Re: Do you use or would you use harness( leash type thing) for yoru toddlers

Nope Never, Nada

I said that before kids and now with 2 toddlers...almost 3 and almost 2, still no way would I ever use one, not even for an amusement park.

But i would never judge a parent who did, they are just not for us.

Re: Do you use or would you use harness( leash type thing) for yoru toddlers

Posted by KristinasMama

Posted by Mikismom

Posted by KristinasMama

The other thing that concerns me (and it's TOTAL worst case scenario)...

Imagine you are somewhere, and you are allowing your child freedom, and you arent' necessarily looking at your child b/c you have them on this harness....

What if some sicko comes by and snips the harness.... God Forbid....

Things like this happen into my mind... Look at how many women this happens to with their purses.... One of my many fears.

yeah, the harness is not a replacement for parental supervision but I think the chances of that happening are slimer than the chances of my dd running off in a crowded area, KWIM?

Oh I totally understand.... These are just the things that happen through my wacko mind!

Re: Do you use or would you use harness( leash type thing) for yoru toddlers

Posted by tatuka

Posted by KristinasMama

Oh I totally understand.... These are just the things that happen through my wacko mind!

aaha. ok lol. I always get crazy ideas too, one of them what if someone comes in through the window and takes the baby, so I check on her at least 3-4 times a night

Re: Do you use or would you use harness( leash type thing) for yoru toddlers

Personally, I hate them and will NEVER use one.

Re: Do you use or would you use harness( leash type thing) for yoru toddlers

I haven't used one, but I can see the benefit in them.

Re: Do you use or would you use harness( leash type thing) for yoru toddlers

Posted by tatuka

really? I have only using mine for about a week now , but never noticed anyone giving me a judgmental look but again I only use it around the block so... Not that I wouldn't use it somewhere else if I thought it's needed.

Re: Do you use or would you use harness( leash type thing) for yoru toddlers

this is one of the things I changed my mind on after having a child...before that, I always said never
Isn't that so weird how your opinion changes on so many things after you have kids. I always thought a harness was such a silly idea and didn't understand parents who used them. I guess that's why they say :NEVER SAY NEVER

Re: Do you use or would you use harness( leash type thing) for yoru toddlers

Posted by colette

Posted by tatuka

really? I have only using mine for about a week now , but never noticed anyone giving me a judgmental look but again I only use it around the block so... Not that I wouldn't use it somewhere else if I thought it's needed.

Yep I live Queens in a pretty crowded area, and some people have no 'poker face'.

Re: Do you use or would you use harness( leash type thing) for yoru toddlers

me too, douglaston.where are you girls?

Re: Do you use or would you use harness( leash type thing) for yoru toddlers

Astoria, one block off Steinway Street!

Re: Do you use or would you use harness( leash type thing) for yoru toddlers

MV

Re: Do you use or would you use harness( leash type thing) for yoru toddlers

Honestly I think it totally depends on your child and their age. A 2-3 year old is much easier to explain why they have to hold your hand than it is for a 12 month old who only wants to run wild and has no sense of danger.

I saw a ton of backpacks ones with animals at disney and when we go to the zoo. They don't replace parent supervision but for some children they are necessary.

Honestly I cringe with them - BUT I did buy one for disney - DD was walking at 10.5 months and REFUSED to hold our hand until around 17 months. I never ended up using it b.c she was good - but I saw a TON of parents using them at disney. Some children will never leave their parents sides others are very outgoing and nothing phases them so it really depends on the child.

There is a time and a place for them and if it is a choice between having your child run off into the street or a crowd and get hurt or lost versus using one - then it b.c the lessor of the two evils.

Re: Do you use or would you use harness( leash type thing) for yoru toddlers

I think it depends. A lot of the parents I've encountered who say "never" only have one child or a child that doesn't walk yet.

I never though I'd use one, until I was at Roosevelt Field Mall and my 3 year old took off into a group of people. I had to decide between leaving my stroller behind with my two kids in it to chase after her, or letting her go and trying to find her later. Not a great situation to be in, I still thank GOD that I didn't lose her or the stroller. So, I used one with her from that point on, and I think it was worth it.

Re: Do you use or would you use harness( leash type thing) for yoru toddlers

Re: Do you use or would you use harness( leash type thing) for yoru toddlers

oops

Message edited 3/11/2009 10:17:41 AM.

Re: Do you use or would you use harness( leash type thing) for yoru toddlers

If I head into a big arena type place like Disney, I'm definitely using one. My daughter gets easily distracted and has on two occassions in the past wandered off while I was paying admission/for lunch. She just sees something that catches her attention and there she goes

I don't see anything wrong with them.

Re: Do you use or would you use harness( leash type thing) for yoru toddlers

Re: Do you use or would you use harness( leash type thing) for yoru toddlers

Personally I wouldn't use them and usually don't judge the people that do use them.
Sometimes they would come in handy if you have 2 kids and they're running off in different directions. IMO if you only have one why do you need the harness when they could hold your hand or sit it the stroller.

Re: Do you use or would you use harness( leash type thing) for yoru toddlers

Message edited 3/11/2009 10:47:58 AM.

Re: Do you use or would you use harness( leash type thing) for yoru toddlers

Posted by Lillykat

Posted by BeachMom

Personally I wouldn't use them and usually don't judge the people that do use them.
Sometimes they would come in handy if you have 2 kids and they're running off in different directions. IMO if you only have one why do you need the harness when they could hold your hand or sit it the stroller.

I'm not sure if your child is here yet or if you are due in June with me so you might be like me before I had DD I hated them but I was like what works for you works but I said I would never get one - I did however buy one before our disney trip b.c DD won't sit in a stroller or hold our hands at 15 months (now she does) but explaining to a child that age WHY it is important to hold hands is hard to do - I never used mine but saw a ton of people who did. - But coming from someone with a very active and people friendly toddler - I can tell you when you have a very active toddler they often DON"T want to sit in the stroller, hold your hand or for that matter let you carry them. So sometimes that is your option.

Personally with any situation - feeding, sleeping, etc a lot of what you do or don't do really depends on your individual children and what worked for one sibling might not work for the next.

I know plenty of children who will never leave their parents side, or who are content to always sit in their strollers; whereas, I know others who never sit still, won't hold your hand, won't sit in the stroller and for that matter have no qualms about running up to any stranger or running away into a large crowd. So I guess what I'm saying is what works for one might not work for another? KWIM?

BTW if you think you get looks for using a harness - just imagine the looks you get when you try to put a child into a stroller who doesn't want to go and is screaming like you are kidnapping them

Re: Do you use or would you use harness( leash type thing) for yoru toddlers

Posted by mcl916

I think they are great I totally plan on having one when DS starts running and we are going to be in a crowd. I never understood why it's viewed as such a negative thing.

Re: Do you use or would you use harness( leash type thing) for yoru toddlers

We have the animal backpack harness thingy and have used it a handful of times, from about the time DD was 12 months to 18 months. It came in handy when I traveled with DD alone and was carrying a car seat, diaper bag and stroller through the gate to get on the plane. I couldn’t carry her too, but she could walk with me without me fearing she would run off.

Re: Do you use or would you use harness( leash type thing) for yoru toddlers

No.. I wouldnt. I never really was a fan of them, and regardless my DD would probably flip out if I put it on her lol

Re: Do you use or would you use harness( leash type thing) for yoru toddlers

I wanted one when we went to the St. Patty's Day parade in Huntington last weekend

Re: Do you use or would you use harness( leash type thing) for yoru toddlers

I would in a heartbeat. I'd rather people talk sh*t about me than lose my child. DD isn't even walking yet so I don't know if it will be necessary or not, but if it is I won't hesitate to pick one up.