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| Kids on leashes ... what do you think? | |
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| Topic Started: Nov 6 2009, 01:16 PM (387 Views) | |
| Onelanerode | Nov 6 2009, 01:16 PM Post #1 |
Thomas H. Cruise!
  ![]](http://209.85.48.14/static/1/pip_r.png)
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It's a very, very slow Friday afternoon, so I'm browsing peopleofwalmart.com. Among the highly amusing pictures is one of a kid crawling on the floor, attached to his mom with a bright blue leash. Whoever sent it in was quite appalled and ripped the parent (and any other parents who do this) a new one, saying that children are not dogs and parents should be supervising them first and picking up milk second. Now, they did not have kid leashes when I was growing up, and I do not have kids. But I think they're not a bad idea, if they keep rambunctious toddlers from 1) running through the store, 2) grabbing miscellaneous items from lower shelves and throwing them around and/or 3) putting themselves in danger in other ways. What do y'all think? |
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| jn4jenny | Nov 6 2009, 01:26 PM Post #2 |
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Magical Leopluridon
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I think they're great. My mom used to leash me when I was a kid, but not because I was a bad kid, quite the opposite really. I was so quiet and cooperative that if she didn't have the leash, she was constantly worried that I would just vanish from behind her--either get left in an aisle of the grocery store or whatever. The leash was especially handy in busy airports and train stations. I was not allowed to crawl on store floors, though. I'm pretty sure mom didn't buy the leash until I was solid walking age. |
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| Ibex | Nov 6 2009, 01:43 PM Post #3 |
Off visiting Candy Cave, be right back.
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My sister has one for my niece, and they both love it. (It helps that it's actually a stuffed monkey backpack with the tail making the leash part... very cute!). My niece is a wiggly and busy child who gets fussy if she's too constricted/contained. She also wanders - I have never seen a kid who can vanish so quickly  . This way kidlet is happy she's on the ground, and Mom is happy that kidlet is firmly attached.Apparently it was really great at the Atlanta Aquarium - kidlet was enthralled and wanted to look at everything, and they were able to let her at least think that she was running free  You can kind of see it here: 
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| OpticalIllusion | Nov 6 2009, 01:45 PM Post #4 |
Guiding your way to Candy Mountain, since 1873.
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I can really go either way with this. I will preface by saying I am anti kid, in a pretty big way. I think there should be certain hours of the day that stores do not allow children. It drives me CRAZY when a parent lets their kid run around screaming and it takes up my time, or makes a mess, or gives me a headache... Wow I sound mean. Kid 'leashes' keep the kid in a certain radius of the parent, one that I am fully aware of and can keep out of. But I still have a leg on the other side of the fence thinking 'Do your job as a parent and teach your kid to not run off". |
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| Indy | Nov 6 2009, 01:57 PM Post #5 |
You're BANNED!
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I don't have kids but I feel like if my kids are squiggly and rambunctious, then they will be leashed. Granted, I also have yet to be convinced why I can't crate train a kid like I did my dog so my opinions might not be valid. I'd love to think that I will have very well behaved kids and be able to parent them without the use of leashes. But if I don't, I certainly don't want to be the parent whose kids are running all around and being a general pain in the ass to everyone around them. And I think the little monkey leash backpack Ibex posted is adorable. |
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| FlashGordon | Nov 6 2009, 02:17 PM Post #6 |
Is the meadow on fire?
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There was a period from about 12-18 months where Little FG was VERY mobile and also VERY impossible to keep under control in public situations. She hated sitting in strollers, she hated carts, hated being confined, and was not yet old enough to understand what we were trying to tell her about staying with us and keeping safe! My husband was like "let's get her some reins" LOL. Him and his brother are very close in age and as children, his mom used a harness + "reins" to keep them under control! I could obviously see the benefits-- keep her close to us, away from danger, etc. but opted against it... and this will sound weird to some but it IS our reality.... because we are white parents with a black child. We get odd enough looks as it is. Throwing a leash on her was sure to cause even more backlash..... I do see how they can be a safety feature but I think parents need to pretend like the leash is not really on the kid, and still try to hold hands, teach them to stick close, etc. I've seen too many parents slap the little backpack + leash and let the kid run wild, within a 10 foot radius. So really what does that teach the kid?!? NOTHING! Thankfully by the time she was 2 she was listening pretty well and knew to stick close. Now at 3 she is unbelievably reliable and grabs my hand before I can even reach for hers in parking lots and public places. Frankly I generally don't criticize how other people raise their kids... unless obviously there is some blatant neglect/abuse going on.... but what works for one kid doesn't always work for the next, and each family has its own challenges. Ok off to check peopleofwalmart lol..... |
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| SnackPack | Nov 6 2009, 02:18 PM Post #7 |
It'll be an adventure! We're going on an adventure!
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I remember the first time I saw a kid leash. I was in my teens and was appalled that they would make a leash for children. These days I think they are just fine...if used properly. Kids still need to be polite and as controlled as possible, but if a leash keeps the child safe in public (from strangers, from traffic, etc) more power to them. Indy: you can crate train a kid. It's called a playpen and I don't understand for the life of me why they fell out of favor. No wonder today's parents are so harried, they can't get a second to themselves without baby in direct line of sight. FG: completely understand you not using a leash. Someone, somewhere would've been bound to make it a huge deal. Edited by SnackPack, Nov 6 2009, 02:20 PM.
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| Indy | Nov 6 2009, 02:44 PM Post #8 |
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You're BANNED!
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Good call! But can I leave my child in a playpen unattended during the day with a bowl of water & some kibble while I work? Because if I can, babies are going to happen a lot sooner! |
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| Kikki | Nov 6 2009, 02:46 PM Post #9 |
Off visiting Candy Cave, be right back.
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I think my mom would have liked a shock collar for me............ I think kiddie leashes are great. I agree that they should be used in conjunction with teaching the kid how to behave in public, but I think when you are having to shop with your kid and don't have a free hand or you are in a crowded situation where it could be easy to get separated I think they are a great safety measure. So, LEASH AWAY! |
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| Kikki | Nov 6 2009, 02:47 PM Post #10 |
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Off visiting Candy Cave, be right back.
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I always joked that if I had kids, I'd have to get them a stall at the horse shows, I'd have mats for the stall and plenty of toys and BAM! instant kiddie playroom! I could put the dogs in there to babysit |
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| headlesshorseman | Nov 6 2009, 02:55 PM Post #11 |
You're BANNED!
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Kikki  I was thinking the same thing....SOME of them need to be shocked..as well as their parents...My friend had a HYPER BRAT....I'll be the first to say the NON-POLITICALLY CORRECT Phrase... BUT KNEW IT...she had a RAINBOW BRACELET that had a "leash" attached to it...it was GREAT...and it wasn't the harness like a lot of people are appalled with.... He's 20 now....STILL HYPER...STILL A BRAT...(ON MEDICATION)......BUT WITHOUT his rainbow bracelet HH 
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| MyGiantPony | Nov 6 2009, 02:57 PM Post #12 |
Off visiting Candy Cave, be right back.
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I had one for Seth when he was a toddler. I used it for really busy places like the boardwalk at the shore. It was more of a mental safety net for me, knowing someone couldn't just do a grab and dash with him. |
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| MayaTy02 | Nov 6 2009, 03:15 PM Post #13 |
Off visiting Candy Cave, be right back.
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I personally would never use one but I don't begrudge another parent in a different situation using 'em... PS I had twins, was i supposed to use some kind of a double leash????
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| Trialbyfire | Nov 6 2009, 03:18 PM Post #14 |
It'll be an adventure! We're going on an adventure!
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I've never used one but in certain situations they can be appropriate. We never really had to worry about our kids running off, but then again my younger dd didn't walk until she was nearly 2 so it was a lot easier! Our good friends adopted a sibling group of 3 from Russia the year after we adopted our girls; they were 3, 4, & 5 at the time and the new parents were (naturally) scared to death of losing them on the way back to the US. Three kids who don't know them and don't speak English! So they had the leashes and weren't going to care what anyone else thought!! |
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| FlashGordon | Nov 6 2009, 03:23 PM Post #15 |
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Is the meadow on fire?
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A local radio station ran a joke where they set up a website selling "baby cages" and then had the "owner/creator" of the product come on to discuss and answer questions. They looked like circus animal cages, on wheels even, so you could wheel them from room to room. People went NUTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Obviously, it was a joke... LOL... a very funny one.... but it is amazing what will get people riled up!! |
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