We use one for ds too bc he likes to run everywhere and isn't scared of anything so it's for his safety & my sanity. We get negative comments too but I don't care ! I value my child's safety over strangers ( and sometimes friends) opinions. You are doing a great job

People with no kids always have the best parenting advice! Ignore them, and keep doing what you think is best for your kids.

Thanks for the support ladies! I really do appreciate it. I still have no idea why I let it get to me but it did.

As for where to but them: i got mine at meijers but walmart and Target sell them as well. Skip Hop makes an actual back pack that has a spot to clip the leash part on. (Skip Hop can be expensive but it's a great little bag that can be used as a backpack or a harness.)

I used to think the same way when I didn't have kids...definitely not as harshly though I just didn't understand it. My daughter will be 2 at the end of August and I'm really considering getting her one. She loves to explore and is crazy wild I hate to just keep her on a stroller at places like the zoo and such. But I'm to paranoid to let her to go on her own. You're not a bad mommy you're helping your kid learn independence and discover the world on his own terms while still being attached to you.

The easiest thing in the world is to judge a parent, the hardest thing in the world is being a parent.

The bad parents are the ones that teach their kids to judge/insult others for situations they are ignorant about. Period.

People are such idiots when it comes to these harnesses. So its lazy to let your child WALK with a harness but its not lazy to let your child SIT in a stroller? I'm not saying using a stroller is lazy at all. I'm saying these morons will look at a 2 year old walking on a harness and judge the hell out of the parents for being lazy, but think nothing of a 2 year old sitting in a stroller. Hmmmm walking vs sitting, what is lazier?

My little brother was a runner and had a harness. My almost 2 year old has no sense of danger and I would love to buy him a backpack but I don't know where they are sold.

I saw a dad and his toddler at work a while ago and she was harnessed as well. I have to say, she was pretty damn cute toddling along with daddy.

And for the people saying they'd rather chase their kid.. have you ever had to do it while 9 months pregnant, walking with said toddler and pushing younger sibling in a stroller? Not exactly a cakewalk.

OP, use the harness. At least you know your runner won't end up run over.

I don't think your a bad mom. Just know obviously some people don't agree with it. If its what's best for your family and son, do it!

I personally don't agree with them. I will chase my kid anyway than have them on a harness. Its what kids do. If I can't trust that they won't run off, I won't put them in a position where they're capable. But that's your son. Not anyone else's. Your his mom. Only you know what's best!

I didn't read through all of the comments, and I haven't experienced this myself but I know my mother had to use a "leash" with us. She was a nanny for two young kids, my brother was a toddler and I was a baby. I'm sure it was damn near impossible to keep an eye on all four of us at the exact same time while running simple errands. You're doing nothing wrong, you're putting your child's safety first and that's more than some can say!

People are crazy. I would never say anything to someone about something like that. You know what's best for your kids. Don't let other people make you second guess.

Nope not a bad mom at all! DS has a harness back pack that we bought when we did a theme park last month. I'm in my third trimester and my 22 month old likes to be independent and run off. It's hard to pick him up off the grown when he's dead weight. So I got the harness and he loved it!

wtf is wrong with backpack harnesses or any kind of harness? I am in the UK they are and have always been the acceptable norm.

I've only EVER heard negative comments about them from US people.

It makes me wonder if those people don't have safety gates or fireguards either because 'they watch their kids'

I don't wish to offend anyone but I feel the negatives towards them are such a silly attitude

What a jerk! They're not leashes anyway, they're harnesses and using one doesn't have anything to do with treating your kid like a dog. That's like refering to strollers as wheel chairs and saying "look at that kid strapped into a wheelchair like a cripple".

I'm with you OP. I used one until my SS could be trusted to stay nearby. I got comments and looks all the time, but it's not about the nay sayers. It's about your kids safety.

Unfortunately the experts at reading children don't have them ?. It certainly doesn't make you a bad mom. You'd be a bad mom if you did nothing and lost him or he got hurt. I used to be anti harness too until I had my own kids. I would definitely use one now though!

Ehhhh I'm gonna be the oddball here. I have a 3 year old and a 4 month old. When my 3 year old was younger, she was also a runner. She also refused to ever sit in a cart or be held, so it was challenging. So let it be known that I understand the struggle!

However, I am one of those people who (silently) judge for people having kids on leashes. I would never say anything outright to shame someone, but I would be thinking it the whole time.

What that person said to you is a bit extreme and should keep her comments to herself.

And before I get yelled at, human nature is to judge. When you meet someone new, you're already judging that person the minute they walk through the door. Comparing is something everyone does, be it parenting styles, health choices or even a hair cut.

If you feel safer using the harness, more power to you. Don't let one b**** 's comment get you down.

How about a retort like... "I keep my kid on this for safety and to ensure he doesn't interact with crazy people... Speaking of, we gotta go!"

My 3yr old is still on her harness when we go out esp if im on my own. Shes only just learnt how to talk and she still has no sense of danger esp when it comes to outside, roads etc. She knows not to touch the cooker or kettle because they are hot when on but other than that she really is quite behind. So I mainly do it for her own safety. Screw what other ppl think they dont know me or my lg and they do not know what shes like when were out. My lb learnt quickly about road safety so didnt need to use the harness much with him but until she can control her urges to just run off and knows and understands the dangers of the roads then I will stop using it till then its always on me everywhere I go lol x

My two year old dashes off without warning sometimes and is also hard to carry for more than a minute or so lol

We keep talking about getting him a harness for his safety!!! Id rather ppl make snive comments about it then to lose my son by getting hit by a car or lost.

You are not a bad mum at all. Your doing the right thing. Giving your little one independence to walk like a big boy and enjoy it, while knowing you have the added safety. I plan on using one for my dd when she is older as I know already she is going to be too fast for me. Ignore the haters! :)

I would have called them trash. Cause that's exactly what people are who openly judge. My sister in law is so much trash. Her little girl runs around all over the place and she never does anything. I told her if my son gets out of hand like that I would "leash" him. She went on to tell me how I'm a bad parent and should take better care. This coming from a woman who had another kid for food stamps. Ignore those people. They have not got one thing on you.

I'm shocked that so many people felt the need to comment about your child! That's insane. I've never heard of people being so negative about the child leashes. People got sh!t to say about everything these days I guess.

You are not a bad mother.

I need one of those, my son is everywhere

My 18 month old is a psychotic little speed demon. I have a back pack leash for her and it makes our lives Soooooo much easier. She gets lots of exercise that she wouldn't in a stroller and it saves my sanity.

You are making the right choice for your family and damn anyone else who judges you.

People without energetic kids will never ever understand!

People are idiots. You are an awesome mom! I would be doing the same and will probably do the same in a few months!

Don't let what people say affect you. They are dumb asses and need to be slapped.

I always thought people who put their kids on leashes were lazy and mean. And then I had a kid and I realized they were pure genius!

DD just turned 2 and I am really considering getting one of the backpack harnesses.

Your are not a bad mommy. You are doing something that keeps your child safe and happy at the same time with children that's really hard to do both. My husband doesn't like the back pack harness idea but our daughter has just now completely learned to walk 11months. We will see how he feels when she is running around Wal-Mart.

I totally agree with booted. Those who criticize clearly have no idea what it's like. I have a daughter, who politely holds my hand and stays by my side always. I also have a very rambunctious boy who darts off with no end in sight. His awareness to potential dangers, such as cars and strangers, is null, despite constant reprimands from both his parents. I would rather my kid burn off some energy in a safe manner than be forced to contain it in a stroller.

The way I look at it is if I love my dog enough to leash him for his safety then I have absolutely no problem doing what needs to be done for my childs safety. Some kids are runners, my son is and I have wanted to get him a harness but my husband keeps saying no. that was because my husband never had to deal with him in the store. Im all for them and after seeing my son in the stote so is my husband. It gives them freedom to explore but keeps them safe at the same time.

Lol don't listen to them. They probably don't know what its like to have a wild toddler

Absolutely not a bad mama. Bad mummy would be knowing your child has a tendency to dash off and doing nothing about it. You are a good parent, 5 strangers agree. Put the negative aside, I've always found the most critical parenting "experts" to be childless....