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we have one and i love it DS hates being in the pram but has no idea about safety we also have a strap to conncet his hand to mine i just hold his hand its theres in case he decides to bolt but going to the zoo as ZF said with another in a pram its a little difficult so u need them to be safe
I never liked them until I had my own child who just lurves to run :D I will be getting one for him but I keep forgetting to actually buy it! For me it's about safety and that's all that matters.
Some very measured responses in here, nice. Not getting out of control... :grouphug:
Someone summed it up nicely, said something about harness vs road safety and in my mind I'd much rather be judged as a parent who "leashes" their child than be a parent who has lost their child due to a road accident. For some kids, my DD included, that's what it came down to. She would just run. Still does, but now she knows what she is doing and she knows how far she can push it. We haven't used the harness in a year or more.
Might be breaking it back out for DS though... :think:
Thanks everyone both for your responses to my question but also for keeping the conversations under control and not attacking anyone elses ideas.. i knew it could be done :)
I have one (two actually), they are great. DD1 wants to walk everywhere now and trying to hold her hand while pushing the pram is very hard. She loves it. It gives her the freedom to walk around away from mummy for a bit (arms length really) and I know she can't run away. She is more a sitter then a runner but I can't take that risk. I have the fluffy animal kind and they do have a small zip up pocket on them to store stuff. I don't think they are at all leash like.
I think they are great, we don't use them ourselves but my parents have a bear backpack one for DS - he isn't a runner, but can take off suddenly at times and my dad is getting on a bit and not as fast so they feel it is a great way to get out and make sure he stays safe.
This is the other thing, DP's mum has the girls on and off and now we know carseats fit in his dads car i was thinking maybe they can start organising some 'outings' together, the girls are very well behaved for Nanna & Grandpa BUT with DD1 wanting to walk more and more i was thinking this might be a good option.:
When we went to the market recently DP's dad get's a little pre-occupied and while DD1 is not running away he stops and forgets to check she's still with him.
Having the backpack would mean when he stops she realises. IYKWIM.
I'm another that didn't like them until DD did the dash a few times and I could start to appreciate why some would feel more secure having that option there - though they didn't have the cute little backpack ones when DD was small, more's the pity. I might've bought one then.
Ultimately safety comes first and for most, they're a temporary measure until kidlet learns to listen to mummy and to temper the impulsiveness enough to be trusted not to run off.
I have horribly behaved children who will run off at any opportunity so we own one thats got a workout. Or even worse, they all sit in the pram at some point. Id rather a leashed child than a child flattened by a car or stolen by a stranger.
That said, if I had perfect children (missed the boat there!) I wouldnt have one.
My mum bought me one after DD did the dash in Bunnings and I was 36 weeks pg with DS - I had trouble catching her. Mum's reasoning was that if she did a dash, I would have to leave the pram to give chase, and thats not an ideal situation. It proved useful for about 6months, as I often take the kids on my own to the city, so it was just a bit of reassurance. But I still taught her the "rules" as such for when we're out and about, and after about 6months, we stopped using it. Although, its still in the car, and quite often, she'll request to wear it if she spots it lol! We're off to Hong Kong next year, and I'll take it with us - even though she'll be almost 4, I'm just imagining how busy the streets will be so an extra precaution.
I have used them on both kids, but now only with DS (who is almost 2) and on rare occasions.. Depending on his mood/behavior. He normally holds my hand, but sometimes I just can't take the risk he will definately hold my hand..
However I hate hearing people call them leashes, after all a leash is an item used around the neck to control an animal.
My MIL bought one for DS (without asking of course) and uses it for him while they're out. I didn't like the idea of them until I was carrying him around the shops after forgetting his pram/stroller and he refused to walk around. It was something like that, that made me wish I had one, because he's so independent and just wants to walk everywhere if he knows your close by
we have one for DD - it lives in the car for when we go to markets and things where she wants to be walking with us, but we may have hands full of shopping etc so just don't have hte same reflexes if she darts off. she's never done it while out an about, but she does do it at home sometimes, so the fear is there. the local farmers market is in island in the middle of a major road - awesome central place - but also surrounded by traffic, so a worry! we used it when we went on holidays - she asked for her puppy dog and then held our hands. i dunno, i think maybe she felt more secure too - so if she did stop to look, she could feel us just as much as we could feel her
The harnesses have been an invaluable tool for both my boys at different stages. They love generally wearing them (we have a monkey one). It has been at particular ages when they have been bolters. We have used the harness as a tool to teach the boys not to run off, and as they have gotten older we haven't needed to use it anymore. One of my sons in particular was (sometimes still is) a big bolter. Nowdays he only has to wear it if he has run off and ignored the warnings to hold onto the pram, or if it is super busy. My thing is that I have always been pregnant and suffering from SPD, whilst having a toddler. This make running after them impossible, so I really didn't have much option then trying the harnesses. I am glad I did, they have (literally) been a lifesaver - the number of times my DS's have tried to run out into traffic whilst crossing the road or run off into a crowd. I would recommend them now to anyone who has more then one small child to watch (it is hard when they both decide to run in opersite directions - or when you have to leave one kid on their own with the pram to chase the other), or who has mobility issues (kids can be awful quick).
I loathed the idea of them before I had kids.
DD is going through a phase at the moment she wants to walk EVERYWHERE but WILL NOT hold my hand. I try to keep up with her and am ok for now but as I get bigger and my daughter gets faster I can only see disaster happening :lol:
Mind you if I say "STOP" which is a word I do not use often then 99% of the time she stops but she is also still young and I am waiting for the defiant run away from mummy act.
I would prefer her to hold my hand, but I know this will not always be what she wants to do.
I plan on getting her one to have JIC, I'd rather look like I am "walking a dog on a leash" than risk my childs life if she happens to run off, especially around the towns.
We have one for our DS who is another fearless runner. We called it his "buddy" rather harness or leash. I do hold his hand as well though, so it is a back up system in case he lets go of my hand and makes a dash for it. I found it a godsend when I was heavily pregnant as he could easily outmanouver me!
I do think it is important to teach children safety and listening etc, so that is why it is a back up. I will say "stop" and "hold mummy's hand" etc and try to teach road safety etc.
We have one, and we use it. Regularly.
We're pretty lucky that Sam is generally compliant enough to stay in the pram, but he's just about out-grown it. He likes to walk, but he doesn't always like to hold our hands (Mr Independant!). He doesn't often dash off, but I like it for the security of if he does try it. I'm not the most mobile person and pretty much require a walking stick to get around at the moment, so running after him just isn't possible.
Only problem we have... getting too heavy for the pram and too big for the harness and still not old enough and sensible enough to be trusted to walk along alone! We have a system that we can only use when it's the three of us. If Sam stops, I stop and stay with him while DH keeps walking ahead a little. I then just wait a little and ask Sam where daddy is, and he'll look up and run to catch up then. Doesn't work on solo trips, though!