Yep – we used a “leash”, especially when Jonas was small. He REFUSES to hold hands (and when you think about it, it’s not really comfortable for a kid to keep their little arm stretched up over their head for any length of time – so really, who can blame them?!?)

Ours looks like a little stuffed animal Monkey backpack with a long monkey tail that the parent holds on to. It’s adorable. And he loves it. He likes walking and not having to be right at arms length, so it keeps him really happy. Win/Win.

I know some judgmental people will look down on me for it, but I don’t give a rat’s ass. Until they’re trying to wrestle my screaming kid to the ground because he INSISTS on walking and REFUSES to hold anybody’s hand, then they’ve got nothing to say about it. Shut it!
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I have two dogs who are always leashed when we go for walks. When I would take a dog and Ben, each would be on a leash because, honestly, that’s a chance I’m not willing to take.

We got them, primarily, though, for the grandparents. Our kids are young, fast, and agile. Our parents are none of these. This way toddler child could go for a walk with Nana or Grandpa without us having to worry about either of them getting injured .

I have a feeling with my current baby it’s going to be needed more often. She’s not even walking yet and already showing signs of a being a runner. I took her in the front yard the other day to watch the older two play, and she just took off crawling down the sidewalk without a care for if anyone would follow her.
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I have definitely been thinking that especially for airport layovers (having suffered through several long ones recently), this would help life not be so severely frustrating for both of us. The sling and the umbrella stroller (it’s practically the only time i use the latter) both work for a while, depending on her mood, but sometimes a third option would be a huge help.

And I was also thinking that this is actually a nice definition of attachment parenting, in a way – allowing your child to explore the world safely, within the boundaries you have set. I know some see leashes as cruelly restrictive (hell, I once did), but no one bats an eye at strollers, and they’re literally strapped IN to those. Know what I mean? (Nothing against strollers, I’m just saying, in that specific comparison, what’s more “freeing”, and what’s more “confining”?)

Using the Maya Wrap would be perfect! I also have a monkey backpack harness (it was only about $10, so why not?) that we may be trying out soon. We’ll give both of them a run.

Let us know how it’s going!
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However, my niece was a runner so my brother and his wife used a leash whenever they went anywhere especially crowded. I think if she had been firstborn it wouldn’t have been as much of an issue, but she was third child, so mom and dad had other children they had to keep an eye on, too. Mainly they used the leash at places like Disney World, or in a crowded mall at Christmastime. I believe they got the leash after a couple of harrowing incidences where she took off on them and it took a while to find her.

You know what, you do what you need to do to keep a particular child safe. My niece only had to use the leash for about a year or two and only during very specific circumstances where it was difficult for mom and dad to keep her from easily disappearing. She’s eleven now and rest assured that she does not ever wear a leash anymore and has not for quite some time.

love the new use of the maya. i’m totally going to suggest that to my friend who is borrowing mine and seems to have brought a roamer and runner into the world.

wonderful insight that you were able to see that the humiliation was your own and not jacob’s. that should really put it into context for the nay sayers. and i am a very firm believer of do what works for you and your family. well, as least within the confines of the law…

No, I’ve not had to use a leash, my 3 year old was never a runner. If my baby grows up to be you’ll bet I’ll be using a wrap as one. Safety first, always.
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My husband used to take my son (only child) to the mall during the day when it wasn’t busy and let him run several steps ahead of him. Worked well for him. However, it did not work well for me and made mall trips stressful.

Umbrella stroller worked better for me.

No problems with leashing as long as it is done compassionately.