What do you really think of those backpacks with a 'lead' attached?

[Lolli]

Hi all,

I'd like to know- from those who have and haven't had children yet- what you really think of the backpacks for little kids- I think they look like monkeys? The tail is a handle that mum or dad can hold onto.

I'm seriously considering getting one for ds. I'm not a big fan of the 'kid on a leash' look with a traditional harness thingy, though I understand why they totally neccessary for some mums. But a friend of mine commented that the backpacks are the same thing- she views them with distaste as well. I think they're a great idea, and it would make me feel safer walking around with my super quick, fearless ds (holding his hand just doesn't cut it sometimes).

What do you think?

[bushmanpat]

DS isn't running yet, but I think I'll probably get one. I think if he wants to walk (when he can), he doesn't really care where he walks or runs, as long as he can run. And the lead keeps him from going to far. It it's a choice between holding a lead with a child running around within a certain safe radius, or yelling and getting mad because he keeps running away, then I know what I'll go for.

[Ryatha]

Personally - we never had one for DD - somehow we always kept her close but I can understand the need for them when your little one just bolts with no warning. I kind of don't like them, but if DD had been a runner - we would definately have got one of the monkey ones - she would have loved a little bag of her own particularly since it was an animal!

[Floweryfields]

If you want honest opinions from someone without a child yet, I qualify! I personally hate them - especially the ones that look like my dogs harness - but then I don't have children yet so.......who knows. I am pretty determined I won't have one, then my child will put itself to sleep, not have a dummy, and be a perfect angel

[Ca Plane Pour Moi]

I just have straightforward reins. Works wonders. I think more children should have them. If DS is going to try to escape I want to be able to stop him. Not just roads but steep hills he could fall down, near ponds, strange animals... btw, this is the only thing I ever bought DS that EVERY old granny has approved of! I've been told off for his taste in clothes, for his hats, for him having a comfort toy, for being allowed to snack in his pushchair, for having a carrier... but never reins.

We don't use them a lot but I'd rather see a child with reins than a frustrated mummy and a child with a near-death experience. I've also got a raincoat with inbuilt reins, that's pretty cool.

[Erin_25]

our DS as most people would put it...is very "busy"! he is always on the the go & without our Monkey backpack we prob would never go anywhere!!!

Honestly...who cares what others say or think or how they look at you. Until you have been in the situation of wanting to use one or needing it you would never understand. We have had several funny looks & I put that down to people without kids & those who have great kids who follow Mum etc everywhere...yay for them.

We don't use it all of the time, though living remote we travel alot. It's great when at an airport & you don't have a stroller or can't hold all 13kgs of cranky pants who just wants to get down. Or if we are somewhere we know he's going to want to walk on his own but can't have him running off...fantastic.

Now that he is two he's much easier to handle, but just after 12months when he started walking but not understanding us it was great.....don't stress what others think if you want to give it a shot go for it.

and tbh, I wouldn't worry about the options of those without kids.....we all have a range of views etc until we actually had a baby...things quickly change once we do.

[Kazbah]

I had the tape-type harness, not nice at all. Pip hated it.

Had the wrist-leash, he hated it even more.

He has the backpack (the cow one) and he loves it, he knows it means he's going out. Whenever I have him wearing it, people smile indulgently at him. It carries a sposie in the back or a car / other toy. He loves it, and it gives me the security of knowing that I won't lose him when he's very restless and won't be carried or strapped in.

[Phteven]

It's funny that no-one seems to have an issue with me using a lead to keep my dog off the road but when it comes to children it's a differant story....

[Ozstar]

I have the backpack one for my DS and I love it. He holds my hand while we walk but it gives me the extra security. For me it wasn't just the thought he might bolt but also that he may wander off. DS loves it and often asks to wear the backpack (minus the tail) at home. He likes to put little things in there.

[Muffy]

TBH... i have been thinking about investing in one of these for the past week or so!!

I dont care what people say/ or how they look at me - at least i know Logan isnt going to run away from me! it will give me some piece of mind and keep me sane whilst shopping!

[~Raven~]

LOL ausgirl one can only cross her fingers

In my experience with a bolter who was later diagnosed with Aspergers, it was a godsend. I haven't needed one with my younger two as they would listen and not run off.

My 2c thinks it's better to face the scorn of the few that scoff and call them a dogs harness than an audience full of scoffers watching you drag your child back off the road when you're 40 weeks PG as was in my case.

[mrsmac]

I used to think they were terrible things UNTIL I had DS!! He is the type of child those things were made for LOL
I don't think you can really comment on them until you need one, my DDs were easy to look after at the shops and I must confess I took the credit, I now realise that I was just very lucky LOL

[tan32]

I like them, i brought a monkey one for my DS when he was 4 as he developed a need to run off from his pregnant Mum.
I had the regular ones for my DD as they didn't make them back then. I was someone who thought i would never use them but i soon changed my mind, my DD has a medical condition where her arms dislocate very easily . When she was little we couldn't hold her hand while she walked in case she fell as her arm would dislocate, the harness was our best friend.
Back on topic
I have a monkey one and i think they are great , better then losing a child in the shops or worse have them run into danger.

[Celsie]

We have the monkey one and DS loves him. When he's not on his back, he gives him hugs and kisses in the back of the car. "Marcus" the monkey gets loads of comments from people... all positive. "Look how cute... you've got a monkey on your back!" and DS just smiles.

When it comes to your child's safety, do you really care what other people think?

[Lulu]

Oh the old child 'leads' were horrible! And I'm glad I never felt I needed one with DD. I used to wonder why the parents would do that! Now I understand

Now I think its wonderful when I see those backpacks - it's great to be able to have mums peace of mind and a little one that doesn't mind!

[~Kim~]

Yep, we love our puppy one too. I've got a bolter (she's good now but it's a safety measure when I have my hands full), and fair dinkum she quicker than any crook I've had to chase on foot.
I've never had any bad comments on it(to my face at least ).

[Alipralli]

I loved my puppy one so much, I went out and bought a monkey as well, for when the puppy needs to have a wash.

My DD loves to just keep moving, so keeping her in a pram or trolley all the time when we go shoppping is an impossibility, unless we want to scream the shops down, so having one of these little backpacks make life so much easier! She can walk a bit and lead me to the pet shop to look at the puppies, and will then happily get into a trolley so we can get stuff done.

So many people have stopped me and asked me where I have gotten them, and people have even said how cute it is before they notice that it is a harness (i keep it on her when she is sitting in the trolley), and after they say what a good idea it is.

And DD loves it too, people ask her what is on her back, and she loves telling them its her Puppy Pack!

I started just with the old-fashioned strap one, but it didn't seem to ever fit her properly, and the lead was REALLY short, so I am so happy that someone has come up with a better product to keep my child safe while out and about.

No one has ever said anything about them being cruel or looking like a dog lead, but if the did, then I would tell them I would prefer my child to look like a dog and be safe while having enough freedom to walk/run around the shops, instead of being able to easily run away or be snatched from me, or having her screaming in a trolley/pram the whole time.

I think they are sanity savers!

[~Saram~]

I love mine and I hate it at the same time. DD is going through a big running stage although she is getting better. She is also into walking at the moment and wants to be a big girl so I can say to her she has to hold hands/stay with mum or it's into pram/ergo.

However when we go places it is nice to have the reassurance espeically a few months ago when she would just run in the opposite direction all the time.

I hated holding onto it - it really does feel like I'm walking the dog, particularly when she leans into and swings around in circles - btw she loves her little unicorn backpack - never bothered her at all