12 replies to this topic

[K. Stephenson]

I am a T5/6 para, and am in a manual chair. My daughter is 2 1/2 years old and getting to the point of wanting to walk on her own, not ride in my lap, or hold onto the leg of my pants or my wife's hand. When we are all together, my wife is able to corral her if she tries to wander away, but I can't. I am looking into getting a child harness with a tether so that I can keep her close but allow her to walk on her own. I was just wondering if there were any other parents who have used a child harness, and how did the child do with it, and how did other people react?

[madhouse73]

K. Stephenson, on 17 May 2011 - 11:24 AM, said:

I am a T5/6 para, and am in a manual chair. My daughter is 2 1/2 years old and getting to the point of wanting to walk on her own, not ride in my lap, or hold onto the leg of my pants or my wife's hand. When we are all together, my wife is able to corral her if she tries to wander away, but I can't. I am looking into getting a child harness with a tether so that I can keep her close but allow her to walk on her own. I was just wondering if there were any other parents who have used a child harness, and how did the child do with it, and how did other people react?

Ok I was not in a wheelchair when mine was younger .But have used harness reins with all of them and on the whole most people thought was good idea as meant child could still hold onto something eg drin k or bend down and inspect a piece of dirt/leaf etc .And the odd ones that commented on well your child is not a dog .I pointe dout better than in a road or getting lost .Once they was older I used to use a wrist strap if was going somewhere busy ,just so we did not get seperated by people trying to walk in between us .

Only problem you may have is that mine all did the swinging on them when they did not want to move and maybe at 2 and 1/2 she may find them bit restrictve as not used to them .But I would give it a shot and maybe tell her no harness no walking when out with daddy


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Edited by madhouse73, 17 May 2011 - 02:23 PM.

[baldfatdad]

I use to tie a rope to my bicep. Hand the other end to my son and tell him not to loose me. 30 years later he still keeps track of me.

[Django]

I use on with my 18 month old. Really lowers my stress level when out and allows her safe freedom to roam.

[mellowgator]

i used a tetter for my girls as well. it works great and i don't know of a downside. i quit worrying about how people react to me ages ago. my daughters are 22 months apart and one would walk beside me and the other would sit in my lap.






mellowgator

[Jeanette]

K. Stephenson, on 17 May 2011 - 11:24 AM, said:

I am a T5/6 para, and am in a manual chair. My daughter is 2 1/2 years old and getting to the point of wanting to walk on her own, not ride in my lap, or hold onto the leg of my pants or my wife's hand. When we are all together, my wife is able to corral her if she tries to wander away, but I can't. I am looking into getting a child harness with a tether so that I can keep her close but allow her to walk on her own. I was just wondering if there were any other parents who have used a child harness, and how did the child do with it, and how did other people react?

Absolutely use a child tether I used one that looked like a monkey for my youngest. She was the one who would run. She is ASD as well as ADHD and would run as fast as she could to gert away
She didn't like it at first but once she learned that walking with tether was easier than sitting in the double stroller with big brother she settled down.
I would suggest getting two one for her and one for her doll and put is on her doll explaining that now her baby is safe and will stay with you
Once she is comfortable then put the harness on her it may take a few days for her to get comfortable. Then you put the other end of the tether around your writs showing her that she still can go a little ways and still be safe like her baby doll.
You may get so looks but don't worry about that. This is a safe way of keeping your toddler safe
Let us know how it goes

[tyvin]

As mellow advised; don't worry about what other people think. When I had my boys I also used the child harness. Now you must realize that toddlers are magicians. They disappear into thin air at any time. When my first son was 2 and we were at a mall in a stores sporting goods section looking at basketballs, that's when my son decided to perform the toddler disappearing act.

It was so sudden, I looked at the price on a soccer ball then I turned my head to look at him and "pooooooof" he was gone. Panic set in as I called his name and started the search that parents have nightmares about. After approximately 1 minute I got the manager and the store employees involved and my son was no where to be seen. Mall security was alerted. As the security guard walked me to their office it felt more like a walk through death row. I didn't want to go, I wanted to look for my son but they convinced me that it was best I stay in one area while all of them searched.

I heard the description of my son go over the mall loud speaker and I broke down and cried. I felt like I was the worst mother on earth, how could I lose my child ... what kind of mother was I ... what would I tell his father ... how could I go on without him ...

I sat on the chair in the mall's security office and like in the movies they offered me water ... I declined. I don't know how long it was when the door burst open and this huge burly man dressed in a mall security uniform walked in holding my son in his arms. I screamed and ran to my son and held him as tight as I could vowing this was never going to happen again.

It turns out that my son got this idea in his head that he wanted to go see Auntie who was my girlfriend that worked on the other side of the mall from where were shopping. So he took off and found her, shes the one who called security. I can't explain the feeling when I thought he was gone; it's something that cannot be expressed in words.

That's when I got the vest and leash is what it look liked. Very simple with a long rope attached to a little vest. Worked perfect and I used it every time we went out to a crowded place like the mall. I got good and bad comments from people. My son didn't mind it. In the end it's really about what works for you and your family; the harness definitely brings a security of mind when in crowded places.

This happened to me long before I was ever in a chair; I can't imagine it happening while in a chair.

Edited by tyvin, 29 May 2011 - 08:51 PM.

[mellowgator]

tyvin,

i had something similar happen to me. my oldest daughter who is head strong took off and got lost while we were at sea world. this was about 10 years ago and she was only 7 i was letting them play in the swimming section and after a while i couldn't find her anywhere. i also called security and finally they found her i didn't know if i should kill her or kiss her. it was one of the scariest thing that's ever happened to me.

Edited by mellowgator, 30 May 2011 - 01:19 AM.

[KiKi09]

Hi~
I have a friend who has Cerebral Palsy and a 20 month old son. She uses a power chair and has a specially made seat for the baby that straps around her. However, he is getting quite tall and now sometimes obstructs her vision when he is on her lap. Anyone have any experience with child tethers and power chairs? Thanks all!

[wheeliebear75]

KiKi09, on 07 July 2011 - 07:18 PM, said:

Hi~
I have a friend who has Cerebral Palsy and a 20 month old son. She uses a power chair and has a specially made seat for the baby that straps around her. However, he is getting quite tall and now sometimes obstructs her vision when he is on her lap. Anyone have any experience with child tethers and power chairs? Thanks all!

I had my son riding on my lap til he was 5 without fear of him falling off my lap by wearing an over-sized belt around my waist & around his chest it still allowed him to have his hands free & turn his head freely & it kept him from sliding off my lap. So long as I had enough space on my lap or between my legs he was the copilot.

[dom]

what a great idea i think i'll get ten kids to pull me like huskies if the NSPCC stop me at least i'll tell them i'm helping reduce the obese and doing the gov a favour in the long run

[madhouse73]

mine tends to sit sideways on my lap ,so I can then see in front of me and do the belt thing to stop me dumping him on the floor when i stop

dom, on 22 July 2011 - 05:26 PM, said:

what a great idea i think i'll get ten kids to pull me like huskies if the NSPCC stop me at least i'll tell them i'm helping reduce the obese and doing the gov a favour in the long run

[mcwriter]

I'm all for the tether and I'm an AB so here's yet another perspective...

Once when my daughter was small she got ahead of me and stepped off a curb heading right into a street full of cars. I lunged and grabbed her and also managed to dislocate my shoulder at the same time!

So I suggest attaching the tether to your chair and not your wrist. Then you can put your hand on the tether and feel when they pull it taut and pull them back when you need to.