Kids on a leash in public

[Anonymous]

there's no nice way to leash a child.

[Anonymous]

I would use but at the mall only

[Anonymous]

pp here... I forgot to mention.. DISNEY too..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree with the previous poster that it is abuse. I saw a mom in Bethesda Row who was simply wanting to enjoy her time to chit chat. her kid was on one of these stuffed animal harnesses. He was about 10 to 14 month old. Clearly learning to walk and explore. she was sitting on a bench and holding the leash like he was a dog. As soon as he got about 2 feet away from the bench, she would yank him back. It was terrible and my husband and I could barely watch it. It was a circumstance where most moms would let him walk or cruise and watch him so that he did not wander into any danger zones. If it was really that problematic, why not push him in the stroller.

It sounds like this mom was not being very nice to her child, but how would putting him in a stroller be less "abusive"? He would still not be able to walk/cruise/explore.

Not speaking to this particular incident, but in general, if the child is happy, what difference does it make? My child (so far) is not one to wander away, but if she were, I would have no hesitation about getting a leash. When my brother was a toddler he got away from my mom in a shopping mall, and she had several panic-filled minutes before she found him. She was not being neglectful, just tending to her other two small children and trying to get some shopping done. Life does not always allow one child to be the sole center of our attention.

[Anonymous]

Whoever said, damned if you do, damned if you don't is right.

Here's a scenario: exhausted single mom of a young toddler who didn't sleep the previous night due to teething. Mom and child both need to get out of the house to let off steam. Mom puts harness on toddler while she sits on a bench and zones out for 10 minutes, during which she pulls back on the harness when toddler gets too far away.

OR...same mom and toddler. Mom sits on bench and zones out for 10 minutes while unharnessed toddler runs around. While mom is zoning, due to extreme exhaustion, toddler runs into street and gets hit by a car.

So as an outsider, you DO NOT KNOW why any given person is using a harness. Maybe the child is unhappy. Maybe it is being used in a manner that you don't agree with. But as long as no one is being physically harmed, what do you care what anyone else does?

[Anonymous]

I LOVE them!! I have 3 under 3 - an almost 3 y.o. and twins 15 months. They have enabled me to go out with all 3 safely and actually allow them to WALK from time to time. I would much prefer my kids walk and get exercise then be stuck in a stroller for 2 years!! I found some at BRU that wrap around the wrists and I liked them more than the harness. I would esepcially recommend these to all moms of twins.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I LOVE them!! I have 3 under 3 - an almost 3 y.o. and twins 15 months. They have enabled me to go out with all 3 safely and actually allow them to WALK from time to time. I would much prefer my kids walk and get exercise then be stuck in a stroller for 2 years!! I found some at BRU that wrap around the wrists and I liked them more than the harness. I would esepcially recommend these to all moms of twins.

Twin mom with a question - if it attaches to the wrist, is there any concern about arm twisting if they try to bold? I have 17 mos twins and one just started walking (running actually). He is very strong and determined and fast.

[Anonymous]

How about simply keeping up with your child and teaching him/her to LISTEN? Silly me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I LOVE them!! I have 3 under 3 - an almost 3 y.o. and twins 15 months. They have enabled me to go out with all 3 safely and actually allow them to WALK from time to time. I would much prefer my kids walk and get exercise then be stuck in a stroller for 2 years!! I found some at BRU that wrap around the wrists and I liked them more than the harness. I would esepcially recommend these to all moms of twins.

Twin mom with a question - if it attaches to the wrist, is there any concern about arm twisting if they try to bold? I have 17 mos twins and one just started walking (running actually). He is very strong and determined and fast.

silly momma, it attaches to the child's neck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

How about simply keeping up with your child and teaching him/her to LISTEN? Silly me.

No, more like simpleton you. You have no idea what is going on with other people. When DD was two, she was constantly on the move, no matter what consequences were imposed, and I stayed up nights worrying about her running into the street. Turns out she was later diagnosed with a sensory problem related to a constant need for movement. Now, a few years later, she has learned from an OT how to regulate her body and deal with the need to move, but she was not capable of learning those lessons when she was 2. A leash to keep DD safe would have given me great peace of mind at the time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:there's no nice way to leash a child.

there is no nice way to belt/strap force a child into a stroller either

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

How about simply keeping up with your child and teaching him/her to LISTEN? Silly me.

and if you have twins?

and if you have an infant in a sling?

and if you are also carrying groceries?

and if you are also walking the dog?

and if you are at an amusement park with more than one child?

and if you are at an airport/train station/traveling?

and if your child is a little challenged and not on par developementally and really doesnt have the capacity to listen?

and if you as a parent has a physical condition that doesn't allow you to "chase", i.e. heart disease, recent surgery, late pregnancy?

and what if you just do not make judgement calls when you are not privey to the situation?

[Anonymous]

Ever heard of a stroller, Bjorn or sling? I am privy to the situation! Medical conditions, pets, and multiple children. I just don't think a leash is for humans.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Ever heard of a stroller, Bjorn or sling? I am privy to the situation! Medical conditions, pets, and multiple children. I just don't think a leash is for humans.

So you will strap your kid into a stroller and not let them walk but you aren't okay with letting them walk while not allowing them to dart away from you? Makes sense.

[Anonymous]

Depends on your priorities. Are you more worried about the kid, the dog, or treating the kid like a dog?