Do/would you keep your kids on one of those 'leashes' for kids? Why or why not?

Question

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I don't and I probably never will.

As a mother of older children as well as younger children, I've seen and heard my 9 year old stepdaughter make comments when we walk away from a child in this situation, just little things like, "Wow is that kid pretending to be a dog?" or "That's stupid, her mom has her on a leash". I don't know, I just don't think that it's right to keep your child on a leash. They're not kids, not pets, you know!

I've seen the ones that look like little backpacks, and they snap together across the child's chest. The most dramatic version that I've seen was when we went to Disney World in Orlando, and a man had his child HANDCUFFED (literally!) to him. I just think that that's ridiculous.

*Please, I mean NO OFFENSE to parents who use child leashes. By asking this question, I'm just looking for someone to help me understand why you would use one.

Thanks for your opinion!

Answer 1

I can tell you I had one that I rarely used, however my son was and still is very energetic and would get farther away than I was comfortable with so I Velcroed it on him wrist and made him keep it there. He did not like it at all so I told him that it was either say with me or I use the harness. So it was more of a threat with me rather than yelling at him or spanking him in the store for acting up... neither of which most people like either.

Answer 2

I never used one.  However, as a parent who had four kids under 7, I have no problem with them for families with multiple small kids to keep track of in crowded places -- or for kids with disabilities who may not be able to follow instructions to stay together.  You only have so many hands, and toddlers are prone to running in all directions.  I do think harnesses (you can tell if people don't like them because then they call them "leashes") are far better than putting a child who is old enough to walk in a stroller.  At least that way they're getting some exercise and more freedom.

I think it makes sense to always use the least restrictive means that keeps your kids safe.  For one adult and one child who can walk, at least if the child has no developmental issues, that generally means walking.  For one adult and four small kids in a crowded airport while you're pulling along luggage, as well, you do what you have to do to keep them safe.  

Sure, dogs use leashes.  They also play frisbee, but that doesn't mean that kids can't.

Answer 3

Let's see.  I have a six month old on my hip, I'm in a crowded place and you can "teach" a child to stay close but two year old don't quite understand that concept yet.  When you are one parent with an infant and a toddler in a place where the child can run away and disappear in a crowd at a moment's notice, then I use it.  It doesn't make me lazy (try running after a toddler effectively with a baby on your hip) and it doesn't make me stupid to want to keep my child as safe as possible.

Add: lol - curious as to how Judge Judy would carry a 40 pound toddler for hours.  Even the most fit person couldn't carry a toddler that long!  That's funny!

Answer 4

No, I would rather parent instead and pay attention to what my child is doing.

You might as well put your child in a crate with chew toys when you leave the house.

Yes, I've looked after an autistic child before, and I've successfully held his hand through traffic and crowds. It wasn't rocket science, it was attentive child-caring. You might not claim your child is a pet, but you're certainly treating him like one with a leash. It may or not be lazy, but I concede it's WAY easier than parenting.

Answer 5

I will explain how I came to use one with my 2 year old, but before he was able to walk I felt the same way, I thought "I would never do this to my child"

but...I have a very big and active just turned 2 year old at 3.5 feet tall and almost 40 pds(hubby is 6'4, 250pds.) he is the size of a 4 year old but has the mind and understanding of a 24 month old. Sooo, he is too big to carry especially for me at 5'1 and 110 pds. If we go to the mall, I usually put him in the stroller but he gets tired of sitting(since it can be like 1-2 off shopping) so if I take him

out the only thing I can do is either hold is arm really tight so he doesn't run away or walk away(he doesn't quite get the getting lost thing, which most kids develop a fear off at about 3-4 years old and he's just starting to understand when I call him that means come here now!) or get snatched. If I'm holding his arm it's really hard to push a stroller as well plus shopping bags and so on plus I'm sure it can start to hurt him after a few minutes. With the leash, I can put it on the handle bar of the stroller or my wrist and he can only go so far away yet still walk independently. I've used it mostly at the mall or places like the zoo or amusement parks. It keeps him safe, especially in places with cars or bicycles where he tends to dart from one place to another like the boardwalk or zoo; which is the most important thing to me the safety aspect. I just don't understand parents who would rather let their kids run lose and wild and then panic when they can't find them(although they are usually just hiding in a rack), it's just not worth the risk of losing my child forever, whether to a kidnapper or accident. Think about how many times you've been at a store and heard "MOM! MOM!" from a panicked kid. Yea that's great parenting!

I'm not fat or lazy in fact quiet the opposite, and I do have an ergo carrier(which I love!) but sometimes he really needs to walk and he is NEVER out of my sight backpack leash or not.

Answer 6

I myself never needed to use one, but I don't judge those who do.  It's unfortunate that many morons out there say that it's "lazy parenting".  I would like to see those people spend a day with an autistic child, to try to teach that child to "hold my hand".  They simply don't grasp the concept of needing to hold on, and will easily dart away, into crowds, into traffic.  Those parents surely aren't lazy, they are dealing with difficulties in a safe way.  Better to have an autistic child safe on a harness than running out and getting hurt.

I don't view it as a leash on a dog.  Parents don't ever consider their children as pets.  Again, the people who state "My child isn't a pet..." are just being very judgemental.  No child is a pet, no parent ever claimed that their child is one.  Some parents have huge challenges to face and dealing with harsh judgements regarding their children don't need that.

Answer 7

I wouldnt if my child was smart enough to know to stay around me but some children have ADHD and have a hard time listening and they get distracted easily and some are autistic etc......If my child is small enough or young enough to not pay attention to me then they are also small enough to be put in a stroller.  However....like I said each case is different and sometimes even the best parents have a hard time getting their child to understand and pay attention.  Places like Disney World or other theme parks and malls are mangnets for sickos!

Answer 8

OH YEA!  I would!   When we go shopping or places like that, my children get antsy sitting in the stroller and want to get out, but they are very high energy and very independent and do not want to stay with me.  My daughter has outgrown that faze of life, but my son on the other hand...

Well, we will be getting the teddy bear backpack leash at Target very soon.  He can run and never run away from me.  He does not have to be pinned up in a stroller and I don't have to worry about him raising terror in some department store.  I don't think of the baby leash as treating them like dogs or lazy.  I think it's very responsible if you have a child that is high energy.  I'm not going to spend the next years stuck inside my home because my child is full of energy and does not understand why he has to stay in a stroller or why he has to stay right next to me.

Answer 9

I wouldn't...

It's not like my childeren are pets.

Even though I don't even have a child.

Answer 10

i think they are good if u have a child that likes to take off on u.

i have a funny feeling we'll be buying one cuz my kid is crazy! she just started crawling and shes all over the house andruns in her walker!

If u use one- great

if not- great

Answer 11

My children are 10, 8 and 9 months.

I have never used one, but seriously did consider using one with my older two children when we visited Disney World several years ago.  We ended up not doing so, but I would have if I had felt it was necessary, and I will with my baby if the need ever arises.

Children, no matter how attentive we are, can move quickly.  You divert your attention for one second because Johnny needs help tying his shoe and Jenny has run into the road...just an example, you get the point.  Even wandering just a few feet in a congested place like Disney World can put a child out of sight.  Say everyone is looking at Cinderella, but then Pinnochio is walking by...an easily distracted child might go see Pinnochio.  He is right there, but walking away and the child gets farther and farther away from his parents.

It is not BAD or LAZY parenting.  It is responsible parenting to make sure that even if you are distracted, your child will remain safe.  Admit it or not, we mothers do NOT really have eyes in the back of our heads or four hands.  Some parents might put their children in a stroller for the same reason-then you have children whining because they want to walk, or even if they are happy riding they are not getting excercise, they are restrained to where their back is sweating...

Instead of looking at it as a parent trying to treat their child like a pet, look at it as a parent trying to keep their child safe.  Do you think it is negative to hold a child's hand?  The purpose is the same as those "leashes"...I prefer the term tether.  Some children do not like having their hand held, it reduces your ability to do other things, and it gets HOT.  The tethers are a good alternative.

If I heard my stepdaughter making comments such as that, I would use it as a way to introduce the difficulties of parenting and why these parents might be using the device, and instill the idea that it is not nice to judge, etc.

Answer 12

Heck yes I would use one.If I was in a crowded place & was afraid that my child would try to run off as children do sometimes,then yes I would use one.If you don't like them,thats fine.You are entitled to your own opinion,but there isn't anything wrong with them..Just because someone uses one does not mean that they aren't paying attention to their children either.

Answer 13

I would never use one either, but I can see why some parents would use it.  If they have an autistic child for example, they may take off running every time they are let out of the car.  I can also see using one at Disney World where if you turn your back for 2 seconds because you dropped something someone could walk off with your child and with large amounts of people around, it could be hard to find your child.  I think handcuffing though is going to the extreme and is not necessary.  

While I wouldn't use one, I can see why some parents choose to use them.

Answer 14

i havent reached that stage yet . ny son is only 14 months . and i am still undecided . i would say that the only time i would use one is when out to like a festival or mabye the mall. some place  where there is a crowd . and the only reason i would is for security . there are alot of sicko's out there .

Answer 15

I wouldn't use one either. You as the parent should teach your child to stay with you in public unless directed otherwise. Any less then that borders on laziness to me. But I think it's something else if a child for whatever reason isn't capable of comprehending "stay with me".

Answer 16

I swore I never would ... but I have. They're a godsend in airports. My oldest is very independent and very busy. When he was a toddler, there was no way I could keep him in my arms while checking in and waiting in line, but there was also no way I could keep him from running off if I didn't have him tethered somehow.

I got him one with the "leash" connected to a plush animal backpack. He loved it, and it kept us both out of trouble.

Answer 17

I use one for a myriad of reasons

One I am 6'3" and to hold my daughters hand for an extended period of time hurts my back buecause i need to hutch over to reah her hand.  She likes to walk around and gets restless in the stroller.

Two I feel it keeps her safe in crowded areas. She is only two and  can be difenait.  She is good about stoping and not going when i say no like 90% of the time but there are times she will take off

Three kids are snatched daily  standing right next to you.  I saw a video once of a kid who was taken standing next to dad at walmart and the person ran out the door.  With that on she is attached to me and not going anywhere.

I don't ue them everywhere and not all the time. Because she does still need to learn to stay close, but in the zoo or really crowded places

Answer 18

I used one when I was traveling alone by plane from MN to AZ my sons were 3 and 10 months old at the time. For me it wasn't about laziness it was about safety.

As to your stepdaughter's comments if it were me I would explain that parents don't use them all the time. Ask her how she would feel if someone snatched her or a younger sibling because they wandered off.

Ridiculous or not the parent at Disney World was doing what he thought was best for his child. (that's a bit extreme but no different than me using a child leash for my 3yr old at the airport.

Answer 19

Tell ya what-

The day my son ran off as fast as he could at an airport in california was the day I put my foot down and said "no more".

I think it is our job as parents to keep our children safe, and these harnesses do keep kids safe. Especially the unpredictable and fast ones.

VB- yeah, my boy is autistic/special needs...which is why he freaked out in the airport....

Answer 20

I have never used one on both my son's, I can see why people would though. When out or on vacation, from an adult's point of view, they use one for security purposes, there are sick people everywhere, if I know my child is securely attached to me, it provides me a piece of mind. It also makes it less likely for a predator to target my child if he sees me attached to my child.

On the flip side, some parents are lazy, stupid, and have no idea how to raise a child, they use it for selfish reasons of not having to chase after their kids, or so they can concentrate on their shopping instead of interacting wtih their children.

Of course I would be lying if I said on more than one occasion to my wife when my oldest was younger, "Honey we need to get one of those leashes". Everyone says it, but only a few appear to actually do it.

Everyone is going to have their opinion on child leashes, they are not my style but for some people they work, for others it is just another way to not focus on their kids.

Answer 21

no its ridicolous and moms who do use them are usually fat and lazy . They wont carry their kid or chase after him. Get a back carrier build those legs!

Answer 22

I'm 50/50 on the leash idea. It would depend on circumstance as to whether I would use one or not. If I were in a busy crowded place I would. If its not then no I wouldnt.