Baby Leash

When my son first started walking, I admit that I contemplated the idea of buying him a baby leash.
He would make drive me crazy with his wobbly speed but dead accuracy and brilliant timing in choosing the perfect times to wander off, to explore this interesting and exiting world. I found that if we were anywhere at all dangerous, like a parking lot or a busy store, he could be counted on to bolt off from my side and cause me heart palpitations as he rapidly toddled away towards the danger.

But I considered that even though a baby leash, would be the perfect solution to my problem, would I be unhappy with dealing with the stares and snotty remarks from other mothers out there for treating my baby like he was a pet? The questions, “when does a child become a ‘family pet’”, and would I be tempted to tie him up on stationary objects when I was too tired to chase him around be too much for me to resist?

So I reluctantly decided against the baby leash and instead decided to keep just keep my eyes on him at all times. This was definitely not the best idea; I had a very hard time for a period keeping him safe and under my control.

Baby Leash or Baby Reins

I guess I will never get myself to feel that it is right to leash anything other than a dog. The British name for keeping baby under control in the way we describe is by means of ‘reins’, rather like Santa uses, as a harness for his reindeer. This to my mind is a far better word to describe the baby control under discussion
I maybe have the prejudice because I should have learned a painful lesson after trying to walk my cat on a leash. Following a humiliating afternoon dragging him around the park, I put the cat leash away and never thought about or spoke of it again.

I’m was sure I would change my mind if we were to visit Disney World or some other hectic and crowded place, where a baby leash, or reins, would be more of a safety device, rather than just an item of lazy parental convenience.

 There are stories about baby leash providing a false sense of security and fears that strangers can just un-clip the end and walk off with your child. Not that I, or anyone else can ever have heard of any such instance ever actually happening.

Control of the Baby Leash by far outweighs it’s disadvantages!

I have since decided that I will no longer vigilantly hover over my child, as he masters his walking and toddles into danger each time we venture out of the house. I have set my prejudices aside and now use the ‘reins’, or ‘leash’ and concentrate on his safety and welfare rather than listen to the ideas of others who may disapprove. They will not be there if anything terrible were to happen to my little one.

As he has grown older and developed and become more sure of himself, it has become easier for me to control him. His age is now two, so I no longer have to drag him out from under bushes or scoop him up out of the neighbor’s flower beds when we go for walks. He now stays by my side and he even lets me hold his hand sometimes. But still, on those days I find I have never regretted owning a baby leash for the peace of mind that I since experienced.

You can be in full control of your child’s safety!

He will realize one day maybe, that roads are for cars and that the neighbor’s flower garden shouldn’t be violated, without my help being able to redirect his steps. If he doesn’t get it by the time he is five, I will forego the baby leash and simply tie a rope to him to keep him safe. In the meantime I can rest assured that the awkward period of him learning to walk is strictly under MY control!