It is difficult to control a hyperactive child in the crowd; you never can tell when they will dash away. That is why it is helpful to have a toddler harness to keep them around you.
There are many thoughts about toddler harnesses; their comfort, if they are right to use, and the best type to buy. In this post, you will learn whether it is right to use a harness for your child and the best toddler harness to use. We researched and picked only the best for you.
Our Best Picks
- Mommy’s Helper Toddler Harness And Leash – Backpack Leash For Autistic Child
- Blisstime 2 In 1 Anti Lost Wrist Link – Best Wrist Leash
- Toddler Harness With Leash – Most Comfortable Toddler Harness
- Skip Hop Zoo Collection Backpack – Best Toddler Harness With Backpack
- Butterfly Toddler Harness And Anti-Lost Wrist Link – Best Harness For Girls
- WSZCML Toddler Leash For Walking – Best Harness For Night
- AGSDON Toddler Backpack Leash – Best Fun Toddler Harness
- Acmor 4 In 1 Dinosaur Backpack Harness With Anti-Lost Wrist – best toddler harness for boys
- Diono Toddler Leash And Harness – Best Budget Pick
What Is A Toddler Harness?
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A child harness, also called a walking harness or leash, is a protective device that parents put on their children to keep them close when walking together. You can also use this device to keep your child safe on a high chair or stroller.
It is most suitable for kids ages 2 to 4, but some harnesses are designed for one-year-olds and can last for 5 years.
Some harnesses also come in the form of wristbands with extended wires for parents to hold.
Should I Use A Toddler Harness?
There has been lots of controversies about child leash and harness. Some parents believe that parents should always keep an eye on their children while allowing them to explore instead of locking them up in a harness and leash.
Freedom is very important for children because they get to explore and feel the world around them. However, there may be a need to have something extra that keeps them close to you, especially when you can’t keep a close eye on them.
However, here are the pros and cons of toddler harness.
Pros
- It is more comfortable for a child to walk a long distance with a leash than continually holding hands with a parent.
- It is difficult to control kids with special needs like blindness or autism without a harness
- It is easier for parents to control the movement of twins or more than one young sibling with harnesses.
- Parents can use a leash to control too heavy toddlers to walk beside them, instead of the parent carrying them
- There are no reports that using harnesses on children causes injury or impairs their development
- Leashes can hold highly active children to their strollers so that they do not climb out and fall.
Cons
- People believe that leashes should be used for dogs, and does not fit beloved children
- Pediatricians fear that the cord of a harness could strangle your child when they fall. However, there are no studies to show that such scenarios are possible
- A child could be injured if you suddenly jerk the leash when the child runs off
- Some people think that parents that use leashes on their kids don’t lecture them well on how to stay safe
- Parents could rely too much on the leash and not look at their children. This can cause children to be injured at a short distance.
When Should A Child Use A Leash Or Harness?
If you think that is important to use toddler harnesses for a child, consider using them at the following times:
- When your child has special needs
Kids with special needs like blindness, autism, or ADHD will quickly wander off. Wandering off with autism is more common and it has nothing to do with your parenting style. You can use a leash to keep your child close to you at this point.
- When you are close to a dangerous object
Some fun places can be dangerous for children. These kids don’t know how to stay safe around the beach, hills, cliffs, campfires, and others. If you want to go to these places, it is either you keep the kids at home, get a helper to watch over them, or take a leash with you.
- When you are in a large crowded area
It is common for kids to get lost in busy malls, crowded parking lots, events, and others. It is a great idea to use a leash to keep your child close by, especially if you will be carrying other items.
- When you are looking after two or more toddlers
Toddlers are always very active. One could run off and before you catch her, the other is gone. It is too stressful.
You can save yourself this stress by using toddler harnesses to keep them with you.
Best Toddler Harness
Mommy’s Helper Toddler Harness And Leash – Backpack Leash For Autistic Child
Every mom needs a child harness that is simple to use, easy to clean, and affordable. That is why we love this toddler harness. It has a minimalistic design and only holds onto your child’s chest, without upsetting their sensitive stomach area.
It comes with a strap for you to wear on your wrist. This wrist strap is equally comfortable.
This toddler harness is very versatile and you can use it on a grocery cart, high chair, and other seats. You can adjust the strap between 30 inches to 42 inches.
This toddler harness is flexible, machine washable, and easy to store. It is made from durable nylon materials and has plastic attachments and buckles.
Pros
- It is very comfortable for a child and doesn’t upset their lower abdominal area
- It is affordable
- It has swivel attachments
- It has an adjustable chest circumference
Cons
- The plastic pieces may break
- The strap may rub and irritate your baby’s skin
Blisstime 2 In 1 Anti Lost Wrist Link – Best Wrist Leash
This piece works great as a harness leash or wrist leash. You can use any depending on what makes your child comfortable. It has a soft effect on the wrist because it is passed.
It has a fastener that stays on the child’s wrist, and a lock feature on the backpack that keeps it in place.
You can adjust the circumference of the harness to suit your child’s body. The shoulder straps are also adjustable so that they don’t put too much pressure on the child’s shoulder.
The wrist straps have soft anti-pricking Velcro that is gentle on the child’s skin. The anti-lost wrist link is made from a good quality PU material and stainless steel wire. That is why it cannot be cut off by a knife.
It is available in mint green, blue and pink colors.
Pros
- It is safe and gentle on babies skin
- It has adjustable chains and straps
- It allows the child to rotate in any direction
- It uses breathable and anti-friction material
- It is difficult to open this harness without a key
Cons
- Not everyone may need the coil leash
Toddler Harness With Leash – Most Comfortable Toddler Harness
When going camping or having adventurous outdoor meetings, it is important to keep your child safe and comfortable in the wild. This toddler harness and leash give all that comfort you desire.
The shoulder straps and wristbands are padded with breathable cushions. Even the wristband attached for parents is also breathable so that nothing interrupts your fun. This cushioning reduces friction and keeps away moisture from spoiling the band.
This harness uses a cotton material and canvas. It also has plastic buckles with a thick plastic-coated leash. It is difficult to cut this leash.
The swivel connector rotates 360 degrees, so you and your child can turn in any direction. The swivel connection is metallic and doesn’t break easily.
Pros
- It is very comfortable for parents and children
- The leash is long and allows your child to go up to 8.2ft apart
- The swivel connectors rotate 360 degrees
- It has high-quality materials
Cons
- It can be time-consuming to adjust the straps rightly
- It may not fit younger kids of about one or two years
Skip Hop Zoo Collection Backpack – Best Toddler Harness With Backpack
Kids fancy cartoon characters and will adore this backpack. There are about 10 different animal designs to pick from, so you will find something suitable for your child.
It is very versatile and your kids can use it as a backpack or leash. The leash is detachable, and you can attach or detach it discreetly as the need arises.
It also has a wrist wrap that you can use to release your child more when they need a bit more space. All the straps of this backpack leash are padded to soothe the child’s skin.
This backpack also comes with side mesh pockets where you can put your child’s sippy cup when you are out of the house.
It is made from a high quality waterproof material which is also comfortable for the skin. However, it may not be suitable for younger children. The material is also easy to clean, so you won’t have a problem when your child’s drink pours into it.
Some children may not fancy the idea of wearing a leash, so they fight it. This backpack with a leash sets them free from that struggle. They won’t even remember that they are wearing a leash because it is attached to the backpack.
Pros
- It is available in many beautiful designs and colors
- It has an attachable leash
- The straps are padded
- The bag is easy to clean because it has waterproof material
Cons
- The child may tip forward and fall because the leash is attached to the bottom of the backpack
Butterfly Toddler Harness And Anti-Lost Wrist Link – Best Harness For Girls
Girls love the butterfly design of this toddler harness. Your kid can choose between pink and purple colors.
It is made from high quality breathable mesh cotton material which is comfortable on the baby’s skin. The straps are padded and the links are made with steel wires.
This toddler harness will grow with your child from after their first year up till they are 5 years old. You can adjust the straps and warps to suit them as they grow.
Besides the beauty, this harness also comes with a front pocket for your child to store her handkerchief.
You can choose to wear the child the harness and control the rope, wear the child the harness and wear the wristband, or you and your child wear the wristbands together.
Pros
- It has an adorable design for girls
- The straps are padded with mesh cloth
- You can use it in three ways
- It is adjustable and can fit your child from 1 to 5 years
Cons
- It may lose its shape if you put it in a washing machine
WSZCML Toddler Leash For Walking – Best Harness For Night
This toddler harness has reflective strips which allow you to easily spot your child at night. So, you can finally take those evening walks at the park, not worrying that the child will run off.
The harness and wristband are padded with soft and breathable double-layer cotton. They protect your child’s skin and shield the wristband from sweat.
The straps are also adjustable to suit your child’s body size and the distance between you two.
The anti-lost links are made from high quality PU material and stainless steel wires. Their heads rotate 360 degrees, allowing your child to turn to different angles at ease.
Pros
- It has a reflective strip for nighttime
- The link heads allow to rotate 360 degrees
- It has adjustable shoulder straps
- It has padded wristbands
Cons
- It is not machine washable
AGSDON Toddler Backpack Leash – Best Fun Toddler Harness
This backpack adds fun and style to your child. It keeps the child safe and becomes a source of amusement when they look at it. they will love to carry the leash around.
It has side pockets for your child’s bottle and sippy cups. They can take a few snacks too in the main body of the bag.
Another great thing about this backpack harness is that it can perfectly carry an iPad Air. It is a great option if your child loves to play around with an iPad.
You are not limited to one choice with this bag. You can choose from the mermaid, butterfly, unicorn, or dinosaur design for your child.
Pros
- It has many fun designs
- It can carry an iPad
- It has pockets for snacks and water bottle
- It is suitable for younger kids from ages 1 to 3
Cons
- It has a short leash
- The strap attachment is not durable
Acmor 4 In 1 Dinosaur Backpack Harness With Anti-Lost Wrist – Best Toddler Harness For Boys
Boys love dinosaurs. They won’t have an issue wearing the harness since they will take the dinosaurs around.
Besides the design, the harness is made from breathable material and the rope is from nylon. The materials are comfortable for your child’s skin.
They are adjustable and the straps are durable. It is easy to find the most comfortable position for your child. Moreover, they can start using it at age 1 until they turn 5.
Use this harness in three ways
- Wear the harness and hold the anti-lost leash
- Wear the harness and wear the wristband on your hand
- Wear them on your wrist and wear the other end of the wristband
Pros
- It is a 3-in-one harness and leash
- The material is soft and comfortable for the baby’s skin
- It has adjustable straps
- It is easy to use
- Your child can use it until they are 5 years old
Cons
- The leash may be too long
Diono Toddler Leash And Harness – Best Budget Pick
You won’t believe how cheap this toddler harness is. Still, it has great features to keep your beloved child safe.
It has fully adjustable shoulder straps with soft fabric padding. The straps are strong and flexible, allowing your child to go where they please, under your control, of course. It is 4 ft long.
This harness and leash also come with a wrist loop and secure back fastener. All the parts are easy to clean. You can wipe them clean or wash them all together.
Anna Chiranova loves this toddler harness
Anna is the co-founder at Ucanproduction and mom to two lovely girls (ages 3 and 7). She has this to say about Diono Harness and Reins.
This light and compact toddler harness can easily be stored in a purse or diaper bag while traveling, and it easily adjusts to grow with your child.”
Pros
- It is cheap
- It is suitable for younger or petite kids
- It is washable and easy to clean
- it has a 4ft long and flexible strap
Cons
- it is not suitable for chubby and older kids
- it does not have an adjustable body
Safety Tips for Using a Toddler Harness
The most important thing to consider when using a toddler harness is reading the manufacturer’s instructions. That will help you keep your baby safe and preserve the harness.
Besides that,
- adjust the harness to fit your child snugly
- still attend to your child even when they are on the leash
- never pull the leash suddenly, even when they try to run off. It could injure the child
- train your kids on how to walk and maintain balance with a harness
- experiment with the harness at home before taking it out
- also, follow the age recommendations.
Conclusion
Is a toddler harness a great idea? Yes, a toddler harness can help keep your child from wandering. But if you do not feel comfortable using toddler harnesses, consider keeping your eyes on your child at all times. You can also hold their hands always so that they don’t run into danger.
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