Any ideas on how to reign my running twosome in?

I believe there must be a way to keep my children from running in two different directions when I take them out. I hate having them strapped into their stroller all the time and sometimes they want get tired of being in it. So does anyone know of any products that are sold to keep them attached to me(like a leash)? Any other suggestions would be great. I am very nervous taking them anywhere without being in the stroller but I would love to let them out without worrying about where they may end up. Thanks in advance.

 

I know others may not agree (heck I hated them before I had kids)...but we will be getting the back pack harnesses.

I saw my friend use one with her little ones and it was great...they had a bit of freedom, I think they learn about trust and boundries...plus they get exersise, and when you can't rationalize with a little one, I think this is effective.

However when I was with my friend...she got screamed at by many people...it was just awful...that was the turning point for me...I coudn't believe the judgements, but she was doing a great job keeping her little ones safe, and they LOVED it!

So we are going to get 2 this weekend to get the boys used to them.

Good luck, I hope you get some ideas!!
rebecca

 

I have two of the Eddie Bauer backpack harnesses...one a brown dog for my DS and a pink one for my DD. I got them off of Amazon.com. They have been a help when we've been out and they want out of the stroller.

 

The boys have monkey back packs. It sucks people are so rude, they really have no clue.

 

I don't bother for now... They stay in the stroller, unless it's an enclosed place.

 

I got the two Eddie Bauer monkey back packs literally an hour ago. I had been thinking I'd get the monkey and the dog for my boys, but I realized if they both like these packs, I best get both the same or one might think the other is better. They have been battling over each other's toys lately. The dog is really cute (and my favorite since I love dogs), but they love their stuffed toy monkey so I thought that would be more familiar and fun for them. I think these harnesses are so cute!! and they can carry stuff in them so they feel they have a job to do as mommy's little helpers!

I personally don't care what people think. What matters is my boys are safe and not running off in different directions.

 

I really didn't think that people would make comments about a harness but I am glad you are preparing me for it. Perhaps I will come up with a witty comment to say but in the meantime I will pride myself in being able to go out with my two children safely. If I had one child at a time it may be a different story but, since I had twins, I have to make different choices than I would have with a singleton. I can't wait to go to the city tomorrow and pick two up. We are going to an event this weekend with lots of people and I want to have them for it. Thanks for the ideas. I believe the babies will love their new backpacks stuffed with new toys!!!

 

We have the same backpacks and love them but don't expect them to not run in different directions :headbang: But they work great at keeping them safe and as long as you don't have a 9 year old older child dragging them around by it (even if the little one is laughing hysterically) it's a great buy!!

I can honestly say I've used them 3 times and have never gotten a comment. I'd love one though! I will immediately offer for them to walk TWINS around without them. LOL no seriously I really want someone to say something :rotflmbo:

 

Brigette, I needed you at the mall with me a couple of weeks ago. I got a dirty look from an older man and teenage girl said loud enough so I could hear her : "I would never speak to my Mom if she did that to me." I was a bit annoyed at first but then I thought, let these people try to keep twin toddlers safe and see what they can come up with that's better.

 

Haha you're funny! I don't even have them yet (and plan on getting them) and I've been prepping responses like, "And how do YOU keep YOUR twins safe?!" Seriously people who have the gall to question what we're doing have NO CLUE!

 

I love the response "And how do YOU keep YOUR twins safe?!" great comeback.

I got the backpack leashes from Target and haven't started using yet. I should have had them on when I was trying to get from the car to the cart in the grocery store yesterday... it was a nightmare!

 

Excellent comeback. I can't wait to use it AND my harnesses!

 

We had one of the original "leashes" for my oldest ds, and let me tell you it truly looked like a leash!! Just a nylon strap that went around his chest/shoulders in a harness with the leash out the back to my wrist! We only used it once or twice.

We bought the puppy backpack for my oldest dd, again only used it once or twice. Both my kids have been fairly easy to train to hold my hand.

However, with twin toddlers looming up soon, I plan on getting them the mickey or pooh backpack leashes that our walmart has! So cute!

 

We are hoping for some backpack leashes for Xmas! If not, I know we will get some extra cash as a gift and that's number one item on the list to buy! I can hardly manage and am very tired of carrying one in a strap on carrier and one on my hip (I do this just to get in and out of places... through the parking lot and into the gym daycare for example).... I CAN'T WAIT!!!! For those rude people with no idea what it's like .... Bring on the ugly looks, sounds and remarks... I dare u! Maybe I'll teach my little ones how to stick their tongues out at mean people!!

i'm totally kidding btw... just in one of those moods!

 

Thank you, Lydia, for posting this topic and thank you to those who suggested the rucksack with reins - brilliant! I think I will invest in two for mine as I´ve been thinking about this for a while. As for the comments people make, they are just ignorant and ignorance is best ignored!

 

We love our monkey backpack/leashes! I took the kids for a walk today down the sidewalk in our neighborhood to took at the holiday decorations They are learning that if they feel pressure on their chest, they need to slow down or stop. And I learned early on that toddlers are NOT like a dog and WILL FALL OVER if you don't give them a little slack in the leash the first few times

 

I had a couple of women I work with who made comments to me like: "I don't want to see you up here with your kids and those 'leash' things!!"
"They aren't dogs, you'll need to pay for therapy instead of college if you use those"

My comment to them: "I"m pretty confident, my kids won't grow up to think they are dogs, because of a backpack they wear when they are 1-3yrs old, if they do, then I have bigger problems to worry about!!"

So I can't wait until they start walking so I can show up to work with a 'leash' on them!

When my sisters twins were born she also had a 18mth old, and I remember walking around the mall and she had a wrest strap leash...it was really funny...she was running around one of the clothes stands in a store and got all tangled! It was really funny!! (of course it was because I wasn't doing a very good job paying attention to her, good thing she had that on!) haha

 

Ask them which one they are going to chase. We have the monkey backpacks too and the kids love them. We've only used them out once or twice, because honestly it's still a pain with both of them. We do the stroller or shopping carts or carry one and lead one by the hand. Now they are much better about hand holding and it's gotten much easier.