Kids on leashes

MakiSupaStar · #1 09-06-2011, 04:23 PM

So I've never liked these things. Always felt they were products marketed to lazy parents. Yesterday, I was on my last call of the summer. A 17mos toddler who had a dislocated shoulder. She was wearing a leashexactly like the picture below. Myself, a few of my lifeguard coworkers were on the fence on whether or not to involve the police. The medics were too (not sure if they ultimately did, since the girl was transported to the hospital). Ultimately we didn't because we honestly felt that it was simple ignorance on the parent's part. I just find they are completely unnecessary, unless you've got a child with mental disabilities, or some other medical issue, I don't think there's any need for these things. Am I completely off base here?

guy n. cognito · #2 09-06-2011, 04:25 PM

Nope. Those things are just silly. If you can't keep up with your kid without tying on, then you probably shouldn't go out in public.

BartmanPDX · #3 09-06-2011, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MakiSupaStar

So I've never liked these things. Always felt they were products marketed to lazy parents. Yesterday, I was on my last call of the summer. A 17mos toddler who had a dislocated shoulder. She was wearing a leashexactly like the picture below. Myself, a few of my lifeguard coworkers were on the fence on whether or not to involve the police. The medics were too (not sure if they ultimately did, since the girl was transported to the hospital). Ultimately we didn't because we honestly felt that it was simple ignorance on the parent's part. I just find they are completely unnecessary, unless you've got a child with mental disabilities, or some other medical issue, I don't think there's any need for these things. Am I completely off base here?

We use one all the time with Kira. Sometimes tethered to us, other times to Shenandoah.

It's saved her life more than once. But of course, we are a special case. For a child with autism, they can be a lifesaver. Literally. Kira will run into traffic without the slightest hesitation. Right in front of a car. Shenandoah is trained to sit and lie down if Kira tries to bolt while she is tethered to her.

Bottom line -- there might be more to the story.

But i'd bet negligence was the bigger factor at work here, and that's the parents' fault, irrespective of the leash.

Punk Rock Jason · #4 09-06-2011, 04:30 PM

My wife and I have talked about this and neither one of us finds this to be at all necessary. I'm certain that there are cases in which tethering the kid to yourself is necessary, but I'm of the opinion that they are few and far between.

I personally think it's somewhat demeaning to both the child and the adult. If you can't supervise your kid without putting him or her on a leash, there's probably a problem.

Just my $.02.

Relic · #5 09-06-2011, 04:31 PM

My oldest son was really really hyper when he was a toddler and I actually did buy one of these things to use when we went to a mall or somewhere where he might wander off and get lost, or fall down stairs or something. (he would go nuts if you tried to hold his hand or restrain him) In the end though, he kind of outgrew it before I even brought myself to use it.
TBH, I see no harm so long as there's a real reason for it. If it's just something borne out of laziness, then yeah it's just wrong.

MakiSupaStar · #6 09-06-2011, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BartmanPDX

We use one all the time with Kira. Sometimes tethered to us, other times to Shenandoah.

It's saved her life more than once. But of course, we are a special case. For a child with autism, they can be a lifesaver. Literally.

Bottom line -- there might be more to the story.

But i'd bet neligence was the bigger factor at work here, and that's the parents' fault, irrespective of the leash.

Bartman, you're situation makes perfect sense to me. This little girl was pretty advanced for her age. Walking early, talking really well (in comparison to my son's 2 year old). Of course, you're right, I don't know the full story (perhaps she was diagnosed with something), but I'm thinking (based on my interaction with the mom) this was just bad parenting. The mom kept picking up the girl (by the nook of the arms BTW - very painful for a dislocated shoulder) and shaking her, letting her little arm flop around. The girl was screaming in pure agony. We had to take the girl off her. The mom just wouldn't listen to us when we asked her to stop shaking her.

BartmanPDX · #7 09-06-2011, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MakiSupaStar

Bartman, you're situation makes perfect sense to me. This little girl was pretty advanced for her age. Walking early, talking really well (in comparison to my son's 2 year old). Of course, you're right, I don't know the full story (perhaps she was diagnosed with something), but I'm thinking (based on my interaction with the mom) this was just bad parenting. The mom kept picking up the girl (by the nook of the arms BTW - very painful for a dislocated shoulder) and shaking her, letting her little arm flop around. The girl was screaming in pure agony. We had to take the girl off her. The mom just wouldn't listen to us when we asked her to stop shaking her.

That sounds more like stupidity, compounded by negligence.

That's too common these days i'm afraid, and such parents are sadly probably a major part of the population who uses them. I see a LOT of bad parenting. I did when I used to teach as well.

Here's a shot of my wife with Kira and Shenandoah, on the first trip we'd ever taken to the mall without either the "death grip" or a screaming fit. Almost felt like we were a normal family:

macaroni tony · #8 09-06-2011, 04:54 PM

Bartman: You sure know how to supply the pics to make a brother cry

OK, kids on leashes: TBH, always gave me something to laugh at. Not good for much else, except of course for cases like Bartman's. Now I can't speak for every parent that I've ever seen with a kid on a leash, but I would just about bet everything I got that the majority of them didn't have a kid with behavioral or any kind of mental issues.

**JdoubleH** · #9 09-06-2011, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MakiSupaStar

... The mom kept picking up the girl (by the nook of the arms BTW - very painful for a dislocated shoulder) and shaking her, letting her little arm flop around. The girl was screaming in pure agony. We had to take the girl off her. The mom just wouldn't listen to us when we asked her to stop shaking her.

I was going to chime in with something pithy like "for everyone else's kids, they should be mandatory", but the part about the shaking just made me sick. Based on your description I fear for this child's safety. I am not commonly an advocate for government meddling in child rearing, but there are clearly cases where Child Protective Services should be involved.

MakiSupaStar · #10 09-06-2011, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JdoubleH

I was going to chime in with something pithy like "for everyone else's kids, they should be mandatory", but the part about the shaking just made me sick. Based on your description I fear for this child's safety. I am not commonly an advocate for government meddling in child rearing, but there are clearly cases where Child Protective Services should be involved.

We documented it and put it in the hands of the medics who transported her. It will be up to them and the doctors to determine if they need to get involved. For the record, the mother was shaking her like you would to calm a crying baby, not necessarily in a mean way (albeit it was incredibly thoughtless of her).

BartmanPDX · #11 09-06-2011, 05:04 PM

I'm hoping Maki's right, but that still leaves the parents as disturbingly clueless at best.

Bonus pic from 5 minutes ago, when Kira commandeered my iPad:

PerlNinja · #12 09-06-2011, 05:13 PM

The short of it: people should be forced to take a test before getting a license that allows them to breed.

MakiSupaStar · #13 09-06-2011, 05:18 PM

LOVING the pics, Bartman.

Big_Daddy · #14 09-06-2011, 05:22 PM

I suppose I'll give my .002$ when I have a child...

Strat-Mangler · #15 09-06-2011, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MakiSupaStar

Am I completely off base here?

It is REMARKABLY easy to judge others without first being in their shoes.

Are there some lazy parents who might be quick to use such a device? Sure.

Are there parents who need this due to various circumstances that you either are unaware of or wouldn't understand due to your safe distance from that situation? Absolutely.

fenderhutz · #16 09-06-2011, 05:32 PM

Heavily populated areas like zoos where kids want freedom bur can easily get lost in a crowd these things can be great.

Of all things that can be bad for a kid like feeding them candy all day or beating them or whatever bad parenting can be you pick this?

Maki you can do better than this.

MakiSupaStar · #17 09-06-2011, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fenderhutz

Heavily populated areas like zoos where kids want freedom bur can easily get lost in a crowd these things can be great.

Of all things that can be bad for a kid like feeding them candy all day or beating them or whatever bad parenting can be you pick this?

Maki you can do better than this.

Other than it appearing to be demeaning, I never really saw how they could do any harm to a child until now.

Gopherbassist · #18 09-06-2011, 05:48 PM

I don't really have a problem with it. In fact, one of my cousins was really hyperactive as a child, my uncle always had him on a tether. That way, my cousin could run around and feel like he had some level of freedom, while my uncle didn't have to worry that he was running around breaking stuff.

Phalex · #19 09-06-2011, 05:51 PM

Other people's kids on leashes? I'm down.

sandmangeck · #20 09-06-2011, 05:56 PM

When I was a kid my parents had one of those hip hugger ones, not the backpack ones like today. I would just wander off. I had a terrible habit of watching shoes when I walked, all the way up until I got out of highschool. I guess I never liked to look people in the eye.
But, I got lost at every amusement park on trips. I would see a pair of shoes similar to my parents and just follow them. My schools hated taking me on trips.
So I understand both sides. I think they can be used my lazy parents. And I think they are used by parents who have a need for them.