Toddler tether needed at Disney?

[AllieV]

I have a 3-yr old son (who will be nearly 4 when we go to disney in florida in december) who is beyond hyperactive. I constantly lose him at the mall and spend most of my time either running full-speed to catch him or looking in various stores for where he's hiding. It's not that he's not well behaved, it's that he gets overwhelmed by stimuli when there's too much going on.

I'm very concerned that he'll pull away while standing, bored, in line; or that he'll get free of my hand and just run full speed toward something. I'm seriously considering a leash/tether/harness of some type. I think he'd be too physically bothered by a backpack (he doesn't even like wearing jackets) or the wrist type. I guess I could go to a pet store and pick up a retractable and just hook it to his belt loop; this seems a bit unrefined, though.

Two questions:

1) Are tethers more common and socially accepted in a place like Disney?

2) Do you know of any tether that is a belt as opposed to touching a part of the body? I think a belt with an extension that's not touching him wouldn't bother him.

p.s. I'll have a nice rented stroller just for naps or late nights, but doubt he'll ever use it; strapping him in during the day would never work

Thanks

 

[moepanz]

As far as tethers go don't worry about them being "socially acceptable" you do what you feel you need to do for the safety of your child. I used the backpack style for my twins who were 3 at the time. (just a little to old to be in the stroller all day) my oldest was 5. He did not need one he is 8 now and still would never leave my side (he is my safety obsessed one LOL)

You may get some looks but only from people how have "perfect children" wink wink or people who don't have kids. You will see more people using tethers than you think at WDW. I am sure if you look you will find one that is right for you.

I hope you have a great trip.

 

[hannahdrewmom]

I'd be worried about the pet retractable one.... because if he runs past someone and you try to stop him t they can leave rope burn on them the people around him. I wouldn't consider it safe personally.

If he needs a harness that is fine and I think people are more used to seeing them at Disney than normal. Although I'm sure that you will still get some looks because of his age. You do have to consider what is best for him though and not what others think.

 

[mommy-on-the-move]

I'd be worried about the pet retractable one.... because if he runs past someone and you try to stop him t they can leave rope burn on them the people around him. I wouldn't consider it safe personally.
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^^this^^ exactly! When I read about the restractable I literally whinced and felt myself sucking my teeth at the memory of my sisters husky running by my with one of those leashes when I had shorts on- it must be six or seven years back now but I STILL leap out of the way and get ready to run every single time I see someone with one because sweet moo does it hurt!

That being said I do have a runner - he's 8 now, but he has ASD and when he panics (at noises/unfamiliar things) or if he gets hurt his immediate reaction is to up and run (he's nearly as tall as me at age 8 and believe me he can move!!! If it wasn't for the fact he's dyspraxic & trips alot, somedays he could easily out run me- I'm dreading his still doing it as a teen as he's probably going to have much longer legs than me! ) We did use the backpack style with a grab handle on the back pack (we had a littlelife one, shortish strap but a grab handle on top of the backpack to hold him nearer when needed) but that only worked because he liked carrying his own supplies

As for socially exceptable we all just do what we need for our own kids safety- no one knows our own kids like we do.

 

[Tigger1966]

We used the harness for both DD and DS and still have it waiting on grand children We used it at Disney with DS and had no problems or looks as far as I know Like I realy cared he is my kid.

 

[All American]

My 6-year-old would still wear her "leash" if I let here. She loves that thing!

I have one for my 18-month-old for our trip. She's a runner, so I'll definitely need it. It's a little dog that straps on like a harness. I've seen a monkey one which might be fun for your son. I know you said he doesn't like to even wear jackets, but maybe you could make a game out of it. Maybe say, "Would you like to give your monkey a piggy-back ride?"

As for comments and the social acceptability of a "leash", I've never seen anyone comment or shoot dirty looks because of it. I think you'll be so busy having a good time on your trip, it won't be an issue.

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

My 6-year-old would still wear her "leash" if I let here. She loves that thing!

I have one for my 18-month-old for our trip. She's a runner, so I'll definitely need it. It's a little dog that straps on like a harness. I've seen a monkey one which might be fun for your son. I know you said he doesn't like to even wear jackets, but maybe you could make a game out of it. Maybe say, "Would you like to give your monkey a piggy-back ride?"

As for comments and the social acceptability of a "leash", I've never seen anyone comment or shoot dirty looks because of it. I think you'll be so busy having a good time on your trip, it won't be an issue.

This is the kind I used for my youngest DS, he was a runner so he would wear his "dog backpack" and thought it was great to choose someone to hold his "tail". I don't care about "socially acceptable" as long as my ds is safe, but I will say that all of the comments I got were "Where did you buy that? I could really use one of those!"

 

[cam&phoebsmom]

I think you need to do what you need to to keep your kid safe. I have been lucky and neither of my kids have been "flight risks" but some of my friends' kids are.

I will say my friend had to take her son out for very specific "non-running" lessons. Times when they would go to the mall or park specifically to work on NOT running away. When she knew he would see something that would typically make him run, she would pre-emptively hold his hand and get down low to talk to him, She would ask him what he saw, and have him describe it to her, tell her he was excited, etc. (she prompted him to help guide him).

Then she would have him practice asking her to see it. If he balked or was too overstimulated to be able to talk to her about it and kept trying to run, he got taken away from whatever was appealing. When he would ask her, "Can we go see ______?" she would take him over by the hand so he could get to it. He did learn that running towards something brought the opposite effect of what he wanted.

I know this won't work with all kids, but my friend was concerned about her son's safety and really wanted to teach him to stop before running b/c of safety. Not saying you have to do this, but just throwing it out there b/c you sound like a concerned mama who wants to keep her kiddo safe.

Good luck!

 

[deegack]

My sister had alarms for her two kids (they were 6 or 8 at the time). If the wandered away or she could see one of them she would press a button and an alarm would sound. She used it on her son twice (he as adhd and tends to wander). After that they stuck to her.

 

[Mama Who]

http://www.thinkgeek.com/geek-kids/7-13-years/e6d0/

I believe this is the sort of theing Deegack means.

 

[ZeroMyHero]

You could try this one:

http://www.tommiguard.com/

It looks less bulky than other harnesses I've seen so maybe your DS would be more willing to wear it. And like everyone else said, don't worry about what other people might think. You're trying to keep your kiddo safe and that's all that matters.

 

[Miss Mo]

We're very lucky with our wee one and he doesn't like us being out of sight anywhere unfamilliar, but I would never judge anyone else for keeping their kids safe. My friend lost her daughter at WDW and said it was a terrifying experience, they found her in a shop at the other end of the park playing with toys! She said the Disney procedure was amazing and she was found really quickly though. I say do whatever gives you peace of mind!!

mo x

 

[zianha]

I am also lucky to not have had runners when my kids were smaller, but I agree with everyone else that you need to do what you need to do to keep your child safe! I'm sure you might get a few looks or a comment or two from people but they're not the ones who will have to deal with your child if he pulls free from your hand and bolts! I'll admit years ago when I first ever saw people with the "kid lease" as me and my sister called it, we were like But then after a second, I saw the kids in these harnesses still trying to run and I thought "Oh wow! It's a good thing someone invented that thing!" I hope you can find a style that your son will wear! That monkey one sounds fun! Have a great trip!!

 

[delmar411]

we used a harness style verses the backpack style for the park. We left it on DS the whole time as the leash portion just clipped on and off. He didn't mind it at all but maybe something like that would work better for your DS than a backpack style. I believe it was by safety1st and it was blue....

http://www.safety1st.com/usa/eng/Products/Travel/Travel-Safety/Details/1956-48382-Child-Harness

Very similar to that one.

I wouldn't use the wrist one. Those are not good for kids and pulling on a child's arm can lead to nursemaids elbow.

 

[AllieV]

My sister had alarms for her two kids. She used it on her son twice (he as adhd and tends to wander). After that they stuck to her.

As someone who was a psych major in college, I get the behavior-based aspect of this, kinda Pavlovian in nature. But the idea of complete strangers having the bejeezus scared out of them as a kid passes them by with a blaring alarm is just too funny of a scene.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I have only used a "leash" on one child. That was when he was well under the age of two and once got separated from us at Sea World. He got really really far away--and after the fact, we thought that as we were in search of him, many many people kept pointing us to where he was. It was very very scary and a split second oops between dad and I that he got lost.

So we bought the leash for Disney World and we ended up not using it much. We were more vigilant and kept better tabs on him and he had improved to the point where he wasn't inclined to just wander.

I am a bit hesitant to suggest one for a 3yo. IME, many 3yo should be able to obey. They may not like it--but most 3yo won't suddenly wander off unless they have some sort of issue that makes it difficult.

That being said--I used the one that looked like a stuffed animal back pack. That is what my sister used for her daughter.

If you get one, make sure it is a harness and make sure it is meant for children, not pets.

When my son got lost--that cured me real quick of judging other parents and their "leashes". You do what you need to keep your kids safe. They judge you worse when you kid gets lost.