Should You Use a Backpack with a Safety Leash on Your Child?

Backpacks designed with safety leashes are disguised by the product manufacturers to be cute and cuddly. The backpack portion of the restraint is made to look like charming animals such as ladybugs, monkeys and adorable doggies. I have a strong suspicion this is to make the child more amiable to wearing the restraining device and the parents who use them feel less self-conscious while they are out in public walking their children. The safety leash portion is a long belt often made to look like the furry little animal's tail. The leash portion extends from the bottom of the backpack and ends with a loop for the parent to grasp while they walk their child. Yes, I worded the last portion of my sentence specifically to drive the point home: parents who are using such devices are not walking with their children but they are walking their children no differently than they would walk their family pet.

Who benefits from the use of such a device?

Based on the fact that my sister and I have managed to safely raise seven children to ages 10 to 18 without the use of such restraints my only conclusion as to what type of parent would benefit from the use of such a restraining device are those that are ill-equipped to pass on their genes. In other words: there is no benefit to anyone. Whether that parent is too simple or too busy to properly supervise their child in a setting where harm might come to that child were they to wander off, it is my expert assessment that the world would be better off if those parents paid a bit more time and attention to parenting now that they are so obviously in far over their heads. Speaking from experience, the parenting challenges will only grow as your children also grow. If the parents who find restraining devices such as backpacks with safety leashes to be an appealing idea when their child is two years old, what are they going to do when the same child reaches the stage in their development where they are physically big and mentally sophisticated enough to walk to school themselves or can ride a bicycle or drive a car? What sort of leash will that parent utilize then to keep their child safe and sound? The parent can't very well hold the child's hand when they participate in any of these activities that are designed to get them from point A to point B.

Take this sign as a wake-up call and get guidance with your parenting skills.

Parenting classes or seeking advice from parents who have well-behaved children will help tremendously so you can employ effective parenting strategies before it is too late. The good news is that now is an excellent time to get on your game and figure it out before your situation goes from bad to worse. Because there is no certification or schooling a parent must acquire before they become pregnant it would stand to reason that many have no idea what they are getting themselves into. However, those that are in way over their heads can scarcely remain in denial once the child has reached the stage where they can walk and talk. There is no one person that knows everything so it's ok to admit you may not have realized how challenging parenting was going to be. Seek out proper guidance so that you can, in turn properly guide your children. You and your children will be much happier in the long run.

And for goodness sakes, leave the use of safety leashes for when it is appropriate as in the case of walking your pet ...while holding your child's hand.