Do you leash your kid?

2stepscloser

On my way to work this morning, I was listening to the local radio station and they were discussing parents placing their kids on leashes to prevent them from running off. One of the radio hosts commented that leashing your kid is only for fat and lazy parents. My daughter is older now but I would have never considered putting her on a leash! What in the world is wrong with holding your kid's hand? Leashes are for animals, not children.

Stump_Likker

Mine is older too but I would have never leashed her. Duct tape her to a chair? Yes. Leash? Never.

simplycorey

All five of mine have gone unleashed. I don't judge though. My friend uses a leash for her 2 year old because she says he like to explore, be independent, etc. To each their own. I don't think people are being lazy because you still have to pay attention. I think some parents just want some extra security knowing their child won't be able to run off. I know my kids have let go of my hand when I am not expecting it. I just don't like the way it looks and have preferred to teach them to stay with me.

Toblave

Nope....being 16, he'd probably figure out how to take it off. :-(

TamTastic

I've never used a leash. Though there have been times at a crowded fair that the number of people made me so nervous that I have said "Wow, a leash would be comforting"........but I made do without.

jboccio90

This topic has already been discussed on here and it did not go well.

Some children don't hold hands well and slip out of their parents grip and if it came down to putting your kids in a backpack leash or them dying by running in front of a car or getting stolen, I would go with the leash.

How about you not judge other parents?

FranceyPants

Seeing kids on leashes makes me so angry! I DON'T GET IT

Agreed, why can't you just hold your kid's hand? If you leash them that doesn't teach them anything about respecting you as a parent. I also think there is much to be said for physical contact/human touch from parent to child. Putting a leash between you is just weird.

Edit: I'm sorry, I know I shouldn't be judging other parents, I feel bad about feeling this way but it's just a pet peeve of mine

kckBxer396

I leash mine in public,but she's my 2 year old fur baby (a kitty named Yoshihiro). Whenever we have children, I don't intend to leash them. We will see how paranoid I am by that time though. I feel that it may provide extra safety in a crowded or busy environments in case the child wriggles free of my grasp. As I said though, I don't intend to make leashing my children a regular thing in my household....maybe if we're taking a trip to somewhere really crowded.

2stepscloser

This topic has already been discussed on here and it did not go well.

Some children don't hold hands well and slip out of their parents grip and if it came down to putting your kids in a backpack leash or them dying by running in front of a car or getting stolen, I would go with the leash.

How about you not judge other parents?

I didn't realize this topic had previously been discussed. Whether it be right or wrong, I think we are all guilty of judging others to some degree.

AnchoredinHimfitness

I do not think is lazy or crazy. Doesn't bother me either way. There are BIGGER things to be concerned about. If someone needs to use one...who cares?! To me, I think it is silly how worked up people get over this topic!!!!!!

jaecamp1

I thought the same things until I had twins. Now I WISH I had baby leashes so I could take them out when I'm by myself without strapping them in a stroller. Honestly, I'd much rather dirty looks from judgemental people than the loss of a child.

cupcakes_and_cardio

When my daughter was younger (she's now 2) we would every now and again, especially if she wanted to get out of her stroller and walk at the mall, then we definitely would, just for extra precaution. We don't now because she can listen and understand and she stays close anyway, also holds our hands. I don't really see why it's anyone's business anyway...

edited to say that she now holds our hands anyway

LilacDreamer

I was leashed.

I remember it looked like a giant plastic springy coil key ring that was attached to 2 wrist bands. Then one of the bands was attached to me.

There was also a waist attachment, which they also put on me sometimes.

It was humiliating.

1_Slick_Chick

I only have one child..so, he was always on my hip:happy:

kkerri

I tried it once when I was 9 (but felt like 19) months pregnant with sciatia and bad feet and was just freaking sick of chasing my toddler around in public.

But, it still seemed stupid so I never did it again.

I am just doing the happy dance now though that all this stupid crap is behind me (leashing, breastfeeding, crying it out, etc. etc. etc.).

kkerri

I was also one of those terrible (as I was actually told once) mothers who used a playpen so I could keep a clean house and shower (things some mommy-martyrs cannot manage to do when playpens are seen as evil torture chamber devices derived solely to break the parent-child bond.


---> Did I mention that I am glad to be way past all this stuff ;-)

Still1Workoutatatime

No

Trechechus

No. Because he is a cat.

bohica36

I wish my neighbors would leash their kids.

Kanlassak

I was apparently leashed occasionally when I was younger, because me and my brother found the leash and asked what it was. I don't remember it, so I'm assuming it was when I was <5 with a 2 year younger brother. By the time I was old enough to look where I was going and come back when called, I wasn't on the leash anymore.

It seems to have left no lasting trauma, and I'm sure it was a comfort to my mom, given she had nightmares about losing children in crowds.

AlongCame_Molly

If my kid was a flight risk--totally, and unashamedly YES I would use a leash. No amount of bad-mouthing my mothering skills or dirty looks or snide comments by some idiot (not directed at you, OP) is going to make me remove a safely tool from my arsenal if I think my kid needs it.

For one, it gives an overactive child a bit more freedom than hand-holding/hip/shopping cart seat might, and keeps me sane.

This is only if the child enjoys it, though. I have a little tail-leash monkey-backpack that I bought for my toddler, and he HATES wearing it, he just wants to hug and hold it like a stuffed animal. If I were to make him wear it to the grocery store it would cause more fuss and drama than without, so I choose not to. But if he likes it and were happy wearing it, I would use it all the time. No shame in it if the child enjoys it.

xmysterix

No, but I don't have a child who bolts for the road or has any developmental issues that may prevent them from understanding risk. I don't judge.

CaptainHNNNGGG

Parents these days..

Squamation

I never thought I would leash my child until we went to the Grand Canyon. He was 2 and while a well behaved 2 year old, there were still random bouts of running to see something, and unsteady legs that made me nervous. They sell leashes in the gift shop and I bought one and used it.

It was the only time he's ever been leashed but for me it was necessary.

it wasn't the entire time- he spent lots of time in the backpack, and there were many places where there was a solid wall between certain death and the tourists. The leash was only for the times/places that there were NO barriers (aside from myself) between him and the edge of a cliff (which was more frequent than I was expecting).

leslturn8

Some cases sure its important, like if you have more then on child under 3.
If you have a child under 3 that has more energy then a pro athelete and is beyond hyper and is like the speed of light, then yes.
If your at an event like the royal easter show etc. Sure.

But if your standing in the shopping centre, looking at shoes through the window, while your on the phone to who ever while your leashed child is being ignored like its a dog....no

I know a mother of 5 and when she had with 3 children under 3 and they all liked different things, she would tell me its hard to shop as they run off. But do you know what....she wont leash her children, she is teaching them what she expects from them and now one is 4, they know the deal.

Each to their own, I just shake my head every time I see them and dont get me started on children over the age of 3 having a dummy all the time.

AlongCame_Molly

Seeing kids on leashes makes me so angry! I DON'T GET IT

Agreed, why can't you just hold your kid's hand? If you leash them that doesn't teach them anything about respecting you as a parent. I also think there is much to be said for physical contact/human touch from parent to child. Putting a leash between you is just weird.

Edit: I'm sorry, I know I shouldn't be judging other parents, I feel bad about feeling this way but it's just a pet peeve of mine

I can tell without even knowing you or visiting your profile that you do not have children of your own. It is very clear that you "do not get it". Ever had to watch multiple small children, one or more of whom are escape artists and flight risks? Yeah, didn't think so.
How about you not flap your mouth on subjects on which you are woefully and embarrassingly ignorant? Kthnxbai.

kkerri

I can't judge toddlers on leashes as much as I can 8 year olds in strollers at Disney World :-)

Ophidion

honeysprinkles

I seriously don't understand why this is controversial. I'd rather my kid (when I have one) wear a cute little backpack that looks like a stuffed animal and have a "leash" on them in a busy area than have someone grab them or them run off in a second and hurt themselves.

A couple years ago, we took my siblings to Sea World and the youngest was maybe 1 or 2 (old enough to walk but still very young) and I bought one for the trip. Don't care what anyone else thought, at least he was safe and got a little more freedom to be independent and walk around instead of being stuck in the stroller all day!

when I have kids, I'll do the same thing!

Carissa145

This topic has already been discussed on here and it did not go well.

Some children don't hold hands well and slip out of their parents grip and if it came down to putting your kids in a backpack leash or them dying by running in front of a car or getting stolen, I would go with the leash.

How about you not judge other parents?

Or you could just train the kid to behave better. I think that's better in the long run.

randomtai

None of my kids had a leash. They didn't go running off and they all listened to me.