The Toddler Leash: Good or Bad Idea?

Imagine this: You're in a crowded airport with your 2 year old daughter. Of course you are holding your daughter's hand, but somehow she breaks away from your grip and runs away. Suddenly you can't see her. The crowd of people is so thick that you can't even tell which way she went. You start to frantically yell for her as tears fall from your face. This whole situation could have been prevented with the toddler leash.

The toddler leash is an amazing idea. Many people don't think so, though. Some feel that the use of a toddler leash is humiliating to the child. Leashes are supposed to be for dogs, right? They think that if a child is on a leash, this somehow makes them like an animal, or a pet for the parent. Other people may feel like using a toddler leash is just a way for parents to be lazy and not keep a close eye on their children.

These points are true to a certain extent. Yes, leashes are for dogs. Yes, it may be slightly embarrassing for a child to be on the leash. Yes, using a toddler leash could be used by many parents as an excuse to not watch their children as closely as they should. But what is the most important thing? The most important thing is the safety of the children.

A toddler leash shouldn't be used all the time. It shouldn't be treated as an alternative to watching your children. It should, however, be a supervisory supplement. When you are in a crowded setting, it can be extremely hard to keep your child with you. If you have a toddler and a baby to push in a stroller, the task of keeping the toddler close and at your side becomes twice as hard. If you used the leash in this situation, it would be a wonderful idea. You would, of course, still need to keep an extra close eye on your child, but you can rest assured that if your child lets go of your hand, that you will not lose him forever.

In situations like family vacations, the toddler leash can be twice as useful. If a family were to go camping in the mountains, the leash could make a difference between life and death. Turning your back from your child for just a split second can result in disaster, especially out in the middle of nowhere.

The most important thing is to consider the safety of the child. Any thing that can help keep children close to their parents in a crowded setting is a good idea. Even if the toddler leash causes odd looks from strangers, you should ignore them and know that you are only trying to keep your child safe.