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Yup, I'm doing it. I searched, the last one was done in 2010, decided we needed to revist .
Mostly I decided to re-vist this because when I was pregnant, and then when my tiny baby stayed nicely in her fancy stroller, I was on team "if you want to it's fine but no way on god's green earth am I leashing my kid". Then she turned 2. And learned to walk.
My kid hates to be carried or strapped into a stroller most of the time. Sure, somedays she'll happily let you strap her in, or after she's walked for awhile she'll get tired and climb aboard. But most days, nu-uh. She learned how to walk and darn it, she's gonna walk! Or run really. And how can something so short be so fast? And you know what, eventually I'm going to need to use my hand, and her's gets all sweaty and sticky. So I bought her a little back-pack with a puppy on it. And a leash. I put it on her and...oh...oh I like this. And mroe then I liking it, she likes it. We have a second one that's just a regluar looking back-pack as well. As soon as she sees me gets it out, she start hopping all around, and if I tell her "Go get puppy", she runs to her room with more excitment them me at a half off shoe sale.
So I am now, a happy leash mom. So, kid leashes, yes, no, cruel torture devices? What are your thoughts?
I've never used one. With my older two, they were pretty good listeners and had appropriate amount of caution in new places. However, my youngest, at 19 months, is more of a wild man. I *might* consider a leash if we were to go somewhere crazy like Disneyland. I certainly don't have any problems with other people using them.
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I’m Sarah (39), wife to Chris (40), mom to three boys (age 0, 3 and 5)
I had the monkey one for lil guy. He loved it. I still held his hand when he wasn't trying to run like a wild boy. But when he did take off, I knew he wasn't getting far. I'd rather a kid on a leash instead of hit by a car or kidnapped. I've been told stuff by people when they saw me use it. The best was from a teenage girl. I told her to shove it and at least I knew my kid was coming home with me tonight. If this one turns out to be a runner, then I'll get another backpack one. I think those are the best things ever.
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Knock on wood, my kids have all gone from stroller to being excellent at holding on to the stroller or listening enough to not run away. I am a meanie and if they don't like the stroller, that's too **** bad. I will put them in it when need be just the same as I put them in their car seat and strap them in.
IF we were to go somewhere scary like the state fair, or running in the mountains or something I would possibly use a leash for my 2 year old. Depends on how he would act with one on.
If you're using it just so that little Shawnque doesn't mess up your nails, then it's for the wrong reason.
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Beth, Mom to:
Noah, Jayde, Sydney, RJ, Becca, Sebastian and Weston
I have 0 problem with people using them, and I am the first to admit I would happily get one for my son. Since he's an only child, he gets all my attention when we are out and we haven't needed one yet. However, he has recently started biting in the Ergo (he'll repeatedly bite my back when he doesn't want to be in it anymore, yay), so it's definitely been under advisement. There is a really cute triceratops one that a friend of mine has (and it has a retractable leash, which is cool!) that I'm pretty sure will be on it's way to my home soon.
I used them for the girls. It was I way I could have them out alone and still feel safe especially when they were in the run in two different directions phase.
There's a part of me that wishes I could find muzzles to fit my kids. Oh well.
I really don't use the leashes. I have in the past. There are some times it's just plain safer. I used one for DD#1 when at DS#1's ball games. She was at an age when she would scream bloody murder if in the stroller but would run off in the blink of an eye. No hand holding, no lap sitting.
I really should get one for the 2 y/o, but meh. I can just imagine her throwing herself to the ground, thrashing and screaming like she's being set on fire.
I wouldn't think twice if I saw a parent using a leash as long as the kid wasn't being physically dragged along.
Never used them. They listened pretty well and have never tried to run off from me. But they're not typical kids in public. I am blessed. If they were any different? I'd most likely try a stroller for whoever the escape artist is. But that's only bc my friend had her child on a leash thing once, and before she knew it, someone had cut the rope thing and tried to take her kid! She was screaming and yelling and someone assisted her. This happened at Disney World in 2009. So, I want them even CLOSER to my sight than the leash would allow for.
__________________ Lynn
Mom to many
2nd time surrogate & pregnant
Ive never bought one, but I have no issue with them.
The way I figure, if you have a runaway child, its 10x more responsible to put a leash on them than it is to just let them run around everywhere (especially if you happen to be in a carpark or near a road)
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Cybele, wife to Ash and mummy to 5, Anindita (18), Azriel (15), Sundance (12), Lux (10), Sasha (4)
Mummy to 4 feline furbabies, Clio, Kitra, Rupert and Tess
~TTC #1 together 1 year and counting ~
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Never used them. They listened pretty well and have never tried to run off from me. But they're not typical kids in public. I am blessed. If they were any different? I'd most likely try a stroller for whoever the escape artist is. But that's only bc my friend had her child on a leash thing once, and before she knew it, someone had cut the rope thing and tried to take her kid! She was screaming and yelling and someone assisted her. This happened at Disney World in 2009. So, I want them even CLOSER to my sight than the leash would allow for.
What do you mean by, "typical kids in public"? Also, a person randomly cutting a kid's leash (instead of just taking an unleashed kid) would probably have been on the news or news article (especially being in Disney World)... Do you have one? Sounds very interesting to read....
Was this person just walking around with a heavy duty pair of scissors?
My sister in law used to use one for her youngest (he's since grown out of the running away phase) and man, those straps would be pretty tough to cut through, theyre very thick (assuming most brands use the heavy braid, I dont think ive seen any around that dont)
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Cybele, wife to Ash and mummy to 5, Anindita (18), Azriel (15), Sundance (12), Lux (10), Sasha (4)
Mummy to 4 feline furbabies, Clio, Kitra, Rupert and Tess
lol Cybele. IDK, since I wasn't there. lol I imagined more of a pocket knife or something but she never did say what it was.
I really don't know the WHOLE story on that. She just told me that's what happened and as a matter of fact, she'd posted it on JM a few years back and disney boards and people got really crazy with her on the thread. I don't know if the threads are still there or if they were removed.
I guess if someone wants to take your kid, they'll find a way if you're not looking. My guess is that she just didn't really know what was going on because of having so many small (under age 6) kids with her and she admittedly had a difficult time handling them. Yet, she still goes EVERY year. I'd NEVER do it with 5 kids and two of them as infants alone. How could you have any real fun??
__________________ Lynn
Mom to many
2nd time surrogate & pregnant
lol Cybele. IDK, since I wasn't there. lol I imagined more of a pocket knife or something but she never did say what it was.
I really don't know the WHOLE story on that. She just told me that's what happened and as a matter of fact, she'd posted it on JM a few years back and disney boards and people got really crazy with her on the thread. I don't know if the threads are still there or if they were removed.
I guess if someone wants to take your kid, they'll find a way if you're not looking. My guess is that she just didn't really know what was going on because of having so many small (under age 6) kids with her and she admittedly had a difficult time handling them. Yet, she still goes EVERY year. I'd NEVER do it with 5 kids and two of them as infants alone. How could you have any real fun??
People probably got real crazy with her because it sounds o implausible they probably think she's a troll. I'm calling bs on her story. There are thousands of kids at Disney World on a daily basis, the majority of which are more than likely not on leashes. And this man chose a child attached to its mother by a 3ft long leash, taking a large chance of getting caught when there were tons of other options. I don't believe it.
I've never used them, personally, but I have no qualms with others doing so. Better safe, than sorry. I'm fairly certain most parents who use them are doing so, with their child's safety in mind.
The only one of my kids who would have ever attempted to run off, would have been dd2, after she relearned how to walk(and then shortly after, run, which was her favorite hobby for months). 90% of the time we were out of the house she'd be tethered to her pump, so running wouldn't have really worked out in her favor. She'd have toppled over, once she was big enough to carry her own kangaroo pack. Before that she'd always have to be in something, wagon, stroller or carrier, because the pack was the same size as she was.
Dd1 was always pretty content staying with me, or in a stroller/cart/wagon. Ds is a total mama's boy and has never had an issue holding my hand(or onto my pants/shorts) if he wanted to walk. He still holds my hand to cross the road or in a parking lot, and he'll be 9 in August. It's purely out of habit now I think though. I haven't had to ask him to actually hold my hand since he was 4, he just likes to.
My niece however, is another story. She's the kind of kid that likes to take off running whenever she can. And if her brother is running too, it's in the opposite direction. She's two, and a little handful. When I take her for walks, I make sure to bring the wagon. She hates the stroller, but loves the wagon, so she sits fine in it. If she didn't like the wagon either, she'd probably have some sort of leash. She has a baby sister now, and my sister is probably not the best at keeping an eye on all the kids at the same time, she's still learning how to juggle them. I think she'll probably be getting an animal pack for this summer, just in case.
I forgot to give my input about the actual debate topic. We do not use leashes. People said that after I had my first, I would change my opinion... Then they said after I was trying to mantain 2 that I would change my mind... still haven't. We go to the Zoo a lot, so maybe my girls are just used to that. They are awesome hand holders and stroller riders. We got a sit-n-stand Joovy Caboose when Leighton was born and it was the best money we ever spent. London hops up and down throughout our trips and Leighton rides up front. I've never had an experience when I've needed one. To each their own, though I do get pissed off when I see people misusing them, dragging their kids around kicking and screaming.
I was against leashes until I started fostering Solas He is Autistic and super impulsive. I haven't bought a quad stroller yet, still deciding, so Avery and Solas walk. Avery holds on to the stroller or walks right next to me, but Solas has to be on the leash or I'll lose him. Chasing him with a double stroller and another toddler isn't my idea of fun, lol.
I don't care if people use them. I don't. You don't really find too many kid leads here, usually tourists. But I don't live in a tourist town (well I live next to one, so we get them going from one town to the next) so I don't see them that often. Normally it's the backpack ones I see when I do see them.
