times. It let him have a little freedom and gave us all a rest from hand holding.

 

[Gillian]

Originally posted by justKim
Reminds me of a dear friend who can't believe that some people buy plastic toys for children or non-organic milk.

A friend started a huge fight in her family when her son brought one of his own toys to give to his newborn cousin, only to be told THEY don't accept USED toys!

If my kids didn't have "pre-owned" toys or clothes, they'd have very empty closets.

I'm glad your DD was not hurt by that car or its mean driver.

 

[sconnell]

DH was just fixing DD2 some cheese toast and I was sitting down to my favorite website when DD finds her "leash" that I was talking about in previous post. She was trying to put it on and saying, "I want to go see Mickey Mouse."

 

[princess-rn]

JUST KIM...
Thank you very much for your kind words. I do come back here every now and then just to see what's going on. I am sorry I posted this question because it seemed to bring out the most rude and unkind people out there....but oh well...whatever.

We will be taking our harness with us. Whether we use it or not...I don't know..but I will have the security of using it if I need too.

Thank you for being an adult and able to discuss issues like an adult. It is much needed here.

Have a great trip!!!

 

[Bugsmom73]

WE have 2 floating around the house and we will pack both of them for the trip!! I have a 3 and a 1 year old.

 

[Carrie Ellis]

I have packed ours!

 

[beaglegirl1]

Well, I've read this entire post and can't believe that I actually feel compelled to add something...but I do.

First let me say that I have a pretty active 2 1/2 year old, but I will not be using a leash/harness at WDW. For a number of reasons, many of which have been mentioned (over and over) in this thread, I just personally disagree with the use of a leash/harness on a child.

But my opinion is neither here nor there. I did want to say this however: I have a friend who uses a leash on her child and it just makes my skin crawl the way she does it. We recently went to a museum and she jerked him all the way through it on that leash. At one point she pulled him back so hard that she knocked him down.

So whether or not you use the leash/harness is a matter of opinion and parenting style. But there is a big difference between a "leash" and a "harness" in how it is used. I would just rather see parents using the device as a safety measure as opposed to leading their child around, using it to jerk them away from things, or to pull them along when they are straggling.

Most of the time I have seen a leash/harness in use it has been used in a way that I feel treats the child like a dog. I do not, however, discount its value as a safety device when used properly.

 

[asktriplets]

beaglegirl1, amen!

i know everyone just wants this topic to end, but i almost posted yesterday regarding the EXACT same thing....saw a dad at a county fair on sat. DRAGGING his little toddler around on one of the wrist harnesses....sad, sad, sad.

unlike your experience, however, this was the only time (thankfully) that i have seen harnesses used inhumanly...

that being said, i'm quite pleased to say we've been practicing using our "elmo belts" here at home while on walks in the neighborhood so we can use them while visiting "mickey's home"!...to each her own....