Using kiddie leashes at WDW

[Pirate Me]

We've tried a leash on my little brother last year (he was 4). He is very good at escaping and wandering off, so we though this was a good idea. We were in the airport in Florida when my mom decided to put the leash on, since it was crowded by the luggage pickup (yes, he's tried to ride through it) Once she put the leash on him, he got on all fours and starting barking like a dog. We got some stares from bypassers and decided that the leash wouldn't be a good idea after that.
I figure that if its ok with your kid to be leashed, then do it. Alot of people do it in the parks.

 

[pinkerbell]

wow, too many post to read them all so some of this may have already been said...
You mentioned they were to big/old? for the animal backpack harness, but I wanted to mention the one we got at walmart was under 10 buck and the starp is detachable. My 3 and 1 yr old love it as do I. Both are running wanderers..when I have the 1 yr old secured in the stroller (cause she is houdini and can get out in seconds) the 3 yr old TAUGHT ME to unhook the strap and she attched it to the stroller and holds onto it. sometimes I attach it to my beltloop or something and luckily she loves to hold onto it. I tell her I don't want either of us to lose the other. The one yr old hols the backpack part, they love putting stuff in their backpack, but it doesnt hold much. Maybe you could get one of the kewl backpacks and just attach any type of strap.
what's first and foremost is your childs safety.
have a great, safe, time....

 

[danj]

Im sure the family of the little girl that was found in the bushes with that old pervert at the dolphin wish they had a backpack leash

 

[DizzDoll]

Im sure the family of the little girl that was found in the bushes with that old pervert at the dolphin wish they had a backpack leash

I think it's more like a shotgun.

 

[maciemouse]

First off- Don't worry about what anyone else says. This is the safety of your children.

Secondly- I used one last year for my 2 and 3 year olds at Disney. It was a life saver. It did not look like a leash, it was more of a backpack. I had a dozen people ask me daily where I purchased them at.

Go to Walmart and look in the baby department. There are these backpacks that are either dogs or monkeys. They go on the child just like a backpack and snap around the chest area. The tail of the animal is the leash. It is not very long so your child will not get tangled. Best part- It zips so you can keep a snack or small keepsake inside. My children loved this.

We will use it again this year too!

 

[jenn-]

Just an update, I went out today and got poncho's and harnesses. I already have the cute animal ones but they make my boys sweat and they are bulky to carry if we decide to go without for a while. I got a couple of strapped ones that they will hopefully agree to wearing. If I am lucky, my wanderer will be content in a stroller most of the time, but neither of them have ridden since they were 2 so my hopes aren't that high.

 

[Mrs. D]

My mother in law bought me one for my son, when he was maybe 13 months old. I tried using it, not sure why, I think b/c my MIL thought I should?? Anyhoo, it lasted like 10 seconds...my son was walking w/ the arm up in the air that had the strap around it and I felt foolish! I mean at 13 months he was making a mockery of me!! Seriously, neither of my kids are wanderer's, they are actually hanger-oners...and I felt silly because using the thingy wasn't my decision...

I think though that YOU know your child, and it is absolutely any parents perrogative and responsibility to take whatever steps are necessary to protect their children. YOUR children are precious to YOU, not the people judging you...what are they going to do to assist if anything happens to your baby...not a daggoned thing. Please do not make your decsion based on what strangers might think

 

[miss missy]

Just an update, I went out today and got poncho's and harnesses. I already have the cute animal ones but they make my boys sweat and they are bulky to carry if we decide to go without for a while. I got a couple of strapped ones that they will hopefully agree to wearing. If I am lucky, my wanderer will be content in a stroller most of the time, but neither of them have ridden since they were 2 so my hopes aren't that high.

My MIL is just back from a trip with my SIL and her 4 kids. They both WISH they had a harness for the 5yr old. He kept going where his eyes went and they said they had a heck of a time keeping up with him! My poor MIL was having a heart attack with worry that he would get away, it was sooo crowded.

I used them for mine too. I had these vests that where so adorable! I got dirty looks, but one lil old lady stopped me and said "what a good mother you are, you are smart too"

I would do it, but I would watch how long the lead was. I wouldn't want to make it hard for others to get by you.

But ya know, if someone went to WDW with the intention of grabbing a child, they could do it soo easily

Be safe and have fun!

 

[daneenm]

Another reason I used one was related to something an earlier poster mentioned. It's reasonable to expect a small toddler to hold your hand crossing the street, during a quick run to the store, etc., but can you imagine if you, yourself, had to walk around for hours of end with your arm up in the air? Just think of the little one who has to actually raise his/her arm up to reach your hand. Yes, a parent is holding the hand of that arm up in the air, but it would still get mighty tired after several hours. It's also a matter of comfort, as well as safety, for the child.

This is exactly the argument an experienced parent gave me when I was hesitant to us a harness with my oldest on our first trip to DL (she was 2). Makes perfect sense to me and is what convinced me to use it. It worked out very well for us - she was not the kind to bolt, but it gave me peace of mind that I did not have to spend every second worrying if she was within reach.

Go for it!

--Daneen

 

[Embel]

The leash itself doesn't bother me. Like anything, how you use it can make a difference.

We met up with another family in DW 2 years ago. The 2 year old & 6 year old were both on leashes anytime their feet were on the ground. The problem was in lines for rides. The 6 yr old would wander around the 9 members of our party, tangling us & often bystanders in her leash. Mom would laugh, untangle her & off she'd go do it again. Repeat. Repeat. All day.

My husband & I were embarassed about how often it would happen to people with the misfortune of being in line near us. We opted NOT to meet up with them the next day.

 

[Samantha/NC]

Only choice??? WHAT
I am sorry and I do not want to flame or get flamed--but a 2-year old should not be making decisions about her safety!!! I can think of another choice or two that you could make. I do not think that a leash is wrong-but then again-I don't need to use one- we took 6 kids to disney this past summer ages 11-4 and we did not use strollers, leashes or have any "beat downs" on the streets of disney!
If you want to use a leash go ahead, especially if it makes you feel safer!

I have a 2y old who takes off. I have a harness with elmo on it (a small pic of Elmo on the front) She doesnt like to use it, but if she wont sit in her stroller or cart (in a store) and wont hold hands, its our only choice. I cant imagine losing a child

 

[MrsB1228]

I don't give a rat's a** what other people think, I will do whatever is necessary to protect and safeguard my children. Period.

We tried the wrist strap (hand-holder) restraint system when DD was a toddler because she was fearless as well as being extremely trusting and friendly. She'd talk to anyone and trusted everyone. It took her all of 5 seconds to discover how to take off the bracelet, so that system didn't work for us at all. We tried the "you must hold mommy or daddy's hand at all times" rule, but if she saw something that intrigued her, she'd pull her little hand away and off she'd go. In a large crowd, a little person can disappear ... fast!! We then purchased a harness and used it whenever we were in a situation that involved a lot of distractions and large crowds. We still watched her like a hawk, but the harness gave us a little peace of mind as well as giving her the freedom to walk for a while rather than be strapped into her stroller, which was the only other option. We never had to use it for DS, who was a stick-to-you-like-glue kinda kid, and trusted no one he didn't know. If he ever lost sight of us, he'd scream bloody blue murder, so he was easy to keep track of.

You know your children and if you would feel more secure using a restraint system, then by all means use it! Don't worry about anyone giving you the stink eye ... just remember that you're doing what's right for your family and give it right back to 'em!

 

[starlionblue]

I have to say, I was once one of those people who was secretly angry at parents who put their children on leashes.. Well, now I have 5 and 6 year old girls I'd like to duct tape to the wall/stroller/me..lol

QUOTE]

Um, do you actually have duct tape in your car?
As for those whining about how cruel it is to put a kid on a leash, my mom did worse: a 120-lb Siberian Husky! I am not kidding! Sigh, that dog was smarter than a German Shepherd. When mom wasn't looking, the dog would lean on me so I couldn't wander off. I couldn't outrun her. She had the stamina of a nuclear power plant. Could run for HOURS and not get tired. Still, I do miss her. I probably would have wished my pet was a smaller breed like a Yorkshire so I could escape it. Siberian Huskies are pretty intelligent, definitely more so than a German Shepherd.

 

[susandklein]

I had my girls who are 8 and 6 in harnesses at Disneyworld. The older one is a real wanderer. We had several stressful wandering experiences before the trip,so we made the decison to get harnesses for both of them. They worked fine. I know we will get comments about their age etc,but it doesn't matter. What works is what counts. Parents need to do what they feel is right for their kids.

 

[autumnbaby9]

People put their dogs on a leash so they are safe and don't run away. My dd is a whole lot more important to me than my dog, I would much rather put up missing dog signs than fill out a missing child report.

When we are in a large crowd were she can disapear quickly she is on a leash/harness. Heck there are times I wish she was wearing one when we go for a quick trip to the grocery store, like today .

 

[SplashMountainMama]

Our older sons knew our cell phone numbers, but our youngest was five during our last trip and didn't know either number by heart. While a parent might simply write their cell phone number and name on a piece of paper, and trust that it would remain in a child's pocket, we found inspiration one day with an "on the fly" idea (especially since he was wearing pocketless shorts that day!) We rolled up his t-shirt arm and wrote (yes, of course, gently) our cell number there with a ball point pen. He was then instructed to show this to anyone IF he became lost.

I often travel with my 5 kids (ages 10 and under) alone and I started doing this last year. I've had more than a few parents comment on it being a good idea. I have to say that I have seen the animal backpack harnesses on kids at the zoo, etc. and I always think that they're really cute so I don't think I would hesitate to use one of those and I might get one for our upcoming trip with DS3 who is a bit more active than his older siblings were in public. I did use a wrist strap once when my oldest was 2 1/2 and I had an 18 month old and a newborn with me also, but since he really wasn't much of a risk-taker I really didn't need it then. It all depends on the child. Whatever gives you peace of mind.

 

[ZephyrHawk]

You know, whatever you choose to do with your kid in a Disney park is what's best for you. So I'm not going to pan "leashes" in general. But I will say that I once say a guy teaching his kid how to ski. The kid had on a helmet and knee and elbow pads...and a harness/leash. I couldn't think of anything more dangerous on a ski hill...especially on a bunny hill where people are traditionally skiing wild and running into each other. Please don't ski with your kid on a leash.

 

[dreamn_Disney]

I have tried a few different kinds and found I did not like any of them. This does make it difficult as my son is a wanderer and I have been looking at something and had him wander. I have had to really train myself to make sure I always have part of my focus on him at all times. To be honest this is hard to do. I will be looking at pictures taken in the park that I may want to purchase and he is next to me then I realize I was completely focused on which photo to chose and he has wandered off to look at something he likes. Or we are walking and I would get a few steps a head of him and he is off in another direction. I have just made myself more careful. If I could find a device that worked well for us I would use it in a heart beat. It makes you a good parent when you do what ever you do to keep your children safe.

 

[Rustysmom]

My DS has PDD which is a form of autism, and when he was younger he was extremely hyperactive. The last time we were at WDW is when he was 2, and yes, I had to put a leash on him, or actually a harness type thing. If I didn't, he would constantly run away. He absolutely wouldn't listen if he was told to stop and he wouldn't sit in his stroller.

I didn't care if anyone looked funny at us and to tell the truth I don't remember anyone giving us looks. I had to do what I had to do to keep him safe.

 

[RJD]

I agree with the posters who say do whatever you are comfortable with. I, myself, have never used one. But I am with the original poster who talked about losing a child in a store. When my youngest was about 2, he wandered away while I was standing in line in a very busy Macys (the day after Xmas or so). It was probably not much more than a minute before I found him... but it was probably the longest and most sickening minute of my life. He was hiding in a clothes rack and thought he was very funny, I know he heard me calling him.