Kids on leashes

[Relic]

You're confusing the intent of the parent with the poor decision making process used to fulfill that intent.

I don't want my daughter to fall out of bed at night, so I strap her down with ropes. Is that demonstrative of how much I care? The lady that poured hot sauce down her kids throat said she did that because she cared, too, ya know....

A child roped to a bed, can roll over and choke on the rope. Hot sauce can burn and choke a child. There's common sense, then there's just stupidity - those two examples illustrate idiocy in a parent. A child leash does not . It's really no different from a stroller, it just looks goofy. Wouldn't stop me if I needed to use it.

 

[aborgman]

I don't want my daughter to fall out of bed at night, so I strap her down with ropes. Is that demonstrative of how much I care?

Ahh... the good old reductio ad absurdum.

I don't want my son to fall out of bed at night, so I put a railing on his bed. Is that demonstrative of how much I care?

Just look at the restraint:

 

[MatticusMania]

Actually to be quite honest, they DO look awful silly.
Still, if I needed to use one, I'd use it regardless if I felt it would keep my kid safe.

And if you felt that was the best tool to keep your kid safe, then by all means use it.

I also think that some people here, who see the value in such a tool, are overlooking the fact that there are plenty of parents out there who use such a device as a means of "lazy parenting". Now, Im not lumping any of you into that group, but you know theyre out there.

 

[aborgman]

Slings and carriers are for children who can't walk.

Really? Not in my experience.

My son was walking at 10 months old.

I was still using a backpack carrier on occasion when he was 5.

He was probably 2-3 when we quit using the sling.

Seatbelts in strollers are for safety mores than confinement.

Confinement and safety are often the same thing - the confinement is specifically for safety.

We belted my kid so he wouldn't jump out and hurt himself. We did quit belting him (but still used the stroller) until he was 5-6.

 

[aborgman]

I also think that some people here, who see the value in such a tool, are overlooking the fact that there are plenty of parents out there who use such a device as a means of "lazy parenting".

I don't overlook it - I just think it's no more prevalent with leashes than with any other restraint methods.

There are parents who use leashes as a means of "lazy parenting", there are parents who use slings as a means of "lazy parenting", there are parents who use strollers as a means of "lazy parenting", there are parents who use television as a means of "lazy parenting", and on and on and on... I just find it somewhat odd to single out leashes.

 

[Relic]

And if you felt that was the best tool to keep your kid safe, then by all means use it.

I also think that some people here, who see the value in such a tool, are overlooking the fact that there are plenty of parents out there who use such a device as a means of "lazy parenting". Now, Im not lumping any of you into that group, but you know theyre out there.

Oh, I'm not going to deny that at all. I mentioned way earlier in this thread that I believe that there are far too many lazy parents out there.
My argument summed up real simple-like is that a leash isn't a good barometer of who's lazy and who's not as there are too many variables.

 

[hdracer]

I have never had a problem teaching any dog I have had to heel.

The same thing applys to the four children I have raised.

Parents are getting way to lazy.

 

[Relic]

I have never had a problem teaching any dog I have had to heel.

The same thing applys to the four children I have raised.

Parents are getting way to lazy.

My first was a handful and I had a ton of issues with him. The other two were a piece of cake in comparison.
Not all kids are exactly the same.

 

[tZer]

You're confusing the intent of the parent with the poor decision making process used to fulfill that intent.

I don't want my daughter to fall out of bed at night, so I strap her down with ropes. Is that demonstrative of how much I care? The lady that poured hot sauce down her kids throat said she did that because she cared, too, ya know....

Let me use a variation on your bed example (and I am going to ignore the asinine hot sauce comment - that's just BS)...

If your daughter fell out of bed repeatedly and injured herself and you installed a railing to prevent her from falling out of bed, that would be more along the lines of how I see a parent who opts for a tether to help keep their child safe after they have demonstrated that they could bolt unexpectedly into traffic. Hey, her bed looks like a cage now... How cruel of you. Oh, wait... you mean she has a problem with falling out of bed and injuring herself? How ignorant of me for calling your cruel. I didn't know...

If all you did was tell her not to do that, then you'd be guilty of not taking real steps to ensure her safety. While there are certainly other options to the tether, sometimes the tether is the correct solution - or at least A solution to a very real problem - and is done to keep the child safe - not to make the parent's life easier. Clearly we can see that it makes the parent a target for other people's opinions and derision. That sure makes their lives nice and groovy, don't it?

Whether it's the best one or one that you think is silly is not really the point. Automatically characterizing a parent who uses one as lazy or otherwise - especially when you don't know a thing about them or their child and just use what you can see as your criteria for such judgment is misguided, IMO.

Matticus - I hear you - it's not an option for you. Cool. I am glad you've never had to consider such a measure and hope you never do.

 

[macaroni tony]

There are parents who use leashes as a means of "lazy parenting", there are parents who use slings as a means of "lazy parenting", there are parents who use strollers as a means of "lazy parenting", there are parents who use television as a means of "lazy parenting", and on and on and on... I just find it somewhat odd to single out leashes.

It's simple really - leashes are funny lookin

 

[aborgman]

It's simple really - leashes are funny lookin

True - but not nearly as funny looking as dudes wearing baby slings.

 

[Relic]

It's simple really - leashes are funny lookin

That actually perfectly nails it right down there.
They're funny looking, I fully agree. Some cant consider beyond that though and therein lies the problem.

 

[hdracer]

My first was a handful and I had a ton of issues with him. The other two were a piece of cake in comparison.
Not all kids are exactly the same.

Do you think all four of mine were a "piece of cake"? Ha!

 

[Relic]

True - but not nearly as funny looking as dudes wearing baby slings.

Not when you're using the sling to twirl the kid around ZZtop style. That just looks awesome.

 

[guy n. cognito]

Ahh... the good old reductio ad absurdum.

I don't want my son to fall out of bed at night, so I put a railing on his bed. Is that demonstrative of how much I care?

Just look at the restraint:

You're missing the forest so you can argue about the trees......again.

 

[Relic]

Do you think all four of mine were a "piece of cake"? Ha!

None are...none are... I said my two younger ones were pieces of cake in comparison... makes one wonder how bad the oldest one was!
That kid gave me gray hair at 29 years old

 

[guy n. cognito]

A child roped to a bed, can roll over and choke on the rope. Hot sauce can burn and choke a child. There's common sense, then there's just stupidity - those two examples illustrate idiocy in a parent. A child leash does not . It's really no different from a stroller, it just looks goofy. Wouldn't stop me if I needed to use it.

So, if I can tie down my child in such a way that they face no risk of choking, I go from being stupid to being a brilliant parent?

A stroller is a device that allows a parent to transport a child that either can't walk or can't cover the distance required to walk. A kid leash has none of those benefits and only serves to restrain the child.

 

[macaroni tony]

True - but not nearly as funny looking as dudes wearing baby slings.

I disagree - they're MUCH funnier looking than the dudes wearin baby slings! Have you ever seen a kid try to run away, only to be running in place because he's on a leash? And the kid thinks he's actually going somewhere and is laughing hysterically? aahahhaa!!! Man that's funny! IMHO of course

 

[MatticusMania]

I just find it somewhat odd to single out leashes.

It's simple really - leashes are funny lookin

Exactly.

 

[Relic]

So, if I can tie down my child in such a way that they face no risk of choking, I go from being stupid to being a brilliant parent?

No, just odd. Why would you tie your child down when you could just install a rail? I did that for all my kids.

A stroller is a device that allows a parent to transport a child that either can't walk or can't cover the distance required to walk. A kid leash has none of those benefits and only serves to restrain the child.

We used a stroller for quite a while actually. First was the baby stroller, then we used the umbrella stroller thing when they got older. I like that better than the leash actually because it restrains the child safely while also allowing them to keep up with everyone. We never really had to use the leash on son #1 though because he outgrew the urge to bolt away and wander off pretty quickly. I would have used it if I needed to though. I really wouldn't care that you or someone else would be judging me, my son's safety is more important than your opinion of me. No offense, just saying.