I was at the mall and saw a kid on a leash

[motely36]

If your child is so unruly that you feel the need to leash them, either you're a bad parent or you should leave the child at home. Or, even better, don't breed!

[Droopy]

1. It could be a way to make sure they don't get snatched.

But I really don't like the idea of having a kid on a leash, either.

[2bfree]

2. How old was the kid?

Some of those little guys will take off in a heartbeat. I do think it is pretty creepy and would have never put one of mine on a leash. I did however see a teenage girl with one, her boyfriend was holding the other end. Made me gag. :(

[motely36]

3. i would guess about 4-5 years old

[markus]

4. We had a "child leash" for my son

when we went to Disney World when he was just a toddler. As soon as he got up on two legs, he started to run.

We were afraid he'd take off and we'd loose him.

So don't be so harsh.

[MissMillie]

8. I agree

some kids pitch a fit if you try to put them in a carriage or a stroller, this way they can walk around and not get away from you... and you can avoid the temper tantrum that comes with trying to get them into a carriage or a stroller.

[complain jane]

5. I saw something like that in the grocery store,

it was a bright pink bungee-looking thing that hooked onto the kids' belt loop.

[motely36]

10. This was a harness that went around his chest

Similar to a dog harness

[smbolisnch]

31. Mike Myers used to do a skit on SNL

where he was a kid on a harness attatched to a jungle gym. Anyone else remember that?

[Pithlet]

6. Uh oh

We've already been down this path here at DU. It wasn't pretty :)

[Dr.Phool]

7. Are you sure it wasn't an ugly dog?

:evilgrin:

[Shrek]

9. Ever had a kid bolt on you?

And then worry for a few minutes, until you found him or her, that a pedophile or kidnapper or other unmentionable creep had just claimed a victim?

Until you have, please don't be quick to judge.

[complain jane]

16. I can see the reasoning especially in a big busy store

[seriousstan]

11. I have never used one of these but I understand the reasoning.

When at the mall or any store, and this HAS happened to me, while looking for clothes on a rack a child will slip under the clothes or rack and explore. It takes no time at all! The sudden realization that your child is missing, even though they are merely out of sight a mere foot or two away, is enough to take years off your life and even terminate the outing.

I don't know if you have children, but until you do you have no idea how quickly this can happen. I am talking about less than 5 seconds here.

It has nothing to do with unruliness or bad parenting. It has to do with some parents concern with the safety of their children. As I stated earlier, I never went this route. I guess I take chances.

[koopie57]

18. once you find yourself crawling in a window display

trying to coax your son out from under a mannequin's skirt your attitude will change very quickly.

[seriousstan]

20. I think my first thought would be....

At's my boy!!

[Lex]

12. They've been around a long time--those toddler leashes.

I see them from time to time at malls and outdoor concerts.

Not too much different than strapping them down in a stroller, imho.

[CelticWinter]

13. A friend of mine is a foster parent

and she has 4...4-5 yr olds right now and when she takes them to the store she has them on a leash, can you imagine 4 kids heading off in 4 directions. And dont say to leave them at home, cuz kids like to go to the store too, this helps them learn to stay close and not take off. Its not as bad as it looks, shows that the parent gives a damn, keeps them close and safe from assholes looking to grab a kid.

[motely36]

14. I guess what bothered me the most

was that it was a harness instead of just leash on his wrist or belt.

[MissMillie]

23. a harness is harder for a kid to Houdini out of (n/t)

.

[gollygee]

25. A harness is safest

especially safer than a wrist one. A kid's arm can get injured by those. The harness distribues the force of the tugging of the leash better.

They look bad and I thought they were awful too until I had a kid. I don't have one, but I sure understand now. The kids can stay safe but still move around and explore.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

15. Not unruly, just a normal curious child.

I was raised by a single mother struggling to make ends meet. She didn't have extra money for babysitters and my family lived in Mexico and Texas. Because of this, I went with her almost everywhere except when she was working. I wasn't unruly, but I remember distinctly how scared I was when I wandered off and was lost. It was a horrible experience and the scene I made in the store trying to find her was far more embarassing than being on a "
leash" would be, if I had been concerned with that thing at the time.

It only takes a second to get separated from a parent, and those moments are very very scary, for both parent and child. Not only that, but parents have the worry of getting their kids snatched. I would rather put a "leash" on my child and not have to worry about them being taken than become a slave to others' opinions and have my kid taken from me.

[RagingInMiami]

17. Back when I was a raging toddler

My parents put me on a leash after an incident in which I disappeared in a department store for almost an hour, almost putting my parents in an early grave.

[fortyfeetunder]

19. Sorry I don't agree with you.

Some kids will bolt from one or both parents. It has nothing to do with good or bad parenting. I have used harnesses occasionally with my kid and it didn't cripple him in the least.

[Pithlet]

21. Yep. Personality.

Some kids are just more prone to that kind of thing. My firstborn was like that, from the moment he made use of his little legs. The moment his feet would touch the floor, he'd be off; no looking back. My younger one, however, sticks to me like glue.

[fortyfeetunder]

35. Can understand that!

My one and only is the master of disappearing acts. I think what cured him of harnesses was during a trip to see grandpa...I left his 2 harnesses at home. Went to the store and found a harness, but it was bright pink. I don't think he wanted to be connected to a pink harness so he stayed close for the entire trip...

[cali]

22. Why not think something through before posting

such a harsh indictment?

When my kid was little we spent part of the summers visiting his grandparents in London. At two that kid had abundant energy and hated being in a stroller. At three he though it was hysterical to run away from us. A leash was the perfect solution. He didn't mind it at all, and I didn't worry that he'd get run over or lost in a crowd. I seriously doubt that you have kids. If you had, I seriously doubt you'd have made such a statement.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

27. I don't have kids; I just come from a huge extended family, and

I've seen the little nippers take off like cheetahs straight in the direction of the nearest danger: lakes, streets, growling dogs, hot barbecue grills...

A leash is much more humane and efficient than a flying tackle. :-)

[PartyPooper]

24. Maybe you have it backwards. Perhaps the kid has the parent on a leash.

Ever thought of that?

:smoke:

[Honest_Abe]

26. I learned to walk on a ship.

My parents put a leash on me and tied it to the mast, so I could walk around without falling overboard.
I am still alive, and I suffered no psychological damage, so I have no complaints.

[LynzM]

28. Wow! What a unique story!

Where were you sailing? I can't imagine keeping track of a toddler onboard a ship... no wonder they did that!!

[ekhunter]

29. shock coller seems to work well with my dog, but i haven't seen

any shock collers for my kids.

[democracyindanger]

30. I had to wear a kid leash

when I was 3 and flying to Japan with my grandmother. And I lost my 5 year old nephew in an airport for 15 seconds, and was wishing for the kid leash then.

[politicat]

32. My nephew has one; it's the best sanity saver my sister has.

My BIL is Army, 101st Airborne. He's been overseas for most of my nephew's 3.5 years. My sister works and is studying Middle East politics so that when the BIL is out, they can apply for the Foreign Diplomatic Corps. D was an intentional baby, since my sister has some pretty severe reproductive issues, and their chances of having a child later in life were pretty slim.

Unfortunately, they got the jackpot with D. He's got my sister's energy, his father's speed, and both their stubbornness. Strollers are "for babies" and he's refused to be in one since he could walk. Not that he does; he does everything at a run. (Not hyperactive, he's very good at focusing and very, very bright.) As a virtual single mother, my sister has exactly two choices when it comes to doing basic provisioning for the two of them: live on delivery pizza and chinese, order everything from the web and hope it fits, or take D with her when she has to go out. She chooses the latter, but since he's so active (and she is a very, very good parent) keeping a permanent hold on his hand would probably end with a permanently damaged shoulder for D. Thus, the harness.

It's far from cruel; cruel would be yanking on his arm all the time or forcing him into what he considers the world's worst humiliation (a stroller or the basket of the cart, which, incidentally, makes him motion sick since he's sitting backwards). There are no tantrums with the harness, and more importantly, no scares and no running away to look at the brightly colored box of whatever it is that catches his attention.

Don't knock it till you've been in the situation.

Pcat

[LeftPeopleFinishFirst]

33. I never needed one as a kid

Which is not to say I'm ruling out leashes being effective in keeping kids controlled and safe, but from all that I see of these "child harnesses" in the malls and so forth, a lot of the parents are misusing them. There have been times when I see parents literally yank their child backward, when all the child is doing is being curious about something or someone. That's not right at all. As children, our curiousity is a very important factor in how much we are able to learn - if it is stunted so much so that a kid no longer wants to be curious... I feel that is a negative effect of these leashes.

[Boy Interrupted]

34. wonder if they use electric collars to keep the kid in the yard

I do understand the need to keep kids under control and also understand how hard it is at times. I would never use a lease to do it. I would think they are bad parents too. Please spay or neuter bad parents in your area.