Do you leash your kid?

Naomi0504

Out of my 4 kids, only 2 needed the harness. They are all 4 parented the same. Instructions, guidance, etc. Every kid is different and has different needs. Obviously.

mellyish

My sister is 2 years 10 months and super independent and loves getting into everything and anything. She is curious, smart, talks like a 5 year old, and if we don't have her on a leash when we are out, or in the cart SHE WILL RUN OFF. I mean **** she'll try climbing out of the cart too and occasionally be successful, she doesn't care how high up it is, she's a little daredevil.

Anyways she actually likes her monkey leash cause we started using it before she was two, seriously as soon as she was born she was always moving, and as soon as she could walk well you get the picture. Everyone and her even like joking she has a monkey on her back, it's very rare we get any opposition from people in public because she's such a happy kid.

smokeyg01

Leash....no.... My kids need shock collars. And a probing stick.

FixIngMe13

No I don't you come up with other strategies as a parent if your really that worried, alot of children haven't had proper boundaries setting by parents. My boy knows nothing different than you hold hands as soon as you leave the car, and until your home again, I think the ones who push boundaries and scare their mums are the ones that really truly do need it so I won't judge on that, but I believe you have to start the way you continue to go on, if you don't want your child running off on you you need to teach them and set boundaries for them not to do this. Safety is most important
Thanks Lorel
Mother of 3 year old.

I understand.... and of course all children are different. Setting boundaries is great... if they listen. My 2 boys... perfect listeners. My daughter? She was the exception. I'm a mother of 3 children... and it is wonderful if you have children that listen... and I'm absolutely jealous of you.

Livehappyhealthy

I think it looks funny, but i understand it. instead of sticking a kid in a cart have them walking with you is healthier for them. as well if you have two kids sometimes it may be easier to grocery shop or whatever with them on one. ive seen where one kid ran one way and one wondered off or a stroller rolled. a leash would have prevented a death. i think parents have to do what they have to do.

Livehappyhealthy

i think kids just kind of get curious. so they are tempted to walk off

paperpudding

(I considered it, even bought one. But I never used it. It's really only applicable for children who can or should be in a stroller anyway.)


Totally not getting this logic - how is it better for a child to be in a stroller rather than walking??

And a child in a stroller is more restrained - but its not ok to restrain with a leash/reins??

paperpudding

No I don't you come up with other strategies as a parent if your really that worried, alot of children haven't had proper boundaries setting by parents. My boy knows nothing different than you hold hands as soon as you leave the car, and until your home again, I think the ones who push boundaries and scare their mums are the ones that really truly do need it so I won't judge on that, but I believe you have to start the way you continue to go on, if you don't want your child running off on you you need to teach them and set boundaries for them not to do this. Safety is most important
Thanks Lorel
Mother of 3 year old.

Gotta love all these parents whose one child does xyz so they know what is best for all other children.

So many sanctimonious know it alls in this thread.

Yes there are other strategies but if using a leash/reins is one that works for you, use it.
Big deal.

Of course you need to teach them but leashes/reins can be useful for some parents and some children while they are learning.

You don't have to have used one yourself to get this.

Nikoruo

Oh my, i saw someone today with their child on a leash. First time! and then i see this topic haha

fullersun

! What in the world is wrong with holding your kid's hand?

Hold your arm up above your head for an extended period of time. Pretend you are three years old. I bet it gets tiring, doesn't it?

cookn_mama

I leashed my son when he was 2 and we went to Disney World. I had 2 other older children with also. I got a lot of stares and comments but I came back with, "If someone took him, they would bring him back in under 2 minutes flat." He was later diagnosed ADHD. Not that that is a reason to leash! But it was the only way I could control him and watch 2 others at the same time. It is helpful if the "spouse/so" is supportive and helpful. Mine wasn't so much.
My granddaughter has a monkey leash and loves it! And so does grandma. I can take her to parades and not worry about her getting out in traffic or running after the horses or the occassional stray dog. Until the child can develop a sense of harm, urgency, listening and following commands, there is nothing wrong with leashing them to a responsible adult.

cookn_mama

! What in the world is wrong with holding your kid's hand?

Hold your arm up above your head for an extended period of time. Pretend you are three years old. I bet it gets tiring, doesn't it?

Exactly!!!!

Madame_Goldbricker

Oh my, i saw someone today with their child on a leash. First time! and then i see this topic haha

Apparently they've been around since the 17th Century.

http://histclo.com/style/other/teath.html

HBC has very limited information on children's tethers. It is definitely not a new fad. Some painters like Rubens or Pieter de Hooch have shown children on leashes and or ribbons. There is some information that they were not uncommon for extremely young children in the 17th-19th centuries. We do note images of aristocratic children wearing harnesses from the 17th and 18th centuries. The best example is the painting of Larguillière picturing Louis 14 with his grandson, the future Louis XV on reins. We do not have comparable images of peasant children. This may be that only children of the upper class, who were considered more important to protect, were put in tethers. It could be that the poorer children were no treated similarly and there are just no paintings recording it. There are many depictions of leading strings in the 19th century, although children's walking harnesses are not common. The first clearly recognizable harness we have noted was the son of Napoleon I in the early 19th century.

MelsAuntie

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

Why does it make you "so angry" when you see kids on leashes? Why should you care what other people do with THEIR kids??

emmanap91

It's really frakkin judgmental to start a thread condemning people with different parenting techniques than yourself.

I don't have kids, but I was a leash kid when I was young. You know what? My mom had three small children (twins and me) to deal with, and I was a run-and-hide type of child whenever we went out. Basically, I was an *kitten* kid. My mother is not fat or lazy, and she is a wonderful mom IMO. But she doesn't have three hands (to those who say "hold your kid's hand") and all the teaching in the world doesn't take the ****ishness out of the kid (to those who said teach your kid to stay close).

Don't get me wrong, eventually I grew up a bit and behaved - but there was at least a year-long period in which I was prone to wandering off. I don't think it's wrong for someone to leash their kid, and I don't think it's wrong NOT to leash your kid. But don't judge others for their choice when A. it's not hurting the kid in any way (unless it is, then there's a bigger issue) and B. you don't know anything about the details of their life or their parenting techniques.


edit: mfp censors swears? seriously? what the ****?!

Sapporo

I bought an Elmo backpack with a tether just to tick off Judgey McJudgersons out in public. I haven't used in the past year I have had it, thanks for reminding me of it.

brieaunnamcconnell

I have not, but I caught my babysitter doing it with my son who is almost 3. I really didn't get upset with her because he has autism and he will just run off and not stop when his name is called. I thought about doing it myself after that because I will not let him play outside for that reason.

paperpudding

My exgirlfriend made it clear she was a fan of this. I most definetly am not and everytime I see a kid on a leash I laugh my *kitten* off and take a picture and send it to all of my friends with some type of caption.

Wow, and you are proud of yourself doing this?

Whether or not you agree with another parenting technique, it is beyond me how any rational mature person could think this creepy behaviour is ok :noway:

kkerri

I love the people who say the only people who do this are fat and lazy when you can tell from the pictures that most of the people who said they have used one are not overweight, have multiple young kids, etc.


I also love how many people criticize, but don't have kids. And, the ones that do and are older (and not from this generation of "cell phone use" etc.) were you the parent who toted kids to doctors appointments and grocery stores? Just curious.

Like I said, I used one one time and felt silly, but was also grossly pregnant and in pain. Something that a lot with such strong opinions also don't get.

Blondiegrl11

Some adults collar and leash their partners, you don't hear them complaining. To each their own