do you use those leash things?

I really don't like them (no offense) but I'm starting to wonder if I should try them. We're on vacation (sort of...tagging along with dh on a business trip ) and every single place we've been so far it's been nonstop crying of "I walk! I walk!!", wanting to get out of the stroller. If I do let them out, though, it's just crazy & they just take off running. Tried letting them take turns walking, but then the one in the stroller is still crying.

Is there another option, or should I try the leash things? I've seen some that are like a stuffed animal, which seem a little nicer. What's been your experience with them?

Help!!!!

 

I got mine the Eddie Bauer teddy bear back pack ones (the back pack fits at least one diaper in it nicely ) and I LOVED them !! The boys did too. I got so many NICE comments from people when they saw me using them .. especially once they see you are trying to keep track of TWO, then they would give me the "I understand" look ! :laughing:

I say try them .. they are definitely worth it in my opinion.

 

I bought them for the twins, and I don't like them. We hold hands, and it is much easier, IMO, than dealing with the harnesses. Someone was always falling, or they were getting tangled with those on.

ETA....LOL! Michelle and I have completely opposite opinions of them!

 

Becky it DID take some practice. I used to let them wear them at home so we could practice .. but once they got the hang of it, it was very nice. After awhile I even let them hold their own leash .. they didnt get that they could actually get away from me because they were trained that when the backpacks were on they were stuck near me. :laughing:

 

QUOTE(Moodyzblu @ Apr 18 2008, 08:32 PM) [snapback]728624[/snapback]
After awhile I even let them hold their own leash .. they didnt get that they could actually get away from me because they were trained that when the backpacks were on they were stuck near me. :laughing:

:laughing: It would be nice if it did work, that way I could put both leashes in one hand and actually have a hand free to do something with! :huh: Maybe I will try it again.

 

I have my very strong (and not liked) opinions about these... lets just say, I dont like them.

 

We have a monkey and a dog from target.. my kids love their backpacks because they can safely walk. I understand your reservations but it gives your children more freedom to explore than hand holding or a stroller.

 

Mine HATED the stroller ! I used to struggle with it so much that the backpacks were a last resort other than staying home.

 

we have the Kidopatomus harnesses from One Step Ahead and I personally don't care what other's think of me - I was at Hershey's Chocolate world last weekend where they don't ALLOW strollers and it kept my kids within arms reach - they held my hand occasionally but would drop my hand and dart frequently...despite comments from my MIL about how my kids look like puppies I use them proudly!

 

I really wanted to use them. I thought it would solve all my problems!! I first bought the blue one step ahead one and did not like how the harness fit. Then I bought the backpack and Seamus hated it and refused to wear it and then I bought the wrist ones and they did not like that either! So now I have a nice collection to give to any of my friends who want to try it for their kids!

 

Prior to having twin toddlers, I thought leashes for children were awful. Now, I've got two of the puppy backpack variety and I love them and don't care what others think. I don't really use them that often, but if we are in a crowded place and they want to walk, I use them.

I have found that nowadays, they will hold my hand nicely or sometimes I have them hold onto the side of the cart if the want to walk. So they do eventually learn to stay with you.

 

QUOTE(Twinsanity+3 @ Apr 18 2008, 07:43 PM) [snapback]728639[/snapback]
We have a monkey and a dog from target.. my kids love their backpacks because they can safely walk. I understand your reservations but it gives your children more freedom to explore than hand holding or a stroller.



We have these same ones. We just did a trip to Florida and they were fantastic. The babies just wanted to walk everywhere and these were great. We had so many people stop us and ask us where we got them. The babies loved them and they also provided extra cushioning in the hard high chairs that resturants have.

 

We have the blue canvas first years ones. I got them to use at the local amusement park with the twins last summer. It allowed them to walk and experience more things without me losing one of them in the sea of people. I also used them in the wave pool so they could play but not get too far from me. I saw somewhere a tshirt for a child on a harness that said "because I'm too precious to lose". Kinda hard to argue with that! I'm not sure if we'll need them this year but I'll carry them with us just in case. I had all five in the airport with me two weeks ago and they did well staying close so we'll see.

 

I never used them but I wanted to share something that made a big impact on me when my children were little. Holding hands with an adult for an extended period of time could actually be painful for a child. Seriously, try walking around for awhile with your arm up in the air (like a child does when holding the hand of a much taller adult). It would probably be ok for awhile but after with time it really can't be that comfortable. I never had the need for extended hand holding or leashes of any sort but I did find this interesting food for thought.

 

QUOTE(Babies4Susan @ Apr 18 2008, 09:23 PM) [snapback]728700[/snapback]
Prior to having twin toddlers, I thought leashes for children were awful.

Same here We don't have them yet, but I am actually going to Target tomorrow to buy them. They both want to walk and I don't think it's fair to them to keep them in the stroller all the time just because there are two of them.

 

I used them with my oldest two kids. Back then, "in the olden days" according to my eleven year old, they didn't have the cute animal ones. I had a simple harness style for them. Loved them. But both of my older dd's wouldn't hold hands for long and had some serious listening issues. I have them for the twins. We have never needed them but I wouldn't hesitate to break them out. Fortunately, both of them are happy to hold the stroller or cart when I ask them to do so.
Try it a few times. If you don't like it, don't continue. Be warned though, they don't "get" it right away. There will be running until they run out of leash and falling on the rear, tangling each other up and you and general puppy like behavior for a while. To some degree, it is like leash training a dog. They have to figure out exactly what the limitations are before they get good at it.

 

QUOTE(ehm @ Apr 19 2008, 02:04 AM) [snapback]728752[/snapback]
I never used them but I wanted to share something that made a big impact on me when my children were little. Holding hands with an adult for an extended period of time could actually be painful for a child. Seriously, try walking around for awhile with your arm up in the air (like a child does when holding the hand of a much taller adult). It would probably be ok for awhile but after with time it really can't be that comfortable. I never had the need for extended hand holding or leashes of any sort but I did find this interesting food for thought.



I never thought of it that way, but I suppose you're right! I can't hold my hand up in the air very long at all.

I asked my friend today who's up here with us what she thought of them.....having spent the last 3 days with us & seeing what it's been like she said to not have something like that & letting them walk would be a safety issue. And, "who cares what looks you get when it comes to your kids safety." So, I ran over to Target tonight & got the puppy & monkey ones. We'll see how they work tomorrow!

 

Ya, I was going to mention that holding their hands up for so long is not fun and can be painful. I mights want to try out the cute animal backpacks someday...they still do fine in the stroller - when they aren't kicking or poking eachother...

 

Before having children I always said I would never use those things because the thought just bugged me that much. Then a year ago we lost DS in a store because he took off running. I was with the girls and couldn't do anything to find him myself. It was one of the scariest things I've ever gone through. We went right to BRU and bought a harness for him. We don't use it much--just when we will be somewhere with a lot of people. I plan on buying 2 more at the end of this week. My sister will have the girls overnight and I want her to be able to go out and do what she wants with them without worrying about losing them.

 

Yep, I used them. My guys had the monkey ones. They loved them.

 

I've just started using them more often. They are great for keeping the kids from running away. Downside is that you still can't really make them go where you want, if they are determined not to. But at least they can't go anywhere else!

I just took them downtown this morning and we walked a few blocks with the leashes. I didn't get any funny looks, and the girls really enjoyed being able to see and touch things. However, it is a much slower way to travel.

I think they work better when the kids are a little older. 2 years old is about the youngest that I felt like they did any good -- before that, the girls just didn't understand how the whole business worked, and found it too frustrating.

 

We have the Eddie Bauer monkeys...the babies love them so much that they run to me to put them on and cry when it's time to take them off. One day I got to daycare and they had been wearing them all day, wouldn't let the caretakers take them off w/o a meltdown. Sidenote- when they are wearing them and we aren't out and about I do unhook the leashes so it isn't a hazard that they might step on or hook the leash on something.

 

I have them but havn't used them yet. My girls LOVE to walk and I LOVE to let them and my older boys love to let them walk too - so I figure that when I am by myself we will use them and when my boys want to let them walk - I will feel better about that too! I say whatever works for you - GO FOR IT!!

 

I bought 2 but only opened 1 because I wanted to see how they liked them. Well, they both HATED them and I ended up taking the unopened one back! Planning of selling the other one

ETA: they were the monkey ones

 

i have the eddie baur ones too and I LOVE them... we keep them in the van and use them whenever we are out... there are some instances that they get tangled, but they are getting better at it...

 

I just walked with my DS to the post office today. His leash has a puppy "backpack" attached. He calls it his puppy. He loves to wear it & even wears it at home with no good reason. I do get some dirty looks, but I get more compliments & comments from other people who love them. I plan to use them with my girls too!!

 

[SIZE=12pt]I have the backpack ones and last time I tried using them...it was like walking a pack of hyper poodles!! I havent gotten them out lately so maybe now it would be easier. These 2 do NOT understand the concept of "STOP" or "WAIT" and they run everywhere.we.go!!! So its the stroller at all times still. People may think Im mean when I dont let them run loose at the ballfield but no joke these 2 are everywhere, have no boundaries and keep going. I get very envious of those moms who have toddlers even younger than my 2 who stay right with mom and dad. Isaiah was like that and I think without sister around initiating things Joshie would be the same, but I have 2 wild ones and a stroller is a must for a while longer. [/SIZE]

 

LOL. I was the exact opposite of a lot of people and liked seeing people using them with their kids. It meant they didn't want to lose them and were being extra careful about it. Good for them! It's better than having them running around like seems to happen a lot.

We had one for Sierra that was just a standard harness. My two girls were very active (like Veronica's two above) so they were almost always in a stroller but there were times they needed to walk and I didn't want to chance losing her. The first time we used it was on a hike and there was a section that was near a very steep embankment. I was holding her hand tightly but I was happy to know we had the added layer of safety from the leash.

 

Yes, I love them. If they were to both run at the same time, something bad could happen. I put the harnesses (Harness sounds better than leash) and then hold their hands. If they let go and run, I know they will be safe.

Also, sometimes I take the single stroller and have one walk with the harness. That way they get a chance to walk for exercise.

Don't get the animals ones - too hot and you need a harness between the legs too because if they trip and you lift the harness they don't fall forward. I learned this the hard way. Plus I can put the harnesse on them and put them in and out of the stroller without removing the harness. With the animal back pack, they can't sit back in the seat!

Good luck!

 

I never had them. I started to "teach" them to hold my hand when walking when they were two. I started on my front sidewalk and progressed to around the block. They got good at it that and we would walk for 20 minutes every night. That's not to say it was very easy each time we went out, but now Stacy does not sit in a stroller anymore, except when out shopping for my clothes or down in Ocean city.