https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 24 May 2026 21:18:59 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-have-any-experience-with-using-a-toddler-harnessleash#post-2049118 Sat, 31 Jan 2015 22:28:30 +0000 marionberry 2049118@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm so glad you asked this! We're thinking of getting one for our son as well. He has been running since he was about 10 months old and he hates to be held. We can often keep him in a stroller but he gets annoyed by that to. I would feel so much better about letting him down if I knew he couldn't disappear. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-have-any-experience-with-using-a-toddler-harnessleash#post-2049086 Sat, 31 Jan 2015 21:20:31 +0000 jedeve 2049086@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I never understood why people judged. It's obviously something for the kids' protection, not because you want to walk them like a dog. I think people just like to judge!</p> <p>I don't have a runner but my LO has never been interested in holding my hand. Even when he was learning to walk. He will wander pretty far away from me if we are somewhere like the playground. But we haven't had any problems (yet) in busier or crowded places. I could see him being a leash kid though! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-have-any-experience-with-using-a-toddler-harnessleash#post-2049066 Sat, 31 Jan 2015 20:55:20 +0000 blackbird 2049066@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@petunia354: heh. I got boundaries, yo ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-have-any-experience-with-using-a-toddler-harnessleash#post-2049053 Sat, 31 Jan 2015 20:44:25 +0000 petunia354 2049053@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@blackbird: I'm sorry but I had to laugh. I'm glad you draw the line at getting hit by a car :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-have-any-experience-with-using-a-toddler-harnessleash#post-2049024 Sat, 31 Jan 2015 20:09:54 +0000 blackbird 2049024@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My brother was a runner and she would leash him to me because I was the goody two shoes older sister who stayed nearby. When he was old enough to understand more, she let him get "lost" in a store while we watched from a distance and he learned a lesson that day and was fine after that! There were a few love and logic stories to that effect but they don't work with toddlers who don't understand yet...</p> <p>E has bolted out of the garage and towards the street twice this week. Laughed hysterically when I disciplined her. I hope it's not the start of a trend! I'm all about natural consequences but getting hit by a car isn't one of them </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-have-any-experience-with-using-a-toddler-harnessleash#post-2049007 Sat, 31 Jan 2015 19:41:09 +0000 Cherrybee 2049007@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We use one! We have the backpack type but we also use a regular set of reigns that straps round the body. I don't know if the culture is different here but I've never felt judged. I am quicker to judge people who let their child run off into the path of a car!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-have-any-experience-with-using-a-toddler-harnessleash#post-2048966 Sat, 31 Jan 2015 18:34:03 +0000 PinkElephant 2048966@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I own one but never had to use it with my first. I wanted it as an option while traveling solo,with a toddler and baby and because we lived on a very busy city road where bolting could have dire consequences. hers was a cute cuddly lion (the "leash" was the tail) and the few times I used it no one said anything. I feel like it's nicer than holding their coat hood or something! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-have-any-experience-with-using-a-toddler-harnessleash#post-2048612 Sat, 31 Jan 2015 10:05:25 +0000 catomd00 2048612@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Haven't had to use one yet but I wouldn't hesitate to. The feeling of losing your child and the fear they feel when they realize they can't find mommy (I got lostore than once as a child) is so awful I would want to avoid that at all costs! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-have-any-experience-with-using-a-toddler-harnessleash#post-2048607 Sat, 31 Jan 2015 10:03:55 +0000 LaughLines 2048607@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was a runner when I was little, my parents tried this on me, but I figured out that if I stretched it out as far as I could and walked parallel with my parents that I would block any other people walking and they would have to take me off of it... so it didn't work.... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-have-any-experience-with-using-a-toddler-harnessleash#post-2048591 Sat, 31 Jan 2015 09:43:49 +0000 yellowbird 2048591@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Purpledaisy: my daughter is the same way!!! A leash is okay, but it's still super hard to get her to walk the direction that I want to go. At least I'm not losing her, but it's still inconvenient </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-have-any-experience-with-using-a-toddler-harnessleash#post-2048549 Sat, 31 Jan 2015 08:52:10 +0000 travelgirl1 2048549@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have a runner and I used to use one, I honestly didn't care about the judgement. My kid ran off in a crowd once and that feeling until I found her was a billion times worse than any judgement feels! We used a Skip Hop backpack one and she loved it actually. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-have-any-experience-with-using-a-toddler-harnessleash#post-2048534 Sat, 31 Jan 2015 08:36:32 +0000 BananaPancakes 2048534@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't have a runner at all, but I have a friend who has 2 boys who were runners when they were toddlers and I know it was a huge stressor for her. She didn't use the harness, but I know she really wanted to. My own mother did use the harness for my twin brothers, though. She swore she would never put any of her kids in one, but then she had twin boys who were nuts and gave in. She still laughs about it today and they're almost 18. I can remember her tying one to something while she was handling the other one at times. Like dogs. So funny. But sometimes you have to do what works and what's safe. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-have-any-experience-with-using-a-toddler-harnessleash#post-2048475 Sat, 31 Jan 2015 07:10:06 +0000 ladybee 2048475@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO is 15 months and running/walking. I will be getting one this summer when he's more likely to want down. I can still keep him happy holding him. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-have-any-experience-with-using-a-toddler-harnessleash#post-2048472 Sat, 31 Jan 2015 06:46:12 +0000 Snowdrop 2048472@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LO isn't even born yet but just want to say that I actually think they make total sense and seem to be a practical solution. I had one when I was little because i was an early walker and it was hard for my mum to keep hold of my hand all the time. She then kept using it when my brother was born and she had a toddler and a pram to contend with. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-have-any-experience-with-using-a-toddler-harnessleash#post-2048458 Sat, 31 Jan 2015 03:48:56 +0000 Pumuckl 2048458@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have one and use it occasionally. We opted for a climbing harness (4-way, so arms and legs) with a climbing rope attached though because it's more versatile in leech length etc. also if he falls the climbing harness catches him with weight distribution being better. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-have-any-experience-with-using-a-toddler-harnessleash#post-2048436 Sat, 31 Jan 2015 01:49:00 +0000 littlejoy 2048436@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We saw a 2-3 y/o at the airport - she was clawing the ground and yelling "Let me go!!" ... This was BK (before kids), and I thought, "How could anyone do that!!!" ... Now, I totally see it! I'm a fan. Don't let the idea of people judging you stop you. You know what's best for you guys. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-have-any-experience-with-using-a-toddler-harnessleash#post-2048428 Sat, 31 Jan 2015 00:45:35 +0000 Mrs. Fox 2048428@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I used to think people who put their kids on a leash were ridiculous. I mean, come on, who puts their child on a leash like an animal?!</p> <p>Ha ha. Jokes on me. My son started walking at 8 1/2 months, running at 9 months. And he would just... Take off, vanish. No separation anxiety. No awareness. Just... Gone...<br /> Any type of festival, farmers market, crowded mall or sidewalk near a busy road, it was just better to leash the little guy and let people judge me. And you know, I'm ok with that. Hell I'm from LA- people judge you for everything. I just added leashing my child like an animal to the list.<br /> (Truthfully if you don't have a runner, you don't understand the stress of knowing he can bolt at any given moment.) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-anyone-have-any-experience-with-using-a-toddler-harnessleash#post-2048398 Fri, 30 Jan 2015 23:09:39 +0000 Purpledaisy 2048398@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DD will be 2 in March. Since she started walking she has had issues with running off and it's worse than ever. It's seriously hard to even take her anywhere solo because any opportunity she has she just starts running away full blast.</p> <p>We have tried scolded her when she does it. Tried not reacting and just getting her and bringing her back without giving her any attention. We aren't sure what else to do so we are considering trying one of those toddler backpack type harnesses. Has anyone else used one? Any good or bad experiences? </p>