Interested in your thoughts - leash/harness for child

So I have just purchased one of those backpack harnesses for my one year old, as she loves to be on the ground but can't control herself as far as running off yet. I am especially thinking of the airport and walking around town as we wont have a car once we move to England.

 It looks pretty harmless, it's one of those that looks like a teddy bear with a "tail." However, after reading some pretty nasty comments online (most of which called parents who resorted to leashes as 'bad' and 'inattentive') I am wondering if I will get any hate in public. Have any of you used leashes and what was your experience? Do you see it a lot over in the UK?

I feel as though my daughter is really too young to teach the whole "don't run off" lesson, but not sure if everyone will see it that way...

I think I saw them a lot more here than in the US.  Who cares what other people think, you'll probably never see them again and lots of shopping areas here are way more crowded than at home.

It is better than having a four year old in a stroller with their legs dragging on the ground.   

They are much more popular in the UK due to more compact city centres, narrower sidewalks, etc. I'd use them in a heartbeat over there.

First off, I totally agree about the stroller thing that Bookgrl said. I saw those little backpack ones a lot in Dublin.

I admit that I'm someone who used to think poorly about kids on leashes. Then, I was listening to the radio one day and the DJ was talking about taking his kid to Disney and needed to get a leash for him. His kid was a bolter and since they were going to such a busy place, they had to ensure his safety. No leash and he would be lost. They had other kids that didn't need this safety device when they were his age, but they recognized this about him. He doesn't wear it all the time, but they know his limits. I changed my mind about them as soon as I heard that. Your job is to keep your child safe and if that's what it takes, then so be it. Screw what other people think!

Totally agree with the above!

My daughter is 6 (and has ASD) and we still use it sometimes.  She was a runner and had no safety awareness AT ALL.  She also hated hand holding, and she could get out of the stroller straps.  She was 2 1/2 when we started using one, and we used to have to use it all the time.  Now, we only use it only in crowded, unfamiliar places; she can be easily distracted and will wander.  I've gotten the odd look every so often, but I don't care as long as she's safe!   

I have always thought them a wonderful idea.

My mum used one for me when I was little (late 80s). I can't say I remember it, but I like to assume I turned out okay.

I don't know why people would think any less of you as a parent for using a harness. My mother never mentioned anyone saying anything negative to her about using one, and I would say she is a wonderful parent. I accept I'm biased. 

My mother had 3 children within 26 months. She'd put my younger brothers in a double-decker stroller and I would be on the harness. (This was the late 60's/early 70's). She mentioned it one time when I was in my teens. I was appalled!  I said, "So, I was on a *leash*? You walked me around like a *dog*?!"  She said, "Better you run out onto Baltimore Pike?" (a very busy street in our area). I quickly saw the wisdom.  So, I am a big fan. It's your child and your responsibility to keep them safe the best way you see fit, so don't worry about what anyone else thinks.

I would use a harness in a heartbeat, if that is what it took for my child to be safe.  I wouldn't worry about other people--they're not responsible for your child and do not know the little one like you do. 

I would most def use a harness in a heart beat. Here they have them so they look like monkeys and elephants - so the 'leash' part is the monkey's tail or the elephant's nose - but I would much rather get stared at and my parenting questioned than have my child run off.

My little sister used to bolt off in a split second given the chance.  Personally i'd rather read a few mean comments online and not have my kid hit by a car.  If I had kids i'd definitely use a harness.

I used to have 'reins' when i was little (in the 80's) My sister is now considering getting one of those backpacks for her middle child (he's 22 months) The eldest never needed them, he was happy to hold hands and he didn't run off. The middle one is a runner and he also hates being strapped into his pushchair We're going to Center Parcs in a few weeks and she wants him to be able to walk around but also doesn't want him running off with the very high likelihood of getting hit by a bike! I don't see the problem with wanting to keep your child safe!

We used them with our oldest and still use them with our youngest.  I never cared what other people thought. I cared more about the safety of my children. I had someone once tell me it looked as if I was treating my child like a dog...and I said yes, I am because I love them both, and I don't have to worry about either of them running into the street and being hit by a car, or being snatched by someone!  They are wonderful...they can have the safety of still being connected to you, but having a bit of "independence". 

I've never used one. My daughter is 3 and something that we taught her at a very young age (when she was learning to walk) is that when we're out & about she MUST hold our hand and if she doesn't then she doesn't get to walk & she goes in her pushchair. It's worked for us and I personally believe that it is like leashing an animal and I would never do it to a human being. Just like I won't pierce her ears either. She can decide if she wants to do it when she's older.

IMO it's lazy parenting. But everyone's entitled to their opinions...everyone's got one  

I've never used one. My daughter is 3 and something that we taught her at a very young age (when she was learning to walk) is that when we're out & about she MUST hold our hand and if she doesn't then she doesn't get to walk & she goes in her pushchair. It's worked for us and I personally believe that it is like leashing an animal and I would never do it to a human being. Just like I won't pierce her ears either. She can decide if she wants to do it when she's older.

IMO it's lazy parenting. But everyone's entitled to their opinions...everyone's got one 

That's great you have your opinion but not all children respond to the seriousness of what you are trying to teach them or even comprehend it. Some kids 'get' the idea of danger much earlier than others. My son is only somewhat developmentally delayed and even at 5 he's yet to understand how serious road safety is.

Besides, I'm not sure I even understand your analogy to animals. Keeping an animal on a leash keeps them safe. Ditto for kids.