Toddler on a leash?

[jms531]

Going to WDW in April and DD will be one month shy of her second birthday. She is a VERY active and independent little girl and I know she's not going to want to sit in her stroller the whole time like her last trip at 11 months. I'd like to let her do some walking herself but am SO nervous since she's VERY quick and hasn't quite mastered holding hands and staying with Mom and Dad etc.
I've thought about buying (for lack of a better word) one of those child leash/harness things. I found one that's not so horrible looking at Toys R Us it looks like a plush Minnie bookbag. I can always remember before kids thinking how horrible those harnesses are but now as a mother (and a very protective one at that) I think I would have more peace of mind.
Any opinions/suggestions?

 

[disneybound2010]

Before having DS, I HATED those things with a passion. Once DS came along and became quite the adventurer, I quickly changed my mind I found a great backpack/harness/leash for DS at Walmart. It is a monkey backpack(holds a couple tiny toys or his cup) with the harness and the leash actually detaches(so far we haven't tried that!) when they are old enough to walk without it. DS loves his pet monkey and actually asks for it the minute we say we are going bye bye I would suggest staying away from any of the leashes that attach to their wrists. Those ones can be dangerous, especially if,like my DS, they do forget they are leashed and try to run ahead. HTH

 

[mjkacmom]

I had no choice but to get them for my twins - otherwise, they'd never learn to walk outside the stroller (SAHM, alone during the day). Practice at home first - takes a little getting used to - but my kids loved them! I just got the regular simple harnesses - the backpack could get hot.

 

[Disneychix]

I broke down and bought one for our WDW trip in Sept. My DH was NOT having it and told me to take it back. I brought it with us because I knew better! It was most handy in the airport but in the parks a few times it was good. My DS was 19 months at the time and was not good with handholding.

Funny thing is I was cleaning out DS closet last weekend and he found the 'monkey' harness and was kissing it and carrying it around. He loved it! We'll definately be taking it along when we go back in March.

 

[Perditamarie]

It can be crazy-busy-crowded there w/Spring Break and Easter crowds. Definately do what you need to keep your child safe.....if anybody says anything, they must not know about toddlers!!

 

[d1sneyf4n]

I put one on my daughter when she was about 1(she started walking at 9 months) when we went to the Philly Zoo. I had a lot of dirty looks from other people but I knew that my child was safe and right with me. I say if it makes you feel better than that is what you should do.

 

[Kit'smommy]

There is at least one recent thread on this and it turned rather ugly.

I used one with my DS and it worked well for him. Some children won't hold hands and like the freedom to explore a couple of feet ahead of you.

Do what you need to keep your child safe. I also had one of the ones from Walmart. Ours looked like a doggie backpack. We received no negative comments during all the time we used it.

 

[hopefor4]

Hi there!

I had bought one, took it with us, kept it under the stroller, and never used it! Our DD was also just 2, and I had the same concerns you had, but once we were there, she was so overwhelmed (in a good way) she wanted to stay close, held hands, or wanted to be in the stroller. Dad's shoulders where also a great way to see everything!

So I would say go prepared, lots of parents were using them and it is better that your child be safe!

Michelle

 

[missfigment]

Do what you gotta do. I wasnt going to be "one of those moms" either....but I quickly changed my mind. I think people forget how toddlers just want to RUN! We are going in March and my son will be using his monkey backpack at 18 months old. Mickey Mouse himself could give me a dirty look about the harness and I wouldnt give a hoot!

We've been practicing at the mall to prepare ourselves for walking with it at disney for 5 days.

 

[seashoreCM]

I now consider child leashes passe'. Too great a chance of other people becoming entangled.

You will definitely get dirty looks if the leash stretches across a walkway.

 

[PrncessA]

I always thought they were horrible, their children not dogs. Then I had DD!! She was literally running like a mad woman when she was 10months! She is fast and can dissapear in seconds. I haven't gotten one yet because she will still set in the stroller at the mall, but my opinion has changed for sure. We will probaly get one.

On a side note I was at the mall with DS and he was walking while I was pushing DD. He rarely takes off without me or DH. All the sudden he sprinted into the men's clothes and ended up playing "hide and seek" in the mens dressing rooms. I was cursing myself for not buying him one at that moment let me tell you.

 

[~Kristina~]

I said I would never use one. Now I'm a mom and the thought of leashing them instead of them being kidnapped/lost/whatever is much more appealing to me.

 

[PrncessA]

I said I would never use one. Now I'm a mom and the thought of leashing them instead of them being kidnapped/lost/whatever is much more appealing to me.

I agree. The moment of panic that you feel if you lose sight of your kid for a moment is enough to make me rethink my opinion.

 

[mjkacmom]

I now consider child leashes passe'. Too great a chance of other people becoming entangled.

You will definitely get dirty looks if the leash stretches across a walkway.

I can honestly say that I've never experience a child entangling up people - the child is usually a few feet away, and unless someone is trying to cut between the child and the adult, and doesn't see the cord... It's not like retractable dog leashes!

 

[Ariel on Land]

We'll be bringing ours!!! I bought them mainly to use when I was out and about w/out DH- if they go opposite ways, what on earth would I do?? You have to keep your babies safe despite what others think. And as to the PP who said it can cause an entanglement problem, the only way that would happen is if an adult is COMPLETELY clueless as to where they are walking. It's not like the "leash" is 8 feet long and the kid is on the other side of the street. Go and have a great time knowing that you're protecting your child!

 

[peytonsmomie]

I always swore I'd never use one, and I never did. However, I was fortunate enough that I didn't ever really need to. As a mom, I knew my kids, and I knew what they needed. In that exact respect, as a mom, you know what your kiddo needs. If there's *any* chance at all that your DD might get separated from you, then of course having a harness is a better idea than not!

The same people who throw the superior glares your way are the ones who would be lookin at you with scornful pity should you actually lose a child in a park. And like another poster pointed out, the only time entanglement becomes an issue is when an adult is cutting between parent and child. If that's the case, then the adult deserves to wind up tushie-down. Disney is primarily for kids, so people who are so commando that they are barreling around heedless of little ones make me SO angry. They deserve what they get.

 

[disneybridetobe]

I am a HUGE fan of DD's "backpack"... it's a cute little monkey that just *happens* to have an extra long tail.. wink,wink.

We even used it last night at the mall. DD is a runner, and she's getting faster and faster. At least with the "backpack" I know where she is at all times!

I say thumbs up... get one. They give you peace of mind!

 

[sdarwkcabemanmy]

I have a question so please don't laugh at me.

Would one of these backpack harnesses be appropriate for a 5 year old? I don't know where we're going on vacation this summer but I'm betting it's either WDW or US/IOA and I don't think that DS would sit still in his stroller. He did last summer and that was probably one of the few last times we'll get to use that stroller. He's also very adventuresome and I just don't want to lose him in a big crowd.

 

[disneybridetobe]

I have a question so please don't laugh at me.

Would one of these backpack harnesses be appropriate for a 5 year old? I don't know where we're going on vacation this summer but I'm betting it's either WDW or US/IOA and I don't think that DS would sit still in his stroller. He did last summer and that was probably one of the few last times we'll get to use that stroller. He's also very adventuresome and I just don't want to lose him in a big crowd.

I don't see why not!

 

[DRS_Are_Best]

I've always sworn I wouldn't put my kids on a leash. That was before I had any kids. Now I have 3 kids within 21 months, all under the age of 4. I've finally stopped calling them leashes and refer to them as harnesses, but I still can't bring myself to put my kids on them.

Right now we are taking the 3 kids (specifically for the twins) to the mall every chance we get (minimum once per weekend) and having them walk around outside of the stroller. The little boy is definitely getting the hang of it -- the little girl still needs work. We have 8 more weeks.....

I am considering getting an ERGO for when we can't get one of them to behave -- usually we can get 2 of them to go where we want them. I'm still hoping it won't be necessary, but I just can't do the harness thing -- even though I realize they're not as bad as I used to believe.....