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Toddler Backpack w/ Leash Recs? (and a mini-vent)
Can anyone recommendation one of these for our trip this summer to use in the airport and maybe at Disney? I'd like it to be a little backpack for him to keep a few toys in and maybe even a snack/cup.
I have found some on amazon with mixed reviews. Speaking of which, reading reviews for these is so frustrating. I thought these were silly until I
realized I have a kid who will bolt and explore with no fear of
losing sight of us. People criticize and say just to hold your kid's hand or teach them to stay with you. Obviously I do both, but if he has his mind set on something he will rip his hand away and off he goes in 1 second. Much easier to manage this somewhere like a park or Target, but I am just imagining being in line somewhere like the airport or Disney. We'll have the stroller too, but I'm hoping being able to let him stand, but know that he can't go too far or (god forbid) be grabbed by someone will be helpful. I know safety comes before caring what anyone thinks about us. Chalk it up to one of many things I had
opinions about before I had kids that changed with experience!
Re: Toddler Backpack w/ Leash Recs? (and a mini-vent)
I don't have any recommendations for a backpack with leash, but I will say that my dad once got lost after ripping himself away from my grandmother when he was 3 years old-- while walking by a department store construction site (i.e. HUGE dangerous place). My grandmother decided that, living in a big city like Cleveland was too dangerous for my dad's sense of adventure and started putting him in a harness with a leash. My dad is now 70, by the way, so you can imagine how common this was.
My grandmother didn't give a fig for what anybody said-- after spending 45 minutes tracking my dad down amongst the construction site, she only gave a damn for his safety and her sanity.
And I think those cute backpacks are awesome. I particularly like the monkey. And I've only heard good things about them. My mom and dad used one (a dog) with my niece when they took her to Disney World.
I think losing your child is a much worse offense than having a leash.
All of the backpack leashes I know of don't really have the capacity to hold more than 1 or 2 matchbox cars. If you want Eli to be able to carry some toys and snacks with him, I'd get him a Skip-Hop backpack and a separate leash/harness without an attached backpack.
I have a wrist-strap leash for Helen that I got at BRU a couple of years ago. It fastens onto her wrist with velcro and has a hand hold loop for my end and the strap is elastic. It was about $5.
I also seriously considered buying a large size dog collar to use as a belt and a dog leash to clip onto it. Let people stare if they want. Like I said, it's better than losing your kid.
I was just looking online and saw those wrist straps. I think I may get a toddler backpack and a wrist strap. I am guessing there would be way to attach the wrist strap to the backpack if we wanted as well. Thanks!
One caution about attaching a wrist strap to a regular backpack -- if your child removes the backpack, you can have an escapee.
The leash backpacks have a chest clip so the kid can't take them off.
We have the puppy ones from Target and used them a couple of times in DC... and definitely made us feel more comfortable, the boys were still holding our hands while wearing them, or holding onto the stroller, but there were also times when something would catch their eye and they would be trying to get away.... I loved having them with us.
I think they would have been able to put a snack into their backpack, but not a drink or a toy... if you want to borrow one of ours before you buy it, I can bring one in to work and you can test it out on Eli to see how he does.
FYI: If you are in Disney with a toddler (I'd say actually 5 and under), they will probably be in a stroller most of the time. My H brought his kid there twice (ages 3 and 5) and she was in a stroller a lot because of the exhaustion and the crowds. Just easier.
I have no rec's for you, sorry!
Yeah, I figure he will be in the stroller most of the time at Disney. I think the regular backpack with some type of strap will work for an extra precaution when walking around at the airport or something.
Clouts- I totally agree! Eli has a mini backpack thing that we got from the kids pack at our hotel when we stayed in Boston and he looks like such a big kid wearing it. He loves it though!