Leashes

[LadieNisha4u2nv]

I sense this topic will cause a riot.

So anyway, I'll be traveling to Georgia in August with my daughter. When I go out with her, it is pretty hard to keep her still while managing everything in my hand so I can only imagine traveling with carry ons and whatever else. I'm considering buying one of those monkey backpacks that is a leash. I personally would not buy the ones that looks like an actual leash, but I dont mind the monkey backpack because it is more child friendly IMO. I went to Florida last summer and my brothers ex girlfriend had one. She didnt use it to pull her child back or anything, just to keep in reach of her while handling other things, which is what I plan to use it for.

Now, I'm pretty sure alot of you are anti-child leash and will compare it to a dog, or maybe I'm wrong, but jeeze let's keep it real here. There are children who are very hard to maintain in public. They refuse to hold your hand for more than 2 minutes and want to run free. They dont stay in your arms. Plus, you need your hands free to hold things like your purse,the baby bag, groceries, etc. At this point, my daughter is wild as hell. She's reaching her terrible two's. She's opening the fridge as I type this lol. When I take her out she speeds off. Some time back I went to the mall with her and as soon as she set foot on the ground she started running. We went to the grocery store the other day and she took off running and when we got a hold of her we put her in the cart.

I was on this site that was actually against the monkey backpack and they were ranting about it. I was looking for info on the backpack itself and stumbled upon it. Alot of people were saying oh they are not dogs and blah blah, and the people with leashes explained their reasons for using it, none of which included treating their kids like dogs.

I would like to use this for travelling purposes, not everyday life, but thats to avoid constant judgement. I dont believe in pulling the child back with the leash; now THAT is treating a child like a dog. I just want to maintain my daughter and make sure she is safe while traveling to the states because things get hectic for me even when I travel alone. And to top it off, I've had a back problem since August last year, so I would be unable to hold her for a long time.

So my question is if someone uses a "leash" for security purposes, is that a problem in your opinion? Why are people so judgemental about these security purpose things?

My mind is made up but I just wated you guys' opinions on it after coming across that site.

[Indignant]

your child's safety is a number one priority no matter what means you take to keep her safe and secure. i really can't imagine any parent to be anti leash.

[Junket]

I don't see the problem with a leash.

It's not like you can reason with a child as to why they shouldn't run off.

Plus, what's the difference between having a death grip on your child as you drag them while they're limp and wailing, and tying a short rope to them?

[LadieNisha4u2nv]

If you see this site you'd swear its a crime. Someone said they would call child protection saftey to have the kid(s) taken away. Wtf? Because I want to keep my child safe I'm a bad mother? This site is pissing me off, and I'm still reading lol.

[LadieNisha4u2nv]

What I'm trying to get is how they say the child is limited. Isnt the child more limited when you hold their hand as opposed to being held with a leash and having the ability to run?

[Junket]

I typed in "child leash" on google and the majority of the articles I came across were in favor, or at least did not condemn the use of a child leash for the same reasons you mentioned.

Some people just don't care to separate "leash" from dog or animal.

Which is an insult to some dogs that are more well behaved and obedient than children.

[url]http://www.familycorner.com/parenting/growingpains/leash.shtml[/url]

[IndiReloaded]

My son walked before 10 months and was, still is, incredibly energetic. He really liked to walk for himself and didn't want us carrying him once he could. I used a harness leash for him when we were in busy public places, esp the T in Boston and around the ponds in the common. It was actually really good for his balance, he toddled around the edges of playgrounds and stuff and if he fell I could help him w/out a big lunge for him.

I never used it like a dog leash, tho. More like a tether. I stopped using it tho, around 2 years old.

[LadieNisha4u2nv]

[url]http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/parenting/detail?blogid=29&entry_id=8170[/url]

This is the site I am currently on, and the comments below and the blog itself was a slap to my face, and I dont even own a leash yet!

[IndiReloaded]

Plus, what's the difference between having a death grip on your child as you drag them while they're limp and wailing, and tying a short rope to them?

The difference is a big one: with the tether, the child can have a sense of independence that is within the control of the parent. Dragging a child by the arm is just wrong.

[doppelgaenger]

You can put a leash on a child? WTF LOL

[IndiReloaded]

[url]http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/parenting/detail?blogid=29&entry_id=8170[/url]

This is the site I am currently on, and the comments below and the blog itself was a slap to my face, and I dont even own a leash yet!

Well, I guess there are parents who would actually restrain their child with a tether, ala the kid who wouldn't climb the bleachers.

In my son's case, I was more 'leashed' to him, except in a place like a subway platform as I said. Even then, one mustn't be stupid. We were never anywhere near the edge, but he really liked walking with me and not being carried.

I followed him everywhere in the radius of the tether so he could climb on stuff, and gain some confidence doing it. It kept me from freakage b/c I knew I *could* rescue him with a tug if necessary. Its just a slow meander at that age anyway.

But as I said, I stopped using it around 2 years. He doesn't remember it at all.

[LadieNisha4u2nv]

I really dislike when people, specifically ones without kids, are quick to judge one with kids on a leash. I can say I dont like when the parents pull them back, but if you use it for the purpose of safety, then what is the problem? The only thing less restraining than a leash is letting the child go free and run. Otherwise, they are either holding your hand, in a stroller, on your back, in your arms, etc.

Crowded areas, such as an airport, amusement park and a zoo, are places I would most likely use it. My entire trip is filled with amusement park visits.

[LadieNisha4u2nv]

Well, I guess there are parents who would actually restrain their child with a tether, ala the kid who wouldn't climb the bleachers.

In my son's case, I was more 'leashed' to him, except in a place like a subway platform as I said. Even then, one mustn't be stupid. We were never anywhere near the edge, but he really liked walking with me and not being carried.

I followed him everywhere in the radius of the tether so he could climb on stuff, and gain some confidence doing it. It kept me from freakage b/c I knew I *could* rescue him with a tug if necessary. Its just a slow meander at that age anyway.

But as I said, I stopped using it around 2 years. He doesn't remember it at all.

My daughter will be 2 soon. I dont think at 2 years old she will care to know what stop means. She thinks stop means to run as fast as ever, unless it deals with something she wants. Like I stated, its for traveling purposes, and also crowded areas. I know when i get back to St. Thomas I'd put it away, but when traveling, it will come in handy for me.

[IndiReloaded]

I've always thought shock collars would be a good idea. When the child goes beyond the set radius of a parent--ZAP!

But think of the momma's boy generation THAT would cause, lol.

Leashes, tethers, whatever are fine. IMO, just don't get the stupid backpack ones. Remember, he'll have to look at the photos later. Ours was just backpack strap material, tho as a teenager he'll probably tell us we should have gone with leather studs.

[IndiReloaded]

My daughter will be 2 soon. I dont think at 2 years old she will care to know what stop means. She thinks stop means to run as fast as ever, unless it deals with something she wants. Like I stated, its for traveling purposes, and also crowded areas. I know when i get back to St. Thomas I'd put it away, but when traveling, it will come in handy for me.

Every child's development is different. My son was becoming reasonable at that age & would listen and we moved out of the city and into the burbs.

Come to think, tho, we did take a trip to the UK that year & I did take the harness along. Didn't use it, but that was b/c we were mostly out in English countryside. I used a stroller in areas we didn't want him running.

Do what you think is best, Nisha. Ppl can comment or look sideways, but they aren't the ones who will deal with the consequences of you not using one if it might be useful.