[hipumpkins]

Do you consider harnesses just for toddlers? I am going to the airport with just me, my DD and my son (13 mos). my DD will be 4 at the end of October and I was considring putting harness on her just for the airport. I am so terrifed of her being snatched up b/c she gets dawdling and doesn't watch where she is going She does not deliberately run off but I am afraid for that one second where I am looking away at the ticket counter or something that something will catch her eye...YKWIM?
anyway if you think harnesses are some evil plot to make kids into dogs I am not looking for that debate. I just want to know if you think DD will be too old to wear one if you are not against them in any way.

 

[frogguruami]

I would definately harness a 4 year old in an airport. My son is 5 and I would put one on him. There are people out there that think they are awful. But I know my child. I know he will wander off, run off, hide under stuff, walk up and talk to total strangers, I could go on and on.

I can think of one very important reason to use the harness in the airport. At 4 years old they will make your DD walk through security alone. They may even try it with your younger one. But you can just tell them he can't walk yet. With the harness, you can let her walk through but still have ahold of her.

So you have probably gathered that I am totally FOR using harnesses in situations that they increase the safety of your child. I would never use one just so I could gossip with my friends at the mall but the airport is totally an appropriate place.

 

[hipumpkins]

excellent point about the security gate.

Actually my13 mos old doesn't walk so he will be carried anyway.
I always used one on DD at the airport but we haven't flown in over a year so I wasn't sure about the age. Thanks

 

[Ruthla]

I think it depends on the situation and the child's personality. For a leisurely stroll in the mall, a harness isn't needed for an "average" 4yo. For the situation you're describing- being rushed at an airport where you might be distracted, putting your child in a harness sounds like a good idea.

 

[Dakota's Mom]

Last year when DS was almost 3 I used the harness in the airport and a few other times when we were in crowded situations. But this year he was almost 4 and we didn't use one. He was really good about staying right beside me. But like everyone else said, it depends on the child. I used mine all the time when DS was 2. He would run and never listened to me.

Kathi

 

[RedWine]

I think it's a great idea, and I actually wish we had one for our upcoming trip.

 

[julesinottawa]

I think it's perfectly acceptable in that situation. I bought one for my son when we were on our house hunting trip and my mother was going to be taking the kids for walks in a downtown area that we weren't very familiar with. In the end she didn't use it but it gave me peace of mind that it was available for such an occasion.

 

[wombatclay]

I think a busy/unfamiliar/stressful environment like an airport is a totally appropriate place to use a harness. And 4 is not too old for a harness in my opinion. My dd has a harness (ten dollars from target, it looks like a Teddy Bear and gives her a "bear hug to keep you safe") that has a zippered pocket on the teddy bear portion. We keep id information in the pouch just in case and it's a good place to keep a few crayons and a tiny notebook...always a good thing to have in an airport when you don't know how long you might need to keep a little one occupied while standing in line or sitting at a gate. Plus the teddy bear portion makes a great pillow for on the plane!

Actually, she loves wearing just the teddy bear portion around the house, and even when we have the "harness portion" attached most people don't know it's a harness.

Hope you have a wonderful (and uneventful) trip!

 

[hottmama]

I think if your 4 yr. old is known for leaving your side, it might make sense. I wouldn't use one on my 3.5 yr. old, but my friend's almost 3 yr. old? If that was my kid I'd duct tape him to my leg.

 

[Kaitnbugsmom]

I use one for my 7 year old in certain conditions like heavy crowds... some people say it's horrid and so forth, I just roll my eyes and tell them when it's their kid and not mine that causes the next Code Adam, we'll see who is the more neglectful parent..

you have to do what is best for you and your child.

 

[frogguruami]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedWine I think it's a great idea, and I actually wish we had one for our upcoming trip.

When my son was younger I used a ring sling as an impromptu harness (around his waist) in an emergency. I have a friend that has used her MT in a pinch.

AM

 

[~PurityLake~]

I haven't used it very much. Sometimes it's just more of a pain to pull it out, attach it, and walk so slowly with her. I only just started using it a few weeks ago and have maybe used it 4 times. The reason I got one was for safety issues. I thought it might come in handy in crowded places. My daughter went through a phase when she HATED being strapped into the grocery cart. Since I'm 40 weeks pregnant now, it wasn't easy or much fun having to chase after her when she'd slip her hand out of mine and take off.
When I used the leash in the grocery store, she had so much fun, exploring, pulling things off the shelves and talking to her reflection in the freezer doors.
She still tried to keep running when she reached the end of the leash, so I had to be careful she didn't fall. It still seems not that easy a way to keep her safe. I am only going to use it when needed for her safety. She's also the type to go up to complete strangers, or just take off in hopes of getting me to chase her.

 

[angela&avery]

Quote:

Originally Posted by amseiler When my son was younger I used a ring sling as an impromptu harness (around his waist) in an emergency. I have a friend that has used her MT in a pinch. AM

I was going to say that I have a maya wrap that i had always considered as harness worthy If i ever needed one. I never did, but would definately use one in a crowded airport with one of my kids.

 

[arlecchina]

before I had a wild child I thought they were horrible. my son though? wouldnt stay still, ran off, wouldnt stay in a stroller, wouldnt hold hands, I mean, some of us dont get a choice. if yuo're more comfortable harnessing at the airport, hey

 

[my4magpies]

I actually used a harness for the first time this summer...we went camping in Zion, with the Virgin River right next to our camp site. My 20 month old DS is a bolter and does not listen worth a dang. So instead of stressing myself out the entire weekend,fearing he will drown in the river (he would not think twice about jumping in), I used a harness. What a life saver!! I was much more relaxed.

 

[MOM2ANSLEY]

Quote:

Originally Posted by hottmama I think if your 4 yr. old is known for leaving your side, it might make sense. I wouldn't use one on my 3.5 yr. old, but my friend's almost 3 yr. old? If that was my kid I'd duct tape him to my leg.

My mom used an adult belt attached to baby bro's (twins) belt loops to keep up with them.

 

[John&Timmy'sMom]

I always swore I would never do it...but then I had kids! Go for it girl... better safe than sorry...and these days, an airport can be a not so safe place! Never took it to the mall or anything, but I used a harness on mine to go out on my mother's pier overlooking a river. The pier had no railings and I was terrified they would go diving off of there...I don't know how much good a harness would have done if they did, but at least I could pull them away from the edge! With a 13 month old in your arms, you will need all the help you can get keeping up with your DS in the airport and I don't think a harness will hurt a thing.

 

[NoMariposa]

I put a harness on my 2 yr old in the airport when we flew to South Korea from DC. I didn't have any other children at the time, but even just turning to check in, get your tickets, etc is one second away from your child and one second for them to disappear in a crowd.
It's all about peace of mind. Flying is stressful enough with out the added worry of is your dc going to run off on you just b/c they see something new and exciting they have never experienced before.
We took our ds1 to the hardware stores in the evening when it was not crowded, but the harness on him and let him get use to it starting at walking age. Now my ds2 will have nothing to do with it PERIOD! And he is my take off and run child.

 

[faithnj]

A grandmother specifically asked me where I got my doggie backpack harness so that she could usher her rambunctious GS through an airport. (I got it at Walmart. They are also found at Target.) You know what? Before I had my DD I was judgemental. Now that I have her, I'm not judgemental, and I advocate their use. Be sure to understand that your DC might not like it at the beginning, because they have to learn how far away they can wander and explore from you before they have to stop. But once they learn how far they can be from you, in my case, the use of the harness was freeing for DD. She learned to explore, but still keep mommy within her sight. She now stays the same distance from me, even if I don't use the harness!

Good luck. Do what you think is right. And don't worry about the judges. When they find themselves in your situation, they may become converts-- just like me! LOL!

Faith

 

[toddlermama16]

I've always heard (and said),

"Better on a harness than on a milk carton".

This is the one we have, I think we got it at Target. It mainly looks like a cute backpack, and most people don't even realize my ds is wearing it.

Monkey Harness