What Are You All's Opinion On...

[Sunchimes]

Oh, that makes sense. Thanks, Nanny. I was thinking something like elastic or something. That might be easier to use than the vest when we take the stroller out.

[familyschoolcare]

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.

When my son was young the only ones I saw had a "long" "leash" on them.

the ones you are describong would have made me feel better about using them.

[Hunni Bee]

I usually attach the end that you hold to my belt instead of holding it, unless cars are around or I need to guide my nephew in a certain direction, because...

...first time I put it on him, he barked .

[Sunchimes]

Barked? :: :: :: ::

[Sunchimes]

Familyschoolcare, if I can, I'll try to get a picture of it on our walk tomorrow.

[Mommy2One]

In my pre-child days I swore I'd never use one but we ended up buying one for a trip to Disney when my daughter was 1.5-2yo and going through a phase that she hated holding hands, hating sititng in a stroller and hated being carried - she'd just figured out this walking thing and was determined to be free!

My daughter loved and hugged her monkey but I used it exactly once. She'd still try to go one way when we were going the other and in crowded areas we still had to hold hands or pick her up to avoid tripping people, which was more of a battle after her previous "freedom." It ended up, for us, being one more thing to carry around and more hassel than it was worth.

She's now 2.5yo and our babysitter (accurate term in this case, not a knock on childcare providers) occasionally uses it when they go to Disney or other outdoor fieldtrips. The sitter's friend that they have playdates with has one for her 2.5yo son so if one of them has his/her monkey on, the other one wants his/hers too. Given the chance, my daughter will put it on at home and ask me to "hold her tail," which is so SHE can lead ME around ::

[permanentvacation]

I love how this forum asks for everyone's opinions then attacks you if you don't agree with them!

My OPINION is that it's sad and pathetic that a parent can't control and teach their 2-4 year old to obey them which makes them feel the need to put their child on a leash. That's my opinion and I am entitled to it AND you did ask for everyone's opinion! It seems, though that you should have told me my opinion so you were happy with it.

It amazes me that my parents, my grandparents, my great grandparents, etc. NEVER had any of these safety measures and simply taught the children to behave and obey. However nowadays, the child - even at age 2, makes the rules. Parents are doing all sorts of things to let the child have/do what they want and the parents drive themselves crazy and buy all sorts of contraptions to allow the child to do what they want instead of teaching the child that what they want to do is simply not allowed. As they get older, the children begin to tell the adults what to do and how to do it. Nowadays, the children rule and the parents learn to adjust their behavior so the kids can do what they want instead of the other way around. It's quite backwards in my opinion.

[Meyou]

I love how this forum asks for everyone's opinions then attacks you if you don't agree with them!

My OPINION is that it's sad and pathetic that a parent can't control and teach their 2-4 year old to obey them which makes them feel the need to put their child on a leash. That's my opinion and I am entitled to it AND you did ask for everyone's opinion! It seems, though that you should have told me my opinion so you were happy with it.

It amazes me that my parents, my grandparents, my great grandparents, etc. NEVER had any of these safety measures and simply taught the children to behave and obey. However nowadays, the child - even at age 2, makes the rules. Parents are doing all sorts of things to let the child have/do what they want and the parents drive themselves crazy and buy all sorts of contraptions to allow the child to do what they want instead of teaching the child that what they want to do is simply not allowed. As they get older, the children begin to tell the adults what to do and how to do it. Nowadays, the children rule and the parents learn to adjust their behavior so the kids can do what they want instead of the other way around. It's quite backwards in my opinion.

My parents had one for my brother "the runner" over 30 years ago. It was leather and had metal buckles. My mom had 3 kids...two that listened and one that didn't. My brother played outside with a harness on for about a year and it was attached to a clothesline running the length of our yard. He had access to the whole yard but couldn't take off. My dad recently reattached the line since the rings were still bolted in place and he used it for his elderly cat in the same way as it was used for my brother. The cat is a runner too.

[familyschoolcare]

Familyschoolcare, if I can, I'll try to get a picture of it on our walk tomorrow.

cool thanks I am very visual

[Meeko]

I love how this forum asks for everyone's opinions then attacks you if you don't agree with them!

My OPINION is that it's sad and pathetic that a parent can't control and teach their 2-4 year old to obey them which makes them feel the need to put their child on a leash. That's my opinion and I am entitled to it AND you did ask for everyone's opinion! It seems, though that you should have told me my opinion so you were happy with it.

It amazes me that my parents, my grandparents, my great grandparents, etc. NEVER had any of these safety measures and simply taught the children to behave and obey. However nowadays, the child - even at age 2, makes the rules. Parents are doing all sorts of things to let the child have/do what they want and the parents drive themselves crazy and buy all sorts of contraptions to allow the child to do what they want instead of teaching the child that what they want to do is simply not allowed. As they get older, the children begin to tell the adults what to do and how to do it. Nowadays, the children rule and the parents learn to adjust their behavior so the kids can do what they want instead of the other way around. It's quite backwards in my opinion.

I'm in my 50's and my mother used one on me. She's was a hands on, stay at home Mom who spent hours playing with me, teaching me and in my honest opinion was and still is the perfect mother. She's not lazy and she sure didn't let me do whatever I wanted!! She used it as a safety device because she loved me, wanted me safe and knew that I was a lively, inquisitive child who would have darted across the road to see that cute puppy before she could have stopped me. I wasn't a bad child...I obeyed her and respected her...but I was a child and no child is perfect 24/7.

With my "leash" on, I could walk safely and yet still bend to check out an ant or a flower and be amazed by the world around me. I could walk comfortably instead of having my little arm stretched above me.

I have always taught my day care kids and my own kids that electrical outlets are dangerous. But I still use covers in them. I guess I'm just lazy because my mother/grandmother/great-grandmother never used them.

My grandmother used to use a washboard to do her laundry. I'm so lazy....I use a washer and dryer.

My mother used to write all her letters by hand. I use e-mail.

My dad and I used to walk up the street to the public phone box to call my grandparents because we didn't have a phone at home. Then my parents got "lazy" and had one installed when I was 15 years old.

Any gadget that makes life safer or more convenient doesn't necessarily mean a person is lazy.

[Sunchimes]

Permanentvacation, I had a thought about your post. What we need to keep in mind is that many of us are dcp and we use these for our dck. First, because we can't control how the parents do their job, we just need to safeguard the little speedy escape artists we are loaned for the day. When there are parents such as you describe, we are limited in how much we can counteract that in dc. Second, we have more liability issues than parents. If using one of these will keep us from having our life destroyed in all ways it would be destroyed if one of the kids was hit by a car, then using it has to be a good thing.

Maybe the parents won't control them. Maybe they've been blessed with one who is completely bull-headed and Dr Spock himself couldn't control him. Then end result is that as dcp, we have a tool that will protect us and the kids. It's a tool, not a device of torture or control.

[Blackcat31]

I love how this forum asks for everyone's opinions then attacks you if you don't agree with them!

My OPINION is that it's sad and pathetic that a parent can't control and teach their 2-4 year old to obey them which makes them feel the need to put their child on a leash. That's my opinion and I am entitled to it AND you did ask for everyone's opinion! It seems, though that you should have told me my opinion so you were happy with it.

It amazes me that my parents, my grandparents, my great grandparents, etc. NEVER had any of these safety measures and simply taught the children to behave and obey. However nowadays, the child - even at age 2, makes the rules. Parents are doing all sorts of things to let the child have/do what they want and the parents drive themselves crazy and buy all sorts of contraptions to allow the child to do what they want instead of teaching the child that what they want to do is simply not allowed. As they get older, the children begin to tell the adults what to do and how to do it. Nowadays, the children rule and the parents learn to adjust their behavior so the kids can do what they want instead of the other way around. It's quite backwards in my opinion.

You are absolutely entitled to your opinion and it should carry no more and no less weight than anyone elses, however, the words you used and the way in which you said it made me (personally) feel as though you were saying I was a sad and pathetic parent who chose to focus ONLY on myself and not even bother to teach my child right from wrong.

To me your words were an insult and I reacted. I am sure that what you said wasn't personal or directed at anyone, but much like understanding what it is like to be a child care provider when you are a parent and not on the business end of things, having a child that absolutely required a "leash" for safety reasons is very similar. You don't understand unless you have been there and/or encountered a child that really needs one (like mine).

I also think the leashes in some cases are funny and even used in place of "bad" parenting. But with that being said, there are plenty of legit reasons for using one. I for one, was/am a very strict parent who did teach my children right from wrong. They obeyed and they were punished appropriately if they didn't.

However, when it came to the safety and basically the life of my child, who didn't fully understand that dead means dead forever at 2-4 years old, I glady used a leash. I am not ashamed or embarrassed and I would do it again if necessary. My first priority will always be the child's (mine or DCK's) safety long before I will ever worry about what anyone else thinks.

I think your reponse would have been more tolerated had you said "some" parents because not all parents are lazy and choose to focus on their own needs....unless one of those needs is to have an alive and safe child.

[My3cents]

I love how this forum asks for everyone's opinions then attacks you if you don't agree with them!

My OPINION is that it's sad and pathetic that a parent can't control and teach their 2-4 year old to obey them which makes them feel the need to put their child on a leash. That's my opinion and I am entitled to it AND you did ask for everyone's opinion! It seems, though that you should have told me my opinion so you were happy with it.

It amazes me that my parents, my grandparents, my great grandparents, etc. NEVER had any of these safety measures and simply taught the children to behave and obey. However nowadays, the child - even at age 2, makes the rules. Parents are doing all sorts of things to let the child have/do what they want and the parents drive themselves crazy and buy all sorts of contraptions to allow the child to do what they want instead of teaching the child that what they want to do is simply not allowed. As they get older, the children begin to tell the adults what to do and how to do it. Nowadays, the children rule and the parents learn to adjust their behavior so the kids can do what they want instead of the other way around. It's quite backwards in my opinion.

I kind of agree with you and I do see your point, but.....

I think because society has changed so much that kid's push the rules and dare to explore and do whatever they want more. We have created this atmosphere!!!

My 3cents is do what works for you! I don't think any of the providers or parents here are using them like you would for an animal, but they are perceived as being used like that. I think safety is the reason they are being used. I am all for safety. I don't care if it's because you don't want to be 100% eyeballs on the child, if your thinking safety yeah! I find them annoying when I see a parent that won't let their child explore like the other children are able to explore ( like in a children's museum) and only one child to tend with. The parent that is over fluff-kill with not letting a child do what a child does best in a safe place to explore. but........then again, I don't know if that women is pregnant, sick, back issues, whatever and can't. I don't know if the child is a tornado once the restrictions are removed. I don't know, so I feel it is in my best interest to mind my business and have faith that the parent knows their child best to determine putting them on or in a safety device.

[Sunchimes]

Familyschoolcare, I have pictures of the vest for you.

Please overlook the grubbiness of it. This is my chronic drooler and I didn't wash it last night.

This vest was my prototype and I just used what I had in my craft room. The buckles are really overkill-they are too big, and I don't think I really needed 2. My second vest just has one buckle at the top. The vest is very adjustable. This one is worn by everyone from a size 12 month to a 3T, even over the 3T's coat. Just takes a minute to adjust. The straps are adjustable too, but they will probably need re-done after 3T. For the little ones I cross them in back, and for the larger one, I don't cross them. I just snap the little carabiner thing on the ribbon when we walk.

[daycare]

Familyschoolcare, I have pictures of the vest for you.

Please overlook the grubbiness of it. This is my chronic drooler and I didn't wash it last night.

This vest was my prototype and I just used what I had in my craft room. The buckles are really overkill-they are too big, and I don't think I really needed 2. My second vest just has one buckle at the top. The vest is very adjustable. This one is worn by everyone from a size 12 month to a 3T, even over the 3T's coat. Just takes a minute to adjust. The straps are adjustable too, but they will probably need re-done after 3T. For the little ones I cross them in back, and for the larger one, I don't cross them. I just snap the little carabiner thing on the ribbon when we walk.

omg sooo cute want to make me some too....