Quick I need help / how to stop toddler running away

[Anonymous]

On a quick trip and my 3 year old will not stop running away laughing as fast as she can. I keep chasing her and talking about being safe. It’a really scary though and I have other kids and I forget how this goes! I can’t ignore her because I have to get her! Heeellllppppp

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:On a quick trip and my 3 year old will not stop running away laughing as fast as she can. I keep chasing her and talking about being safe. It’a really scary though and I have other kids and I forget how this goes! I can’t ignore her because I have to get her! Heeellllppppp

You have to carry her, put her in a stroller with straps, or have a leash.

[Anonymous]

When one of my kids went through this phase, we started bringing the stroller places. Every time he ran, I caught him, picked him up, strapped him in without talking, and we either went home, or I ignored him for a while. For example, if we were at the park and he ran, then he could sit in the stroller and watch his sibling play. When I let him out to try again, I'd say "Don't run away". It fixed it pretty fast.

I think the chase, and the verbal interaction, can become very reinforcing, so I wanted a consequence strong enough to reinforce that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:On a quick trip and my 3 year old will not stop running away laughing as fast as she can. I keep chasing her and talking about being safe. It’a really scary though and I have other kids and I forget how this goes! I can’t ignore her because I have to get her! Heeellllppppp

You have to carry her, put her in a stroller with straps, or have a leash.

+1 just get a leash

[Anonymous]

You have to hold physically onto her on use one of those leash things. That’s all you can do. She doesn’t understand. Also, praise her when she is staying by you and give treats for doing so. It’s a short-term solution to keep her safe right now. Give any older kids treats for not running off so she sees it, and for catching her for you, and give her no treats if she is caught, no matter how much she might cry.

[Anonymous]

Get your kid and immediately end the outing every time. When they learn running away = game over they will stop.

[Anonymous]

Prep her with expectations before you go places and plan an exit plan and back up. Like be ready to leave if needed. Do that a few times and if it’s a real danger like you can’t catch them / it’s really busy. Leash 10/10

[Anonymous]

Leash/harness
Revoke privileges.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When one of my kids went through this phase, we started bringing the stroller places. Every time he ran, I caught him, picked him up, strapped him in without talking, and we either went home, or I ignored him for a while. For example, if we were at the park and he ran, then he could sit in the stroller and watch his sibling play. When I let him out to try again, I'd say "Don't run away". It fixed it pretty fast.

I think the chase, and the verbal interaction, can become very reinforcing, so I wanted a consequence strong enough to reinforce that.

This is really good advice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Get your kid and immediately end the outing every time. When they learn running away = game over they will stop.

I'm the strap the kid in the stroller mom.

My kid didn't do this on outings he was enjoying. He did it because we were bored. The first time I remember was standing in line at the pharmacy to get emergency asthma meds for his brother. Or the grocery store, or the waiting room at the dentist.

Maybe if you have a life in which your kid only goes fun places the "end the outing" strategy makes sense, but most people don't have that.

[Anonymous]

I got a leash. One of those cute ones with a teddy bear backpack.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I got a leash. One of those cute ones with a teddy bear backpack.

I reread your post. Your kid is 3? She's old enough to understand she cannot run away like this. My kids did that between 1 and 2. At 3 they were in preschool and not running away from anything. Running away persistently past the toddler stage is major flag for autism. I apologize for bringing it up, I don't say this to offend.

[Anonymous]

I actually came to this post to say with the PP said, this is a flag for autism. Just keep this in mind because HFAUD may not look the same as what you think. Your child can be verbal, social and still on the spectrum.

[Anonymous]

I do not believe in leashes for humans I wore sneakers, kept one hand free to grab and stayed prepared to sprint.

[Anonymous]

Ha I don’t think she is autistic but thanks. I work with autistic kids of all ages so I feel comfortable on this one. She’s bored and my other kids are much older and she wants attention. She needs a stroller, for sure.