What Are You All's Opinion On...

[godiva83]

I definitely see there place and benefits, but I do agree they can tend to give a false sense of security and for the child a sense of freedom where they are 'free' from rules.

I think it is still important a child learns to hold a hand, abide by safety rules in public areas such as not running off, touching items in the store and not following parents rules for safety in a parking lot per say.
I think they should be used in a combined effort with a parent not simply as a leash with a child thinking they can run off but only till I feel the tug of my leash KWIM?

[permanentvacation]

I think it's sad and pathetic that a parent can't even control their 2-4 year old and have to put them on a leash! These contraptions are yet another way to allow parents not to be a parent and focus more on themselves/whatever else other than teaching their child to obey them.

[JenNJ]

I think it's sad and pathetic that a parent can't even control their 2-4 year old and have to put them on a leash! These contraptions are yet another way to allow parents not to be a parent and focus more on themselves/whatever else other than teaching their child to obey them.

So I guess I am selfish then. I'd rather be selfish parent of a safe child than see him squished under a car.

My son is almost 6 now and a very well behaved child. He had a period where he was defiant and FAST. As I said in my post before, we were holding hands and he slipped out and ran. Should I have carried him in parking lots from then on? Grabbed his hand so tightly that I bruised it? No, instead I used a helpful product that aided in this difficult training period. The backpack allowed me to hold his hand and have a backup in case he ran again. And it worked wonderfully. I was able to teach him how to behave in parking lots and roads without the dear that he would get away from me and be killed.

What you are saying is equivalent to saying that electrical outlet covers are the lazy way out and gates are sad and pathetic because we are using them instead of parenting. These are SAFETY products.

Get over yourself.

[Meeko]

I think it's sad and pathetic that a parent can't even control their 2-4 year old and have to put them on a leash! These contraptions are yet another way to allow parents not to be a parent and focus more on themselves/whatever else other than teaching their child to obey them.

My children obeyed me. But they were still children. Even the best behaved child will see something and run for it. I honestly used mine most when my kids were learning to walk on their own outside. Saved MANY face plants on the concrete.

By your reasoning, we should get rid of outlet covers and if we're good parents, just train our children not to touch. We should stop anchoring furniture and train our kids not to climb.

We should be able to leave dangerous objects around and if we're good enough parents our children won't ever get hurt.......

Here's the thing that convinced me most about these awesome gadgets.....

Next time you go to the mall, walk in the entrance and hold your arm high up in the air. And keep it there for two hours. And walk a little faster than is comfortable for you. That's what a two year old has to do if his mother insists he be a "good" boy. He's going to hate it because it HURTS. His arm is going to ache from lack of blood flow, and his little legs are going to be tired trying to keep up. If he pulls his arm away to get some relief...he's going to be in trouble for not listening...poor kid!

Try for just a few minutes and you'll see how much your arm aches. The restraints allow the child to walk at a more natural pace and with proper arm movement which is better for balance and stride. A comfortable child is more likely to be a happy child.

It has nothing to do with "bad parenting"! I am all for anything that makes parenting easier. My day care is chock full of outlets covers, every piece of furniture that can be anchored...is. I have baby gates to keep the children out of areas I don't wan't them in.......am I a lazy provider because I should have "trained" the kids to stay out of that area?

[MissK]

I have 2 of these and love them - my children don't mind wearing them and think they're cute as well. I have to say that I was most happy to have them when we took them to the MN State Fair. Having a 4yr old and a 3yr old with all of those people around? You better believe I'm going to do what I need to to keep them by me and keep them safe. They never wandered anyway, but imagine how easy it would be to get separated with all of those people around...scary stuff
My children do know better than to wander, but they are kids...they get distracted. In places with an abundance of people you can get separated by a big group of people who walk by...the possibilities are endless. I am not a lazy parent - I am a good proactive parent

[Hunni Bee]

I think it's sad and pathetic that a parent can't even control their 2-4 year old and have to put them on a leash! These contraptions are yet another way to allow parents not to be a parent and focus more on themselves/whatever else other than teaching their child to obey them.

That's not what it's for, or at least what I use it for. Its so the child can explore his or her environment without but will be prevented from running or wandering away, or being led away by a stranger. Two or three year old kids dont really understand danger that well, and a parents one or two seconds of inattentiveness can have dire consequences. So I think it's great.

[daycare]

That's not what it's for, or at least what I use it for. Its so the child can explore his or her environment without but will be prevented from running or wandering away, or being led away by a stranger. Two or three year old kids dont really understand danger that well, and a parents one or two seconds of inattentiveness can have dire consequences. So I think it's great.

I use hand straps right now on my field trips for those kids that stray off all of the time. With one of me and 6 of them its easy to lose a kid really fast. Even with a helper there I have a hard time keeping one in particular by my side.

I also used them on my own children when they were little and we would travel. Especially at the airport or train station.

I would not use it to go to the mall or place like that for my own children, but would use it in a heartbeat if the situation called for it.

I just ordered a walk along gator from discount school supply and am waiting to get it. I rather be safe than sorry.....

[Sunchimes]

Familyschoolcare, I'm not sure what you mean by being unleashed. The ones I make, and the ones I've seen, don't have the long 20' leash like a dog lead. Mine are, I think, 28" or so. That doesn't give them much leeway, just enough to walk alone. Someone would have to move pretty darn fast to unhook that tiny little spring loaded hook before I got there to stop them. Besides, it seems to me that if someone was going to grab that child, it would be easier to yank them out of my hand and run than to unhook a ribbon from a vest.

I wish you could have seen my 17 mo old dcg yesterday when she noticed her first ant. We were walking, her a few steps ahead, when she noticed it. She immediately dropped to the sidewalk with her surprised face and was thrilled. If she had been holding my hand, she probably wouldn't have even noticed it. We both sat there and watched it and it was fun for both of us.

If they fought it or cried, maybe I would look for a plan B, but they like it and it makes all of us feel better.

[nannyde]

I think it's sad and pathetic that a parent can't even control their 2-4 year old and have to put them on a leash! These contraptions are yet another way to allow parents not to be a parent and focus more on themselves/whatever else other than teaching their child to obey them.

Well I'm pathetic then because I use them every day for my dck's. I use the tot a longs and all they are is a thin wrist band with elastic band that attaches to the stroller.

I'm so afraid of one of these kids bolting off into the street. All it takes is one time and boom.. everything in your world is done. I would loose everything if something like that happened. My livlihood, my nurse's licence, maybe even my freedom. I wouldn't be able to do childcare again. Who would trust me?

It doesn't affect the child in any way. It's not any different than having a bracelet on. Saying it's a leash means we are treating them like a dog. Those are powerful words.

[Sunchimes]

Nanny, I've been wondering about them. How are the wrist things made so that a child can't just pull them off and bolt?

[Country Kids]

I used a harness style on only 1 of my children. The reasoning for it was this child was way more adventurous then the rest. Also, I had more children than hands so no way to hold on to everyone.

Did not agree at all with them-then this child came along and it was needed. How is this child today-still adventurous, full of life, lovable, cuddly, etc. Point is-this child turned out great, nothing wrong with them at all.

The reason I used the harness type is because the wrist ones I was always afraid of them getting off or pulling on it till their wrist would pop or something.

[SilverSabre25]

5888888

I think it's sad and pathetic that a parent can't even control their 2-4 year old and have to put them on a leash! These contraptions are yet another way to allow parents not to be a parent and focus more on themselves/whatever else other than teaching their child to obey them.

I actually used it for my 10-20 month old occasionally only...and then again when we were in CROWDED public places (fair, amusement park, Niagara Falls...) when she was 2-3--added measure of security where she could slip into a crowd and be GONE.

If I lived somewhere where we were taking public transportation a lot (busses, subways, etc) I probably would have put it on her for security's sake until she was 3...not because she was uncontrollable by any means but because of safety, etc. My DD is big (90th %ile in height and 75th in weight) and hard to carry for long stretches.

It's a good blend of security (being carried) and independence (walking) and needs to be used correctly, like anything else. If we had a flower-giving smily, I'd put it here.

[Blackcat31]

I think it's sad and pathetic that a parent can't even control their 2-4 year old and have to put them on a leash! These contraptions are yet another way to allow parents not to be a parent and focus more on themselves/whatever else other than teaching their child to obey them.

I am a sad pathetic parent too.

Apparently, you have never met my son. When he was 2-4, he absolutely needed a "leash" so I could control him! We used a wrist one if that matters.

He was the type of kid who would stick his butt out and say "Go ahead, spank me" and then laugh. He wasn't the kind of kid you could bribe, guide, discipline, punish or control. Take every high needs, high maintenance, angry, ornery, impossible child on this forum that we vent about and multiply it by a 1,000. THAT was my son!

He did what he wanted when he wanted and how he wanted and I swear the only reason he is alive today is because we had him on a "leash".

FWIW~ he is the most gentle, loving, caring, smartest and sweetest man you will ever meet now. .....must have been the trauma of being on a "leash"....

[kayla]

i just bought one for my son (in my belly) i think it gives them freedom to walk by themselves, yet you still are in control... they cant get lost either like i did many times wandering away from my parents at stores, or fairs... The one i bought is a little puppy backpack made bby eddie baur i think is the brand...

[nannyde]

Nanny, I've been wondering about them. How are the wrist things made so that a child can't just pull them off and bolt?

They are like a watch wristband. They are threaded thru the clasp. They could get them off if we allowed them to play with the clasps. From day one they are never allowed to touch the clasp. It would take a bit of work for them to get it off so they would have to have some time. As soon as they touch the clasp with the hand that is not on the tot a long we tell them to "leave it". They aren't allowed to do or undo themselves.

It would take a while for them to thread it back thru especially if they didn't have any practice. They aren't old enough to wear watches so they don't have experience being able to manage a clasp like that. So as long as you train them off the clasp you won't have any problems. If you let them undo themselves at the end of the walk then they are useless.