kiddie harness good or bad what are your thoughts?

Question

I was watching the view the other day, when they said that they didnt like kiddie harness, I have three little kids under four, there safety is VERY important.. Every day a child is snag by a perv...and it only takes a second...... I havent used one for years but there have been many times that I wish I had one... why are these bad?

Answer 1

some people believe it is treating your kids like dogs. But people put a leash on a dog to keep them safe and stop them running off. I ask "is your child less important than your dog?" If your child is a runner then it is better to put a harness on them then see them get hit by a truck or abducted by some sick pervert

Answer 2

Well, personally i am not a fan. I associate them as having a child on a leash - it just looks wrong. However some children do run off when your back is turned for half a second and yes, we do live in a world where there are many sick people so really - which is more important? Ensuring your childs safety or worrying about how it looks?

I am 31wks pregnant with my first so can't comment on whether i would use it on my child, however i have an 8 y/o brother. When he was younger he was one of those children who quite happily walked beside me, hand in hand, and never even thought about running off so no, i would never use a child harness on him. I do have a cousin though who, at 3/4, would run off constantly - you were forever chasing her, so in that case yes i probably would relent and use a child harness.

Better to be safe than sorry... even if i don't like the way they look! lol.

Answer 3

I know what your talking about I had one for my son and some women at the store asked me how could I treat my son like as if he was a dog. And I told her that I'm not and that the reason why I have this on him is because his at that age where if I take my eye off him for 1 second then he would be gone and the chances of him being kidnap I don't think I want to take those chances.

That was 7 years ago and now I have a little girl who will be 2yrs old this June and every time we go out I put hers on her and she seems to like it.

So I don't see how people can say their bad unless their the type that are still set back when they didn't even have them around. But come to think about it even my Grandmother told me she wished they had those in her days when her kids where little.

Well, if someone dose ask you why or how could you do that to your child just ask them if they where in your shoes and had the choice of their child being safe or taken away for them in less than two seconds which one would they want.

Answer 4

I don't think it is a bad thing at all. On this site I have constantly heard people complain about how their child is not a dog, but I agree with what you say about pervs SO much! Some people say to shove the kid in a stroller or let them hold your hand, but what about when they are 2-3 and can walk and crave some independence? Are you really going to force them into a stroller or shopping cart or is it just that much easier to let them think they are free while they are tied to you by a string.

For the happiness of both the mother and child and the safety of the child, I cannot say a single bad thing about them. Both my sister and I were on them at one point, and I have used it on one of the kids I babysat. For the record, neither me or my sister grew up feeling as though we were "animals" and neither of us were hindered in any way by being on a harness.

Answer 5

I have every intention on using one and have already had to have arguments with most of the people I know about it. I guess the good thing about that is that I already have answers to most of the rude comments I will receive :-)
" You want to treat your kid like a dog" is the one I have heard most often.
Its like this, I put a leash on my dogs to keep them safe. Why would I do anything less for my child.
Once they start walking they want to walk... not sit in their stroller all day. Even the best parent ( which I like to think I will qualify for the award :-) ) can not possibly have eyes on child every second. I think that these harnesses are a must plain and simple. I think people are too worried about what others think and they let that cloud their good judgment about these tools. Your right, their are pervs and nappers and idiot drivers not watching the roads, and a million other dangers out there that these can help prevent. So I say shame on those people who would not use one of these just because they are worried about the fact that they "look weird" and people will stare. And for those of us who will use them I say good for us for being wonderful, safety conscious parent who will go as far as we can to protect those most precious to us who don't yet know how to protect themselves.


To Jilly...
You can not reason with a 1- 2 year old and if you think you can you are fooling yourself..
as far as her not testing you or you just "stop your activity"... what if when she did test you it was by running a few feet in front of you in the parking lot and she got hit by a car that didn't see her or couldn't stop in time. I guess that would stop your activity. What makes it a "freak show"? Just because the statistics show family and friends nab the kids doesn't mean that random kidnappings don't happen and I guess they happen out of doors as well. What if one of these estranged fathers was stalking the family and the minute moms focus was looking for a price on salad dressing at the store, he took the little one. I guess it would be harder for him to do if child was attached to mom.
Again... I only do the best for my pets.... why would I do any less for my child.

Answer 6

I think it depends on the child. With my first daughter, i never needed any safety things ( other than outlet covers and cabinet latches of course) because we did not need them.
When her sister came along , we had gates upon gates and door latches and everything under the sun . She was just that kind of kid , and yes we had a harness for her because she would wander wherever we went.
To Linda who criticized harnesses... I would rather have my child SAFE and looking silly in a harness rather than being kidnapped by some crazy person!

Answer 7

I think they're fantastic if used properly. The bad image comes from people either never seeing one before (makes them think of a dog leash, I'm sure) or from people using it INSTEAD of watching their kids. But in the right place and time (a parking lot or a crowded airport, for instance), they can be a very useful tool to allow a child to walk on their own and explore without the parent having to worry too much about their child quickly slipping away or getting lost. I have one that I used for a very short time for my daughter when I was VERY pregnant with my second child. My daughter was only 18 months old, and she loved to take walks around the block with me, but she had decided she didn't like the stroller anymore. I couldn't carry her anymore, and she wanted to walk, anyway. She didn't like holding my hand, but didn't mind the "leash" at all, and was much happier walking around the block with it on. I felt much more secure (as I'm sure she did) knowing that she couldn't quickly dart into the street from the sidewalk during a time when I couldn't easily and quickly chase after her. I don't think there is a problem at all with these devices when, like I said they are used properly (in addition to supervision, not instead of it) and when both parent and child are happy and comfortable with its use.

Answer 8

IMO they do look a little odd to have your kid on a leash but I do understand the safety concerns. Right now my daugther is 14 months and is still in her stroller for the most part when we are out so it hasn't been too much of an issue. I

Answer 9

You know, when I first saw them I thought they were strange; however, viewing mothers in stores with toddlers, their hands full, and distracted by "what they are shopping for", and watching these toddlers (not harnessed) just walk away without the mothers noticing is terrifying.

Like you mentioned, it only takes a second for someone to nab your child. I think it's a gread added measure of security.

Answer 10

I dont think they are bad. Most kids like to PUSH the stroller not sit in it. With the harness the kid can walk next to mom and still be safe....


oh and let me say what a cute baby!!!! those lil pony tails....its just too cute!!