Safety Harnesses

e’ve all seen them – the kids in the mall wearing a safety harness that looks a bit like a pet leash. This is one of those products that nearly every one has a personal opinion about – and it’s typically a very strong opinion one way or the other. Here are some thoughts about child safety harnesses and why people feel so strongly about them.

They let your child roam around a bit without getting too far away from you. This is the biggest reason that mothers who use them do so. Children often get tired of sitting in the stroller and would like to move around a bit. Safety harnesses allow them to get a bit of exercise without wandering too far away. Most parents understand that a child can slip away when you’ve only turned your head for a second.

They Look Like A Pet Leash – That, they do – and this is reason enough for some parents to eschew them. If you’ve ever seen a parent tugging on one of these devices to get their child to move along – you must admit that it looks a bit unsettling. However, most parents simply use the device to keep the child from going too far away, not to pull them around.

They Prevent Chasing A Wild Child Toddler – These products are great for grandparents or older caretakers who might have difficulty physically keeping up with a toddler who decides to make a break for it.

The bottom line is that some parents will use safety harnesses thinking that they’re a great way to keep track of a wandering toddler without confining him to a stroller and other parents will think it looks cruel and a bit like treating your child like your dog.

I have to confess that before I had children I thought safety harnesses were awful and that any parent who used one was just trying to avoid paying attention to what their children were doing. Now I have three children and, while I’ve never used a harness, I can certainly understand why parents do it. I personally preferred a stroller with a carefully monitored walking break every now and then.

Each parent must decide for themselves whether a safety harness feels right for them and their child. They are definitely safe and simple to use if you choose to do so. They’re also a very inexpensive way to keep your child within arm’s reach.