One of the first things that I discovered when my twins became mobile was that they could move very quickly in opposite directions, and I could not. Being outnumbered as a parent is a scary thing, especially when your little ones are still too young to understand the many dangers around them. So, I did the only thing that made sense. I put my toddlers on leashes.
My toddlers enjoyed their freedom
My twins loved being outdoors from the time they were very small. At first, we’d walk around our neighborhood with our double stroller, sometimes with our little dog tagging along on guard against any admirers who might get too close to her babies. But later, when the kids were walking well, they preferred to get down and explore their world. That’s when we started taking walks using harnesses and leashes.
My twins loved their leashes, because they had both hands free and could walk a short distance from me and from each other. You could tell they enjoyed the independence, especially when they would take off in opposite directions and leave me standing in the middle, holding on and just waiting for them to decide they were ready to return and walk together as a family. Holding a hand didn’t give them nearly as much freedom to roam.
Funny looks from strangers
This knack they had for leaving me stuck in the middle, looking a lot like a scarecrow as they tugged as hard as they could in both directions, really brought forth a lot of strange looks from passersby. I remember one afternoon, standing on the sidewalk as both kids refused to come back to the center, and knowing that if I tugged on the leashes they would fall down. There was nothing I could do but stand there and wait, cajoling them to please come back to me, and as the school bus driver rounded the corner I could hear him guffaw.
Annoying and unwanted advice
Of course, for every stranger we amused, there seemed to be another we annoyed. I never got so much unwanted parenting advice as I did when my twins were on leashes. But, I learned to respond with a smile and a nod, and the fact that I’d never read about a single case wherein a toddler on a leash had been abducted and murdered in broad day light. Yes, that generally shut up the naysayers.
Give leashes a try
If you are the parent of a rambunctious toddler, or two, who manages to slip their hand out of yours and run full speed toward traffic before you can catch your breath, maybe you should consider a leash. Leashes for toddlers come in a wide variety of styles, from stuffed animal backpacks to simple harnesses and even wrist leashes. But really, leashes are not about style. They’re about safety. And when it comes to toddlers, safety is your number one priority.
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