We used a teddy-bear style leash in the airport when our daughter was 2. Our concern was not that she would get lost or stolen, but she was totally unpredictable when she was walking around, and would dart in front of people or weave like a drunkard. I was mostly trying to keep other people from falling over or onto her. She was really a hazard to others, who were just trying to get to their plane. Like the other poster said, it gave her some exercise during stopovers, while allowing the other travelers to walk in peace.

We also used one in Amersterdam, which is a great city for walking but was pretty crowded and had narrow streets and sidewalks. We didn’t have to yank on her arm to keep her from falling into the street — it was actually a more comfortable and humane solution than holding her hand!

She quickly got in the habit of staying reasonably close to us, and walking in a more predictable way. In that regard, the leash is a gentle way to teach them how to navigate crowded conditions.

I’m all for parents finding what works and I have worked with many families who have children with special needs such as autism where this is literally a life-saver. To me, I think it’s a stop-gap measure. I would be sad for a child who only got to go out on a leash. I guess I also feel sad for kids who don’t get to just “go play outside” for hours at a time either.

I guess for me the dilemma is one of trusting the big bad evil world a little and, probably, more importantly, working with our children to be trustworthy. For me at least, when it comes to leashes, there is a big difference between the distracted two year old finding freedom in a hard to predict situation and a four or five year old who just decides listening sucks.

I really like the idea of a leash where the child holds the other end, it just feels safer to me. You clip one end to your belt loop, they hold the other end, it solves the “arm above the head” issue, shows some trust, and allows arm freedom for the adult (yes it requires you be conscious of the child but if you’ve ever walked a dog it’s pretty easy to feel tension or not).

My final note: I have twice now seen a child slammed onto their back, smashing their head into the ground when someone either tripped or walked into the harness line. So, if you’re going the strapped in route I recommend some padding.

Riley’s getting one as soon as she can toddle.

The “bad mother” argument was thrown around liberally, along with the “lazy parent”, and “leashes are for pets” debates.

I don’t have a harness for my 2 year old, YET. She’ll probably get one for Christmas. This past summer we were at a concert in the park with tons of people. My child wanted to run, which was fine, we found a field a little way from the stage, where there weren’t as many people. But. she ran right up into a frisbee game with some college students. One guy nearly body checked her. I have no doubt that had I not thrown myself in between them, she would have ended up in the hospital.

I live in a small town, so I’m sure I’ll get the Looks and Comments.

At that same concert, there was a little boy on a tether. I could see people talking about him. I actually spoke to the adults who he was harnessed to — a set of grandparents — who told me this was the only way they could spend time with their grandson in a crowded place, and feel safe, as they can’t run and fling themselves in between burly frisbee playing college guys… I brought this up in that debate I participated in, and some folks actually had the nerve to say the little boy and his grandparents should have just stayed home, since they obviously “couldn’t control him”. Sad.

Our harness did not have a backpack. It was just a simple harness.

We put it on him and he didn’t resist. But then, while standing in the security line waiting he suddenly got down on all fours and starting barking loudly and refused to stop. Everyone was staring. We frantically took him out of the harness and that was the end of that. Oy. Wish I had known about the teddy bear backpack ones back then.

Looking back, I realize that he may have made the connection with the similarities between his harness and our dogs leash. Both were red in color and about the same thickness. He probably thought it was a fun game. In retrospect, it’s funny. At the time it was horribly embarrassing. Parenting is a fun ride!

I wasn’t so concerned about her in stores or malls. The airport was another story. I found our leash to be invaluable in the airport. Instead of having to drag a stroller through the terminal, I was able to allow her to walk. She got some exercise and i got some peace and quiet on the plane!