Would you use a restraint harness ("leash") with your twins/multiples? For some parents, they are the best way to protect their active twin toddlers from wandering off. Other families think that "leashes" are for dogs only. What do you think? Take this week's Parent's Poll.
Would you use a restraint harness ("leash") with your twins/multiples?
- Yes, I think they are a safe, practical restraint.
- No, I think they are only appropriate for pets.
- I don't know; my multiples aren't old enough to require them yet.
- Maybe. It depends on the situation.
View Results
More Resources:
• Using Leashes or Harnesses with Twins
• Twinproofing Your Home
• Safety Gadgets for Childproofing Your Home
• Teaching Twins About Stranger Danger
I never liked the “leash” idea but after having twins I could certainly see using them on occasion.
I had seen a parent in the past before I became a parent using one on their child & thought I would never use one on mine own child, but now I feel safe when we are out in big crowds.
I have used the monkey/dog backpack leashes on my twin boys for safety reasons only & have only had positive comments from other parents. I feel that they can move around me & I know where they are at all times. They like their backpacks also.
It just blows me away that this is even an issue!!! Why do you use a leash on your pet? So they don’t run away and you keep control. And why wouldn’t your child be more important than your pet? I used them ALL the time with my twins girls since it never failed that one would throw a fit. I knew that I could give her my attention and not worry about my other daughter running into the street. I put safety first before what some ignorant absolute stranger thinks of me (my girls started walking at 9 1/2 months). So, to all those parents that think they are for pets only… you choose which one you love more as one shoots off in one direction of a street and the other shoots off in the other direction. Me… I choose not to put myself nor my children in that position.
I bought the harnesses, but haven’t had to use them yet. I agree wholeheartedly that I’d rather have my kid safe with me than running into the street into the path of an oncoming car. One of my twins has autism and doesn’t respond to his name being called, but he also throws fits if he’s not allowed to walk around. And really, how different is it to restrain your child with a “leash” as opposed to a stroller?
My girls are 15 months old & I have a very curious 3 year old son as well. Although I have never had negative comments about the leashes I am always prepared with the response ‘better on leashes than on milk cartons.’
(I love leashes) I have triplets we usualy use a triple decker stroller when out. My mother and I had went to a school swap meet.We had pulled my one son out of the stroller to let him walk, and It was one of the times I didnot use the leash and my mother thought I had my son and I thought she had him with the stoller. We lost him for 10 minutes I thought the world had stoped. you only have so many hands and so many eyes. It only takes a minute to turn your back and their gone. theresa