Parenting Toddlers (1-3) Support Group

Apparently, this is a controversial topic. I posed this topic on another forum and was deemed a child abuser of sorts.

I have seen many parents at Disney or some theme park or another, sometimes in stores or malls, who have their small toddler attached to a little line that lets the child wander a bit, but keeps them attached to the parent in question. I have recently seen ones that are fashioned to look like little furry monkeys or other such animals. No harm, right?

I never had to worry about getting one before, because my older duaghter wasn't a complete nutter like my little one. She stayed either in the shopping cart or close by my side or in a stroller with no qualms whatsoever.

Today, I was doing a fair bit of grocery shopping and Ellorie was already in the foulest of foul moods because she has a bottom molar that is causing her much strife. Usually she happily sits in the cart, content with grabbing various things and throwing them in the cart so when I go to pay, I become keenly confused.
Not today.

Today she shouted, cried, and tried to jump out of the cart a number of times, drawing side glances from other patrons buying their bananas and such.

Jaquelin couldn't cheer her.

Random stuffed animals couldn't cheer her (though they did receive an unfair amount of tears and snot on their poor artificial fur).

The nice lady who brought over a Ralph's balloon couldn't cheer her.

Finally, after enduring probably the most harrowing grocery trip of my life, I went to pay.

Ellorie nearly gave herself a concussion as she sought after the machine where one swipes their various forms of payment. I gave in and took her out of the cart, expecting her to be semi-happy in my arms as I struggled to get my stupid debit card through the slot and decide on paper or plastic.
Not so much.
In the flash of a second, she is out of my arms, has taken one shoe off (but still has it in her hand) and with a pretty, red balloon clipped to her blouse, and is sprinting to get out of the door. I left my wallet and groceries and a confused cashier (Jaquelin has been no help, as she went off to look at the toy section. Not that she could keep Ellorie from chaos. No one keeps Ellorie from chaos) at the counter as I chased her down, and went to finish my embarrassing transaction.

Holding a screaming toddler in one arm, pushing the very full cart with another, I could have used one of these contraptions. The lead. The leash. The restraint, as it were.

As said, apparently, some parents are against this type of thing because they think it is abusive and violates a child's rights. I am almost quoting a response I got from someone on Babycenter.

Ruddy mental.

So...anybody have one of these things? Is it effective?
Posted on 07/25/08, 01:07 am