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We have a little backpack that has a leash attachment on it. We only ever use it at the airport. Other times we just keep him in his stroller in public places or DH carries him.

I would never judge another parent for doing what they need to do. Honestly, I probably wouldn't even notice!

I don't do it, but my kids can be pretty clingy when we're out and about, so I haven't had to yet! I totally get why people do it though!

I never have. My first was not the type to run away so it never occurred to me. My younger we haven't really been in crowds yet.

DS is not old enough yet, but if need to I certainly will. This is actually one of my personal buttons, people judging other moms for using it. It's a safety thing. It's not like it's a collar around the kids neck.

When I fly to my dads (DS was 5mo), the flight attendant standing next to us saw a mom (who was by herself) boarding the plane with her kid who had a backpack leash. She looked at us and said I hope you don't do that with your kid. I snapped back with if I had to I will and it's none of your business.

I totally used to judge parents who did this, but now not so much. LO1 is not much of a runner, but some of my friends' kids are and I definitely understand the need for it and would use it in a heartbeat if I needed to.

We have a Skip Hop harness backpack. I have only used it once with the actual leash. We took it on a recent trip but LO only ever used it as a backpack. He usually sticks pretty close in public and even closer if it's crowded.

I own one of those stuffed animal backpack leashes - I bought it when we lived in Asia and saw them more commonly. I honestly thought we would need it, because we lived on a very busy road (we're talking double decker busses speeding down it just a few inches away from the curb, and very narrow sidewalks). DD1 never turned out to be a runner, though.

I sometimes think we could use it with DD2, who is a runner in a big way, but for the most part so far I've managed to keep her in a stroller, and get DD1 to ride a buggy board or walk beside me. DD1 has been testing the limits with me recently on how far from me she'll go, and I'm considering asking her to hold a ribbon tied to the stroller if she won't follow directions. Once DD2 starts walking more, I may need to pull out the backpack leash. She's definitely a tester. I travelled alone with the kids recently and kind of wished I'd had it for DD2 in the airport.

Personally, I think it's more palatable for most people to train a child to hold onto something - the stroller itself, or a ribbon tied to the stroller - rather than tying/tethering something directly to the child. But really, you do what you need to to keep your LO safe, particularly if you are keeping track of more than one child or are heavily pregnant and chasing a toddler! I see them sometimes in airports, but pretty much never on a street (and I live in NYC, where you'd think people would be concerned about kids running into traffic).

I don't really see what the big deal is in a crowded place, it seems like a safety thing to me. It would be a different story if a parent were dragging a kid along by a leash or they never let the child walk anywhere on their own. but if they have a kid who would otherwise run away and they are in a busy/traffic-y place why not?

FWIW, I was a run and hide-er as a toddler and my mom had to have an entire department store shut down because I ran away and hid in a clothing rack. From then on she looped a belt though my overalls. I don't blame her and I am no worse off for it.

We don't have one, and are in NYC and commute by walking/public transportation most the time (she's on a stroller strike, lol). LO is really good at holding my hand or staying close--actually she mostly wants to be carried still (she's almsot 2). I do think it would be useful...but I also can't bring myself to get one. We really work on teaching her street safety, and I wear a back pack most of the time (just got it for this purpose) so i have both hands free to grab her as needed

I have one runner and one reformed runner. We haven't had to use one.
My oldest lost her walking privileges is she ran and was strapped into the stroller. By 2.5 she gave up on running away and now sticks close by.
My younger is 14 months but has been walking since before she turned mine months. She quick and remarkably able. She doesn't have much opportunity to run. I Peru much just don't let her down if it's dangerous or crowded. She's not cognitively capable of not running away or predicting danger.

I never have and don't really see it here. Wouldn't bother me if another parent used one.

My sons's too young, but I'd definitely use one if needed. No judgement from me! When I was a kid my mom used one and I actually liked it. The old school ones had rainbow wrist bands that were attached by a red coiled telephone type cord. I liked that I had a little more freedom than having to always hold my mom's hand, but it was more manageable for a single mom, especially in crowded areas.

Not yet, I pick up the screaming/kicking kid if needed. But if it becomes a problem, we won't hesitate to try it!

I haven't. I don't think I notice most times with those back pack leashes.

Two times I've seen them used inappropriately. One time the kid, who looked like they had just learned to walk a couple months ago, started to toddle off. The parents were in an uncrowded place but focused on a game they were playing. I think the kid was within a couple steps but instead of reaching out with his arms or calling the kids name the dad walked over to him and stepped on the leash and the kid who was still walking in the other direction fell backwards. You could tell the dad just didn't think it through, he wasn't trying to be mean.

The other time we were at the airport and following parents holding the leash and the kid just walked between people and around while his parents talked. They never said anything to correct the behavior but just tugged him back a couple times when he was tripping people up.
So i think for some parents they just reinforce bad behavior

I have absolutely used a "leash" - we bought the skip hop harness backpack because DS went through a BAD running phase when DD was a newborn. I dare someone to openly judge me for it.

We have a skip hop one and have only used it in airports, where we haven't had a stroller and not many hands free.