Putting your KID on a leash

I'm not a mom, but I don't think leashing your children is a good idea at all. Your parent's did not have to put you on leash when you were a child because you knew your limits and you knew when you got too far away from them that you were in trouble! I know a family with 5 children (4 of which are grade school age an under) and I have never seen their kids on a leash. I also have a sister who has three kids (2 under the age of 5) and her oldest is autisitic, and he can be outo f control at times, and she never used a leash. Both are complicated situations and I feel if they can avoid leashing their children, then just about anyone can. Obviously if you have a child with an extreme mental illness that doesn't understand the concept of personal safety then it may be needed. But I really don't see the point in having an average child attached to a leash, it just shows that the parent is not doing an adequate job of limit setting with their children.

As you said.... you are NOT a mom!

I agree. And also my mum *did* put me on reins when I was a toddler and we were walking on a busy road... why? because even back in the 70s toddlers could still suddenly run off into the traffic. She also used them to pick me up and carry me out of shops if I threw a tantrum in the shop. She'd grab the back of the harness (as opposed to the strap bit that you hold while the child's walking) and simply carry me out of the shop and wait for me to stop tantrumming before going back in again.

Fact is toddlers will always be toddlers and no amount of parenting will make a toddler have the same awareness of danger and ability to follow the parents rules as an older child, because their little brains are simply not developed enough. And however good a parent you are, the child will always go through a learning phase where they are learning the consequences of not following the rules, and in that phase you can't trust them to always do what they're supposed to, and so you have to keep them safe during that phase.

My mom probably should have used one on me, I was a horrible child when we went to stores lol. I was at my worst in the mall.
I always took off and hid in clothing racks, and had to touch EVERYTHING.

As you said.... you are NOT a mom!

I did say that, and I posted my personal opinion. Do you have a problem with that? Because I'm pretty sure that's what the OP was asking for.

Well, being as you are not personally raising a child then. Yes I do have a problem with it. That's all.

I may not have rasied my own children, but there a lot of children in my family that I have helped care for throughout my life. I gave my personal opinion, and there is no reason for you to attack me for that. Just because it's not what you believe, does not mean you have to make it known that you don't agree with me. I don't have a problem with you disagreeing, so why should you have a problem with me. It's not like I'm saying we should outlaw them or anything. "To each his own" I don't know you from a hole in a wall and yet you felt the need to direct your anger at me and it's unnecessary. I simply answered the OP's question, which was what was everyones opinion on using leashes on children.

Working at a daycare, being a nanny, being an early childhood teacher, having younger siblings, or having multiple nieces and nephews is not and never will be the same thing as being a parent.

I am not saying this applies in every situation so please don't take it that way. Most of the children that I see on leashes are trying to break free of it, or wrapping it around their neck or getting into something they shouldnt be all while the parents is gazing off into his or her smart phone or shoving their faces or just completely ignoring the kid. Of course the kids is not being disciplined because the busy parent has no clue what is going on. Most leashed kids I have seen seem to be seeking attention from their parents for most of the time they are on the leash.

That being said, what my wife and I practice have people that question it as well. We are baby wearers. We spend the extra money on a carrier for each of our boys comfort and our own. We have a four year old and an 18 month old. I actually enjoy it a lot, even if I do get the occasional weird glance. Having my four year old on my back keeps him from having to yell at the top of his lungs to get my attention because he usually props his head on my shoulder so we are cheek to cheek almost. We can carry on a conversation as normal people would. I have both of my hands free at all times. It would take a crane to yank him off of my back and try to take him anywhere. He is close to me and I can feel him there all the time so I know he is safe. If he does wish to walk, he can get down and hold my hand and i just keep the carrier on my back. When he is tired, throw him right back up on my back. This was a life-saver on a recent family vacation. We took an Amtrak (highly reccomended if you are taking your time and enjoying your travel) across half of the country. With my hands free I could wheel my luggage and not worry about where my son was going or what he was doing. Or worrying about him getting bounced around by a suitcase or something to that effect. My wife and I walked everywhere during our layovers in D.C. and Chicago. It was amazing how much easier it made things. Our youngest was easliy rocked to sleep by the motion of my wife walking. I do not remember any of us complaining about it at all. I just do not see this being possible with a leash.

I feel that if you are depending on something of this nature for your child's safety, you may want to take a look at your ideas of safety.

I have to say....it is kinda funny when you see it in person.

I'm not a mom, but I don't think leashing your children is a good idea at all. Your parent's did not have to put you on leash when you were a child because you knew your limits and you knew when you got too far away from them that you were in trouble! I know a family with 5 children (4 of which are grade school age an under) and I have never seen their kids on a leash. I also have a sister who has three kids (2 under the age of 5) and her oldest is autisitic, and he can be outo f control at times, and she never used a leash. Both are complicated situations and I feel if they can avoid leashing their children, then just about anyone can. Obviously if you have a child with an extreme mental illness that doesn't understand the concept of personal safety then it may be needed. But I really don't see the point in having an average child attached to a leash, it just shows that the parent is not doing an adequate job of limit setting with their children.

As you said.... you are NOT a mom!

She may not be a mom but she has some VALID points... " Obviously if you have a child with an EXTREME MENTAL ILLNESS that doesn't understand the concept of personal safety then it may be needed. But I really don't see the point in having an average child attached to a leash, it just shows that the parent is not doing an adequate job of limit setting with their children."

I am not saying this applies in every situation so please don't take it that way. Most of the children that I see on leashes are trying to break free of it, or wrapping it around their neck or getting into something they shouldnt be all while the parents is gazing off into his or her smart phone or shoving their faces or just completely ignoring the kid. Of course the kids is not being disciplined because the busy parent has no clue what is going on. Most leashed kids I have seen seem to be seeking attention from their parents for most of the time they are on the leash.

That being said, what my wife and I practice have people that question it as well. We are baby wearers. We spend the extra money on a carrier for each of our boys comfort and our own. We have a four year old and an 18 month old. I actually enjoy it a lot, even if I do get the occasional weird glance. Having my four year old on my back keeps him from having to yell at the top of his lungs to get my attention because he usually props his head on my shoulder so we are cheek to cheek almost. We can carry on a conversation as normal people would. I have both of my hands free at all times. It would take a crane to yank him off of my back and try to take him anywhere. He is close to me and I can feel him there all the time so I know he is safe. If he does wish to walk, he can get down and hold my hand and i just keep the carrier on my back. When he is tired, throw him right back up on my back. This was a life-saver on a recent family vacation. We took an Amtrak (highly reccomended if you are taking your time and enjoying your travel) across half of the country. With my hands free I could wheel my luggage and not worry about where my son was going or what he was doing. Or worrying about him getting bounced around by a suitcase or something to that effect. My wife and I walked everywhere during our layovers in D.C. and Chicago. It was amazing how much easier it made things. Our youngest was easliy rocked to sleep by the motion of my wife walking. I do not remember any of us complaining about it at all. I just do not see this being possible with a leash.

I feel that if you are depending on something of this nature for your child's safety, you may want to take a look at your ideas of safety.

I am an avid babywearer and own 8 different carriers. I just wore my 2 year old the other day and put my 4.5 year old in the Ergo to demonstrate how to use it.

Pregnant with 15 month old twins means that babywearing isn't an option. Again, when you respect your child's needs, to walk or ride, you are doing what is right. You wouldn't put your child in a stroller when he or she is happy to be in a carrier. You wouldn't wear your child if he or she was unhappy being worn. This is not a matter of discipline, but being in tune with your child.

Also, being on electronic devices can happen with a child on a leash, in a stroller, or a babycarrier.

When my son was just turned 5, we went to Disney World. We had rabbits at the time and had a rabbit leash in the car. My son actually WANTED us to put it on his wrist so that he wouldn't get lost from us in the throngs of people milling around when we went. It was a super busy time of the year. He said it made him feel better, so we did it. We laugh about it now, but he was serious at the time. lol

What about in a kennel... Can you put kids in a kennel? I mean that would be cheaper than babysitting right?


I really have no thoughts on putting your kid on a leash, I don't pay that much attention to kids unless they are screaming when I am out in public. I have no children, I am however VERY close to my niece, as in i helped my brother raise her for 5 years (long story not getting into it) but lets just say I have had a taste of parenthood (don't argue with me you don't know the situation- at all) And I NEVER had to put her on a leash while out in public, she is a great kid. I do know some children are holy terrors and some parents get overwhelmed so I try not to judge what others do because I for one never know the situation that the people are in.

Do I like the leash on a kid... well sure.. I mean that way you always know where your kid is right? Or not... i have seen kids Houdini outta those leash/harness things - my younger brother was one of them.

Check out comedy clip about this on YouTube: portlandia whose dog