What do you think about putting toddlers on "leashes"or harnesses?

best kids backpack harness image

Dakotas ma

I was at the fair last night and saw a bunch of kids on leashes or harnesses. It was like a cute little kitty or bear backpack thing. It looked pretty cute plus it's a great way to keep your children safe. I used to be against those because they actually looked so inhumane but now they're cute and the straps are wider so it doesn't look like it would be uncomfortable. What are your opinions on this????
This comment is to samantha24.... Do you think that it's better for a child to watch his/her mom get punched in the face than it is to have them on a leash for a few minutes. Who are you to set down a law and punishment for something so pety?

Answer
I have one because my hubby and I go out to alot of places where there's alot of walking - like all day adventures to major outlet malls, county fairs, Disneyland, etc. My 15 month old gets fussy from being penned up in her stroller for hours. I love to let her out to walk - but I dont want to let her totally free to dart out in front of a car or other people or grab some poisionous plants in a planter, etc.

Basically I only use it to let her stretch her legs and I have to watch her so much more than when shes securely in her stroller. Also - Im a little paranoid about someone snatching her up and running off with her - and when she's on the leash - I know would-be bad guys will see than Im RIGHT THERE and not try anything bad.

I really hate the people who use the harnesses and then ignore what the child is doing. I see this all the time with people shopping in the malls - the mom is looking at one rack and then the kid is destroying the next rack over but the mom has no idea because she feels overly secure in her child's location - just because its on the harness.

My daughter and 18 month old Grand daughter are flying to Hong Kong in a few weeks?

amfound2

Any ideas how to keep a small child amused on a flight lasting almost 12 hours?

Answer
I'm a former Flight Attendant who used to be based in Hong Kong. I flew for 13 years and now fly a lot with my own kids since each was 4 months old.

Both at work and when I flew, I found this age to be the most difficult. Toddlers love to roam, hate being confined and don't usually understand concepts like "You'll have to stay seated but soon you can get up".

Our flights are almost as long, 11 1/2 hours. What I find that works are
-anything coloring related, even simple paper and crayons
-a backpack that they pick their favorite toys
-a new toy which I keep and show them onboard.

Don't depend on the airline to give you something. The age might not be appropriate and many airlines have cut those toys out of the budget.

I will say that I don't think a portable DVD player is that great an idea for such a young child. Will she wear the headphones? Can she watch it without sound? Will it really hold her attention for long enough to justify dragging such a heavy object onboard? Will she not spill anything on it or drop it?

For such a long flight, the DVD player would have to have a battery life of at least 5 hours, better more since it's not possible to recharge them onboard. If your daughter thinks it's a good idea, she better try it with your granddaughter at home first.

Just some general tips, I really recommend bringing her car seat and using it onboard. This works great for toddlers and I have had to strap an unhappy little person down more than once. Holding such a big baby in a lap for such a long flight wouldn't be too comfortable and the only way to fly safely with her is if she is strapped into her own seat onboard. Children under 2 are allowed on most airlines because the chance of anything happening are so slim but if something does occur, these children aren't protected.

If you're flying a U.S. airline, here is the relevant page;
http://www.faa.gov/passengers/fly_children/crs/
The CARES harness pictured above might be a good alternative if the car seat is not needed in Hong Kong;
http://www.kidsflysafe.com/

If you're flying a non-U.S. carrier, check your airlines' website to see if your car seat will be accepted.

If a seat is not booked for your grandchild, see if they can put an extra seat next to them, if the flight's not full.

Both of you keep an eye out for her at all times. Two of my toddlers loved to run into crowds at airports.

Bring a change of clothes and about 1/3 more of everthing than you think will be needed. Put them in plastic bags and rubber band them to save space in luggage.

Advise your daughter to learn to change your granddaughter standing up. Try this at home first! Toddlers are usually too big for airline changing tables and they hate lying down in strange places anyway. This trick will mean not having to hunt down the changer and she can use the handicapped lav during the flight.

About 8 years ago I wrote an article on this subject for a local expat newsletter. Over the years, I expanded it and put it on a blog to share with other parents, many of whom have contributed. I wanted a non-commercial place on the net where parents could get both practical *and* professional information.
http://flyingwithchildren.blogspot.com

I also recommend a backpack or other carrier. Hong Kong is very crowded and sometimes a stroller is not the best idea. If you ride the MTR, it'll be very useful as those stations are very deep with a lot of escaltors.

Make sure you all visit the restroom and your granddaughter's diaper is changed before the very long ride from Chep Lak Kok into central Hong Kong. It's way out there!

Hope you all will be there during Chinese New Year. It's really an experience!

Have a great time!

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How do I handle my almost 3 year old going to school?

best kids backpack harness image

babybluegu

Im sending my first and oldest daughter to school a month before her 3rd birthday and I dont know how to handle it. Should I bring her in the first day or should I send her on the bus? Can anyone give me advice on what to do?
Shes in a program called early interventions and she had a speech teacher coming to the house but when they turn 2 yrs 9 months they send them to school for the help. She has a speech delay so she needs to go.

Answer
send her on the bus...that way all the tantrums can end when she is strapped into the bus and it pulls away.

My son was in EI for 12 months for a speech delay too. Here they start preschool at 3 years old, so he went the first school day after he turned 3. Since he had been with me since birth ( no sitters, etc) I really thought he would freak out, but he was fine. They have a harness that you zip them into and it hooks to the bus seat in 4 places...my son is fast asleep and still cannot slide off the seat when harnessed. The teacher and aide meet the bus in front of the school and walk the whole class to the classroom. After school one of the4m stays on the sidewalk with the kids while the other puts kids onto the bus and into cars.

What made me feel better was to make a card to pin to his backpack. On the outside it has his name and the words "info inside" . On the inside it says " I go to liberty tree preschool. I ride bus 116 to school. I ride bus 75 home. if you have any questions call my mom at 614-266-****".

He has learned SO much in just 4.5 months of school. He is learning prewriting skills, songs, self help things ( handwashing, coat zipping, putting on winter hat,) and sharing. I am totally amazed.

What is a good dog breed for hiking?

arbolito

I like a medium size dog that preferably doesn't shed too much. What breed should I look at for a hiking companion that will accept carrying a pack and not get too tired or aggitated?

Answer
Okay, now if you 'medium' to mean less than 20-22 inches at the shoulder and under 60 lbs but over 16 inches and over 20 lbs, that is a tough call.

By the way, do people actually READ the question or just automatically type in their favorite breed? You say "medium", they say large (Lab, German Shepard, Old English Sheepdog) or very large (Husky, Boxer) or giant (St. Bernard.) You say "doesn't shed much - they say Old English who strew the house with balls of fluff and require a lot of grooming to keep their coat nice, Huskies from whose discarded coat you can spin a sweater........

While a dog can carry up to 25% of their body weight for a distance, they should generally not exceed 10-15% for any real distance depending upon their build. For example, a greyhound with a tall narrow body would be hard pressed to do 10% of its body weight but a broadbacked, stocky Aussie could easily do the 15% and up to 20%. Now 'real distance' is anything in excess of a half mile or so.


Do not ask a long body breed like a Basset to do this - it is very tough on the spine and they already have to cope with that elongated spinal column and can't get their back legs under to balance and drive as is needed in order to a carry the pack.
Haven't met a dog yet that I couldn't get to carry a packback in less than an hour.

For a dog that will have the energy and endurance, look at the Herding and Sporting Breeds. (The Working Breeds can do it easily but these are the big guys - 26 inches or more at the shoulder and 85/90 lbs and up.)

Keep in mind that Sporting Breeds where bred to chase and retrieve. Doggy will have to be very well-trained before hitting the back country without a leash.

The Hounds - well, fleet of foot and gone on a scent - again leashes until 100% reliable in off-lead work.

Herding tend to stick closer - they want to know where their charges are at all times.


Years ago my Golden and I would backpack in alone for 1-2 weeks at a time - each of us with our packs (and me with most of it!)

After wrecking my shoulder with a sports injury, I now rely upon a Kuvasz as a Mobility Service Dog - he wears packs and carries what I can't (anything above 5 lbs). He is 110-115ish and can easily handle 20 lbs even in deep sand.

I stongly recommend the Wenaha packs. The pack part attachd to a body harness with velcro and can be lifted off to give the dog a rest without having to undo all the straps. Here is one site that has them: http://www.getoutoutfitters.com/browseproducts/Wenaha-Dog-Pack-Explorer-III.HTML

Mine came from REI but I'm not sure if they are carrying them or have them in stock (they always sold out fast.)

They aren't cheap but they are tough and last forever.


Now the 'not shedding much' complicates matters and eliminates long haired breeds. Labs are pretty good at going along but be prepared for a lot of stubborness and passive resistance if they don't want to do something.

Sporting: Try the Spaniels - Brittany, English and Welsh; Vizsla (taller but not massive);

The others suitable (Labs, Goldens) are considered large breeds.

Hounds: Top pick is the Rhodesian Ridgeback but they may be larger than you want - up to 26-29 inches at the shoulder and 80 100 lbs. They are actually a herd guarding breed from Africa who were also used for hunting. My choice for a Service Dog for what I needed came down to a Rhodie or Kuvasz, and the deciding factor is that we live on Lake Michigan further north than Chicago - with the cold and snow, a short coated Rhodie woul d not have been happy out running errands on a winter day.

Another posiblity is the Norweigan Elkhound - sturdy dog with medium length thick coat.

Terrier Group - don't even go there. They will be off after everything and have ignoring you down to a fine art.

Non-sporting; Dalmations (if there are no kids under 12 in the household or likely to be any in the next 14 years.)
Keeshond - smaller but very sturdy, Again they have the longer coat.
STANDARD Poodle - give them a terrier clip and not that pouffy stuff and thye look like a real dog ready to hit the water and work. No shedding. Usually 22-27 inches. They were bred as water retrievers.

Herding Group:
Australian Shepherds
Border Collie

NOTE: I see people are recommmending German Shepherds which aside form being a Large breed, are a breed that is having horrendous problems with the dogs' rear end - problems beyond hip dysplasia. I would be extremely extremely careful and not only want to know if the dogs in the immediate family tree passed all their health checks but if any collateral realtives (aunts, uncles 1/2 siblings ....) ever had any of the problems endemic in the breed.

Now, in this group all except the Corgis and the Australian Cattle Dog have longer coats. Australian CD (often called blue tick helers or blue heelers by backyard breeders) is long on energy, short on trainability (okay, maybe come and some basic-basics but...) and obedience and can be nippy.



Go to the AKC website and read in detail about the breeds

http://www.akc.org/breeds/index.cfm?nav_area=breeds

You can search by Group, Breed name or all of them at once.

Now, when you click on the picture of the dog and go to the page for that breed, on the left is a column. At the bottom of the column, is a link captioned "National Breed Club". Click on it - that takes you to the link to the National Club for that breed that sets the breed standards.

The Clubs' websites will give you an ENORMOUS amount of information about the breed - the good, the bad, and the why or why not to get that breed.

The clubs websites also have:
(1) a breeders list - all of whom have agreed to abide by the breeders code of ethics (which you can read)
(2) a link to the breed rescue for their breed

Do give serious thought to adopting from an adult from a breed rescue. The clubs' breed rescues go to a great deal of trouble to determine the dog's temperment, personality, likes and dislikes (particularly kids and cats and other dogs in the household), HEALTH, and level of training. They make a huge effort to match the right dog to the right home - and if they don't have one they think will be suitable for your home, they won't place it. Great way to avoid the puppy training, newpapers, chewing.......

If you decide to get a puppy, please use one of the breeders who are members of the breed club. A well-bred pet puppy may not be a candidate for the show ring (that nose being 1/8th of an inch to long or something else very picky) but they will be very healthy, the parents carefully screened for hereditary health problems, and from a breeder who has devoted a great deal of time to understanding the breed and bloodlines. A responsible breeder will have a written contract with a health guarantee for hereditary problems; require that if for any reason you ever have to give up the dog that it comes back to them; and always be available for help, assistance and advice about your dog. Such a breeder wil tell you if they don't think their breed is right for you based upon your needs. They want a perfect forever home for the puppies - not the money. (In 43 years in the dog show world, I have never known a breeder of that caliber who has made a profit on their dogs - it is labor of love.)

A puppy from such a breeder costs no more - and often less in view of the vet bills for an animal from poor quality breeding - than from a backyard breeder who doesn't do the health checks, knows nothing about the breed or bloodlines, doesn't give a guarantee, never wants to hear about the puppy again and has breed from mediocre or poor quality dogs.

I you want a hiking companion, you will have to very careful about getting a dog from a breeder who screens their breeding stock for hereditary orthopedic defectsthat and other problems that can affect their ability to go out and go with you - hips, elbows, patella, cardiac, eyes....

Now many reputable breeders will have adult dogs that they bred that they are placing. The dog may be a rehome since a good breeder requires the dog be returned to them if the owner can't keep it. The dog may be one they held back to show and it turned out to just not quite be show caliber as it grew up. Occassionally, in rare instances, they may have a dog who did finish its AKC championship but the breeder needs to place it in a home as a co-own (you get the dog, they get to use it for breeding - with a female maybe 1-3 litters and male as a sire for number of litters. Once the breeding career is done which is earlier than mosst pet people realize, the dog is spayed/neuterd.) SImilarly the dog could have finished its cahmpionship -after much effort, many shows and a lot of money - but the breeder decides not to use them as breeding stock because the dog hated showing so much and lacked the personality and temperment for the ring. If the breeder is placing a dog who is over 12 months, ask to see its health exams - they can preliminary xrays on elbows, hips and patellas at that age, and compelte on eyes cardiac and thyroid.

Good luck and happy hiking,

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What do you think about putting toddlers on "leashes"or harnesses?

best kids backpack harness image

Dakotas ma

I was at the fair last night and saw a bunch of kids on leashes or harnesses. It was like a cute little kitty or bear backpack thing. It looked pretty cute plus it's a great way to keep your children safe. I used to be against those because they actually looked so inhumane but now they're cute and the straps are wider so it doesn't look like it would be uncomfortable. What are your opinions on this????
This comment is to samantha24.... Do you think that it's better for a child to watch his/her mom get punched in the face than it is to have them on a leash for a few minutes. Who are you to set down a law and punishment for something so pety?

Answer
I have one because my hubby and I go out to alot of places where there's alot of walking - like all day adventures to major outlet malls, county fairs, Disneyland, etc. My 15 month old gets fussy from being penned up in her stroller for hours. I love to let her out to walk - but I dont want to let her totally free to dart out in front of a car or other people or grab some poisionous plants in a planter, etc.

Basically I only use it to let her stretch her legs and I have to watch her so much more than when shes securely in her stroller. Also - Im a little paranoid about someone snatching her up and running off with her - and when she's on the leash - I know would-be bad guys will see than Im RIGHT THERE and not try anything bad.

I really hate the people who use the harnesses and then ignore what the child is doing. I see this all the time with people shopping in the malls - the mom is looking at one rack and then the kid is destroying the next rack over but the mom has no idea because she feels overly secure in her child's location - just because its on the harness.

My daughter and 18 month old Grand daughter are flying to Hong Kong in a few weeks?

amfound2

Any ideas how to keep a small child amused on a flight lasting almost 12 hours?

Answer
I'm a former Flight Attendant who used to be based in Hong Kong. I flew for 13 years and now fly a lot with my own kids since each was 4 months old.

Both at work and when I flew, I found this age to be the most difficult. Toddlers love to roam, hate being confined and don't usually understand concepts like "You'll have to stay seated but soon you can get up".

Our flights are almost as long, 11 1/2 hours. What I find that works are
-anything coloring related, even simple paper and crayons
-a backpack that they pick their favorite toys
-a new toy which I keep and show them onboard.

Don't depend on the airline to give you something. The age might not be appropriate and many airlines have cut those toys out of the budget.

I will say that I don't think a portable DVD player is that great an idea for such a young child. Will she wear the headphones? Can she watch it without sound? Will it really hold her attention for long enough to justify dragging such a heavy object onboard? Will she not spill anything on it or drop it?

For such a long flight, the DVD player would have to have a battery life of at least 5 hours, better more since it's not possible to recharge them onboard. If your daughter thinks it's a good idea, she better try it with your granddaughter at home first.

Just some general tips, I really recommend bringing her car seat and using it onboard. This works great for toddlers and I have had to strap an unhappy little person down more than once. Holding such a big baby in a lap for such a long flight wouldn't be too comfortable and the only way to fly safely with her is if she is strapped into her own seat onboard. Children under 2 are allowed on most airlines because the chance of anything happening are so slim but if something does occur, these children aren't protected.

If you're flying a U.S. airline, here is the relevant page;
http://www.faa.gov/passengers/fly_children/crs/
The CARES harness pictured above might be a good alternative if the car seat is not needed in Hong Kong;
http://www.kidsflysafe.com/

If you're flying a non-U.S. carrier, check your airlines' website to see if your car seat will be accepted.

If a seat is not booked for your grandchild, see if they can put an extra seat next to them, if the flight's not full.

Both of you keep an eye out for her at all times. Two of my toddlers loved to run into crowds at airports.

Bring a change of clothes and about 1/3 more of everthing than you think will be needed. Put them in plastic bags and rubber band them to save space in luggage.

Advise your daughter to learn to change your granddaughter standing up. Try this at home first! Toddlers are usually too big for airline changing tables and they hate lying down in strange places anyway. This trick will mean not having to hunt down the changer and she can use the handicapped lav during the flight.

About 8 years ago I wrote an article on this subject for a local expat newsletter. Over the years, I expanded it and put it on a blog to share with other parents, many of whom have contributed. I wanted a non-commercial place on the net where parents could get both practical *and* professional information.
http://flyingwithchildren.blogspot.com

I also recommend a backpack or other carrier. Hong Kong is very crowded and sometimes a stroller is not the best idea. If you ride the MTR, it'll be very useful as those stations are very deep with a lot of escaltors.

Make sure you all visit the restroom and your granddaughter's diaper is changed before the very long ride from Chep Lak Kok into central Hong Kong. It's way out there!

Hope you all will be there during Chinese New Year. It's really an experience!

Have a great time!

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