My name is Angela, I am a New Zealander, married to an American, and we have three children, ages 3, 5 and 7. We travel to New Zealand a lot which for anyone who knows anything about what that entails, you can appreciate how long and complicated that can be - 3 kids, 12 hour flight from LA to Auckland, not to mention any connecting flights. International security, customs etc, it's a whole different ball game.
Last year I decided to take our kids home to New Zealand - on my own - the week after school got out, for a three week vacation. We had to fly from Colorado to California and then on to Auckland - and back again. It was hot summer here in the US, but cold rainy winter in New Zealand, so it meant a lot of packing and a lot of luggage. I have travelled through LAX so many times to know you don't mess around without being in control of yourself, your family, your luggage and your destination. I knew I could control everything but keeping track of kids while checking in at counters, or at baggage claim, or on curbsides - we all know how they can wander. So I needed something to help me....then I had an idea.
I went to Home Ddepot and bought three carabina bungy cords for less than $5each. They are thick, hard elasticated bungy cords which measure about 4-5 feet in length and have carabinas on both ends. I clipped the one end to the child - on a belt loop (when planning their clothes for the day I had especially chosen clothes with belt loops), and the other end either to myself if we didn't have a cart - like after you have gone through airport security, or to the cart if I was pushing luggage. It meant the kids were able to walk freely but not far away from me, and no one got lost. Of course we had a few funny moments when lamp posts came our way, but we quickly figured it out.
On our maiden walk with the cords attached I was stopped 7 times by parents asking me where I got them, and complimenting me on what a great idea. That was just the beginning. Airline crew told me it was one of the best ideas they had seen, as all too often kids get away from the parents and the parent has to make chase leaving an unattended handbag or luggage or other child. I didn't use them like a leash - so when we were seated waiting at places I just clipped them off - and I made it very clear to the kids that only I clipped them on and off, that it wasn't a toy and why it was important - using the movie Home Alone 1 helped drum that message home, how busy airports can be and how quickly and unintentially you can get separated.
I was allowed to take them onboard in my carry on luggage and they bundle up so small it wasn't an issue at all. On a different trip I did, domestically, I actually put them in the front zipper of my checked bag and after claiming it at baggage claim I whipped them out. Either way worked perfectly find. They don't breach security at all.
I hope you have as much luck as we did. I have travel planned this summer and plan on using them again, and also for another trip to New Zealand later in the year. For less than $15 I knew I wasn't going to lose my kids or find myself in a compromising position, true peace of mind.
The photo attached is taken at Auckland airport in the parking/loading area outside and a little dark to see, but you can sort of make out the cords that I have in my hand after attaching them to each of the kids and to the cart.
I have also attached a photo from the Home Depot website of the item.
This is the link to the Home Depot site showing what I purchased.
http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-100185918/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053
This is the product description incase the link fails
The Keeper 48 in. Carabiner-Style Bungee Cord features an aluminum carabiner hook that locks and secures onto any anchor system. The carabiner hook is stronger than a conventional hook. The super-duty bungee is exceptionally strong.
Ideal for heavy-duty securing
Super-duty bungee is stronger than conventional cords
Carabiner-style, aluminum hook locks and secures onto any anchor point
Spring-gate design makes it easy to quickly secure the bungee
MFG Brand Name : Keeper
MFG Model # : 06158
MFG Part # : 06158
Last year I decided to take our kids home to New Zealand - on my own - the week after school got out, for a three week vacation. We had to fly from Colorado to California and then on to Auckland - and back again. It was hot summer here in the US, but cold rainy winter in New Zealand, so it meant a lot of packing and a lot of luggage. I have travelled through LAX so many times to know you don't mess around without being in control of yourself, your family, your luggage and your destination. I knew I could control everything but keeping track of kids while checking in at counters, or at baggage claim, or on curbsides - we all know how they can wander. So I needed something to help me....then I had an idea.
I went to Home Ddepot and bought three carabina bungy cords for less than $5each. They are thick, hard elasticated bungy cords which measure about 4-5 feet in length and have carabinas on both ends. I clipped the one end to the child - on a belt loop (when planning their clothes for the day I had especially chosen clothes with belt loops), and the other end either to myself if we didn't have a cart - like after you have gone through airport security, or to the cart if I was pushing luggage. It meant the kids were able to walk freely but not far away from me, and no one got lost. Of course we had a few funny moments when lamp posts came our way, but we quickly figured it out.
On our maiden walk with the cords attached I was stopped 7 times by parents asking me where I got them, and complimenting me on what a great idea. That was just the beginning. Airline crew told me it was one of the best ideas they had seen, as all too often kids get away from the parents and the parent has to make chase leaving an unattended handbag or luggage or other child. I didn't use them like a leash - so when we were seated waiting at places I just clipped them off - and I made it very clear to the kids that only I clipped them on and off, that it wasn't a toy and why it was important - using the movie Home Alone 1 helped drum that message home, how busy airports can be and how quickly and unintentially you can get separated.
I was allowed to take them onboard in my carry on luggage and they bundle up so small it wasn't an issue at all. On a different trip I did, domestically, I actually put them in the front zipper of my checked bag and after claiming it at baggage claim I whipped them out. Either way worked perfectly find. They don't breach security at all.
I hope you have as much luck as we did. I have travel planned this summer and plan on using them again, and also for another trip to New Zealand later in the year. For less than $15 I knew I wasn't going to lose my kids or find myself in a compromising position, true peace of mind.
The photo attached is taken at Auckland airport in the parking/loading area outside and a little dark to see, but you can sort of make out the cords that I have in my hand after attaching them to each of the kids and to the cart.
I have also attached a photo from the Home Depot website of the item.
This is the link to the Home Depot site showing what I purchased.
http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-100185918/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053
This is the product description incase the link fails
The Keeper 48 in. Carabiner-Style Bungee Cord features an aluminum carabiner hook that locks and secures onto any anchor system. The carabiner hook is stronger than a conventional hook. The super-duty bungee is exceptionally strong.
Ideal for heavy-duty securing
Super-duty bungee is stronger than conventional cords
Carabiner-style, aluminum hook locks and secures onto any anchor point
Spring-gate design makes it easy to quickly secure the bungee
MFG Brand Name : Keeper
MFG Model # : 06158
MFG Part # : 06158
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The dog analogy is lost on me, good on you.
We keep toddlers in pens and i have not seen anynody object because ' it reminds them of prison' Anyway, we are all entitled to our opinion and i really dont see a problem with this. As long as yr kids are safe it is ok
I guess it's just a matter of making the choice of if you feel that it matters enough to keep your kids close in busy chaotic places this is a great, harmless, unintrusive way to do it. If it doesn't concern you, then you need not purchase the product :-)
Thanks for your comments.
If you've ever tried to keep track of a curious 3-5 year old, you'd understand. Blink and they are gone.
It's a scary world out there people are sick.
I was in a Truck stop a couple months ago. We were on a family vacation road trip. My son, now five, was standing right next to me in line at the checkout. I fumbled around for my wallet and he was gone. My wife came out of the restroom. There was an older dude (60ish) an isle over giving my son a sand dollar. Luckily I didn't see it. I would have put his lights out.
I think it's important to note to people saying these are leashes, to me - I think of a leash as a thing used to prevent someone from going somewhere or doing something they aren't allowed to do/go. These cords are intended to give the kids the feeling of security, as well as me. The speed of wandering cannot be over-emphasised, especially when we're talking shorter, smaller, slower people. They get swallowed by crowds.
Thanks for your comments :-)
I used child leashes on all 4 of my kids, who are now 28,25,16 & 13. I was the 1st one in my town to use one 27 years ago & got a lot of comments - some pretty bad ones. I always told the true story of how I had bought the leash at the State Fair & that very same day they had a lock-down emergency at the fair when a man ran past a family & grabbed their young child as he passed. He made it from the center of a city-block sized area, all the way to the exit gate before he was stopped!
I never, ever used a child leash as punishment. I think they had more freedom with it because otherwise they would have spent more time in a stroller so they wouldn't wonder away or get lost in a crowd. Also, when you have more than 1 small child, it is much easier for one of them to break free from you to run see something & a lot harder to catch them because you still have the other(s). I didn't have the leash on my son one time walking down a sidewalk & he saw something across the street that he wanted to see, he pulled loose & ran out in the street. I was left with the decision to chase him & leave my daughter standing there by herself! And I've traveled in airports with small children-they can be nightmares! I think you had a very good idea & you have peace of mind that your kids are safe. Youwill probably get a lot of negative comments - ignore them, you'll never have to ask yoursel "what if" !
I would use the mountain climbers' analogy to the kids and the system will be an integral part of the travel adventure.
We have no kids but go to New Zealand a lot and have a house there. NZ is a more child-friendly place than the U.S.; it think it must have been nice to grow up a Kiwi.
--American married to a Brit
Glad to hear you like New Zealand and have a house there, how lovely. Be sure and vote for me tomorrow, I am entering a competition on this site to hopefully win the kids a flight home to see Grandma and Grandpa :-)
Cheers
gotta love those leash like divices as splazem said