Do you agree with the use of Toddler Leashes??
By SwtJenlove
@SwtJenlove (1090)
United States
June 9, 2008 2:22pm CST
I have always thought leashes were made for animals. I have always told myself i would never put a leash on my child because my child is not an animal. I have rethought that because i cant risk something happening to my son while im walking thru a parking lot, or walking thru a mall or a store. I have a almost 3 month old and while im carrying her in her ill hold my sons hand but there are times where he pulls away from me or gets away from me and takes off. Here are some examples. I was pregnant and before i had my daughter i was getting ready to go somewhere and was opening the door and no sooner did i let go of his hand to put the stuff down in the car off he went toward the road. luckily i grabbed him before he got hit by a truck that was coming down the street. there is a privacy fence on our neighbors property so its not like they could see him running toward the road. Another example is when i was taking my daughter to the doctors we were on our way back out and were at the car and i had to let go of his hand to open the door well the second i let go he ran around from me and there is a big main road right there and he was heading toward it. i about cried as i was saying "noooo justin stop" meanwhile my 2 month old is crying because she had just got shots so times like that im saying to myself "thats it, im getting a leash for you" but i cant bring myself to do it. I am afraid he will continue doing it and i dont want anything to happen to him.
5 people like this
13 responses
@mommyathome (98)
• United States
10 Jun 08
The safety of our children comes first and if we need to use a lead to save them from an injury or being lost then that is what we do. Who care what anyone else thinks! I personally must use on for my youngest son. He runs towards the street if he is ourside, if we are shopping, she just runs, runs so in order to keep him safe, he is either in a stroller or attached to a lead so I can ensure his safety.
@mommyathome (98)
• United States
10 Jun 08
Yes, Wal-Mart has them, that is where I got mine. They are in the section with the baby items such as bottles and cups. If you can't find them there any child type store should have them. Good Luck!
@SwtJenlove (1090)
• United States
10 Jun 08
Thank you! I will plan on my next trip to the store to include buying me one of these leashes. Not to sure where to get them at tho, the only store other then a grocery store is walmart would they have them there?
@SwtJenlove (1090)
• United States
11 Jun 08
my son likes to be carried but its hard when i have the baby in my arms. Ive carried both of them at the same time before but after a while your arms get kinda tired lol
@sylvia13 (1850)
• Nelson Bay, Australia
10 Jun 08
I was told off once for having my daughter on a leash, but I think it is great, especially if you have two kids, one that can walk and another who is on a pram. That is the only way to keep them safe, even though I admit it might look awful, especially to older people!
@SwtJenlove (1090)
• United States
10 Jun 08
yea it might look horrible but when it comes to safety you gotta do what you gotta do. i cherish my kids life and if i gotta get dirty looks from people for having my kid on a leash then thats something i gotta deal with. atleast my son is safe :) i appreciate all of the repsonses i have gotten on this :)
@ersmommy1 (12588)
• United States
10 Jun 08
Better safe than sorry. I had one, and it was useful. It will provide you with a certain sense of security. You only have 2 hands. And 2 kids. In time he will outgrow the running toward dangerous situations. But that takes time and practice. Having and using the "leash" doesn't make you a bad parent. It shows you have weighed the possibilities. It is a mommy helper. If people didn't use them, or they were bad, they wouldn't sell them.
@SwtJenlove (1090)
• United States
10 Jun 08
True and thanks. I just worry about him because he is a on the go kinda boy, he will go and wont look back. we have a canal behind our house and he runs around like its nothing. the bad thing is when its gator season there are baby gators out there.. so we dont play outside very much and when we do i have her in the stroller so i can chase him if need be and i close the gate so he cant run out of the yard into the road anymore. but as far as in public yea i need something because 2 hands arent enough to do all i need to do.
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
10 Jun 08
Because your son is too young to understand the dangers that are around him I think getting a harness for him is in his best interests. You have to think about his safety above all else and he sounds like a real handful!
@SwtJenlove (1090)
• United States
10 Jun 08
he's more then a handful at times but i wouldnt trade him for anything in this world.
@metschica25 (5399)
• United States
10 Jun 08
My lord no ! I think they are for animals too . I have seen many kids on them when I am at the mall , and have seen parents just hank the child . I think it is mean , and I feel bad for the child. Maybe, the fact is that all the kids I have seem on them the parents still will scream and just be rough with them . You could always give it a try for a saftey issue, but it is all up to you .
@SwtJenlove (1090)
• United States
10 Jun 08
I wouldnt be like that with my kid. i just want to keep him from running from me and i cant do that without some kind of help. I know some people abuse it thats why i was a little iffy because ive seen parents who pretty much treat there kid like an animal when they are on it but i would never do that. i need it more as a safety item. Not something id use on a daily bases. If i am out with the whole family i wont need it but if its just me and the 2 little ones then i definately need one. Thanks for your input tho :) I appreciate you responding.
@deebomb (15304)
• United States
10 Jun 08
I think that a person should do what ever it takes to keep a child safe. If that means putting them on a leash then do it with out hesitation. If it means a swat on the back side for running away then give them a swat. The child's safety come first no matter what.
@SwtJenlove (1090)
• United States
10 Jun 08
I am definately a firm believer of swatting on the butt for running off. :)
@Foxxee (3651)
• United States
10 Jun 08
I agree with using the safety harnesses for children. The younger ones that are just learning to walk or explore should have one on when at the zoo or maybe a shopping center. I don't think parents that use them are bad for doing so. We don't know their reason, maybe they have a child that like to dart off.. or maybe they have a child that is Autistic or something and they just need to use it.
I don't care what other people feel about them, sometimes they need to be used.
I used one on my daughter when she was like a year old and when she finally caught on that she had to hold my hand, I stopped, but some parents are not that lucky and might need to use them longer...
So, I don't disagree with them...
@SwtJenlove (1090)
• United States
10 Jun 08
Thank you, I am considering more and more on getting one becasuse i do believe in the safety of my children and would hate for something to happen to any of them. Thanks for responding.
@recycledgoth (9894)
•
10 Jun 08
When my son was very little he was constantly running off and no amount of holding hands would keep him close by. I was at my wits end trying to keep him close and under some kind of control until I finally gave in and got a toddler leash. The difference was amazing as I knew he couldn't run into the road or wander off.
@SwtJenlove (1090)
• United States
10 Jun 08
Yea its pretty scarey when you know they will run and have no fear when they do it, I guess they are still to young to actually know something bad could happen.
@Gemmygirl1 (2867)
• Australia
10 Jun 08
I think this is a personal decision - i think they have made the leash things more appealing these days with backpack styles & the like - so it doesn't look like your child is on an animal leash.
I have't used one & i still don't think i would but my Sister in Law uses them for her kids as she has a 5 year old, twin 3 year olds & a now 1 year old so with so many little ones, it's the easiest & safest option to have all of her kids with her without worrying about them running off. She swears by them when it comes to going places - especially busy places where they all have to walk.
I might have a change of heart when baby #2 arrives but i cant say for sure, we'll have to wait until that time comes. For the moment though, my daughter has just gone 2 & she's more than happy to walk holding hands so if i can keep that up then a leash really wouldn't be necessary.
If you think you're better off using one then go with it - they're supposed to be very handy & if you have lots of younger kids then it's definitely the safest option! Good luck!
@SwtJenlove (1090)
• United States
10 Jun 08
Thank you, A friend of mine has 2 girls who are 2 years old and one is about 3 months old.. same age as my kids and she uses one of the leashes with the backpack style for her little girl because she does the same thing as my son and runs off but she turns around as soon as her mom is out of sight as to where my son doesnt, he just keeps going.
@vicneedscoffee (1259)
• United States
9 Jun 08
I only have one child and I always felt the same way. I said there is no way I am leashing my kid like a dog. Then one day I commented on someone who was using one and my mom told me she had one for my older brother when he was young because he would do the same exact things you are describing and she too was afraid he would get himself hurt. My brother was hyperactive and could not sit still so as soon as the door opened he was off and running. After our conversation I started thinking about it and I can understand people using them now. If I felt I needed a harness to keep my child safe I would do it in a heartbeat.
@SwtJenlove (1090)
• United States
9 Jun 08
Yes i agree also. I just want my son to be safe and with having no fear and just taking off like that i cant risk something else happening to him. he thinks its funny too when im chasing him but he doesnt realize the danger at the same time.
1 person likes this
@SwtJenlove (1090)
• United States
9 Jun 08
Thank you, Yea i would be very careful in an airport of all places too.
@Valenas (1507)
• United States
9 Jun 08
Leads are not just for dogs, and if anyone tells you different, do not listen to them. Your son's safety comes first, not the appearance, orI what others might think, or the fact that you do not want to feel like you are treating him like an animal, because you aren't. You simply want him to be safe, and with two children now, I am sure that it is becoming hard to manage. You've already had enough close calls. I hope that your son stays safe.
@SwtJenlove (1090)
• United States
9 Jun 08
Yea definately had to many close calls. I have 3 kids but the oldest one is normally out doing his thing and when i have things to do he isnt with me so its normally just the 2 littlest ones and yes its hard to manage both of them. thanks for the advice :)
