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The automatic assumption of most people when the topics of leashes come up is that a dog must be involved. This is not necessarily true!
A growing number of parents are discovering the advantages to “leashing their children.” They find the leashes to not only be an aid in controlling their children, but also a wonderful security feature. With the rise of child abductions and sexual assaults, a potential kidnapper will find the leash an obstacle not worth the effort or risk.
Even though child restraints, harnesses and leashes have been used for many years, a stigma is often attached to their use. Mothers who have their child’s well being in mind will often be berated for “treating their poor child as a dog.” Dirty looks, finger pointing and lectures on the supposed trauma being inflicted on the child are common. The fact is these “well meaning” individuals have no concept of the benefits a leash can give.
How many times have we all seen a poor toddler going through the zoo or spending the entire day with her arm yanked above her shoulder while a parent grasps her hand? How many times has this same toddler been seen suddenly breaking free of the hold and running out through a crowd or across a parking lot?
Leashes can give the child a sense of freedom while providing security at the same time. The child’s leash can be three to six feet in length and used in a variety of situations. A short leash in a grocery store attached to the mother’s wrist allows her to reach for products or read labels without worrying that someone will snatch her child out of the basket. Small child abductions from grocery baskets or strollers are not at all uncommon.
An adult with a crying or screaming child is often ignored or looked at with disapproval for not having more control. They are rarely seen as possible child abductors carrying an unwilling victim.
Having a child on a leash can also save their lives when in a parking lot. Most small children are not tall enough to be seen by a motorist backing a car out. The result is an injured or dead child, a mother and a motorist who each will bear a lifetime of guilt.
The leash can also be a lifesaver when used around bodies of water. The water doesn’t have to be just an ocean or lake. A simple walk down the River Walk area in San Antonio, Texas easily turn into tragedy when a toddler breaks away and falls into the dark murky water. A family fishing excursion to a bayside pier can become a nightmare if a small child falls off and doesn’t have a life vest on.
Leashes can come in a wide variety of designs. Baby stores will often carry the wrist version. These are a simple Velcro strap that attaches to the child’s wrist and is connected some type of retractable plastic devise that the parent holds. Baby stores will also have the harness type of restraints that slip over the shoulders, around the chest and back and then attach to the same type of handheld devise.
An often overlooked and inexpensive type of leash can be found at department stores and yes, pet stores. Large size web dog collars with matching leashes are sturdy, color coordinating and long lasting. They can be found in a variety of sizes and styles that many parents will actually match with favorite outfits.
These large web collars will often fit through the loops of a child’s pants or shorts and look just like a belt. They are harder to remove in a hurry than a simple Velcro strap and the sturdy D ring the leash hooks to will usually support fifty or more pounds. The weight issue may not seem important until your child is falling off a pier and the leash is all that keeps him or her from hitting the rocks or water below.
When the security and safety of a child is involved, many parents will find the well being of their precious children far out weigh the rude looks and comments of ignorant busy bodies who have nothing better to do than try and cast judgment on others.
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