Yet Another Harness Thread

[DRS_Are_Best]

Now that his brother is walking (and walking wherever he pleases) he insists on holding the leash. Not a good idea, a 3 year old holding a toddler on a leash? I don't think so.

When we took the twins for that first walk, ds(3) was with us and he did insist on holding the leash. I did let him, for the little boy (not the girl who would still do her best to run off -- she doesn't like to be led) but I still held onto it i the middle. I'm thinking that in the world, he's going to be too excited that he won't want to hold onto it because his brother will just slow him down!!!!

 

[bumbershoot]

However, I'd rather take the twin dogs for a walk through the world then spend my trip frantically looking for one of them when they (well, likely SHE) disappears into the crowd.

So, I'm sorry for my previous "holier than thou" attitude -- I too must use these harnesses/leashes.

I try to never pay attention to who is posting what, so I didn't know that you had a negative opinion of them, but I think it's really cool that you posted this!

And I LOVE your sentiment about how it's better to take them for a walk rather than lose one. Absolutely.


And, since I'm a person whose mom used harnesses with us, and also had two malamutes on leashes held with the other hand, I see NOTHING wrong with "treating" kidlets "like" beloved, cared-for dogs. People who use leashes with dogs LOVE their dogs and don't want them to run off and get killed...and it's pretty much the same thing with kids.

Alas, DS seems to be part sled dog, as he nearly dislocated my shoulder by running and slamming against the end of the harness, and then would just hang there, knowing I would hold him up and not let him fall. Last time that happened was at an airport and it was extremely embarrassing...I had to keep the tension on the "lead" of the harness while slowly inching my way towards him so I could grab him and hold his hand...sigh. Here I am, someone who believes thoroughly in them, but my biped won't use the harness correctly!

 

[rodeo65]

Complete respect for the OP publicly changing your mind! I too was an "I'll never" mommy until I gave birth to a runner. He discovered the joy of it when he was 14 months old and I was 8 months pregnant with his sister. We're heading to the world in June when it is said the crowds are unbelievable, so even though the kids are now 6 & 7, the "wristies" are going into effect.

DS is still a bolter and has also been given an adhd diagnosis, which makes him a bolter who is easliy distracted by cool external stuff. DD just likes to be obstinate and thinks it's funny to hide when we go places. It doesn't matter how many discussions we've had on the danger of this, she still gets a kick out of "winning" the hide game. Meanwhile I'm having cardiac arrest. We'll be holding their hands but with the added comfort of the stretchy wrist thingy "in case". And I don't care what kind of looks we get.

 

[roscoepc1]

Well, in several other threads I posted my thoughts on harnesses. Now I have to take back some of what I said. I mentioned that, while I understood the utility of these things, I would never use them.

To that end, in order to avoid using them myself, dh and I would take our 3 kids to the mall every weekend and take (specifically) the twins out of the stroller and have them walk holding our hands. We started doing this at the start of the year figuring that in 3 months, they'd get the hang of it.

Well, we leave for the world in 2 days -- the weather this past weekend was GORGEOUS so we took the kids to the National Zoo (only about 25 minutes from our home) -- this would be our final test. DD(2) FAILED MISERABLY!!!!! In fact, she did so poorly during this zoo trip that when we got home and naptime began, dh had to run out to Target and buy 2 harness backpacks (can't buy one for her and not her twin).

In order to see how they worked, I put the harnesses on the twins and took them for a walk in our neighborhood that afternoon (still quite warm and really need to take advantage of the nice weather when we get it). And it cemented my attitude that these are just leashes but cuter. I felt like I was out walking the dogs. However, I'd rather take the twin dogs for a walk through the world then spend my trip frantically looking for one of them when they (well, likely SHE) disappears into the crowd.

So, I'm sorry for my previous "holier than thou" attitude -- I too must use these harnesses/leashes.

But it's more important that my kids are safe, regardless of my personal feelings about these things, right?

I had a little old lady approach me once when I was using mine for dd1...we were in McDonald's, and the stupid place had automatic doors that opened right out onto the street in a major city! I had ds1 with his wheelchair, and dd1 was about 2, with legs as fast as Superman!

Anyways, I was bracing myself to get blasted, when she grabbed me firmly by the shoulders, looked me straight in the eye, and said:

"It's WONDERFUL to see a young Mom who LOVES her children ENOUGH to keep them SAFE!!"

Then she turned and walked away. I burst into tears of appreciation. Someone finally GOT IT!

 

[angelsmith52]

I to have a harness for my dd. I took it to Pigoen Forge last year and had a boy make a remark about "that poor little girl". I turned to him and said "at least she can't turn and run into the road!!!"

I will be taking mine to DW when we go in May!

 

[erin327]

Yep! Keeping them safe is most important!

 

[chrisw127]

Hey! I remember that thread and I don't think you were rude about it at all. We are in the same position--older child and younger twins about the same age. Glad you found something that worked for you. Twins so rarely get any independence out in public because at least one always runs off. Most people have no idea how hard it is to handle two two-year olds at once. It's incredibly difficult.

Hope you have a wonderful time on your vacation!

Do you have a TR?

 

[DRS_Are_Best]

Do you have a TR?

Sorry -- what's a "TR"? Don't know all the abbreviations that I probably should recognize.....

 

[mookie]

I bought one for my DS for our trip and my DH told me to "take it back" I didn't and brought it anyways and man was he glad I did! We don't use it a lot but when a 2 yr old wants to get away he will! Also, It's hard for a 6' man to hold a 2yr olds hand!

Have a wonderful and safe vacation!!

My DH feels the same way..."My kids WILL NOT wear those!"

Little does he know I'm about to order one for my crazy 22mo ds. I swore I never would...but I know he will be thanking me for it when I pull out my little "surprise" when we are at WDW and he is breathless from chasing him all over the parks!

Again, better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it. I am not paying all that money to go on vacation and stress myself out chasing a toddler that is defiantly full of energy!

 

[Leajess99]

I was being a responsible parent and taking care of my child and his safety.

My daughter loved the reactions she got from some of the CMs and characters about her monkey on her back. We have some pictures with her and the character with the monkey on her back but she was safe and not once separated. I don't care about the looks and there were other parents asking us where we had gotten it. I love giving her the freedom to explore but also being able to keep her close and safe.

 

[Ariel on Land]

When it comes to kids' safety, you have to do what's best, despite what others may think! And we've all said "I'll never..." to something prior to having little ones. I remember thinking "I'll never babyproof my entire house. I want to teach them what to touch and not to touch, so it won't be crazy insanity when we go to grandma's or some other non-kid friendly place." Yeah, and then I had twins! Like there's any way possible to always be watching them BOTH and "teaching" them not to touch certain things! My dad said sometime last year, when we were talking about the boys, "well, I hope you don't put the boys on leashes!" My immediate response was, "Do you really think that the stigma of a "leash" is worth them both getting away from me, running opposite directions into traffic, lost, or otherwise hurt, killed or kidnapped?" He quickly changed his tune.

Have a great time, and I hope the twins get used to, and enjoy their backpacks! Our boys love theirs and our monkey and puppy will get lots of use at WDW! I also hope you come back and tell us all how the trip went!! I can't wait to hear about it!!!