Who Thinks Baby LEASH's are BAD

Disgusting & Terrible? That is a little harsh, don't you think? Do you even have kids? You shouldn't call it disgusting or terrible unless you have the facts first. The harness isn't a bad thing. Some parents like to use them when they visit the ZOO or another busy place like the ZOO. It's safe and it keeps the kids safe. When your in a busy, crowed place, like the ZOO, I see nothing wrong with it. It's for safety reasons. If your walking around the ZOO, your toddler isn't going to want to hold your hand the whole time and the harness gives them some kind of freedom and makes them feel like a big boy or girl. Plus they are safe! Letting a child run around in a busy place is terrible. Using a harness for safety, isn't terrible. The harness isn't just used for kids because they run off, it's for SAFETY! You should really research things more before you go off the handle. Also, the harness isn't suppose to be used for an older kid, it should be used for the smaller kids that are just learning to wonder off, when out in a busy place like the ZOO. So don't be so quick to judge.

Do you even have kids? Here's what i can tell you - i don't use a harness (a leash & harness are 2 different things by the way - the leash is the long cord & the harness is the part that goes around the body) & i never plan on using them but who are you to tell someone what to do with their kids. You cant force a toddler to hold you hand & walk - why? My daughter has been walking since 8 months (so that's WAY off of toodler age) & at that age - they are still too young to understand WHY they need to hold you hand, they will fight & struggle - at that young age, they are only just beginning to learn things. As for using a stroller, kids get bored in strollers, once they discover walking, they don't want to be forced in to sitting in a stroller being harnessed in there. They want to move around, check things out & have a little freedom. I don't like harness's i think they remind people of walking the dog BUT parents who like to use them have every right to do so & you have no right to judge someone for doing it. It gives the child freedom to walk alone & also allows the parent to have some control without forcing the kids to be held. As for your idea on 'If your child doesnt want to hold your hand and your about to walk accross the road,you grab there hand and you go,you shouldnt need a leash.' What, You think it's ok to grab a child by the wrist (coz that's where you'd have to grab if they wont hold hands) & drag them across the road? I think you'd get more people commenting on that kind of parenting than using a harness - plus, unless you're dragging with a REALLY tight grip a kid could get out of that & run in to traffic. Maybe from now on, even if you don't agree with something, you should keep your opinions to yourself - just coz you think something is wrong doesn't make it so - as ANY parent will tell you, all kids are different, everyone parents differently & if 1 parent chooses to use a harness to allow their child some freedom, doesn't mean you have to do the same or even agree with it. Parents just don't want to hear rude comments or thoughtless opinions from strangers who don't have kids. it's really no-one elses business but the parents. I hope i didn't offend anyone but you cant make another parent feel bad for doing something just coz they choose to do things different to how you do or you would do.

Well, sometimes I think parents are too judgemental of other parents. Every child is different. Yes, you could problably MAKE your toddler hold your hand, but some of them prefer to have the freedom to walk. We have to tell our children NO every day, all day long, if they enjoy the freedom of walking, and you don't have any reason to restrain them more than what a harness would do, I don't see where the problem lies. I think it's silly to force them to hold your hand if they don't need to.. there will be plenty of times when a child does not have a choice, and must comply, when they are crossing a busy street, or at a train terminal, or wherever, and they must hold your hand, but when you are just walking around in a store, and they don't have to have their hand in yours, if it makes your life easier, I think you should be able to choose to use one if you like. It is hard enough being a parent, without everyone in the outside world second guessing every move you make. From the checkout cashier to the nosy neighbor, if you have a child, everyone is telling you what you do wrong, eventually it takes it's toll and you end up with insecure parents. Please don't contribute to that. If the mother was doing something harmful, I could see stepping in, but if she's doing something that you personally wouldn't do, it doesn't mean you should insult her. It's kind of rude. I'm sure you did not even intend for her to hear you, but maybe next time you should wait until she's out of ear shot to hear. By the way, I personally don't use them, I tried it once with my oldest, and he hated it. but we use the stroller and he holds our hand. He is beginning to get to that age of needing more freedom, and that will be interesting. (he's almost 3) our youngest is 9 months and is walking, and I don't know what we'll do with him yet. As it is VERY difficult to tell a nine month old why he has to hold your hand, and they are so young, that they don't earn harsh discipline yet, so we'll see. Also when they first start walking (which could be anywhere from 8-18 months) just throwing them in a stroller Is NOT an option. seriously, it's not because a lack of discipline on the parents part, but the child has just learned a new skill, and it's next to impossible to keep them happy in a stroller for at least 3-4 months after they learn how to walk. Anyways, if I offended you, I apologize, it was not my intent. Have a great day.

I do have a harness for my child and I've used it a few times when we've been to theme parks and county fairs. My reasons are 1) My child does not like to hold my hand and walk beside me. He likes to just run and take off without looking back. To risk not having my child go missing in the crowd, I use the harness. I can make him hold my hand or carry him but the entire time he will be screaming, crying and squirming to get down or run away. So, that defeats the purpose of having him enjoying himself in the park/fair, don't you think? 2) He doesn't like staying in a stroller when we're in a theme park/fair. He will scream and cry but when he's in a harness, he can walk by himself, explore things and enjoy everything by himself with me keeping a close eye on him. His little harness is shaped like a dog and he calls it his little "dog". When he's not in the harness, he likes to hug it and play with it. I've had many people come up to me at these places and ask me where I bought it from and that they think it's the best thing ever. My son is not traumatised by the use of the harness. I think he's more traumatised if I just make him hold my hand, grab him or spank him to keep him quiet because he refuses to stick by my side. Bear in mind, he's only two. At this age, they want to learn and explore. And this enables him to do that safely. I would rather be safe than sorry. I don't care what other people say or think. My child's safety is of utmost importance. The harness to me is just another means of keeping my child safe like using a car seat in the car. I don't see it as something dehumanizing or that I'm making my child look like a dog. I think it's ok that you don't like the idea. Not everything is a good idea to everyone but I don't think you have the right to judge the parents who do choose to use the harness.

Well I think you are intitled to your opinion but until you have no right to judge someone for wanting to protect their child. I have used them and frankly they are needed. I have 2 children that are very close in age. I was a single parent for a long time and traveling wit two infants through a croweded airport is hard to do. so You want me to try and hold their hands carry all the bags and make sure nothing gets taken or lost all on my own. Ok and sure because I'm supermom. When you have two children that young in such a populated place and are trying to carry luggage and children it is imparitive to make sure their safe and protected. All it takes is a moment for you to turn your head and them to be gone. So before you sit and tell someone how wrong it is to want their children to be safe understand why they have it.

My son doesn't like holding my hand all the time. I tried once as you suggest, to grab his hand, and held on so he couldn't run into the street. His response was to drop his weight and twist. His wrist popped in a very sickening way, and was swollen for a few days -- it was just twisted, but it wasn't a pleasant experience for either of us. He's 5 years old and about 40 pounds. So carrying him all the time isn't an option. I use one of those kid leashes. My son is Autistic, and likes pressure, so he loves the way it feels when I secure it snugly around his chest. As a matter of fact, if we're leaving the house for any reason he asks for it, because the pressure makes him feel comfortable in uncomfortable situations. I hold his hand as well. The leash is the backup in case he doesn't want to hold hands for a few minutes. Not every kid needs one, but don't judge the people who do. It doesn't mean we love our kids less. It doesn't mean we're treating our kids like pets. It simply means that your method will not work with my child.

i used to think the same thing. but then i changed my mind. my daughter is to big for a stroller. she has adhd and i m over weight and cant chase even though i have lost 108 pounds i have problems with my knees to were i can not run after her so i was using the leash. she got smart and hid the leash we have not been able to find it and were i just had surgery on one knee last month daddy now takes her to her appoinments and stuff he never used the leash just me cause once she took off i could not catch her. so there are pro's and con's to using them

When you have a child that likes to take off and not give you a chance to grab there hand you will inderstand what the harness and "leash" is for. I am slightly disabled and cant run after my child if they decide to take off. I either have to bring my husband shopping with me which he normally dosnt like to do or put a harness and leash on my child to keep her safe. They are made as extra security for children because they have tendancies to just take off and you wont have a chance or the time to grab them.

LOL I think this is so funny because I used to think the same thing until my son was born. I don't think you have kids or if you do you didn't have really stubborn kids. When my son started walking he wanted to go everywhere it didn't matter if he was holding my hand he had a mind of his own and if he wanted to go into the road without me he would throw a fit and literally lay on the sidewalk LOL So I decided to get a harness for him and you know what it helped 100% because he felt like he was free just for the simple fact that he wasn't holding my hand. It actually kept him off the road. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions and if it isn't for you then it isn't but it prevented alot of headaches for me.

i wouldnt buy one for my children, but as everyone situation is different well cant say they shouldnt use one, as some kids, like a few i know at my work have autism and are really big kids, the parents cant possibly hold them, and they have got use to a harness. but i think they do look a bit feral as well.

I'm not a parent, but I can totally understand the need for a harness at times. They aren't meant to be used to drag a kid along, like a stubborn dog on a leash. They are designed to keep the child from running off and getting seperated from the parent (that's why the leash attaches on the back of the harness, if you were meant to drag the child, it would attach on the front so the kid would be forced to walk forward). Your still supposed to hold the kids hand when crossing the street and such, the harness it just for extra safety for those times when you aren't holding hands. Because, realistically, it is hard to hold a toddler's hand the entire time you are shopping or running errands, or at the airport, etc.

I don't have children, and I'm personally not fond of them at all, but looking at it from a mother's perspective, sometimes kids throw embarrasing fits if you try to put them in the cart. They won't stay by you, so what is worse: a stolen child, or a leash on their hand? Also, if a mother has more than one child, I honestly don't blame them. I say all this, but it really does bother me when I see that. I guess I should try to be more understanding.

I agree that if you have only one child you should be able tyo control them. However if you have one child in a stroller and one toddling i would have a leash, i would rather know that i have control of both thee stroller and the toddler. I would not want to put my child at risk for the sake of appearances.

Actually, I have used the harnesses before. I had a 4 yr old, a 2 year old and a baby in a stroller when we left to go overseas. My husband was already there so I had no help. I had the oldest kids in the harness so I didn't lose them in one of the 3 airports we had to go through. I just didn't have enough hands to hold them, push a stroller, and balance a carseat on the stroller handlebars. I never used them for goofy reasons like they didn't want to hold my hand. I feel they are useful sometimes.

That does look sad and terrible. The sad thing is the kid doesn't know how sad it is and how terrible he looks. Are we not humans? He have two legs not four.

I have never liked them, if you want to put a leash on something, buy a dog..... I think that it is also a form of laziness, so that you dont have to run after the child or hold their hand. Gee, exactly what you said about grabbing the childs hand. I mean who is the boss, the parent or the child. I personally would much rather hold my childs hand or pick them up I wouldnt dare treat them like a dog on a lead. It is horrible and disgusting.

I agree! Leashes are for pets not children. You can hold your child, or buy a sling to carry your child in rather than putting a leash on them like an animal. I have seen some parents use them who don't even look at or talk to their kids. They just strap the leash on then and ignore them unless the child starts screaming. Of course maybe if they had taken the time to actually pay attention to their child it would not have had to scream so much.

Before I ignite another debate, let me just start off with this disclaimer; this is my opinion and mine alone. So don't try to think that I am trying to change anyone's mind about it. Baby leashes are BAD. Period. It is like you are treating them like dogs or something.

i agree kids are nt dogs and they shpould nt be on a leash. Teach them to walk nicely next to you. i think they are disgusting

Never liked these baby leashes, i mean, you put ANIMALS on leashes not people, i think if we parent the way we need to, then this would be a non issue. Too many times, we see in the malls, or shops these seens: "Bobby, come here now or you get a spanking" and Bobby continues to be out of control, already caused you money cause something got broken, and after warning number seven hundred twenty nine, Bobby still hasn't gotten that spanking. So we as parents need to parent, im not saying abuse the child but punish!