Harness Warning!

I got my toddler harnesses in last week, and Hannah has been just itching to walk down the sidewalk by our house, so I decided that instead of a walk in the stroller, we would walk with the harnesses today and I could do some training with them. Hannah, my usually mild-mannered girl, turned into a stubborn mule, wanting to go whichever way I was not headed. Meanwhile, Sarah, my explorer, was perfectly happy to walk along with me whichever way we were going. So Hannah decides to pull and pull until finally, she toppled over... tantrum 1... then I decided to carry her and lead Sarah back to the house, only Hannah defiantly decided to lash about till I had to put her down and try walking again... same thing this time, Hannah crying and pulling away until she falls down again, this time hitting her head on the concrete. Now my little girl has a big lump on her head and fat little baby tears on her cheeks, and I feel like a louse for trying the damn things in the first place. I don't know if I'll have the courage to try those things again for a long time... the neighbors must thing I'm a jerk, walking my kids around like dogs and ultimately ending up with a boo-boo baby.

 

Oh, don't beat yourself up about it! Just like anything else, it will just take practice! Maybe next time take another adult with the stroller, if she can't walk nicely on the harness then into the stroller she goes. That's a bummer that your first experience was so difficult.

:hug99:

 

We wore just the harnesses in the house for a few days first. Then we put the leash on and "played" in the house. Then we went for a walk. In the beginning, I had to hold Ethan's harness up close to his back to make sure he didn't fall or decide he was done walking. Now they are doing really well with them. I would practice a bit before giving up. I'm sorry about her bump

Mendy

 

I tried mine at that age and had the same experience. So, I put them away. I just got them out again about 3 months ago and they have been real lifesavers for me. The second time, we tried them for a few days in the house first til they got used to them.

Crystal

 

Awww... What a bummer! I have only tried them on Gregory. I did not tell him it was a harness. He was a binky adict. So I told him it was his purse for his binky, and I wanted to hold the tail to make sure the purse didn't fall off... The twins I have played with it, not tried in public. But we have had an OK time with them... maybe you can try re- introducing them after a little break...

 

Oh gosh! So far my guys have been really good with theirs. They put little toys in the backpack part, and love it!

So glad your little one is alright!

 

Awe, you poor thing! :hug99: Please keep trying them. We didn't get them until this summer and my girls are GREAT with them! We have taken them to the zoo a couple of times with them and they do great. I can say that there is no way it wouldn't worked when my girls where the same age as your twins. Definitely give them some practice and by next summer they will be old pro's with them! let them wear them in the house for practice too!

 

I agree about the practice---- in a safe spot. I tried my DS with one last week at home and he fell forward hard, almost hitting his head.

I am sure they will be very handy once they get accustomed to it.

 

I'm sorry you had a bad experience! We haven't tried them yet, but I just wanted to chime in that I think my girls would be way more able to deal with them at 20 months than they were at 15. They have come a huge way in terms of being cooperative -- granted, sometimes they are defiant, but they have a much better sense now of what it means to be helpful. They are also more capable of understanding cause & effect. So, please don't give up! Maybe put them away for a few months and then take it really slowly.

 

we tried them also and they do not freak out about being in the harness but at this age (14.5 mos) they don't understand direction (like trying to tell them to walk a certain direction) and if I tug on the leash end I feel like I'm walking a dog so for right now they're ok for places like the park where they can go in the direction they want (within reason) and I can control how far they go and how fast....for places like the mall or a walk down the street they're not ready - my mom bought the ones from One Step Ahead made by Kidopatomus

 

FWIW, the harnesses I got (the little animal ones from Target) say 18 months and older on them. I don't usually go strictly by ages on stuff, but it does seem to me your girls are probably a little young to "get" the idea and that's why it didn't work out so well. I haven't tried ours just yet.

 

QUOTE(betseeee @ Jul 24 2007, 10:41 PM) [snapback]343496[/snapback]
FWIW, the harnesses I got (the little animal ones from Target) say 18 months and older on them. I don't usually go strictly by ages on stuff, but it does seem to me your girls are probably a little young to "get" the idea and that's why it didn't work out so well. I haven't tried ours just yet.


I agree, and I'll be trying mine again later, I just think I jumped the gun a little on this one in my haste to keep them near at playdate outings. I'll just have to skip the highly public ones if I know they're not stroller friendly.