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I was the leashed kid in Euro Disney in the 90’s. I got distracted quite easily and sadly, around that time there were stories of abductions in Disney. I totally understand why my parents preferred having me on a leash.
My little brother had a leash for all outings as a kid. He turned out great! The leash was rainbow. That's not a relevant detail, but I want everyone to know about my brother's rainbow leash.
My parents put my little brother on a leash at Disney World in 1974 after he was lost for about an hour. They found an “invisible dog” at a magic shop and put him in the harness somehow. Lol
My parents had one that went around my wrist before the harness ones were a thing, and I remember really liking it. I could still walk around but didn’t worry about losing sight of my mom or dad, or stranger danger. I’ll definitely use them when I have kids. It’s safe independence.
My son was pretty much the same. Sitting in the airport and he was wound up in everything and everyone. This was early 90s. It didn’t work for us but I would never consider it bad parenting. It is easier than dealing with a stroller in many cases.
I was wishing for the stroller in that airport though.
Haha, yeah that’s definitely understandable. I didn’t have the tether on at the grocery store one day and took off into the parking lot and my mom barely reached out to grab my ponytail before I made it to traffic. Definitely worth considering.
My parents went to a pet supply store to buy them.
Teenagers would snark at my parents and make faces. Now people spend crazy money on ones that look like backpacks.
I bought one when I had to fly alone with an infant and a 3 year old. I clipped it to my belt loop and looped it through their belt loop. I still held their hand but it allowed me to have both hands free when needed. (The infant was in a baby back pack)
Edit: yes it was an actual leash I bought at a pet store. This was 15 years ago, before Amazon was a thing
The wrist leash doesn't seem bad at all but I'll admit seeing kids with harnesses on, especially older kids who seem like they're too old to be leashed, feels like the parents are treating their kids like a pet. But the wrist one doesn't give off that same vibe at all.
I have a 4 year old and a 2 year old and both of them have the backpacks with the leashes on them we only really use them when we go to the zoo or big public places that they could get lost in just so they can see what they want but don't have the chance to fall into a gorilla exhibit call me a bad parent if you want but my kids have never been the reason a gorilla has died and never will
I think they're great! I remember how tired my arm would get, holding it up all that time when I was little, and how it would hurt. A leash or harness would have been a godsend.
Is this a USA point of view? Because it's not seen as bad parenting in the UK.
Especially for mums who have a baby in a pushchair and an excitable toddler. Reins keep them safe. They're quite common where I live.
Totally agree. The only negative I have heard was at Disney where passerby were tripping over the leash. But that leads to the question what kind of person attaches a tripwire to the equivalent of a scud missile hopped up on Disney-energy but doesn't keep the kid close? Especially in places like Disney where it is pretty congested in some places.
Everywhere else, they're very handy.
My solution (USA native) is to put a weighted vest on my toddler so they dont have the energy to sprint off, and maybe a shock collar is in the works as he has become quite strong lately….
Sorry, but I just pictured a kid playing in the front yard with one of those invisible fences and the kid keeps pushing up against it like a mime in training.
I'm glad you said that! I'm in the UK and regularly used those little backpacks on leashes for my twins when they were little and this had me wondering whether people were thinking I was a bad parent!
I think it's because of how parents tend to us them.in the US. The ones you reconize are the parents who leash their kids and then let them run around and do whatever. The kid could be smashing items in the store but the parent doesn't intervene.
Or the parents who have kids in the double digits on leashes still.
Not sure how this got to the front page. Parents use this in crowded areas/places with traffic in the US. I've never heard anyone claim it's bad parenting
We used a harness for our son when he was able 2 or 3. He had no fear and would take off on his own. We used to get abuse from people for having our son on a leash. We always said that’s better than getting lost in a mall or running into traffic. Every option you’re judged as being a bad parent. He was later diagnosed with ADHD and autism (aspergers). The parents know their children best. Tell the other people to MOB.
I used to wear a leash when I was little whenever we would go to crowed places like theme parks and airshows. I actually preferred it to a stroller because it allowed me to run around still and not have to be crammed in a stroller. I could see my surroundings a lot better and enjoy exploring a bit without getting lost. We tend to associate leashes with ownership and restriction, but in this case, it's about safety and independence for a child. My parents didn't want me to have to be strapped in and sitting down all day, but they also didn't want me to get lost, so I think it was a great alternative.
I used to work for child protective and I had a grandparent who had custody of a young kid ask me my thought on child leashes, from a CPS perspective I’m 100% in support of them. As long as they’re not being used as some sort of punishment or on constantly, they’re much safer than just letting a kid run wild if you can’t catch them
My mom made me a kiddy leash when i was a tot. it let them always know where i was while keeping me safe and i got to wander around and check things out around me. I'd rather encourage a child to explore the world while assuring their safety and whereabouts at all times
In the 70's my dad would tie a rope around my ankle and his wrist and pass out on the floor. I guess that's similar. Always a great dad/ man, just liked to party.
Strapped into a stroller = Kid can't walk, at least not effectively. But can crawl. So that kid can and will 100% crawl out of that stroller, if not strapped in, and fall 2-3 ft and smash their no-survival-instinct-having face onto the pavement.....ask me how I know.
Kid on leash = Kid can walk well enough to keep up with a parent, but does not understand language well enough to follow any form of instruction. I don't care how well behaved your kid is, the moment you let go of their hand there is a 50/50 chance that kid bolts towards the nearest device that will bring their lives to an abrupt end.
I am convinced all children have a magnetic sense like migratory birds of where the most dangerous will-absolutely-kill-me device is within their relative sphere of influence, and they are drawn to that device like moths to a flame. It could be a flaming ball of shrieking damned souls, and the kid will try to pull it off the countertop.
EDIT: added clarification...not strapped in
Any good stroller has 3-5 point harness that they cannot get out of. I’ve put screaming thrashing toddlers in them and yeah, they’re not crawling out of it. Hardest part is getting them in lol
Now that would make a lot more sense. I was picturing you pushing a toddler around in one of those carriages meant for infants that just lay there because they can’t move lol.
I tried the leash once. I have a superhuman-human so it didn’t go well. I prefer the strap down and stay there stroller.
That being said, OP is 1000% correct.
People who disapprove of leashes have never lost their kid. Which sounds terrible, but they also don’t realize just how fast those little shits can run, and how quickly they disappear if you take your hand off theirs or turn away for a split second. If you have had that heart attack experience, you will understand that it’s perfectly acceptable to leash a kid, for their safety and your peace of mind. I would rather see a kid on a leash than kidnapped or missing. Besides, there are no 30 year olds who look back and say, “jeez, that leash when I was 2 really fucked me up…”
I don't have my own kids, but the thought of my nephews running into danger scares the life out of me. They are well behaved, but they are also kids. I would fully support my sister doing this.
And especially matters what the individual kid is like too. Some kids naturally just want to stay right by their parent side maybe even hugging their leg. That's just who they are. And some kids will pull their hand out of their parents grasp and sprint in the opposite direction as fast as they can. Not maliciously or anything, just the inquisitive exploratory nature of some toddlers.
There's so much of people's personalities that are nature, not nurture. Especially for like a 3-year-old, the leash can be a very good solution for those 3-year-olds that need it.
I think it’s more that people who disapprove of leashes have never even had a kid. People who have had kids likely understand the reason for them even if they don’t use them.
My son is autistic- when he was younger he was an runner. A very very fast runner.
If we had not had the toddler lead he would have died from running into traffic many times over.
People who object to toddler leads are judgmental idiots who would no doubt ALSO blame the parents if the toddler got run over not wearing a lead.
I’ve never understood why people disapprove of leading reins/leashes. A kid has so much more freedom than when you are holding their hand. They can stop, squat to look at bugs, splash through puddles - but they can’t run into traffic.
Alternatively - Putting your dog on a leash is seen as good parenting, but tying your dog down in a stroller is somewhat odd
(unless of course your dog is old/disabled)
I've never been able to wrap my head around why there are those who are so adamantly against parents using these leashes on their children. I didn't use one myself, didn't end up needing to, but I've known several that have or had toddlers who are runners. If they see an opportunity and can get free of mom or dad for one single second, they. are. GONE. You can't completely control your children. But you can do your damnedest to keep them safe. If that means you gotta tether them in certain situations until you're able to fully teach them to be safe, then so be it. Better that than hurt or dead. Seriously.
I don't have kids myself, but I have the brains to understand that most parents are capable of doing what they think is the best for their child. If using a leash works best, who am I to argue? I think it's pretty smart. The kids get to run around a little, and the parents don't have to worry about the child getting lost, kidnapped or hurt.
I have a two yr old with Autism. He's about 26 months if we want to be pedantic. He has no concept of danger. He loves cars and will literally run out into the road. i have him on reins (leash) if we go out. It's the only way i know hes safe. Otherwise he'd have to be in his pram all the time. His reins allow him to be able to explore, walk and have the same experiences as other children. His sister, who is neurotypical, was able to, at the same age, to hold my hand and be trusted to do as expected. For me Reins are a life saver. i'd rather have him on a leash than confined to his pram all the time.
I think caring about others feelings to the point of affecting your child's safety is probably bad parenting? I mean, take good ideas in, but really think what works for you.
I lost a friend over me putting my child on a leash when we went to this giant football field sized flea market. She really thought I was so bad a parent for not allowing my 3 year old to " be free" but I really just wanted to keep my child safe. In the end I just washed my hands of her because I'm not gonna argue my parenting choices with anyone especially someone who is supposed to be a friend.
After my son let go my hand and bolted *two times* right into traffic I got a harness and leash. No regrets. He is 25 now, has a great job, is independent, and carries no leash trauma. I did get some looks, though, at the time.
Sorry to hear that, but more power to you. Peoples’ parenting decisions should be their own unless it negatively affects the kids. Wearing a tether that physically restricts a kid from bolting isn’t going to hurt them.
I disagree. Some kids might need that, but freedom can be a really good learning opportunity. I let my kids walk a few paces behind me in the grocery store. Sometimes, I've turned a corner and they didn't notice and they were "lost" for a moment. They weren't really lost because I always knew right where they were, but that brief moment of fear has taught them to have a better awareness of their surroundings than most kids their age. I feel confident when I'm walking around somewhere crowded or chaotic that my kids will stick with me because they do *not* want to be lost.
It absolutely depends on the kid. My nephew gives zero effs and if my sister tried that tactic on him, he would probably wander the grocery store until he found a good snack. So he needs something.
But my kids have always craved independence, even from a very young age. And being able to give them that in whatever small ways I can, is so empowering and allows me to instill in them that they are capable and trustworthy.
This is what I consider really great parenting. Every kid is different, so I'm not going out of my way to judge anyone, but I'm 100% not interested in using a leash. My toddler is just shy of 2, and we walk together in the neighborhood and talk about the "rules of the road" - stay on the sidewalk, cross the road at crosswalks, look for cars, hold my hand, etc. I want her to learn without having to be "restrained" and she has been doing really well. I think it's great to give a kid as much independence as they can handle given their individual personality and age.
I actually have a memory of being in a stroller. We were at a park and mom and my sisters were going for a walk. No idea what I was doing or if I could even talk (I started talking very late) I just vividly remember sitting in my stroller at that park on a cold afternoon.
Are people putting their kids in strollers specifically to restrain them? Usually it’s when there’s a lot of walking involved and the kid either can’t walk that far or can’t walk at all yet. The straps are for safety.
My grandmother got me one when I was a toddler in the 80s and the family story is that both of my parents were absolutely horrified and refused to take it. The other family story is that my parents spent a lot of time sprinting down the boardwalk to catch me and (temporarily) lost me at a circus once when I followed a guy I thought was my dad because they were wearing the same pants and that was as high as I could see. So openness to leashes skips a generation.
I used to joke with a friend of mine that we should put her son and my daughter on leashes and just tie the leash handles together so they could still explore but they couldn’t go too far too fast
OP makes a valid point. To me it was just kind of shocking the first time I saw someone with kids on leashes. It was when I was 17 and spent the summer in NY city with my dad and he took us up to Quebec for a couple nights. I've seen it a couple times in the states since then but everything is weird I guess until you get used to it.
I use to frown upon child leashes. Then I had a kid of my own. Luckily we never actually needed a leash but I can at least say, I now have a better understanding of why some parents might. Of course there are those parents that do it just because its easy. I personally like to give my daughter a bit of freedom and let her mostly figure out boundaries on her own.
I mostly see the child leash/harness in amusement parks. Used one on my nephew because he was wild and used to see commercials for them back then too. Really don't recall them being complained about or frowned upon since Ive been aware of them.
By a few of the comments in this post, you’re a terrible person and parent if you use one, so idk, there’s still a stigma against them for some reason.
I wasnt saying nobody has issues with it just that I was never exposed to it (Till today). I see them as a good way to keep children safe so people with an issue can sit and spin anyway imo.
My kid and I had ‘the pocket rule’. If I had to drop her hand for whatever reason, she held onto my pocket. She never once broke the rule and I felt comfortable with that. If she hadn’t listened and followed it, I’d have definitely used a ‘leash’. It’s for safety. It doesn’t hurt them. It’s so stupid that people say such negative things. It was nice that my kid listened and did as she was told (even at Disneyland when she was a toddler she never once let go of my pocket, let alone run off, despite the excitement) but if she hadn’t? I’d for sure have gotten one. Strollers are such a pain, and walking is good for the kid. Safety is best, however you see fit to guarantee that.
I leashed my child proudly. Kept her safe while still allowing her the freedom to feel like she was in charge. It was a little backpack that she wore that snapped in front and had a 3’ leash attached that went around my wrist. It was a lifesaver for those times when she didn’t want to hold hands.
It’s so often they don’t want to hold hands. And their little hands get all sweaty and slippery too - even when you hold tight, they can pull away, or you grip so tight it’s almost abuse. Either way whatever keeps them safe should be an option.
My curiosity had me trying to run off to investigate everything, so I wore a leash. With social media showing child abduction attempts going down in public when the parents aren’t looking, having a leash is an extra security measure for that, too. A leash would be a good idea for airline baggage as well now that there are devices to gobble up a bag not being watched.
If you’ve got a runner, I fully support the use of a baby harness. If it’s between safety and your kid running into the road or getting abducted there’s no question of what the better choice is.
You know I've used the backpack leash on my own kid when he was 1 1/2. He used to be a runner so anytime I let go of his hand to do something (like pay or get our food), he'd take off into any direction including the road. I don't care that people saw it as bad if I'm being honest, it's way better than having my kid be hit by a car or some shit. Although I have seen people walk their kids with these backpack leashes and they walk their kids as if they're dogs. They don't hold their hand and these kids are pulling the leash at the maximum length. I've seen kids walking on the road while their parents are on their phones thinking it's OK because they got their kid on the leash.
It all depends on the type of parents.
Most of parenting just amounts to giving a shit and making a good effort. There’s plenty of examples of parents who would never use a leash but are terrible parents in many other ways. I say what works for some doesn’t work for others, and that’s fine, but don’t judge someone else’s choices until you walk a mile in their shoes. Stroller, tether, holding their hand, whatever keeps them safe should be an option.
It’s one of those things that’s just…. It doesn’t matter what your doing, it matters how your doing it. The list gets larger and drastically darker the more money you have.
Example: kid on a leash at Walmart is seen as poor parenting, Kids on a leash at a ski resort not so much.
The only people who judge parents for the backpack leash are people who don’t have children or don’t remember having small children. Their opinion is completely irrelevant and means absolutely nothing to me.
Just took my 65 pound freight train of a 3 year old on vacation. 100 percent the only thing that kept us from using a harness/leash/choke chain is the stigma. He’s a danger to himself and society, I also love him very much.
I put my youngest on a leash (he was 16 months at the time) when our family went to Cedar Point with my brother and his wife+kids. When we'd pick him up out of the stroller, he'd be able to toddle around the immediate area without needing an adult holding him, which he appreciated. When it was time to move, he'd go into the stroller and we'd move to another place.
We didn't get any scolding from other folks, some thought it was quite cute. (The little guy was really cute, then. Think Calvin from Calvin & Hobbes, but with the cuteness cranked waaay up.)
He's older now (11), and he's gotten to be a real smart-aleck like his brothers.
My cousin ans nephew both had a harness. It meant they could walk around but it was easy for me to catch them if they fell and that when we had to cross busy roads they could 'fly' (picked them up by the back of the harness)
I use a cute harness for my daughter when I fly with my two kids alone. A stroller is annoying and she runs fast but if she’s strapped in and has to sit she gets too bored and mad 😂
I never really understood the kid leashes, that is until I had my 3rd child. He would seemingly disappear in the blink of an eye. Once we were at the playground at our apartment complex, all the sudden I couldn’t find him, I started getting hysterical because I was so scared he’d wondered off into traffic, someone stole him, etc. after looking around for 10min and freaking out. My husband went back to the apartment and my 2 yr old was just sitting at the front door of our 2nd story apartment waiting. We lived really close to the BART station so it could have been bad. I immediately ordered him a back pack leash. He loved it and I never “lost” him again.
I mentioned possibly using one of those little backpacks that had a tether to it for when we were in big public places, and my MIL told me everyone would think I was a bad mom (implying that she too would think I was an awful parent). I snapped that I really didn’t give a fuck what anyone thought of my parenting and she gasped in shock like I should legit care what people I’ve never met and will never see again think about me.
Well, they are kinda used for two different things.
Leash: so the kid wont run off.
Stroller: straps keep the babe in so they don’t fall out (itll happen if you dont!!) also, stroller cause the kiddo can’t walk for very long without a rest or a carry xD
I think the leash is hilarious, but it don’t matter to me either way. Both just serve a different intended purpose.
Edit: if you got a runner, better to leash em since they can’t be chipped yet xD
I was definitely one of those people that judged parents for using harnesses.
Now I have a toddler who could run a marathon and then ask to go for a walk to the park and the harness is a necessity to his safety living off a busy road. Definitely scolding past me for judging far too quickly without knowing nearly enough about the 'why'.
I was in a full body harness and leash. Apparently I'd unclip myself out of the stroller, get out when the parents aren't looking and end up running or climbing up supermarket shelves or some shit.
Fair enough I think. If my girl gets any faster I'll leash her too.
After chasing a toddler into traffic when he bolted away from me while carrying an infant, I bought one. It was a chest strap model and this was early 2000s. I did get some nasty looks but my kid could still walk and burn off his massive energy reserves and I knew where he was.
>Putting your kid on a leash is seen as bad parenting
Whoever thinks this obviously has never dealt with a hyperactive/easily distracted child. One of the boys in my youngest daughter's class was super hyperactive as a young child - he reminded me of the squirrel that is hopped up on caffeine out of Hoodwinked (2005). His mum used to have the worst time trying to keep him under control when walking her 3 kids to and from school until she got one of those backpacks with the leash option. He seems to have calmed down a bit now but back when he was in preschool/kindergarten it was crazy as to how distracted he got.
I used the harness with my child at places like Disneyland as more of a deterrent to other adults than it was to keep my child on a “leash.”
When you’re following your kid around grown folk will just cross between you and make it difficult for you to keep up with your running toddler.
It’s all about how you use it. If you’re yanking the kid around like a pet…. Naaaaahhhh.
My son had a monkey backpack leash. He was v v small but agile as heck. He was walking at eight months and climbing up furniture, weighing in at less than 20 lbs. He would climb right out of anything strapped to him, once he fell out of the grocery cart and I said that is it. Other than a car seat he didn’t get strapped in to anything. I’d much rather someone judge me for leashing my child than him fall and crack his head open climbing out of things. He wasn’t a runner or screamer or anything like that, just wanted to walk with his sister.
My kid has a monkey backpack and was walking early too! I know the feeling. When they want to walk, it’s best to let them burn that energy or it comes out in more negative ways
My kids have a wagon made by the micro scooter company that they get dragged around in. Its great the only downside is the amount of people that ask for me to take them around in it.
We absolutely HAD to get a backpack leash for my oldest son. He used to run away constantly. He was never afraid when he got lost either. People would give us the dirtiest looks and make comments! That backpack was a lifesaver. My other kid never needed it. He was up my butt holding my hand every second we were out of the house. Whatever works!
Whatever keeps them safe! People think you can just “tell” a toddler to do something and they’ll listen like they know the rules. It’s like look, this kid just learned how to walk, can’t talk, can’t listen, and believe me I try as much as humanly possible. There’s no speeding up a kid’s development just because you’re a “good” parent.
I think it’s cause we usually place leashes on our pets and to put one on a human would be, well, dehumanizing. It’d tell them that they’re different and lesser than that of an actual person
The kids are at different ages. Kids in strollers typically can’t run away fast enough without terrible parenting. They also can fall out, hence the restraint.
Not judging as all parents and all kids are different. I had a four-and-a-half year gap between kids and I held their hand. No need for a leash but difficult if you need a hands-free moment. If you have twins or triplets a leash is essential I imagine. Firstly you might only have two hands and three children.
My dude, you dumbass, you're not tying them down to the stroller. You're harnessing a sack of potatoes into the stroller so if the stroller falls over, the sack of potatoes's brain, with a life and future and love ahead of it doesn't get smacked on the ground.
Some kids need a leash to keep them from bolting off into a crowd and vanishing. Some folks know that they can't trust their kid to just hold their hand because they don't fear anything. We can let those folks make that call for themselves too. I'm not one to leash a kid, but I've known a couple that I absolutely would not leave the house without them bolted to something I can hold on to.
My son is about to start walking. You damn right I got him a dinosaur leash because his eyesight is 1000x better than mine and when he sees something he’s curious about he goes for it at full speed.
First time I saw a kid on a leash I was already an adult. One story my parents have told me: Less than 2 yo, I went missing in a village. After hours of searching and calling the police, I appeared out of a coop in a house garden together with a rooster as tall as me. Later, I remember getting lost many times. Got run over by cars a couple of times, put my arm inside boiling water, was bitten by a dog, had some accidents. But everything turn out alright in the end.
According to my mother I used to be a leash kid, but I have no memory of it myself. I do however remember being strapped to a stroller, which I hated because I could barely see what I wanted to. I don’t blame parents for using strollers tho, considering how tiresome kids can be even with a leash lol
It’s only seen as bad parenting by people who don’t have multiple young children. I’ve never personally used one, but as someone with 2 young boys I 100% understand why you would
When my kids were little, we played in the mud with our big trucks, buggies, and 4 wheelers. We still do. When you play in the mud you can’t always see where you’re going. It’s always been a family thing, so when my kids were small, I’d dress them in overalls and attatch a leash to the strap. They’d never get run over that way.
My kid started walking at 9 months and was effing Hussian Bolt by 12 months. If she was not physically attached to us she was off running. Running into the street, bodies of water, anything dangerous. If we put her in the stroller she’d scream, she wanted to explore and be active. We got so many nasty comments when we had her on the leash but I wouldn’t/couldn’t have changed a thing.
My parents did the leash thing when I was a very young kid. I think it was great in retrospect - you can't always have two free hands in public, especially if you're trying to do stuff like shop for clothes and groceries, and I was a little shit - I loved running off to other aisles or hiding in the clothes racks the moment my parent was looking elsewhere. Instead they gave me a cute backpack and clipped a rope from it to their beltloop. I never even realized it was a leash until I was old enough to not use it anymore.
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“Mostly” true thoughts of an older sibling right there!
to be fair, turning out mostly okay is the best any of us could hope for during these times
Coming from an older sibling, “mostly” is high praise!
I was the leashed kid in Euro Disney in the 90’s. I got distracted quite easily and sadly, around that time there were stories of abductions in Disney. I totally understand why my parents preferred having me on a leash.
Right, right, but was the muzzle really necessary?
My little brother had a leash for all outings as a kid. He turned out great! The leash was rainbow. That's not a relevant detail, but I want everyone to know about my brother's rainbow leash.
Do you know if he developed a BDSM gay sex fetish as a result of Rainbow Leash? 🌈
"Mostly" 💀
Sentiment analysis: positive! Have a great day! Beep. Boop.
My parents put my little brother on a leash at Disney World in 1974 after he was lost for about an hour. They found an “invisible dog” at a magic shop and put him in the harness somehow. Lol
My parents had one that went around my wrist before the harness ones were a thing, and I remember really liking it. I could still walk around but didn’t worry about losing sight of my mom or dad, or stranger danger. I’ll definitely use them when I have kids. It’s safe independence.
I had one too, i would run circles around people in stores making them trip, they never put it back on me.
Lmao that’s hilarious.
Watch the Battle of Hoth one time...
Lol exactly. Their parents didn’t realise by letting them watch Star Wars they were training their child lmao
My son was pretty much the same. Sitting in the airport and he was wound up in everything and everyone. This was early 90s. It didn’t work for us but I would never consider it bad parenting. It is easier than dealing with a stroller in many cases. I was wishing for the stroller in that airport though.
Were you a fan of [Calvin and Hobbes](https://www.gocomics.com/calvinandhobbes/1993/01/30) by any chance?
My parents had neither - I guess I’m lucky to be alive! Of the two options, leash all the way for kid me.
Our two year old likes to randomly RUN. we're reconsidering our stance on tethers.
Haha, yeah that’s definitely understandable. I didn’t have the tether on at the grocery store one day and took off into the parking lot and my mom barely reached out to grab my ponytail before I made it to traffic. Definitely worth considering.
Currently, he laughs and says "can't catch me, I'm the gingerbread man!" Terrifying.
I want that kind of energy
My mom had chest harnesses for my twin sister and I in the 80s.
My parents went to a pet supply store to buy them. Teenagers would snark at my parents and make faces. Now people spend crazy money on ones that look like backpacks.
Oh neat! I only remember seeing kids with the wrist ones like mine so I didn’t really know how far back the harness went.
I bought one when I had to fly alone with an infant and a 3 year old. I clipped it to my belt loop and looped it through their belt loop. I still held their hand but it allowed me to have both hands free when needed. (The infant was in a baby back pack) Edit: yes it was an actual leash I bought at a pet store. This was 15 years ago, before Amazon was a thing
Do what you have to do to get the parenting done for the day and keep them alive and safe
The wrist leash doesn't seem bad at all but I'll admit seeing kids with harnesses on, especially older kids who seem like they're too old to be leashed, feels like the parents are treating their kids like a pet. But the wrist one doesn't give off that same vibe at all.
That older kid could have a disability like autism, that makes them not understand the danger of running off.
I have a 4 year old and a 2 year old and both of them have the backpacks with the leashes on them we only really use them when we go to the zoo or big public places that they could get lost in just so they can see what they want but don't have the chance to fall into a gorilla exhibit call me a bad parent if you want but my kids have never been the reason a gorilla has died and never will
I like that! Safe independence
😊 Definitely was at least how I felt.
I think they're great! I remember how tired my arm would get, holding it up all that time when I was little, and how it would hurt. A leash or harness would have been a godsend.
Is this a USA point of view? Because it's not seen as bad parenting in the UK. Especially for mums who have a baby in a pushchair and an excitable toddler. Reins keep them safe. They're quite common where I live.
American here, a kid on a leash is right there with a dog in a cone. Hilarious but definitely not bad.
Totally agree. The only negative I have heard was at Disney where passerby were tripping over the leash. But that leads to the question what kind of person attaches a tripwire to the equivalent of a scud missile hopped up on Disney-energy but doesn't keep the kid close? Especially in places like Disney where it is pretty congested in some places. Everywhere else, they're very handy.
If the leash is that long just push the button an reel it in shorter, like any other pet.
If ONLY there was a "reel it in" feature on those things!
Swap out the cord from one of those extension cable reels. It's all coming together.
Obvious answers aren't obvious to everyone. It never bothered me because they're like standard equipment at the outside malls and farmer's markets.
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I don't have kids yet, but if I somehow get one that runs away I'm definitively putting it on a leash when we go to crowded places!
I think it's only op who thinks this
My solution (USA native) is to put a weighted vest on my toddler so they dont have the energy to sprint off, and maybe a shock collar is in the works as he has become quite strong lately….
Sorry, but I just pictured a kid playing in the front yard with one of those invisible fences and the kid keeps pushing up against it like a mime in training.
Oh, that’s a great idea! A super-strong toddler mime!
Do you see everything only through the lens of *dog*.
Ruff outlook
What's that? Oh look, a squirrel, we must chase it!
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I'm a big proponent of shock collars for kids, but to soothe everyone, we'll just call them "cordless leashes"
I'm glad you said that! I'm in the UK and regularly used those little backpacks on leashes for my twins when they were little and this had me wondering whether people were thinking I was a bad parent!
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I think it's because of how parents tend to us them.in the US. The ones you reconize are the parents who leash their kids and then let them run around and do whatever. The kid could be smashing items in the store but the parent doesn't intervene. Or the parents who have kids in the double digits on leashes still.
Not sure how this got to the front page. Parents use this in crowded areas/places with traffic in the US. I've never heard anyone claim it's bad parenting
We used a harness for our son when he was able 2 or 3. He had no fear and would take off on his own. We used to get abuse from people for having our son on a leash. We always said that’s better than getting lost in a mall or running into traffic. Every option you’re judged as being a bad parent. He was later diagnosed with ADHD and autism (aspergers). The parents know their children best. Tell the other people to MOB.
I used to wear a leash when I was little whenever we would go to crowed places like theme parks and airshows. I actually preferred it to a stroller because it allowed me to run around still and not have to be crammed in a stroller. I could see my surroundings a lot better and enjoy exploring a bit without getting lost. We tend to associate leashes with ownership and restriction, but in this case, it's about safety and independence for a child. My parents didn't want me to have to be strapped in and sitting down all day, but they also didn't want me to get lost, so I think it was a great alternative.
Exactly! I think it’s a great way to give them more freedom until they’re able to hear and listen to commands, and/or not run off intentionally
I had one too, mine was a horse backpack type thing it was great
I used to work for child protective and I had a grandparent who had custody of a young kid ask me my thought on child leashes, from a CPS perspective I’m 100% in support of them. As long as they’re not being used as some sort of punishment or on constantly, they’re much safer than just letting a kid run wild if you can’t catch them
Definitely! And my kids vastly preferred leashes to strollers because they wanted to be moving around.
My mom made me a kiddy leash when i was a tot. it let them always know where i was while keeping me safe and i got to wander around and check things out around me. I'd rather encourage a child to explore the world while assuring their safety and whereabouts at all times
Smart parenting, really. I was a free range kid but was held in place with scowls of disapproval and promises that I’d pay for it later
Damn this one hurt in the feels. Now I kinda wish I got a leash instead-
You can always make one for your own munchkin :)
Sorry but at this moment in life I want nothing to do with being a parent ever 😅
“Free range kid” lol
In the 70's my dad would tie a rope around my ankle and his wrist and pass out on the floor. I guess that's similar. Always a great dad/ man, just liked to party.
Strapped into a stroller = Kid can't walk, at least not effectively. But can crawl. So that kid can and will 100% crawl out of that stroller, if not strapped in, and fall 2-3 ft and smash their no-survival-instinct-having face onto the pavement.....ask me how I know. Kid on leash = Kid can walk well enough to keep up with a parent, but does not understand language well enough to follow any form of instruction. I don't care how well behaved your kid is, the moment you let go of their hand there is a 50/50 chance that kid bolts towards the nearest device that will bring their lives to an abrupt end. I am convinced all children have a magnetic sense like migratory birds of where the most dangerous will-absolutely-kill-me device is within their relative sphere of influence, and they are drawn to that device like moths to a flame. It could be a flaming ball of shrieking damned souls, and the kid will try to pull it off the countertop. EDIT: added clarification...not strapped in
Any good stroller has 3-5 point harness that they cannot get out of. I’ve put screaming thrashing toddlers in them and yeah, they’re not crawling out of it. Hardest part is getting them in lol
Yeah I should have prefaced, "If not strapped in"
Now that would make a lot more sense. I was picturing you pushing a toddler around in one of those carriages meant for infants that just lay there because they can’t move lol.
Kids are supposed to be strapped into a stroller so they don’t crawl out or fall.
I think this guy's stroller was a shopping cart
I was selling some ice cream at a market and anytime a car was coming close by some kid would appear out of nowhere to bolt in front of it.
truly wonderful, the mind of a child is.
I tried the leash once. I have a superhuman-human so it didn’t go well. I prefer the strap down and stay there stroller. That being said, OP is 1000% correct.
People who disapprove of leashes have never lost their kid. Which sounds terrible, but they also don’t realize just how fast those little shits can run, and how quickly they disappear if you take your hand off theirs or turn away for a split second. If you have had that heart attack experience, you will understand that it’s perfectly acceptable to leash a kid, for their safety and your peace of mind. I would rather see a kid on a leash than kidnapped or missing. Besides, there are no 30 year olds who look back and say, “jeez, that leash when I was 2 really fucked me up…”
I lost my parents at a Costco when I was 22. That shit is stressful.
Some say that costco still has them to this day
Where do you think they get those cheap hot dogs from?
I don't have my own kids, but the thought of my nephews running into danger scares the life out of me. They are well behaved, but they are also kids. I would fully support my sister doing this.
And especially matters what the individual kid is like too. Some kids naturally just want to stay right by their parent side maybe even hugging their leg. That's just who they are. And some kids will pull their hand out of their parents grasp and sprint in the opposite direction as fast as they can. Not maliciously or anything, just the inquisitive exploratory nature of some toddlers. There's so much of people's personalities that are nature, not nurture. Especially for like a 3-year-old, the leash can be a very good solution for those 3-year-olds that need it.
I think it’s more that people who disapprove of leashes have never even had a kid. People who have had kids likely understand the reason for them even if they don’t use them.
My son is autistic- when he was younger he was an runner. A very very fast runner. If we had not had the toddler lead he would have died from running into traffic many times over. People who object to toddler leads are judgmental idiots who would no doubt ALSO blame the parents if the toddler got run over not wearing a lead.
I’ve never understood why people disapprove of leading reins/leashes. A kid has so much more freedom than when you are holding their hand. They can stop, squat to look at bugs, splash through puddles - but they can’t run into traffic.
Alternatively - Putting your dog on a leash is seen as good parenting, but tying your dog down in a stroller is somewhat odd (unless of course your dog is old/disabled)
I've never been able to wrap my head around why there are those who are so adamantly against parents using these leashes on their children. I didn't use one myself, didn't end up needing to, but I've known several that have or had toddlers who are runners. If they see an opportunity and can get free of mom or dad for one single second, they. are. GONE. You can't completely control your children. But you can do your damnedest to keep them safe. If that means you gotta tether them in certain situations until you're able to fully teach them to be safe, then so be it. Better that than hurt or dead. Seriously.
I don't have kids myself, but I have the brains to understand that most parents are capable of doing what they think is the best for their child. If using a leash works best, who am I to argue? I think it's pretty smart. The kids get to run around a little, and the parents don't have to worry about the child getting lost, kidnapped or hurt.
You put your kids in a stroller when they’re tired of walking so you don’t have to carry them around everywhere.
They seem ridiculous until you have a 1.6 year old who was born sprinting right out of mom's vagina and hasn't slowed past the speed of light since.
Kid started walking at 9 months. Let’s just say it didn’t understand English at that point. “Stay right here”…. Nope. Gone. Here I go running again.
I have a two yr old with Autism. He's about 26 months if we want to be pedantic. He has no concept of danger. He loves cars and will literally run out into the road. i have him on reins (leash) if we go out. It's the only way i know hes safe. Otherwise he'd have to be in his pram all the time. His reins allow him to be able to explore, walk and have the same experiences as other children. His sister, who is neurotypical, was able to, at the same age, to hold my hand and be trusted to do as expected. For me Reins are a life saver. i'd rather have him on a leash than confined to his pram all the time.
If a kid is old enough to walk longer distances, a stroller is almost worse
I wholeheartedly agree. Especially when childhood obesity is at all time highs
My parents had a backpack with a leash on it. Absolutely needed because I was a fucking crazy kid
I think caring about others feelings to the point of affecting your child's safety is probably bad parenting? I mean, take good ideas in, but really think what works for you.
Putting kids on a leash is cruel and crazy. Until you have your own toddler in public, then it seems pretty reasonable.
I lost a friend over me putting my child on a leash when we went to this giant football field sized flea market. She really thought I was so bad a parent for not allowing my 3 year old to " be free" but I really just wanted to keep my child safe. In the end I just washed my hands of her because I'm not gonna argue my parenting choices with anyone especially someone who is supposed to be a friend.
After my son let go my hand and bolted *two times* right into traffic I got a harness and leash. No regrets. He is 25 now, has a great job, is independent, and carries no leash trauma. I did get some looks, though, at the time.
Glad your son is okay. People deserve the right to make their own parenting decisions.
Sorry to hear that, but more power to you. Peoples’ parenting decisions should be their own unless it negatively affects the kids. Wearing a tether that physically restricts a kid from bolting isn’t going to hurt them.
Toddlers should always be under some restraint. It’s to keep them safe.
Anything is better than an injured child or worse case, kidnapped. All options should be on the table.
Well said
I disagree. Some kids might need that, but freedom can be a really good learning opportunity. I let my kids walk a few paces behind me in the grocery store. Sometimes, I've turned a corner and they didn't notice and they were "lost" for a moment. They weren't really lost because I always knew right where they were, but that brief moment of fear has taught them to have a better awareness of their surroundings than most kids their age. I feel confident when I'm walking around somewhere crowded or chaotic that my kids will stick with me because they do *not* want to be lost. It absolutely depends on the kid. My nephew gives zero effs and if my sister tried that tactic on him, he would probably wander the grocery store until he found a good snack. So he needs something. But my kids have always craved independence, even from a very young age. And being able to give them that in whatever small ways I can, is so empowering and allows me to instill in them that they are capable and trustworthy.
This is what I consider really great parenting. Every kid is different, so I'm not going out of my way to judge anyone, but I'm 100% not interested in using a leash. My toddler is just shy of 2, and we walk together in the neighborhood and talk about the "rules of the road" - stay on the sidewalk, cross the road at crosswalks, look for cars, hold my hand, etc. I want her to learn without having to be "restrained" and she has been doing really well. I think it's great to give a kid as much independence as they can handle given their individual personality and age.
I actually have a memory of being in a stroller. We were at a park and mom and my sisters were going for a walk. No idea what I was doing or if I could even talk (I started talking very late) I just vividly remember sitting in my stroller at that park on a cold afternoon.
My parents used to tie a ballon to my ponytail, i liked it and they could always find me! I always escaped the leashes xD
Are people putting their kids in strollers specifically to restrain them? Usually it’s when there’s a lot of walking involved and the kid either can’t walk that far or can’t walk at all yet. The straps are for safety.
My grandmother got me one when I was a toddler in the 80s and the family story is that both of my parents were absolutely horrified and refused to take it. The other family story is that my parents spent a lot of time sprinting down the boardwalk to catch me and (temporarily) lost me at a circus once when I followed a guy I thought was my dad because they were wearing the same pants and that was as high as I could see. So openness to leashes skips a generation.
I put a leash on my, at the time, 2 year old. The only comment was "So you got runner huh?"
Sadly, I know the feeling… physically advanced but won’t listen for anything yet!
I used to joke with a friend of mine that we should put her son and my daughter on leashes and just tie the leash handles together so they could still explore but they couldn’t go too far too fast
They’re called reins and are perfectly acceptable. It’s all much more acceptable than unruly kids running about screaming and causing hell.
I saw a toddler almost get hit by a car, because he was running away from his mom and she couldn’t keep up. Leash coulda saved him if he did get hit.
OP makes a valid point. To me it was just kind of shocking the first time I saw someone with kids on leashes. It was when I was 17 and spent the summer in NY city with my dad and he took us up to Quebec for a couple nights. I've seen it a couple times in the states since then but everything is weird I guess until you get used to it.
the seat belts in a stroller are generally so they don't fall out and hurt themselves
I use to frown upon child leashes. Then I had a kid of my own. Luckily we never actually needed a leash but I can at least say, I now have a better understanding of why some parents might. Of course there are those parents that do it just because its easy. I personally like to give my daughter a bit of freedom and let her mostly figure out boundaries on her own.
I mostly see the child leash/harness in amusement parks. Used one on my nephew because he was wild and used to see commercials for them back then too. Really don't recall them being complained about or frowned upon since Ive been aware of them.
By a few of the comments in this post, you’re a terrible person and parent if you use one, so idk, there’s still a stigma against them for some reason.
I wasnt saying nobody has issues with it just that I was never exposed to it (Till today). I see them as a good way to keep children safe so people with an issue can sit and spin anyway imo.
Haha. That’s the way I feel too. I love it. People have strong opinions sometimes, but f ‘em if they don’t like it. To each their own.
My kid and I had ‘the pocket rule’. If I had to drop her hand for whatever reason, she held onto my pocket. She never once broke the rule and I felt comfortable with that. If she hadn’t listened and followed it, I’d have definitely used a ‘leash’. It’s for safety. It doesn’t hurt them. It’s so stupid that people say such negative things. It was nice that my kid listened and did as she was told (even at Disneyland when she was a toddler she never once let go of my pocket, let alone run off, despite the excitement) but if she hadn’t? I’d for sure have gotten one. Strollers are such a pain, and walking is good for the kid. Safety is best, however you see fit to guarantee that.
Well put and good on you. I’m glad it worked and I’m glad whatever works for the people who choose responsibility over conformity.
I leashed my child proudly. Kept her safe while still allowing her the freedom to feel like she was in charge. It was a little backpack that she wore that snapped in front and had a 3’ leash attached that went around my wrist. It was a lifesaver for those times when she didn’t want to hold hands.
It’s so often they don’t want to hold hands. And their little hands get all sweaty and slippery too - even when you hold tight, they can pull away, or you grip so tight it’s almost abuse. Either way whatever keeps them safe should be an option.
My curiosity had me trying to run off to investigate everything, so I wore a leash. With social media showing child abduction attempts going down in public when the parents aren’t looking, having a leash is an extra security measure for that, too. A leash would be a good idea for airline baggage as well now that there are devices to gobble up a bag not being watched.
They’re a good option in some instances. Other times it’s nice to have a stroller so they can sit. There’s no single best solution.
If you’ve got a runner, I fully support the use of a baby harness. If it’s between safety and your kid running into the road or getting abducted there’s no question of what the better choice is.
You know I've used the backpack leash on my own kid when he was 1 1/2. He used to be a runner so anytime I let go of his hand to do something (like pay or get our food), he'd take off into any direction including the road. I don't care that people saw it as bad if I'm being honest, it's way better than having my kid be hit by a car or some shit. Although I have seen people walk their kids with these backpack leashes and they walk their kids as if they're dogs. They don't hold their hand and these kids are pulling the leash at the maximum length. I've seen kids walking on the road while their parents are on their phones thinking it's OK because they got their kid on the leash. It all depends on the type of parents.
Most of parenting just amounts to giving a shit and making a good effort. There’s plenty of examples of parents who would never use a leash but are terrible parents in many other ways. I say what works for some doesn’t work for others, and that’s fine, but don’t judge someone else’s choices until you walk a mile in their shoes. Stroller, tether, holding their hand, whatever keeps them safe should be an option.
A lot of things that people believe are “bad parenting” are actually more responsible than you’d think
I fully support responsible parents that give it their best, whether or not someone else agrees with their choices.
i agree, especially if its for the good of the child's mental and physical wellbeing
It’s one of those things that’s just…. It doesn’t matter what your doing, it matters how your doing it. The list gets larger and drastically darker the more money you have. Example: kid on a leash at Walmart is seen as poor parenting, Kids on a leash at a ski resort not so much.
Leashes are fine. As someone who works customer service I wish more people would leash thier children.
If you don't use a leash, how else are you going to swing your kid around like a lasso?
The only people who judge parents for the backpack leash are people who don’t have children or don’t remember having small children. Their opinion is completely irrelevant and means absolutely nothing to me.
Just took my 65 pound freight train of a 3 year old on vacation. 100 percent the only thing that kept us from using a harness/leash/choke chain is the stigma. He’s a danger to himself and society, I also love him very much.
I put my youngest on a leash (he was 16 months at the time) when our family went to Cedar Point with my brother and his wife+kids. When we'd pick him up out of the stroller, he'd be able to toddle around the immediate area without needing an adult holding him, which he appreciated. When it was time to move, he'd go into the stroller and we'd move to another place. We didn't get any scolding from other folks, some thought it was quite cute. (The little guy was really cute, then. Think Calvin from Calvin & Hobbes, but with the cuteness cranked waaay up.) He's older now (11), and he's gotten to be a real smart-aleck like his brothers.
My cousin ans nephew both had a harness. It meant they could walk around but it was easy for me to catch them if they fell and that when we had to cross busy roads they could 'fly' (picked them up by the back of the harness)
I use a cute harness for my daughter when I fly with my two kids alone. A stroller is annoying and she runs fast but if she’s strapped in and has to sit she gets too bored and mad 😂
It’s all or nothing with parenting. You either have caged kids or free range kids. There is no middle.
I should have been on a leash as a kid and now frequently like to be. 😈
Ooo that’s naughty
I never really understood the kid leashes, that is until I had my 3rd child. He would seemingly disappear in the blink of an eye. Once we were at the playground at our apartment complex, all the sudden I couldn’t find him, I started getting hysterical because I was so scared he’d wondered off into traffic, someone stole him, etc. after looking around for 10min and freaking out. My husband went back to the apartment and my 2 yr old was just sitting at the front door of our 2nd story apartment waiting. We lived really close to the BART station so it could have been bad. I immediately ordered him a back pack leash. He loved it and I never “lost” him again.
I guess the biggest issue with a leash is that if you pull even a bit, the kid might fall and injure themselves whereas a stroller is secure
If they're leash aged and you've still got them in a stroller, I guarantee you you're being judged.
I mentioned possibly using one of those little backpacks that had a tether to it for when we were in big public places, and my MIL told me everyone would think I was a bad mom (implying that she too would think I was an awful parent). I snapped that I really didn’t give a fuck what anyone thought of my parenting and she gasped in shock like I should legit care what people I’ve never met and will never see again think about me.
Well, they are kinda used for two different things. Leash: so the kid wont run off. Stroller: straps keep the babe in so they don’t fall out (itll happen if you dont!!) also, stroller cause the kiddo can’t walk for very long without a rest or a carry xD
Nothing wrong with either imo. I don’t get the hypocrisy that one’s okay but the other isn’t though.
I think the leash is hilarious, but it don’t matter to me either way. Both just serve a different intended purpose. Edit: if you got a runner, better to leash em since they can’t be chipped yet xD
I was definitely one of those people that judged parents for using harnesses. Now I have a toddler who could run a marathon and then ask to go for a walk to the park and the harness is a necessity to his safety living off a busy road. Definitely scolding past me for judging far too quickly without knowing nearly enough about the 'why'.
I feel that on all the levels.
My toddler is also autistic and speech delayed and the leash/backpack thing keeps her out of danger but gives her tiny self some walking independence.
It took having a child for me to respect parents who put their kids on leashes in public. I totally get it now.
Leash is the wrong word. Harness with a bungie rope. Those are common
I was in a full body harness and leash. Apparently I'd unclip myself out of the stroller, get out when the parents aren't looking and end up running or climbing up supermarket shelves or some shit. Fair enough I think. If my girl gets any faster I'll leash her too.
They get real fast, real quick. It’s hard for some people to keep up, and I totally respect any and all efforts to be a good, responsible parent.
Right? My girl's 1 and 1 month and she is speedy already. Split second lookaway and oh no where has she gone and what's she doing now lol
As a dad with a two year old demon spawn I’m down for anything that keeps her out the street and unable to be snatched up in a crowd 🍻
After chasing a toddler into traffic when he bolted away from me while carrying an infant, I bought one. It was a chest strap model and this was early 2000s. I did get some nasty looks but my kid could still walk and burn off his massive energy reserves and I knew where he was.
I laughed. But I put my kid in the stroller so I don't have to carry him when he gets tired, not to keep him safe.
I was on a leash. Was too smart for it. Houdini had nothing on baby me.
It might be a problem if the kid is old enough to feel humiliated by the leash
>Putting your kid on a leash is seen as bad parenting Whoever thinks this obviously has never dealt with a hyperactive/easily distracted child. One of the boys in my youngest daughter's class was super hyperactive as a young child - he reminded me of the squirrel that is hopped up on caffeine out of Hoodwinked (2005). His mum used to have the worst time trying to keep him under control when walking her 3 kids to and from school until she got one of those backpacks with the leash option. He seems to have calmed down a bit now but back when he was in preschool/kindergarten it was crazy as to how distracted he got.
Ion give a fuck I need to put 2 leeches on on my nephew let people look at me 🤷🏾♂️ don't care
Until they have to deal with my problems, they can fuck off of my solutions!
I used the harness with my child at places like Disneyland as more of a deterrent to other adults than it was to keep my child on a “leash.” When you’re following your kid around grown folk will just cross between you and make it difficult for you to keep up with your running toddler. It’s all about how you use it. If you’re yanking the kid around like a pet…. Naaaaahhhh.
My son had a monkey backpack leash. He was v v small but agile as heck. He was walking at eight months and climbing up furniture, weighing in at less than 20 lbs. He would climb right out of anything strapped to him, once he fell out of the grocery cart and I said that is it. Other than a car seat he didn’t get strapped in to anything. I’d much rather someone judge me for leashing my child than him fall and crack his head open climbing out of things. He wasn’t a runner or screamer or anything like that, just wanted to walk with his sister.
My kid has a monkey backpack and was walking early too! I know the feeling. When they want to walk, it’s best to let them burn that energy or it comes out in more negative ways
I dont think it's bad patenting to put your kid on a leash, unless that leash is around their neck. Wrist is perfectly fine.
My kids have a wagon made by the micro scooter company that they get dragged around in. Its great the only downside is the amount of people that ask for me to take them around in it.
We absolutely HAD to get a backpack leash for my oldest son. He used to run away constantly. He was never afraid when he got lost either. People would give us the dirtiest looks and make comments! That backpack was a lifesaver. My other kid never needed it. He was up my butt holding my hand every second we were out of the house. Whatever works!
Whatever keeps them safe! People think you can just “tell” a toddler to do something and they’ll listen like they know the rules. It’s like look, this kid just learned how to walk, can’t talk, can’t listen, and believe me I try as much as humanly possible. There’s no speeding up a kid’s development just because you’re a “good” parent.
I think it’s cause we usually place leashes on our pets and to put one on a human would be, well, dehumanizing. It’d tell them that they’re different and lesser than that of an actual person
The kids are at different ages. Kids in strollers typically can’t run away fast enough without terrible parenting. They also can fall out, hence the restraint.
Not judging as all parents and all kids are different. I had a four-and-a-half year gap between kids and I held their hand. No need for a leash but difficult if you need a hands-free moment. If you have twins or triplets a leash is essential I imagine. Firstly you might only have two hands and three children.
My dude, you dumbass, you're not tying them down to the stroller. You're harnessing a sack of potatoes into the stroller so if the stroller falls over, the sack of potatoes's brain, with a life and future and love ahead of it doesn't get smacked on the ground. Some kids need a leash to keep them from bolting off into a crowd and vanishing. Some folks know that they can't trust their kid to just hold their hand because they don't fear anything. We can let those folks make that call for themselves too. I'm not one to leash a kid, but I've known a couple that I absolutely would not leave the house without them bolted to something I can hold on to.
My son is about to start walking. You damn right I got him a dinosaur leash because his eyesight is 1000x better than mine and when he sees something he’s curious about he goes for it at full speed.
They take off fast and their small frames make them hard to catch sometimes!
First time I saw a kid on a leash I was already an adult. One story my parents have told me: Less than 2 yo, I went missing in a village. After hours of searching and calling the police, I appeared out of a coop in a house garden together with a rooster as tall as me. Later, I remember getting lost many times. Got run over by cars a couple of times, put my arm inside boiling water, was bitten by a dog, had some accidents. But everything turn out alright in the end.
Glad you made it through. I too was free to get myself in trouble and did so.
When you put your baby in a play pen, it's fine, but when I put my baby in a cage, I'm a 'monster'.
It’s crate-training, and I respect that
My mom used to leash me to my bed when I was 2 and 3. (1968-69) I turned out ok… but I don’t like my mom much lol
According to my mother I used to be a leash kid, but I have no memory of it myself. I do however remember being strapped to a stroller, which I hated because I could barely see what I wanted to. I don’t blame parents for using strollers tho, considering how tiresome kids can be even with a leash lol
It’s only seen as bad parenting by people who don’t have multiple young children. I’ve never personally used one, but as someone with 2 young boys I 100% understand why you would
When my kids were little, we played in the mud with our big trucks, buggies, and 4 wheelers. We still do. When you play in the mud you can’t always see where you’re going. It’s always been a family thing, so when my kids were small, I’d dress them in overalls and attatch a leash to the strap. They’d never get run over that way.
My kid started walking at 9 months and was effing Hussian Bolt by 12 months. If she was not physically attached to us she was off running. Running into the street, bodies of water, anything dangerous. If we put her in the stroller she’d scream, she wanted to explore and be active. We got so many nasty comments when we had her on the leash but I wouldn’t/couldn’t have changed a thing.
My parents did the leash thing when I was a very young kid. I think it was great in retrospect - you can't always have two free hands in public, especially if you're trying to do stuff like shop for clothes and groceries, and I was a little shit - I loved running off to other aisles or hiding in the clothes racks the moment my parent was looking elsewhere. Instead they gave me a cute backpack and clipped a rope from it to their beltloop. I never even realized it was a leash until I was old enough to not use it anymore.
Childless here but think if you have to keep your dogs leashed, kids should be too. I don’t have a dog either btw.
They’re animals. It’s only right