[mamasoon]

Hello. I have a 2 year old, not yet definate diagnosis of special needs. One of the major issues that we are having which may just be because he is 2, is that he is a runner. Anytime we are out of the house-he wants to run from us. Sometimes there is a warning, he will look at me and say " bye bye Mama" and take off. I watch him like a hawk and try to restrain him from running but I am so afraid that he is going to slip past me and get hurt. I try talking to him but I can tell that the thrill is so worth him getting yelled at. Any advice is appreciated. Thanks
Kathy

[leaabc123]

Have you considered one of those kid leashes? You will get some strange looks but better than him running and getting hurt.

[crick]

I would have him in the stroller or a cart at all times. He might not like it but he'll learn that he must not run.

The whole chase game is fun for them..."look at silly mommy chasing me!!!"

[Tudu]

Oh, I remember the days. My daughter ran and laughed everytime we were in public. I bought a child leash and refused to take her out without it. Pepole stare at first, but it works. Do several trial runs, when you can immediately leave if they act up. Good Luck adn let me know if you need pointers.
Rachel

[Kelly Rae]

Hi I have a 2 year old and use a harness. It may look odd to some, but it allows him to explore without a harried mother running behind him. When he sees the harness he gets very excited because for him it means freedom.I forgot it at church this past week and had 1/2 dozen people said they now know why I use one .

[mamasoon]

I have one of those wrist leashes, when I have tried to use it on him, he lays on the ground and throws a fit and tries to take it off. That does not project a very good impression in public. He acts like he is being tortured. I am going to get it out again, Friday is my last day at work and I am going to start taking a walk with him in the mornings and try to get him to stop the running. Thank you for your responses.
Kathy

[lambeausam]

A couple factors may play into this. Is he a newly two or a nearly three? Most young 2yos don't have the same sense of safety that nearly 3yos do. Do you have any reason to suspect that he was prenatally exposed to drugs or alcohol? Some children with alcohol exposure have difficulty picking up on safety clues. For example, the ball rolls into the street. The child chases it and even sees the car coming. However, the child is missing the ability to foresee the consequence of the car coming versus running into the street.

Sam

[carriewoman]

Hi,

My J kept running every time we went anywhere too. For the most part I tried to keep him in a cart or a stroller, but I have a younger one than him too so that wasn't always possible to keep them both in one. Especially when I am alone. We do have the child harness, I like a doughead I never thought of it for J, but I use it from time to time for the baby.
The trick that worked for us and J we found through the love and logic parenting books. Let him get lost and let the scared kick in. Of course it's got to be a controlled lost, where you can still see him, but he can't see you. Then when you see he is scared about being lost let him find you. The trick is to not make a big deal of it. Tell him "Oh, it's good you found me, I was hoping I wouldn't have to go home without you."
It's easier to try this trick in a small or not very busy place, we tried it first at Albertsons when the store wasn't too terribly busy. We only had to do it twice, the second time was in walmart and that really scared J. We just told him we were glad he came back to us, we'd hate to have to go home without him. He yelled at us because we let him get lost, and we told him it wasn't our job to chase him, it was his job to keep an eye on me.
J was two and 4 months at the time, 3 now and he preferrs to hold my hand or hold the cart now.

Good luck!
Carrie

[Kelly Rae]

Mamasoon, get the harness it is less restrictive we bought ours on-line it is better quality and has a longer lease then the cheap brand commonly found.

[qs mom]

My son was/is a runner.

I tried the wrist harness - freaked him out. Not worth the trouble.

I keep him in the stroller or cart as much as possible.

However, we made a trip where the stroller wasn't an option. I found this at WalMart . It's a harness that straps around him. It is a stuffed animal/backpack. He loves having the backpack puppy and I get to hang onto him. The 'tail' is strap that I hang onto.