Using kiddie leashes at WDW

[ekball]

I love the poster who felt the need to comment on how horrible the leashes are and that they will never use them WHEN they have kids. If you are still reading this, here's a tip...you really shouldn't make comments on something that you know nothing about. Come back and post when you have kiddos running around.

Anyway (sorry about that rant) - we are taking one of the safety harnesses that looks like a little puppy backpack when we go this Sept. We took it last year for DD who was just under 3 at the time - never needed it with her so we didn't use it. Will take it this year for DS who will be just over 2 and LOVES to run! We may not use it again, but I feel better knowing that I will have it with us should we need it. Let's see, what's more "humane".... keeping my DS strapped into a stroller all day so he doesn't run away, or letting him have a little freedom, and a little exercise, but knowing that he will be safe..... I don't love the idea of using it, but I will if it means keeping my son safe and happy. That's good parenting in my book.

OP - we found the puppy backpack harness at Walmart.

 

[Cory's Gal]

We took DS, who had just turned 2, in January. I bought a "puppy backpack" just in case. He stays by me and holds my hand for the most part, but going to Disney is WAY different than walking anywhere else. There is so much for them to see and get excited about I wasn't going to take any chances on losing him or him getting ran over by someone or something else. Even aduts are "wowed" by things at Disney and don't always see where they are going and run into people or children. DS didn't use it much on our trip, but I was glad I had it! It's too hot to hold him all the time and he needs to walk and not always ride in the stroller. It was great too when he would sleep in his stroller because he had an instant stuffed animal that we could clip on him or the stroller and it wouldn't fall to the ground! I also had people ask where I had gotten it and I saw a lot of people using them! Parents should do what's going to keep their child safe!!

 

[daisax]

These things have been around a long time, I was 'harnessed' in the early 1950's, with virtually no lasting mental scars.

I found the "leashes" kind of shocking the first time I remember noticing them in the 80s, but sure enough, we have home movies of me in a harness at my Grandmother's summer cottage -- kept me from wandering into the water or on the rocks, while giving me some "wiggle room." This would have been in the late 60s.

My parents never used them in public, but perhaps they were just blessed with less impulsive kids.

I've noticed them being used at Disney, but not in a negative way. I think the person who mentioned how tired a little arm would get being up in the air all day had a very thoughtful point.

 

[TinkInPink]

delete wrong thread

 

[poober25]

We've used them many places. I recommend the harness, put not the backpack type. We never used that type, but it seems to me it would get very sweaty underneath that plush. Most of the harness types can be used as a harness or wrist type. The wrist type tends to chafe the wrist. When DS was 4, we would put the harness on in the morning, then attach the "leash" whenever he wanted to walk at Disney or when we were in line. Often my DH would just attach the parent end to his fanny pack so everyone had their hands free.

When my DD was about 2, we had hers on and she decided to pitch a major temper tantrum in The Land. DH was taking DS into the Circle of Life movie, so I took DD outside and tried to calm her down. Nothing I did was working, so she just threw her temper tantrum outside the Land on her "leash". I got some pretty negative looks that day, but didn't really care.

I try to never judge people with their children. You never know the temperment of the child, or what else in going on in any given situation.

 

[foltzy]

As a child who got lost at an amusment park at the age of 4 I can tell you from a childs point of view that is the scarriest thing ever. Even now at 26 every time we go back I get anxious, especially if my parents are with me. Obviously, I was never in a harness but as the mother of a wondering 2 year old I'm planning on one for her. She's quick and my husband and I have a hard enough time get her if she takes off in a store, I don't even want to know what could happen at a place like Disney.

 

[Hannathy]

Well I do have children and have taken 3 kids to Disney from the age of 2 on up so according to the rules I can say I hate leashes on kids. Thought they were horrible before I had kids and think they are horrible now that I have kids. And no I didn't make my kids keep their arms up all day holding my hand they stayed with us and we only held hands for things like crossing the parking lot. I think consistency is the key they knew they always had to stay with us whether it was the store, the neighborhood, or at Disney. So I don't like to see leashes being used on humans.

 

[Chelley00]

but can you imagine if you, yourself, had to walk around for hours of end with your arm up in the air? .

EXACTLY!!!! That has to be a miserable experience. And then, if they try to pull their hand away because they are tired, we probably mistake it for them trying to run, and they get into trouble.

We use the monkey backpack when our DS2 is not in his stroller. Last year his sister DD4 actually liked wearing the backpack because she could put her pressed pennies in it. So if DS2 was in the stroller, DD had the backpack on. I've always used some type of harnass, even when Ds14 was little.

I'd rather get dirty looks and have rude people say terrible things about me using a harness or leash than have people say terrible things about me for losing one of my children

 

[alisha8]

We used a wrist one with my niece many years ago. Chip took it from us and walked behind her. She walked along way before she realized it wasn't one of us. Very cute pictures!

Anyway, I'm glad this was brought up. We will definitely get one for my 3yo for our trip in Feb.

 

[foodrocksluver]

Let me start out by saying that when I was little and my parents took me to the mall I was put on a leash. As was my niece who is seven months older than me. And I can tell you that we would do all we could to try to get that darn thing off us because we hated them. I never felt any pain when wearing it, I just kind of felt like a dog, I mean right, it's called a leash and that's what dogs wear. I think that whenever I see a child on a leash I kind of feel sad for it but then look at the parent and see how relaxed they look knowing that their child is right there with them, safe. So eventhough I HATED to wear one, I now understand why my parents used it on me. So I say use it as need be.

 

[Skroops]

I got mine from Target, and it worked great. It is the type that velcros on like a type of vest only made with straps and the loop to the strap comes out the back of the little one. It was totally non-restricting so if our DS stayed close by, he didn't even know he had it on. The cool thing is that it is nylon straps so it fits easily into your back pack when you decide you don't need it. We usually only used it when the crowds were thick, and trust me, if you haven't been to WDW during thick crowds you can really use these things especially on fast pre-schoolers! One glance in the other direction (at WDW it is sooo easy to do!) and you could have a runner! These things are a great tool to have.

Good luck! You'll have such a great time!

 

[Mom B]

WE had a backpack "leash" for my 2 yo grandson on our last Disney trip...didn't use it all the time but once in a while it came in "handy." Better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it, as they say. He didn't seem to mind. For the next trip, though, I wonder...do they make those in an adult size, about XXXL? Might be a useful tool for keeping Grandpa from wandering off and getting "lost" when we're there without the kids! (but that's a topic for another thread, I guess)

 

[lizardqueen]

Last year when we took the kids to WDW for the first time, we used a wrist harness for DD who was 3. She has numerous behavioral problems and is just very strong willed. She is NOT bad. In order to keep her safe we used one when the parks became so crowded that we were afraid we would lose her and she no longer wanted to sit in a stroller. It worked very well in keeping her with us. Before we went I had read threads about when the child tries to distance his or herself from the parent while attached at the wrist and the hazards that could cause, so I tried my best to not let too much space come between us. For anyone that doesn't like them or the use of them, well everybody's entitled to their own opinion. But I would much rather know where DD is and know that she is safe rather than losing her and having God only knows what happen to her. Also, we did receive a couple of funny looks from people but oh well. Just be prepared for that.

 

[jcc0621]

We use one for DS for when we are in very crowded places (I.e. WDW, zoo) It gave him a sense of freedom and us piece of mind. He is almost 4 and doesn't use it to much now, but I am packing it for our trip just in case. There were some places we would go and ask for the harness. I think it gave him piece of mind to know that mom & dad weren't too far away, but gave him the freedom to explore "by himself". LOVE THEM.

And just tell anyone who makes comments or give dirty looks to mind their *(&^^& business

 

[bytheblood]

I will leave out my specific opinion about leashes, but say this.....

Leashes should not be used in Disney. It may keep you hands free, but then puts others at harm. You child goes wandering and then people are getting cut on the legs, tripped, etc. Get a stroller.

 

[disneyfan2kids]

I am VERY against the use of leashes.

As to avoid getting heated myself...I'll just leave it at that....I'm "strongly against" them.

If you want reasons...I have a funny feeling I've commented about them in the past if you did a search.

 

[DizzDoll]

I'd rather see a child on a lead than a child in a casket. As for people who give not so nice looks, or make not so nice comments, the bottom line is it's for your child's safety, not for anything else.

 

[BubMunkeyBles]

I'm one of those people who grew up on Disney, had season passes and my Mom would take us on half days after school for just an afternoon. That said, I have a sister who is 11 days older than me (we're adopted). We had the stroller or leash rule too. It was our option at least . I have to admit, I think we turned out just fine... Have seen too many crying kids at Disney because their parents turned their head for just a second and lost them.

 

[Hannathy]

I'd rather see a child on a lead than a child in a casket. As for people who give not so nice looks, or make not so nice comments, the bottom line is it's for your child's safety, not for anything else.

I am sick of these type of comments. It is not a one or the other thing. Every child that doesn't use a leash does not get killed or my heavens there would be more dead than alive children! The vast majority of children manage to go to Disney and believe it or not survived unharmed with out using a leash!

We all no how many children have been kidnapped from Disney right, over how many decades? That's right don't confuse the issue with the facts.

 

[Copperline]

I'm not quite sure why this issue even comes up on boards. It's known for being a divisive discussion. If you are looking to use one of these harnesses or leashes, you've probably done some homework on them already and not just blindly posted a question about how they work on some website board.
That being the most likely case, who cares what other people think? Seriously, YOU are the parent. Anytime ANYONE tries to express some stupid moronic opinion about how I am parenting my kids, I ask them the standard question: where do you live? no really, I'm not trying to be funny, where do you live? (answer usually given) ok, so unless it's suddenly changed to (my address) YOU don't get an opinion about how things are done in MY family. Period.
This usually leaves people stunned that I have the stones to tell them how it is under no uncertain circumstances that they tend to back off, slack-jawed too I might add.
Do whatcha gotta do. An ounce of prevention....KWIM? YOU won't be the one standing at the local police station crying your eyes out about having lost a child.