TO BE or NOT TO BE - USING A BABY LEASH or TODDLER HARNESS

I'm one of the die hards who said they'd never use a baby leash or harness. The vision of wildly flailing arms, legs and a screaming baby being jerked around by the wrist would move me to the verge of tears! Before I had more than one baby I thought that to have a child wear a baby harness would be abusive!
The confusion and horrific visuals probably comes from seeing an adult in a restraint. Hey, they don't look too happy to be wearing a restraining device, right? And we all want our babies to be happy! Is it possible for a child to be happy when wearing a baby safety harness.

Attachment parenting, learning to wear a baby sling and using a baby leash just didn't see the same to me. Baby slings are colorful and cool. Baby wrist leashes while perhaps performing the same duty, are NOT nearly as well liked and popular!

What kind of mother, even one who considers safety first would use any kind of baby gear that would without a doubt make baby very UNHAPPY, especially when baby is attached to her wrist by a baby safety harness and leash? That smacked of parental abuse to me! I have read another article that called the parent tethered to their child the child's torturer! OUCH!!! A baby leash isn't fun, but to call a well-meaning mom a sadist is a bit much!

I still have trouble leaving these opinions behind me, but being faced with a trip to the store with two wiggling toddlers in tow have made me re-think my reviews and opinions of this particular piece of controversial baby restraint equipment. There are times when a double stroller just won't work and when my dear daddy dude isn't around to be carrying one of the kids in the baby backpack. Yes, it's times like this that have moved me to re-evaluate the use of a baby leash and harness.

Baby doesn't like it when she's in the baby section of the shopping cart wearing the provided safety harness, but isn't that best for her? Even when the safety strap is buckled, I keep one hand on her because she is a crafty little escape artist. Is this going to traumatize her like wearing a baby leash? I hope not, because to me strapping her into the buggy is better than being featured on one of those "This Could Happen to You" documentary style shows about what happens when baby's not properly restrained. Are baby leashes so very different?

A baby leash is probably no more psyche bending than a baby car seat or a shopping cart seatbelt, it just looks worse. Yes, there are those parents that would say it looks like we are walking the dog, not taking our precious babies out for a stroll. To those people who would criticize the decision of using a baby leash, I would say my baby is so much more precious to me than a family pet. If attaching her to my wrist by a strap or leash is what it takes to keep her safe and by my warm side, then a baby wrist leash will indeed be in my bag and ready to go at all times!

To the manufacturers that made my baby leash and harness, I would say, Can't you make a baby leash that looks a little less institutional? If they were more cute and trendy they might become a baby fashion accessory! That way if I want to take baby walking in a harness I will at least be color coordinated, cool and fashionable! Child restraints should be not look like something that came out of an institution!

To the moms who say I'm using lazy parenting techniques I would say that you are certainly entitled to your opinions. Please respect mine and don't judge me until you have walked in my shoes and walked my kids without a baby harness.