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[ed boy]

This is an issue that it seems people are quite divided about.



I've spoken to many people, and there seems to be quite a difference of opinion as to whether it is okay to restrain your child like this. Lots of the people I've spoken to are against it, but given that most of the people I know are not parents, I'm reluctant to take their views as the best. My own parents initially tried one on my older brother, but he kicked up such a fuss that they soon put it to rest and didn't bother. Are there any parents here at bay12 with experiences with such things?

[Humaan]

While I am not a parent, I will say that I get the concept (so children don't go missing). However, I will ALSO say that its just so the parent can do whatever they want instead of, you know, actually paying attention to their child.

And your parents tried this on your older brother? Seriously? How old is he anyway, cause that is just riduculous. I mean, I can understand the leash for like a 4-7 years old, and 8-9 is pushing it, but from what I guess, your brother is in the teens, when it should really not be nessecary.

[DJ]

I think it's very degrading.

[ed boy]

And your parents tried this on your older brother? Seriously? How old is he anyway, cause that is just riduculous. I mean, I can understand the leash for like a 4-7 years old, and 8-9 is pushing it, but from what I guess, your brother is in the teens, when it should really not be nessecary.

When I say that they tried it on my older brother, I mean that they tried it when he was a lot younger, not that they tried it recently.

[Vattic]

As a toddler I'd often do my best to disappear as soon as my parents backs were turned. Often this would be when paying for something in a shop and similar. I know they bought one of these but neither them nor I remember using it.

I can understand their use but see what people are complaining about. There are situations where a parent out with their child needs to focus on something other than their child and no matter how short the child could get itself into trouble. I suppose the parent could grab their child and keep them at their side at times like this. I really don't know how I feel about them.

[ILikePie]

"Hey honey, do you mind walking the kids for me?"

[RedKing]

I have mixed feeling about them. I too think they're kinda degrading, and insisted to my wife that we would never use one. Guess what? We got one as a gift.

My daughter, we never needed it for. She was always content to sit in the stroller or walk near us.
My son? Yeah, we've actually used it on him. Because he's like a goddamn greyhound otherwise. As soon as he gets loose, he's off and toddling. And if you're taking them somewhere like an open-air market where there's a lot of people and not necessarily enough room to cart around a ginormous stroller, then this isn't a terrible option.

However, I will ALSO say that its just so the parent can do whatever they want instead of, you know, actually paying attention to their child.

Spoken like a person who doesn't have a child. In order to go about daily necessities such as shopping for groceries, going to doctor's appointments, etc. it is necessary at times for a parent to devote less than 100% of their total attention to their child. If you have two kids, it's less than 50% each. And that few seconds' distraction is all that's needed for disaster to strike. The other day, I bent down to help my daughter get her shoes on. In that few seconds, my son raced down the hall and stuck his hands in the toilet. Why? WHO THE FUCK KNOWS?? He's 1, for god's sake! Kids *do* shit like that.

My point is, yes I don't like the visual analogy to treating my child like a pet.  But I wouldn't use it much past the age where they'd actually be cognizant of that and where that would actually be a bad thing. For the next year or two, he'll probably think it's awesome that he gets to be like a dog. And we use it rarely, only it situations where it's outdoors and there's a lot of people and it's not a good environment for a stroller.

[quinnr]

Hmm, my parents use one of these for my little sister. Don't really use it all the time though, just places where she'll want to leave and look at everything, but has to wait for us. Like the zoo.

It also looks like a monkey, and she loves it, anyways.

I don't think it should be something you use all the time, but on occasion? Why not?
Heck, even when you're shopping, it's better than locking them up in a shopping cart.

[DJ]

Leave kids with grandparents when you go shopping.

[Darvi]

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Seriously now. Not everybody has that luxury. In fact it's even most likely.

[Bauglir]

Speaking as a non-parent, I think RedKing has the right of it. I have an instinctive dislike of these things, but that's primarily because the image it conjures is of a parent too lazy to pay attention or properly teach their kids, and using a leash as a stopgap measure. That may be some portion of the users, but honestly, they're gonna fuck up their kids anyway. While that isn't okay, I don't think the presence or absence of a leash on the market will make a difference there, and it can help decent parents stay sane in certain situations, and thus remain decent parents.

[Rilder]

Its not like kids remember anything from that age, I know I don't remember a damn thing.  Don't have any kids though so don't have an opinion otherwise.

[scriver]

Its not like kids remember anything from that age, I know I don't remember a damn thing.  Don't have any kids though so don't have an opinion otherwise.

That you can't remember it doesn't mean it wouldn't effect you.

I'm with the "it could have it's uses, I guess" group, though. I don't like the image it invokes, but if you have a kid you can't keep your eyes on, for whatever reason, it's better than the possibility of something happening to him.

And lastly, I'm not sure it would have that much of an effect on the kid anyway. Except maybe a few more people growing up that's into bondage.

...my son raced down the hall and stuck his hands in the toilet. Why? WHO THE FUCK KNOWS?? He's 1, for god's sake! Kids *do* shit like that.

When he grows up and becomes a plumber, remember that I called it first.

[RedKing]

That Batman panel made my day. 

And yeah, if you have grandparents within a convenient distance who don't mind taking the little one(s) every time you need to go shopping (which if you're trying to eat healthy by buying real food that isn't saturated with preservatives, means at least every other day), then by all means--abuse that privilege.

But for most people, not an option. And babysitters are not cheap.

[DJ]

Don't they have those daycare thingies where you can drop off kids for a couple of hours? I thought they even have some in malls themselves.