who has put their kid in a backpack harness?

[littlebit0863]

We leashed our daughter at Disney. Call me worst parent of the year bit 6 months prior to our trip to Disney we lost her at the Michigan Renaissance Faire. Fot those that have never been there, imagine 25,000 people is a space a fourth of Epcot. Most of them in garb of some sort. I let go of her had and she was out of my sight for 20 seconds (not just me but also DH and two close friends). We found her 20 minutes and 1/4 of a mile later at the entrance trying to leave.

The weaver gave me a thread and I tied her to me for the rest of the day. Thankfully she is older and thats no longer an issue. But I would rather be safe than sorry.

Stacy

That would have been so scary! I'm glad you found her.

 

[CandleontheWater]

Also, add a pro-leash parent, I'd like to add that none of us LOVE leashing our kids. We're not like, "oh boy- here is one more thing I get to pack and lug around", we do it because it is a last resort. Believe me, we've tried holding hands, enforced stroller time, punishments, threats, time-outs, removing the child from pubic situations and nothing else has worked.

Basically it boils down to three choices 1. be a shut-in (which is not realistic) 2. lose my kid (which I'm not doing) or 3. wear a harness (which works for both me and the child).

I think that if pro-leash parents had children who HATED being leashed, we wouldn't do it. Most kids on leashes are happily oblivious to the harness or actually enjoy wearing it (like my kids does).

Do I wish I had the type of kid who didn't need a leash in public- sure! When I go to the zoo with friends and their kids are sticking to them like glue and mine is trying to climb into the exhibits or bolt into the crowds it can be frustrating. However, without the harness we wouldn't even be able to go at all.

Nothing is going to change my kids personality or energy level, what I need to do is use the appropriate tools in order to make outings safe and enjoyable for both of us, in this case that tool is the harness.

 

[ElenaRN]

I must admit, before I was a parent I was kind of weirded out by the whole "kiddie leash" thing. I didn't understand the mind of a toddler back then, but I never thought bad of the parents. I just didn't get it.

Well, DD will be 20months old when we go to WDW in Oct. We are seriously considering a harness. She has become a runner within the past month or so. I know she will not tolerate the stroller ALL day and she is not big on hand holding. I used my Ergo last Dec in WDW, but she hates it now that she is more mobile.

I feel like the best compromise is prob to try a harness. She can have some of the freedom that she wants and I can have the peace of mind that she can't just jet away from us.

Can't we try to be respectful of one another. We all love our children and we want our children to enjoy Disney safely.

 

[Talking Hands]

We have a dinosaur backpack for my grandson and at first I didn't use it. But our first day at MK he wandered off when we were having lunch at Casey's. Most terrifying experience ever. We now use the harness and don't care what anyone else thinks. Better have a harness than lose the kid.

 

[aubreysmom09]

I must admit, before I was a parent I was kind of weirded out by the whole "kiddie leash" thing. I didn't understand the mind of a toddler back then, but I never thought bad of the parents. I just didn't get it.

Well, DD will be 20months old when we go to WDW in Oct. We are seriously considering a harness. She has become a runner within the past month or so. I know she will not tolerate the stroller ALL day and she is not big on hand holding. I used my Ergo last Dec in WDW, but she hates it now that she is more mobile.

I feel like the best compromise is prob to try a harness. She can have some of the freedom that she wants and I can have the peace of mind that she can't just jet away from us.

Can't we try to be respectful of one another. We all love our children and we want our children to enjoy Disney safely.

This is how our DD is. At about 22 months she hated the Beco, but she loves the leash. We also use Safety Tattoos that you can write your phone number on in case she is to get separated. They work great even at the water park. She doesn't mind the stroller, but I feel bad keeping her locked in a stroller. She needs to get energy out, and she likes to walk. Just not hold hands. The leash helps us with that.

 

[mommytocalliesue]

I will say...I am not against leashing...but did not do it on our last trip...and I lost my son in our hotel's gift shop Would I leash in the future...you bet...I never want to go through again what we went through!!!!

 

[GoldieLocks5]

we had them with us for our trip last April - our twins were 2y10mo. We never used them- they stayed close enough or in the stroller.

At 3yo your son should really understand to stay close - so i wouldn't think you'd need one... but you will need a stroller for sure

 

[Z28KatCar]

We had a monkey harness for our daughter when she was small and loved to wear it. When we stopped using it she would beg for it back on. We just detached the leash part and she wore it like a backpack. My BFF just got one for her daughter who is 2 and loves it.

 

[MScott1851]

I brought ours last trip & didn't need it, she was 15 months old and wanted to hold her own strap! But now, at almost 3, we just recently began having problems with her becoming a deliberate runner. She sprinted from me in Target last week, all the way from toys in the back up to the optical dept, then turned & zipped into the boys clothing, despite me threatening & calling her. After I wore her out in front of god & everybody in there, she swore she'd never do it again.

Until we got to Kroger, when she looked at me, said, "I'm going to run away from you again, mommy!" in that little singsong voice. I got a grip on her that time, and the lecture about strangers stealing her into their cars and making her work like Cinderella and never ever seeing mama, daddy, mammaw, pappaw, etc OR her toys again. That just killed her. She has not ran from me since, to the point she looks at me & actually says, "I'm not going to run from you, mommy." Still don't know whether it was the public shaming or the overwrought threat that did it, but you bet your sweet bippy I'm STILL taking the backpack, plus plan on hobbling her with shoes just a little too large. call CPS, poor baby!