[Withay]

one of the toddler safety tethers? What do you think of people who do use them?

I know some people say it's a safety thing, while others say it makes it look like you are treating the child as if they are a dog. What are your feelings?

[mamallama]

I really wanted to use one with my son Travis. He loved to dart away from us. He got lots of piggy back rides and spent lots of time in the stroller. I would have used a harness but I think that two white parents with a black toddler on a "leash" would have gotten us some nasty looks and lots of comments.

[blubutterflies03]

No matter the reason (and boy do I feel like getting one for my 2 year old)...I can't get past the image in my head of it looking like someone is walking a dog. My mind has played that trick on me!

[melissa_bear003]

Have one for our son, and will get one for our dd. They have really cute ones at Walmart, they look like stuffed animal backpacks, and the tail is the handle part. It clips on and off, so when they don't need the tether anymore, it actually does work as a back pack.

Personally, I don't care if others think that it looks like a leash, it keeps my very active toddler/preschooler safe, and that's all that matters to me.

[hcg]

My mother used one on me, because I had a terrible tendency to dart off. I bought one because I thought a foster child might not respond to my calling his/her name, and it lets them have a little freedom to explore without getting away from you.

[SarahBethsMommy]

I think they look like a leash too, even those cute backpack ones. Sometimes, though, I think I need a leash for my DD. She'll run at the drop of a hat and she has no "stranger danger" instinct at all. She hugs everyone and anyone. So far I've either kept her on my hip or strapped into a stroller or shopping cart. I can't get past the "leash" thing so I doubt I'll ever use one of those.

I did, however, see a woman the other day who had four young children and each one of them was wearing one of those things. I laughed because it looked SO much like a dog walker who kept getting tangled in the leashes.

[meshsgrl]

I have one of those adorable walmart leashes... my kids fight over who gets to use it. My 4 yr old would not need it and I dont really like how it makes him look, but he insists on wearing it!!
I dont think I would use an arm leash or a simple harness leash, but I like the backpack one.
I have 4 kids under 4 so I need all the help I can get.

[EandDmom]

My dh is dying to get one of these. I think we will just because I love the fact that it would wear out the baby instead of him always riding in the stroller. He could just run his little chubby legs off and maybe take longer than a half hour nap for a change.

[melissa_bear003]

Originally Posted by EandDmom

My dh is dying to get one of these. I think we will just because I love the fact that it would wear out the baby instead of him always riding in the stroller. He could just run his little chubby legs off and maybe take longer than a half hour nap for a change.

LOL! Thats *exactly* why we got one for our son! He's a busy active kid, and needs excercise as much as we can fit in. Being able to explore a bit without having to constantly hold a hand, being able to walk and burn some energy made a big difference in him. My youngest 2 are 19 mths apart, so the backpack buddy was a huge help!

[jllambert]

We have one, and have all but worn it out! It has kept our little ones from running into the street and off the soccer field just to mention a few! My lil ones love to wear it (we have the Monkey backpack) I really don't care about comments or looks as long as my kids are safe and happy! Sometimes I think we all worry way to much about what others might think of us!!

[snc2007]

I have never used one and I don't think I will but....Last weekend at an outdoor festival (near a large body of water) I was stunned at the number of announcements that were made over the loud speaker for missing toddlers. At one point a terrified mother ran by us screaming her daughters name and crying. They were quickly reunited but it gave me chills and made me hold my dd's hand a little tighter. So I definately see the use in it.

[ALfostermom]

i have the one that looks like a puppy. when my neice hit 2 she would scream every time you even tried to put her in a stroller but she loves wearing her puppy. She has the freedom of walking in the mall without getting away from us. she wears it like a backpack around the house and says its her diaperbag.

[Scrapsathome]

We don't use them. Instead we enforce a strict policy of handholding and staying within view of each other at all times. We make a game of it. When we cross streets and parking lots all nine of us hold hands and wiggle our arms pretending that we are a giant piece of spaghetti. In stores our kids are not allowed to leave the aisle we are all in. The kids probably get tired of hearing, "Stay where I can see you." But they learn from day one that if they don't stay with me or won't hold hands then they will either be carried, miss out on the fun, or be stuck in the cart.

However, my best friend does use them. She has four children very close in age all extremely young and her husband is gone for work all the time. She's not very good at enforcing rules with her kids, so the tethers are necessary for her. I figure it's not hurting the kids so it's none of my business. Every parent has to do what works for them, right?

Jess

[Happy123]

I do it kinda reversed...and have gotten a lot of laughs. I have my child hold the leash and I tether it to me. It is really easy to tell if the child has let go. They actually like having the "control".
Happy123

[shycar]

I finally got one. Jess I am just like you. With all my foster kids I enforced the hold my hand rule. It worked for us, until my dd arrived. That girl is hudinni (spellin ?). She can get out of a stroller so fast. Holding hands? HA she is such a independent child...thats for baby as she says. I try to hold hand and she throws all her wait down and I either drag her or carry her. She also will wonder off and fast. Since I have two other babies the puppy backpack is wonderful for her. She feels independent yet I feel she is safe close by. I plan to get one for Punky now that she is walking.

Here is another scary story. My sil has four kids. One of her kids is like my dd and one day at a grociary store he wondered off while she was putting the baby in carseat. When she saw him across the parking lot a car that was backing up bumped into him and knocked him down. She was lucky someone else was near by and alerted the driver, if not who knew what would happen. He just got scraped up, but that was too close. The next day she got the Monkey backpack and she is less stressed when she is out and he is safe.