who has put their kid in a backpack harness?

[nicki.momof3]

Never did, never will, hate them and hate seeing kids in them.

Totally agree! It actually makes me sad to see

I personally feel like they are leashes that shouldn't be used.[/url]

I agree with all 3 of these statements. I have traveled to WDW alone with 3 children ages 2,3,4 for a week. If I could not keep track of them I would not take them. I think leashes are for pets not children. My opinion - flame away.

OP, are you also planning on taking a stroller? Even if you take a backpack leash, I would still recommend a stroller, even if it a simple umbrella stoller. There is a LOT of walking to be done at Disney. Odds are, your little one will not want to walk, much less run, at some point.

I am not a fan of strollers for children over 4-5 years old but a 3 year old is young and more than likely will need a rest. WDW is a huge place. If you don't use the stroller leave it in stroller parking and pick it up later. I think in the end you will be happy you had one.

When I would take 3 young kids I would put the 2 youngest in a double umbrella stroller and the oldest would walk holding on to the "kid strap". It was simply the carrying strap attached to the stroller. The "kid Strap" as we call it is very simular to the hold on strap listed above. Great Plan.

 

[rosedolph]

Like leashes? Then are cribs like dog kennels?

I say try it out before hand and if it works for you and your toddler than use it. I've used one with all of my toddlers with mixed results, so for me it depended on the kid.

 

[TheRatPack]

It makes me more sad to hear about a lost child. You really cannot judge what other parents need to care for their children. Sadly I used to put the same judgement out there until I adopted my first two children and felt the gut wrenching terror go through me when I turned around and he was gone at 3 years old. He also has attachment issues and would go home with anyone and hug anyone.

Yep.....I think you do whatever you feel needs to be done to keep your children safe. I never used the harnesses on my oldest 2....and took them all sorts of places when they were little, sometimes accompanied by my 2 nephews of the same age. I never lost a one of them LOL

Then we adopted......which changed our whole way of parenting. Our three youngest have varying degrees of attachment disorder and so we bit the bullet and bought some harnesses. The first year we took a double stroller, but they quickly outgrew that. The harnesses kept everyone safe, close and within their boundaries.

It's easy to judge others based on how your children act, but you just don't know the whole story by looking at a family. Calling them dog leashes and saying that parents that can't keep up with their children have no right in going to Disney is a bit over the top.

 

[deegack]

I have never used the leashes myself, and probably never would. When out of a stroller, we used to have the kids hang on to the side of the stroller, but I really like these Hold On Handles! Great idea!

I use the handles with my three year olds. It took some practice so they realized if they didn't hold the handle it's in the stroller or I carry you. It took about three times and they got it. I get stopped all the time by parents who think they are great.

 

[jessc79]

It's easy to judge others based on how your children act, but you just don't know the whole story by looking at a family. Calling them dog leashes and saying that parents that can't keep up with their children have no right in going to Disney is a bit over the top.

I agree it's not like you're yanking it like you would with a huge dog. Sheesh.

Anyone use it for a young toddler? I have an extremely active 16 month (20 months at travel time) that lives to walk around. I know he'd be happier with some walking time. We usually hold hands but it does tire his arm and then he gets mad.

 

[Hannathy]

I agree it's not like you're yanking it like you would with a huge dog. Sheesh.

Guess you haven't seen some of the leashes in use at Disney then.

My favorite are the ones walking around talking to other adults while the child is at the end of the leash pulling as hard as they can and the parent is paying no attention to the child other than to hold onto the leash. Or the ones who reel them in by the leash, I especially like those.


Sorry I have a large dog and I never yank her leash.


And they are leashes, no matter how you sugarcoat it or what made up name you call them they are leashes.

 

[Hannathy]

duplicate post

 

[disneyfan123]

I agree with all 3 of these statements. I have traveled to WDW alone with 3 children ages 2,3,4 for a week. If I could not keep track of them I would not take them. I think leashes are for pets not children. My opinion - flame away.

Your opinion. Honestly, does the harnesses hurt a child? Sure, they may look silly, but a child is kept safe. Nicki...I bet your 3 kids did not spend the first 3 years of their life being moved around in foster care? We took him to Disney 3 months after adopting him and had an amazing trip and he asks to go back ALL the time. He deserved all of that magic and there were times we needed a harness in long lines so he could still explore (he would pull dead weight when holding hands). So because he is a runner and will go with strangers due to his past and needs a harness does that mean he should not get to experience the magic like other kids? Heck no, we can ignore the judgement of others or let them take our son for the day to walk in our shoes!

 

[theduhaimes]

I have used a doggie backpack leash on previous trips to WDW with our kids (along with other places). On our upcoming trip in December, we will be using a Mickey Mouse backpack leash. My DS3 loves his Mickey backpack leash and asks to wear it. I do not care about stares and comments from other people because I know that at the end of the day my child will be going home with me safe.

 

[chris31997]

I agree it's not like you're yanking it like you would with a huge dog. Sheesh.

Anyone use it for a young toddler? I have an extremely active 16 month (20 months at travel time) that lives to walk around. I know he'd be happier with some walking time. We usually hold hands but it does tire his arm and then he gets mad.

We did. DS his Monkey. The joke in the family was he had a monkey on his back. IT was great. We did not feel that we were tiring out his arm by holding it up and he had some freedom. He was the child who would scream in a stroller. It was either carry him or let him walk. I would wear a sling and he would wear his monkey. The tail gave him the freedom to walk at his pace and we knew where he was at all times. When at home, DS would ask to have his monkey put on so that he could play with it. IT was his friend.

 

[MSSANDRA]

Please do what is best for your family, it's no one business and who cares if people you will never see again look at you mean. Do I like them? No, but I love children and if keeps your child safe and helps your family have a better trip than I say go for it. I am blessed that I had the kind of children that really never needed any extra security measures to keep them safe but I have taught preschool for years and I have had some children that I encouraged their parents, taking them to WDW, to consider a lease.
We all parent differently and we all have children with different personalities. I am sure that some of the parents criticizing the leases, have parenting styles that might be a major source of debate, they are just not ones that are quite so prominently obvious. Our little one co-slept till he was 5 1/2 and had a bottle till he was two. I am sure lots of people at WDW would think those are terrible choices, they just don't know about them!! AND....I could care less if they did. It worked for us, just as a lease might for you.
I do encourage you to try it out ahead of time and to be very careful to keep it close to you. I have seen some ugly accidents with them and people tripping over them.
Have a great and safe trip!

 

[twinboysmom]

I agree it's not like you're yanking it like you would with a huge dog. Sheesh.

Anyone use it for a young toddler? I have an extremely active 16 month (20 months at travel time) that lives to walk around. I know he'd be happier with some walking time. We usually hold hands but it does tire his arm and then he gets mad.

We used the harness for our boys for their first trip at 18 months.

Wanted to add about the suggestion to use the handles. They're fantastic if they work for YOUR children. They don't work for all kids. They don't work for mine. My boys have some developmental delays, probably autism, and are immature. Wile they are doing a lot better with hand holding, we still have some maturing to do so the harness is a great thing for us. If you personally don't like them, nobody is making you use one.

 

[baldy6060]

I used one once. Note: ONCE! And anyone using a leash needs to learn to control their kids, be put on a leash themselves and stop treating their kids as pets.

 

[CandleontheWater]

To those whom seeing a child on a harness makes them sad-

Would you be sadder to see a visibly upset child, crying and yelling "no hold hands!" than you would to see a child very happily enjoying the sights and sounds of Walt Disney World while wearing a harness?

Shouldn't you be more concerned about what makes the child happy than what makes you happy?

my child hates, hates, hates holding hands, and doesn't love his stroller either. He does love wearing his pluto harness and it makes for a more pleasant outing for both him, and everyone around him. Why on earth would you prefer to have my child upset than happy and safe?

 

[twinboysmom]

I used one once. Note: ONCE! And anyone using a leash needs to learn to control their kids, be put on a leash themselves and stop treating their kids as pets.

$6000 a month in therapy for the past year and nobody has been able to "control my kids". They are slowly listening more as their communication skills increase. You might be able to save me a lot of money so please, come and try. You might try walking in someone else's shoes before you make such a statement. I would give anything to be able to "control my kids".

 

[disneyfan123]

I used one once. Note: ONCE! And anyone using a leash needs to learn to control their kids, be put on a leash themselves and stop treating their kids as pets.

Seriously, get off the soap box and try walking in someone elses shoes.

 

[Hannathy]

Seriously, get off the soap box and try walking in someone elses shoes.

I always love it on these threads that the only ones who are allowed to have an opinion are the pro leashers.

Guess what the people who hate them are allowed to feel that way, and just because we do doesn't put us on a "soap box" any more than we could tell you to get off your "soap box" And the same could be said to you about walking in someone elses shoes.

We can hate them and you can love them.

 

[jessc79]

I always love it on these threads that the only ones who are allowed to have an opinion are the pro leashers.

Guess what the people who hate them are allowed to feel that way, and just because we do doesn't put us on a "soap box" any more than we could tell you to get off your "soap box" And the same could be said to you about walking in someone elses shoes.

We can hate them and you can love them.

Except OP was asking for experiences with them, not random uninformed opinions. The soapbox is when people come in giving unsolicited parenting advice suggesting people learn how to control their kids. That's rude, period.

 

[disneyfan123]

I always love it on these threads that the only ones who are allowed to have an opinion are the pro leashers.

Guess what the people who hate them are allowed to feel that way, and just because we do doesn't put us on a "soap box" any more than we could tell you to get off your "soap box" And the same could be said to you about walking in someone elses shoes.

We can hate them and you can love them.

I have no issue with people not liking them, everyone is entitled to their opinion and their way of parenting. I do have an issue when someone is saying that when they use them they should also be on a leash and learn how to control their children.

 

[Dizisfun]

We took my 16 month old DGD a few years ago. I purchased a little pink purse that had a leash on it that could be taken off. She loved wearing her purse and when we took her out of the stroller we clipped the leash back on the purse just to be safe. We still held her hand though, the leash was just an extra precaution. My DH hated the idea at first but he began to like the idea every time she would try and break lose from holding hands.