Do you leash your kid?

ksdedoof

My parents leashed me when I was younger. I was always running away trying to explore and could never find my way back. I'm glad they leashed me, I would probably be long gone if they didn't.

Mia_RagazzaTosta

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.

Or you could understand that there are special needs children, like say those with Autism, who can very easily get away from their mothers.

jwdieter

Would be completely pointless to leash my child. Just have one, and she's not inclined to run off by herself.

But when I see kids on a leash, I just figure the parents are doing what they think is best for their kids. One size does not fit all.

BusyRaeNOTBusty

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.

awise19

I was just talking about this other day with my friend...
I honestly don't think it is such a bad idea because I am more afraid of my child disappearing then how it looks.
Someone could steal your child if he walks off for just a couple minutes to explore and I am very scared of that.
So my children will probably be leashed and taught not to go off alone and things like that.

SpeSHul_SnoflEHk

I couldn't find the gif I wanted, but I stumbled on this one.



Some kids never grow out of it.

awise19

I think it is a ridiculous practice. If this generation would lift their heads from their cell phones and pay attention/interact with their children, it would be an unneccessary practice.

Go ahead and hate on me, but leashes are for pets, not children. Raised three kids and never lost track of them or felt a need to tether them like dogs.

I HATE seeing parents not paying attention to their children as they sit there and text and their child is running around the store at the mall. I just want to scream at them because that is so dangerous, that child could just disappear. I just don't understand that. But I will be paying very close attention to my children and I will still probably leash them because that is one of my biggest fears, turning away to grab something and my child just being gone. I couldn't live with myself, so I will take that step to help that never happen.

stephlahtinen

all i can say, is that as a child i frequently had to have stores shut down and locked til people found me hiding in the clothes racks and my mother was very very attentive. after about the third almost heart attack i gave her, i started to have to wear a little bracelet that connected to a bracelet my mom wore. or by definition on this post, "a leash".

i dont think it was bad, or degrading. i think i was a wanderer and she did it for my own safety.

LizN63

The number of things I said I would never do, and then have done since I've been a parent...

I did try reins when my son was learning to walk and desperate to toddle uncertainly everywhere, but he wouldn't walk with them so I got rid of them. They don't seem to be as frowned upon here in the UK although you never know - the amount of stuff other people judge you on as a parent, they may as well throw this one in too.

Naomi0504

But when I see kids on a leash, I just figure the parents are doing what they think is best for their kids. One size does not fit all.

I agree with this most of all

kkerri

These things were around long before cell phones and texting was popular.

And, FWIW, sometimes parents are actually doing work - you know, to keep a roof over said wandering child's head. Not everyone on a cell phone is screwing around and neglecting their kids for ****s and giggles.

HOPEPATRICK74

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

I agree with this,lol.

ldrosophila

I couldn't find the gif I wanted, but I stumbled on this one.



Some kids never grow out of it.

i agree why don't we leash more men?

k8blujay2

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.

Yup, because we are all going to drag out the stroller every single time we get out of the car to go somewhere... Yeah, no. And my daughter has now learned the "stiff as a board" trick and she is really good at it (hell she pulled it out on my this morning when she all of a sudden decided she didn't want to go on a specific toilet in our house and wanted to go in the other one)... if she doesn't want to sit there is no amount of making her that will get her to sit. I will gladly let you try getting her to sometime.

ironanimal

I hardly use a leash for my dog, so I can't imagine I'll opt for one when my time to have kids rolls around.

My girlfriend however...

jaysull21

Or you could understand that there are special needs children, like say those with Autism, who can very easily get away from their mothers.

This.

myprana

I'd rather see a child attached to a rein than to some car's front bumper. My youngest was such a runner I couldn't even get a rein on him. I had to run everywhere with him or carry him kicking and screaming. We didn't go out much like I did with my older kids.

pawoodhull

Four kids, all adults now, but I only HAD to leash one of them, and just for a short period of time. My husband was working out of town for a few months and I took all 4 to the grocery store. I had two 6 year olds, a 3 year old and an infant. The 3 year old wanted to run, kid just never walked. One of the 6 year olds kept chasing him down and brining him back, but my fear was someone snatching him or snatching the baby if I left her with the twins to go catch him. Next week I took one of the dog's leashes, showed it to the 3 year old, told him if he ran away from me I would leash him to the cart. He was 3, he ran, I leashed. He hated it and it only took about 3 or 4 weeks in a row to get my point across. He stopped running away and stayed close enough for me to reach him at all times. No more leash. BTW, I tied the leash to the cart and clipped it to the back belt buckle on his jeans, never really on his body. I got some comments, but you know what? I didn't care then and I don't care now. It kept him safe and that was the important thing.

TheFairyJester

I will answer this the same way i did on cafemom whenever it comes up.

I have never needed to do this with my son. but if he was the type to run off, especially in crowed areas, yes i would


i would rather have scornful looks now rather than sympathetic at his funeral.

missomgitsica

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

Pro tip: If you know you shouldn't be judging, then shut the hell up and stop judging.

muwchck

Yes I do. I don't with my oldest anymore cause he's finally learned to stay right next to me. But the youngest is 2, and he screams if you stop the stroller/cart. He loves the leash. He picked it out himself, and wants to wear it all the time. I don't do it to keep from holding his hand, I do it to keep from having a screaming child everywhere we go. I hate listening to everyone else's kids scream for no reason, so I don't let mine do it.

MinMin97

I am not against using a leash.

Cindy311

I could see a parent with a special needs child that would have to use a leash (the word is just awful) but otherwise I see it as somewhat helicopter parenting. Not every person who walks past a kid wants to kidnap it or the kid walking two feet away in plain sight doesn't mean it'll get lost. I was recently chastised by a mother at a bounce house because my six year old and another kid bumped heads and I didn't drop everything and rush to his aid next time I'll leash him so I can drag him out of there!

DawnieB1977

I put reins on my son because he started not using a buggy way before he turned 2 and he was a terror and would run off and I was pregnant! When he was 22 months old my daughter was born so I could hardly run after him and look after my newborn at the same time. Also, we get the train a lot and there was no way I was having him loose on a platform. He stopped using reins at 2.5 and was able to be more sensible then.

Ridiculous people saying parents are lazy and on their cell phones etc. I rarely use my mobile phone when I'm out with my kids, and I take my kids out all the time. I just happen to care about their safety. Far worse are the parents who keep their children in pushchairs when they're far too old.

I put reins on my 2 year old daughter sometimes, but usually hold her hand, just have the reins there to grab if necessary. She can be really naughty and run off when she feels like it. I don't particularly want her run over just because she didn't have reins on, so judge all you like!

My kids are active and independent, and safe!

I just read a comment saying put the child in a pushchair instead? Hmm, yeah, because that isn't lazy of course! Far better to et children walk in a safe manner than keep them in a buggy.

dbmata

I think kids on leashes are hilarious.

kdsp2911

My daughter has a leash, she is 18 months old. I'm in no way ashamed of using her leash. I would much rather have my daughter on a leash, than on the front of newspaper headline reading "child kidnapped" or "child ran over".

Opinions are like butt-holes. Everyone has one, most of them stink.
That being said, people are all so very different, that there will never be complete agreement on any one subject. Calling someone fat and lazy just because they have a differing opinion is ignorance.

knittnponder

We never leashed ours and I don't think I would have but in certain situations I could see how it would be helpful I suppose. I'm only in this thread to share what happened to my exBIL.

He was in a clothing store with one of his nephews and had him on a leash. He was looking through clothes and not paying attention to the kid because hey, he's on a leash and can't get far! Well, BIL decides it's time to move to the next rack and starts walking only to find himself pulling the first rack of clothes along behind him. Nephew had apparently removed the leash and attached it to the center of the rack. He was hiding in the next rack over giggling at his uncle. I always relish thinking about EX-BIL's embarrassment over that. :laugh:

tapirfrog

I'd use a leash or whatever was necessary to keep him/her safe. No way would someone else's opinion bother me as much as my own terror and heartbreak if my child got away from me or was taken from me.

Iron_Duchess

I never used a leash for any of my kids but thought about ALL the time. Both my kids are “runners” and think is “cute” to run away from me. I spent years trying to teach them that the parameters I set are for their benefit, but they still push against them. When I was pregnant with my second, and two weeks away from my delivery date my son, two at the time, took off running while I was looking for my keys in a busy parking lot. I tried to run after him, but couldn’t reach him. Thank God someone heard me scream, went after him, and grabbed him just a few seconds before getting hit by a car. I cried like a baby and thought that I was going to have a heart attack right there. I’ve had horrible nightmares about him getting hit by a car since then. That was the last time I left my house alone with any of them. They like to hide, run, and climb. I love my children too much and their safety surpasses the opinions of others. If I could do things again I would leash them.

jenluvsushi

There was a three year old girl that was killed by a car where I live very recently. She ran away from her parents out into traffic on our busy main street and was hit and killed instantly. If putting a safety harness on my child could prevent something like that from happening, then so be it. People who have never had children or who have never had a child that likes to run away (or even hide) have no right to judge. Just wait till you get your own children and see what happens. Little toddlers are often very defiant and have no concept of what can hurt them. Every child is different dependence wise as well...some listen and others do not. I had one child that would never run from me and my next was the exact opposite. I would rather be safe than sorry. A safety harness worked wonders for my 2 year old in crowded stores as she couldn't stand sitting in the shopping cart or stroller. She got some exercise/independence and she was safe. I pick my battles with her....letting her walk was better for all of us in the long run. Bottom line....unless you have walked in my shoes with my particular kid in tow, mind your own business.