Reeling in her little runner, actress Milla Jovovich keeps a close eye on 11-month-old daughter Ever Gabo while at the Calabasas Pumpkin Festival on Sunday in Calabasas, Calif. Dad is director Paul W.S. Anderson (not pictured).
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Ever wears Pediped Originals in their Olivia style in Brown ($32).
CBB Deal: Use code CBB07 for free shipping on all styles of Pediped.
Ever’s face and lips are just like Shiloh’s when she was younger.
She remembers me so much of Shiloh.
Mila looks great!
- Stéph on
This girl is unreal! she looks like a chubby cherub.I knew Milla Jovovich would make a beautiful child but Ever is stunning!
- eva on
cute baby! in my opinion, i don’t like kids on leashes! lol.
- g.rocks on
She is adorable!
I really don’t like children on leashes she is not a dog…
- t. on
Ever is such a gorgeous baby! 
Those eyes. I don’t think the leash is necessary though. My mother would kill me if I ever put a leash on my child.
- Cassandra on
Ever is cute, but sometimes you have to keep kids on leashes. . . some just tend to get lost in stores (i.e. my sister when we were younger) It drove my mother insane but she didn’t keep my sister on a leash. Even though I hate the sight of seeing a mother with a child on a leash, I understand the necessity of it.
- Silvermouse on
I was never a fan of dog leashes for children.
- Kitty on
So cute! I also hated leashes for children…until I had my son. Now he’s 10 months old, a walker, will wander off in about 2 seconds (seriously, I handed my debit card to the lady at the peds office today & he was 10 feet away in that little of time), & HATES being held. Now that he’s mobile, he wants to be all over the place & holding him doesn’t cut it. We’ll be getting one for our son soon. 
- Jess on
She’s a sweet baby. I like Milla’s sandals.
While a leash is not necessary in all situations, it seems like a good idea for some people. It gives the child freedom to move around, while still keeping them safe. Its no worse than a stroller, at least with a leash the child can move around and explore their world.
- Colleen on
Not a fan of leashes for children…and certainly don’t know that it’s necessary for an 11 month old. How fast can she go?
- UggaMugga.com on
This is not a dog leash but a child leash and leashes are to prevent a child (or a dog) from running away and getting hurt. Leash is not intended to turn a baby into a dog. There is never enough protection when it comes to a child safety. If necessary, I will be using those too.
- Molly on
I’m with Silvermouse on this one. Even though I definitely see the necessity of them in some cases, they really do look weird, like the child’s an animal (though in some cases that’s not too far off the mark!) Ever’s gorgeous regardless.
- Lauren on
Ever looks so cute.
Also, sometimes it’s necessary to keep children on leashes, because they want to run around. They can’t always be held by their parents. I don’t think Milla or any other parent using the leashes are treating them as a dog, they just don’t want their child to run off.
- Molly on
Ever is adorable! I love her chubby little legs!
I too am not a big fan of the leash but I do see the point. Little ones, once they’re mobile, tend to run all over. It looks like Ever and Milla were in a very busy place so it’s all about safety. Sure, she could use a stroller but this gives Ever time to explore and use those chubby legs of hers!
- Stephany on
She is a doll! I tried a child-restraint backpack with my second child because she would run off in a heartbeat. She didn’t like it, so I never forced her to wear it.
I think it seems kind of appropriate for a high-profile celebrity with a child who may not like being carried. I would be so afraid of someone trying to steal my child in that situation. Not to mention, they don’t have to be attached to their mom/dad’s hips until they are grown.
- Tara on
Shes a gorgeous little girl, but i figured she would be because her mom is just as gorgeous.
I knew the second i saw this pic someone would say something about the leash, i see nothing wrong with it. When my son starts walking i will be getting one. And its not like walking a dog, its for the safety of your child! Children are always wandering off, so unless you constantly have your eyes on them they are a great idea.
- Brittany on
cute baby…but the leash look is not for me!!
- JM on
definitely not a big fan of the leash. even the word leash sounds too harsh to be putting on a child.
maybe we need to call it something different, but regardless, it’s not my thing.
- kmb on
haha, i used to be one of those kids on a leash and i can assure that i turned out ok. and my mother most certainly didn’t do it to treat me like a dog. by the time i was 11 months (ever’s age) i was fully capable of running. if my mom blinked i was on the move. i have two other siblings and to this day my mother still can’t believe how quickly i used to move around as a baby.
it’s impractical to expect an active child to remain glued to their mother’s hip or stay stuffed in a stroller. in a crowded place where kids can get easily lost, it’s a matter of safety.
- Sarah on
I used to hate leashes on kids and think that was bad parenting mostly because I’ve seen parents just pull on the leash when the child goes too far.
The more I see though, the more I try to think like the child, and now I do think they’re useful. At that age, they want to explore, not be strapped in a stroller all the time. And they’re still small so it’s more comfortable for mom and baby to have the leash, plus the kid can feel free and still be safe.
- Alice on
How cute are those chubby legs!
IMO toddler ‘reigns’ are perfectly good to use – especially if you want to give your child the freedom to walk or toddle on their own(without hand-holding) while still keeping them safe.
It’s protection not restriction.
And who calls them dog leashes anyway.
Ever is adorable!
- kelpy on
They might look funny but are sometimes necessary. It’s tough being on the taller side and constantly stooping over to hold a toddlers hand. The leash allows me to walk upright while out and about with my little one. It only takes a second for a child to dart away and I’m all for the leash looking silly to some if it keeps my tot out of danger and my back from breaking
- Meg on
gorgeous baby!
i was at the calabasas pumpkin festival the same day (didn’t see them though) and i can definitely say the leash WAS necessary. it was SUPER crowded and a little one could easily have been separated from a parent. i think “leashes” are great in situations like that. some toddlers stay close to their parents, others are darting and running away as fast as possible. depends on the kid/personality. if i were a celebrity in a crowded place with a toddler who didn’t understand that running away (and seriously it can happen in a split second) could be very dangerous (unlike a 4 or 5 year old who can understand) then i would certainly use one. i’m sure ever isn’t always on a “leash” but some situations necessitate them.
i also knew the minute i saw the photo that people would be making negative comments. looks like they were having fun to me.
- amandamay on
It’s not a dog leash and there is nothing wrong with using this child leash.
- Sarita on
Brittany, I thought the same thing when I saw the pic. Here come the “dog” references. -rolls eyes-
I have used a backpack harness for both of my boys and they love it. Previously I only used it when we were at the state fair, but if it wasn’t currently packed away (we are in the process of moving), I would use it on my two year old to go nearly anywhere. He hates strollers and shopping carts, and can climb out of ALL of the belts on them. He is also a heck of a lot faster than my other two were and HATES having his hand held. Since he is taller than the average two year old (he is in the 110% for height) he is also able to get into more trouble. We were at our state capitol today and he kept slipping away and pushing the elevator and emergency call buttons.
So think what you like, but until you have a “hell on wheels” child on your hands, you will not understand the importance of these harnesses.
Is it needed in Milla and Ever’s case? That is for Milla and only Milla to decide.
- finnaryn on
We have one of the monkey harnesses and use it often with our son. He’s 18 months old and has been walking since he was nine months. He started running shortly after he walked and he’s FAST. With as many child abductions that happen, I like knowing that he can’t get more than a few feet away from me. And yelling STOP doesn’t seem to get through to him, no matter how much we try.
I was definitely one of the people who thought leashes were a little ridiculous, but that was until I had a child. So I think there are some definite uses. We don’t use the monkey harness all the time, just when we are in a busier place and J wants to walk around, instead of being in a stroller or carried. It gives him some freedom and he actually gets excited when we get the monkey out. He knows it means he gets to walk with us.
- Hannah on
Beautiful child, but I HATE those leashes! I was talking to a parent (I work at a preschool) and she had one that just looped around her wrist and her child’s wrist, which did the same job, but didn’t look so horrible. Ever is gorgeous regardless, as is Milla, of course.
- Maddie on
The only reason people disapprove of a child being on a leash is because it reminds them of a dog being on a leash. But if you think about it, it is probably the most practical thing for parents of active, curious children. I think it’s much better to have a kid on a leash than a kid who is constantly wandering away. I hope the stigma of this goes away someday.
- SMC on
Have an 8 year old and a 5 year old and thank goodness they have never run too far off that I could not see or find them. I am a firm believer in “it only takes a second”. I never used a “leash” I just made sure that I stayed focused and clear. Even when I had two running in different directions. We parents need to be alert at all times. We can’t skip a beat. Truly.
- GGirl on
I think that is one of the prettiest babies I have ever seen. So adorable. She looks like a doll.
Yeah, never been a fan of leashes on kids though. Aren’t there other methods?
- Mia on
When I took my 5 year old to Disneyworld we didn’t use a leash but we used a wrist to wrist thing. That way I knew he was right with me but our hands weren’t all sweaty. He was too big for a stroller but I didn’t want him to be able to run off. I don’t see anything wrong with it. I’d rather have people tell me how horrible I am for having my child on a leash than sending me a sympathy card for the loss of my child.
- Carol on
I hate the kids “leashes.” There are other ways to keep track of your child othet than putting a leash on them.
- Kara on
I think they are helpful at times. My friend needed to go to the restroom and we were in a very busy highly populated aquarium. Her 18 month old was on a leash and it was a savior. He would take off into crowds. He was surrounded by adults and I was able to keep track of him and in that situation get to him fast.
- Brenda on
To everyone who’s never had the kind of child who can bolt at a moment’s notice, the rest of us don’t care what you think! I had my son (who was tall–everyone thought he was even older than he was) in a stroller until he was 4 1/2, because he wouldn’t hold my hand and walk with me (we live in NYC). Now, he’s a 5’11″ 14-yr-old, who walks quite nicely by my side, but I don’t regret those stroller days, or care about the many negative comments I received. It was better than the tragic alternative; it also taught me not to pass judgement.
- Tricia on
Maddie, some parents don’t like the leashes that tie around the wrist because sometimes a parent can pull to hard or the child may try to pull away and get their arm hurt (dislocation, fracture etc) or for some,an ugly bruise.I used to work for children’s aid and we used to get lost of those complaints. I think the reason some parents use this one is because they think it is gentler on the child’s body than the arm leash. The solution CAS gave parents ? If you are worried, put your kid in a stroller.
- Aya on
Don’t forget, Milla comes from Europe, where it’s more common and acceptable for parents to use a ‘harness’. That is what we call them there. I am from the UK and I didn’t even bat an eyelid when I saw this picture. I have used the animal backpack ones with my kids, and they love them. I would hate to see parents, pulling their kids when using these safety devices, but i’ve never seen them being used in this way – only to make sure that your child remains by your side and doesn’t get lost in a crowd. Used carefully and respectfully, I think these are perfectly fine.
- Emma on
I rarely see people with kids on leashes but when I do, they are never paying attention to the kid at all and then they give a hard yank when they aren’t sure which direction the child has gone. They act like the child is keeping them back from walking faster, taking their time, etc. with all the raves of the leash here, I guess I’ve been seeing a different kind of baby leash used.
Seems like some kids have more control of the parents when they are off the leash. Maybe it should be the other way around. 
- J on
I haven’t used a harness on my 19 month old son yet, but we do have the monkey backpack and he loves to wear it around the house (I have the tail disconnected). I will definitely take it with us if we’re in a busy place where he’d want to explore a bit, he’s constantly running and darting – and does NOT want to be in a stroller much of the time! I’d much rather people judge me than have something happen to my child.
- Stephanie on
kara, could you please give an example of a “better way”?
strollers and carrying restrict children. the leash allows them some freedom to walk without letting them bolt (and kids can move quickly). when parents are in crowds or have more the one or two kids, it’s a lot harder to keep little kids glued to your side.
until you have an active, curious child, you can’t really judge what a parent does to keep their child safe.
- Sarah on
I can totally understand why someone would want to use a harness on a toddler!
My 16 month old can run…FAST! The second you put her down she darts off. I can look down to answer my phone or pull some change out of my wallet and she will be 20 feet away.
I will never criticize the lengths parents go to keep their children safe and close to them.
- Lola on
First of all Ever is beautiful, and Milla looks great.
Secondly, most of the anti-leash comments I’ve heard in real life come from people without kids. One of the many things I’ve learned after having my daughter is I cannot judge other mothers who are trying to do their best for their children.
Yeah, leashes may look funny, but they make total sense for early walkers, kids who like to walk around and explore, and/or kids who don’t like to sit in carts or strollers.
- Jesse on
Now that I have had my third little girl, I will probably be using one of those for the newest child since my arms are outnumbered by my children- ha!
- seosinger on
Good for Milla! I’ve had three children, all were wanderers and I’ve been a big fan of the harness. I’ve had my child separated from me by people not paying attention and moving in between us through doorways, out of elevators etc. These days, there are so many scary people in the world, just waiting for a parent to turn their heads for even a moment. With the harness, I always knew that no matter how large the crowd or what the situation, I was the ONLY one that would be going anywhere with my child.
- julie on
I knew the moment I saw this picture there was going to be alot of opinions going around. I was never really for or against the leash, then I got pregnant. I remember wondering how somebody could restrain their child like that and not feel bad. Then my Bev started walking and by the time she was 9 months old she was running. She loved it so much she never wanted to be held. So I borrowed my friends babyleash and there we go! She get’s to explore and I can still function. But I still had to watch her, she could put something in her mouth, she could get stepped on by a stranger, just because she’s attatched to me doesn’t mean she is immune to danger. And also, I would like to point something out to the antileash people. I have a 25 month old daughter, and 13 month old triplets. I cannot push a quad stroller around everywhere, I cannot carry everybody. There’s no way. Especially now that they want to walk. So if I didn’t put them on a leash would you prefer me to push them around screaming, carry them screaming, or let them run around on the leash? And if I let them run around and just watched them? Not an option. I set them down and the run in 3 different directions. Which one would you like me to chase? So I leash.
- BurbsMom on
after my mom lost me for a few minutes in new york city (you know it felt like hours) when i was a toddler, she went out & got me a harness. i do not begrudge or blame her at all. i support the use of child safety harnesses, especially if your child is a runner, if you’re famous, or in very crowded situations. it’s not like the kid is always attached! unfortunately, i experienced the same judgement shown here, when i went into a sporting goods store asking if they happened to ever have any. the clerk told me that he didn’t “approve” of them & would never carry them. i told him that if he had a newly running toddler fond of bolting toward the stairs, he might change his mind. i felt like a bad mother.
- I-dra on
have any of you anti-harness, pro-stroller folks ever struggled to get a screaming, thrashing toddler into a stroller? not fun. extremely embarrassing. i agree with a previous poster, i’d much rather be a “bad mother” than a grieving mother.
- I-dra on
Steph- You’re right, she does look Shiloh did when she was younger! In fact, I wonder if this is what Vivienne will look like in a year’s time if she keeps the brown hair she had in her and Knox’s first photos!
- CelebBabyLover on
my 11 month old is a runner aswell and prefers to walk/run on his own – i was going to say that Milla’s just reminded me to go get the monkey backpack harness asap! it’s a matter of safety and giving them some independence.
- tracey on
I am the mother of a very fast boy. At 13 months he was running away and if you can’t get them fast enough they could run into the street, a predator, etc… My son nearly got hit running away and I was thankful I bought this panda backpack/leash, he’s 4.5 now and still wears it to baseball stadiums and big events. You never know who is there to take your kids and if you have a hand on their “leash” for lack of a better word, they can still explore and you can be secure knowing they are ok. For those judging it without having children and/or children that run fast and don’t listen very well yet..just wait or just be realistic and less judgemental.
- Silentgirly on
I can see why she has the leash. She’s a celebrity, she’s noticable with paps following her. Her child is just starting to walk…imagine a split second and someone walks off with your kid while your at the park. Could happen to anyone but the likelyhood of it happening too a celeb is frighteningly scary and real. Plus, it just helps her keep a little more control over her…not such a bad thing.
I saw the video on TMZ while flippin through the channels tonight on tv and I thought it was so cute.
Cute little girl <3
- ERICKA on
I was a small child when I went to a fair with my mother, siblings, aunt and cousins. I got distracted by something, and when I turned around, everyone was gone. That was the most terrifying experience I’ve ever had. I found my family again soon, but they never even realized that I was almost lost. I have never forgotten that moment of terror. I wish my mother had me on a leash. I still shudder when I think of what could have happened to me if I had never found my family again.
- Dancer on
Ever is such a beautiful child! Sh looks like a gorgeous chubby cherub! Milla looks to be such an incredible hands-on mother!
I agree with Emma, here in the UK (and most of Europe) leashes (we call them reigns here) are pretty commonplace so to be honest I didn’t bat an eyelid at Milla putting reigns on her child.
I used to wear them as a child, as did my siblings, so we could walk with Mum without getting into any danger.
I think most parents over here remember the tragic case of Jamie Bulger, who’s mother only turned away for a second and her toddler walked off and was ultimate kidnapped and brutally murdered – if he was wearing reigns it probably wouldn’t have happened – an extreme case yes but probably why they are so popular over here.
- blue_butterfly on
I have 3 month old twin boys and have said I’d happily use leashes rather than something awful happen to them – it seems from these comments it is easy to judge but i see it as loving your child so much that you would do anything to prevent anything harming them – especially when you consider that if you are her there are complete strangers taking pictures of you and your lil baby.
- Shannon on
Oh my that baby is gorgeous! And that leash is genius. I have wondered how you keep your child safe in those situations without having to keep them in the stroller or hold them. If I have children, I will def. use one.
- dickie on
I wondered what was up when I saw nearly 50 comments on here! I wasn’t going to drop my 2 pence in, but here goes:
This is not a dog lead, this is a set of reins. I’m from England and that’s what they’re called here. They are a safety device, not something to turn a child into an animal. My mother used them with me, and I used them with my daughter. I will use them with any future children I have.
As all parents know, children can take off at the speed of light given half a chance and this is an excellent (and largely unmatched) way of allowing them a little bit of freedom to walk on their own without having to worry so much about them running into the road or have something equally horrific happen to them in the second you happen to look away from them. You obviously still keep an eye on your child, but it does allow the little one the freedom to explore their new world. When my daughter reached a certain point, I passed the reins on to be used for her cousins, and purchased a wrist strap for her instead. She is four now so we rarely use it anymore unless we are in a big crowd or somewhere I percieve to be a bigger risk than her every day environment. If we lived in a big city, I would doubtless use them much more.
While the fact that my family has used reins for a long time may make me biased on this issue, I honestly don’t understand how anyone can take offence to a parent doing this kind of thing. Before I read these comments I have NEVER come across a single objection to them before. Perhaps it’s more of a UK thing than it is a US thing and that’s why there’s an issue, but this debate is just amazing to me. I did not use reins so I wouldn’t have to watch my daughter, I did it because it’s an extra line of defence. I also felt that if there was anybody looking at my daughter with a view to (God forbid) taking her, reins and the wrist strap were something that they would also see and hopefully be put off. There is no harm done to a child wearing these if they are used as intended, and as far as I can see, there are only benefits to be had. A parent must put their child’s safety first, so I sincerely hope that no one decides not to use reins for their child simply because someone decides to take a dislike to them, either on here or in their everyday life.
Besides, even if, as someone pointed out, a parent gave a quick tug on the reins to relocate the child they had been careless enough to lose sight of, would this not be better than actually losing them in the crowd completely?
- phoebe on
Oh that is so cool to see Mila using a child harness. I can’t believe so many people don’t like them. They are the BEST thing for kids that want to run around and throw tantrums if you try to hold them or stop them. You don’t have to always be carrying them, holding their hand, and body harnesses are way better than wrist bands. So kudos to Mila for showing an excellent way to let your child be “free” and yet protected within your reach. Also, to those that compare the harnesses to dog leashes, hello, don’t people consider their pets to be like their furry children? So yeah, leash/harness your kids and protect them!
- DLR on
Emma, I disagree with your comment that “leashes” are more common in Europe. I don’t know about the commonness in the US, but in continental Europe, where Milla hails from, they are not something you’ll see often, they’re rare. I too live in the UK and I’ve seen them here a little bit more often (but not that much) and in my eyes it’s still an odd sight.
That said, Ever is gorgeous.
- lilith on
What a beautiful child! As for the “leash” issue. I too thought they were horrible until I had my youngest son. Very loving, but hell on wheels would be a good description. If it weren’t for a child leash I am sure he would have run into traffic by now. I found a great one that looks like a monkey with a long tail. It snaps around him like a back pack would and I hold the “tail”. My son loves it. He calls the monkey his friend and he will ask to put it on before I do. It has been wonderful to help him understand he needs to stay close to me when we are out and about.
- Michelle on
I knew lots of comments would be about the leash.. but I think it is just for Ever´s safety. I mean there could be people with an intend to harm Ever or take her away, if her mother has her on this so you call dog leash, which is a really friendly child leash as they were made specially for children, she keeps danger away from her little girl. And I applaud that.. All the time we see that Mila adores her daughter and I believe she is doing this out of love too.
- Lisette on
I was always against “leashes” My first son was so easy never left my side stayed right with me no matter what. Then my second came along and he is a monkey and hell on wheels, I finally gave up on trying to keep him in a stroller at 18 months old since he would throw a tamtrum kicking screaming.Then unbuckle himself and take off running the second you would take your eyes off him in the stroller. I Got him the monkey backpack and it has been a life saver he loves wearing it i love knowing where he is and him not taking off on me and being safe.
- Jackie on
I also used to think it was so terrible to see a child on a harness. Then last summer, after a full day at the zoo, we were all getting into the car, and my sweaty, slippery 2 year old son (who is tall, strong, and fast for his age) yanked his hand away and took off. He was grazed on the backside by a minivan driving by. I thank God that woman looked out the window and saw me scream, because she turned at the last second and literally brushed right past him. She would have hit him straight on otherwise.
I went out that night and bought a monkey leash and it has been the perfect solution. he loves it because it’s a monkey, and I never have to worry about him getting hit. That handle is a lot easier to hold on to than a wet toddler. I have had so many parents tell me I’m awful for putting it on my son, but when I consider what almost happened without it, I remember how worth it they are.
- Shannon on
By the time I had walking kids, my oldest was 4 and my twins were 2. I would NEVER put any of them on that leash. If you are unable/uncomfortable/unsure if you can manage your children in public, DON’T TAKE THEM OUT. Strollers, hand holding, whatever are much better options. IMO. In my STRONG opinion
- Patti B. on
Before everyone goes off on ‘leashes’ they should at least make sure that is the product Milla is actually using which it is NOT. She is using walking wings, to help keep Ever steady and to keep her from falling. Makes sense since she is only 11 months old.
Ever is absolutely adorable!
- Amanda on
I commented above, but having read through the posts again, I was wondering if someone would be able to tell me why they consider reins so bad that they would actually confront a parent and tell them off? I have honestly failed to see a single point made that overrides the benefit of reins and the safety they provide for a child. I am not being sarcastic here, I really would like to know. Of all the debates that have gone on on CBB, this is the one that has shocked me the most and had me so confused!
- phoebe on
Looks like Milla stole that outfit from her character in Dazed and Confused!!!!
They are both beautiful!
- mmh on
Everyone who’s against these harnesses has obviously never been in a situation like Shannon’s (read her post) or obviously doesn’t realize that you can take your eyes off of your child for a SECOND and they could be GONE when you look down for them….Even if you’re the best, most aware parent out there – Things can happen in the blink of an eye. I say don’t judge – she’s just trying to add an extra “layer” of protection for her child and assurance for herself. What’s wrong with that? Unless you’re in that situation of having a toddler that doesn’t understand yet and will run into danger…you would never understand.
- SH on
There is nothing wrong with a parent making an informed choice if a child safety “harness” or as others would put it a ‘leash’ is proper for their child.
Their is nothhing wring with using one. So MANY children are confined and strapped into a stroller, because it makes it easier on parents, not having to chase after or worry about their child running off.
By having Ever in a harness she has the freedom to walk around, run and explore and her mother is able to keep her safe by her side and if for any reason she was to run off or a stranger, etc. She would be able to grab her instantly.
You would be surprised as to how fast a 1 year old can run. I had experiecne with it first hand. My son would never sit still in his stroller, hated it, could unbuckle himself and did not want to be held like an infant. She is not treating her child like a dog! There is no difference than strapping our children in a car seat, a stroller, a play pen. It is to keep them SAFE and close. The end.
- Amanda on
patti, are you honestly suggesting that any parent with energetic, independent child should just stay indoors all of the time? that is beyond impractical. i’m happy that your children were so easy, but a lot of children prefer to be able to walk on their own two feet. and parents do actually need to take their children out in public.
i hope that these hang-ups that people tend to have do not discourage parents from using harnesses. any of the negatives that posters have brought up have been purely about how others will perceive them or how they perceive themselves. not one person has suggested an equal or better solution. as far as i can see, the benefits outweigh the costs!
- Sarah on
I’m going to say that if you are against “leashes” than you should never have used a crib for your baby… are they not really just baby “cages”? Don’t act like there is a difference, because there isn’t. People can be so thoughtless.
Ever Gabo is a model in the making! Love it.
- Michelle on
PattiB-
And what do the parents do that DON’T have the luxery of leaving their children with someone while they go out? Can’t just leave them home alone! Does it make a parent more confident to leave their active toddler at home with a babysitter??
- SH on
Hi – it was my kids, and my opinion, and my own experience. I had to leave my house plenty of times, on my own, with all 3 of my walkers. If it was just myself and my oldest, she’d be holding my hand – and she was plenty active – they all were! My point was, if you, as the adult, are uncomfortable or fearful even, that your child would run off, then a stroller in my opinion is a much better option than this leash. For myself, until the time when I could have secure, safe handholding with the 3 of them, the twins were in a stroller and the oldest walked holding my hand. I think this product is just the worst. Again, my opinion and I did without it and had 3 very active, very happy little girls. OPINION. But again a strong one
- Patti B. on
Ever is super cute!! Who are we kidding. It’s a leash. A rose by any other name…well you know the drill. Giving it a cutesy name doesn’t change what it is.
I have NEVER, EVER seen the need for one (and I have 3 kids under 3, all mobile). We take our kids out all the time to public places. Never lost a one of them. My kids were taught to stay by Mommy and Daddy and the importance of that. We let them explore but we are always vigilant. I don’t like the leashes and that’s my perogative. Peace.
- TwinMamma on
Patti B. how about you keep your strong opinion to yourself. Your not a parenting expert, so i wont be taking your advice.
- Brittany on
How ridiculous. I’m willing to bet that if someone didn’t have their child on a “leash” and something happened to that child, then everyone would be saying how they should have had them on a leash. Who the hell cares? Really? How is it going to impact the child in a negative way? Are they going to look back on their toddlerhood and have all sorts of repressed feelings of being trapped? LOLOL. My god. How absurd.
- MommyX2 on
Those reins are from Mothercare, about £6.99 from memory.
We use reins with my 2 year old. I have a 7m old too, and find it means that I can walk with my son and the pram along pavements next to busy roads and be able to have a good control on both children. If there is more than one parent then we dont use it – similarly if I am in town for a short while in a pedestrian area I often try and avoid using them.
I see nothing wrong with reins. My son started using them when he started walking outside at about 14m. It meant he could walk around, explore but I could keep him close to me. Less shouting, no lost child, no trauma but the child learns to stay close.
I dont treat my child like a dog. I treat him like a child who hasnt learnt everything about the world yet and needs a little guidance without getting hurt. Reins have been around for many years – I wore them as a child in the early 80s.
I much prefer seeing a child of walking ability getting to spend time on their feet on a set of reins, than strapped in a pushchair again and again.
- Natt on
As a pregnant woman, one of the things I’m NOT looking forward to in becoming a parent is how other parents and non parents seem to feel the need to be so cotton picking critical about choices parents make in raising, and protecting their children. Seems pretty counter productive to me. Being a mom is a tough job. Support and an acceptance that many people choose to do things differently go a lot farther than nitpicking.
- Karen on
I totally agree with the people who have said that putting a baby in a buggy or a playpen is the same thing. It’s all done for safety and to keep the child close to you and no one complains about those things. I still am yet to see a single argument that actually makes me see anything wrong with reins. If people chose not to use them, that’s fine, but it can not be done under the argument that it is going to harm the child. I’m still completely stunned that this has evoked such a massive response! As many parents have seen, this kind of thing can literally save a life. A child can slip from a hand hold in a second, be in the road and hit by a car, this is far less likely to happen with reins, with the parent aware of how far a child can get. I’m not judging parents who choose not to use reins at all, but I do object to those who are judging parents for using them, when the reasons for judgement are seriously questionnable. My daughter benefitted greatly from my using reins with her and I wouldn’t have done it any other way. I just think it’s odd that no one has given a reason as to why they dislike reins so much, yet some people seem to have such strong views. This is also a very strong opinion! Lol.
- phoebe on
Are these not called harnesses? If people are going around calling them leashes no wonder they get such a bad wrap. To me they seem like a good idea, lets the kids get used to walking while staying safe.
- Daisy on
OMG Leashes DO NOT belong on children they belong on animals!! God forbid we start putting children in cages!! Oh wait, I guess a crib is similar to a cage but still it doesn’t look right, cages are for animals!!
Sarcasm intended
- Dela on
(a) To all the people who say “leashes belong on animals,” we *are* animals.
(b) As a non-parent, formerly anti-leash, my opinion changed when I worked for several years at the National Zoo in Washington DC. I cannot recall how many small children became lost because they either (1) walked/ran away; (2) couldn’t keep up with Mom/Dad’s long strides; (3) pulled away at the right moment in a crowd; or (4) simply stopped walking when everyone else continued on.
I will say that the leash/rein isn’t completely “necessary,” but as many others have stated, it is better to be safe than sorry, and you don’t have to leash your child.
Not only that, but strollers? Ugh. Huge, annoying, and in everyone else’s way. And what if you are without a car or without a co-parent and have multiple children? The list of reasons and situations in which the leash/rein becomes helpful is far longer than the list of reasons and situations in which the leash/rein isn’t helpful.
- Jen DC on
It seems people can’t mind their own businesses!! What does it matter to you if some parents choose to use the harness? Seriously does it impact your life in anyway? Do you lose money over the decision of other parents?? If some parents feel the need to use it, because they feel safer,who are you to say otherwise?? We are all different, have an open mind. Geez!
- Liz on
Ever looks a lot like Shiloh with those lips and that face!
Personally though, I don’t like leashes on children.
- Sarah on
I just think that it’s funny that the festival is called the Calabasa’s Pumpkin Festival. Calabasa means squash in Spanish. So essentially the festival and the city are called Squash!
I used to hate leashes too, but then my friend had her little boy who loves to take off running any chance he gets. Now I tell HER to buy him a leash. LOL. I think once the kid gets older he’ll take off that wrist thing real fast.
- Sami on
I love baby leashes. Safty first. She so does look like a darker haired Shiloh.
- Tina on
We got my son a child leash or whatever you want to call them. He is 2 and does not like you to hold his hand if you try he will just fall to the ground and I have to pick him up and carry him. So anyways we got one so he could walk and throw rocks in the lake just like his big brother but we can keep him safe and he feels like he has freedom.
Well, Saturday we went to the lake and we didn’t bring it. I wasn’t going to let him down because I knew that he was going to go straight in the lake or run away and he loves to run and be chased. My husband said that it was ok to let him down he would stand next to him. Well all was going well until my husband said time to go and my son decided to make a run for it. He fell on the boat ramp and right into the water he went, with me right after him. He is faster then lightning and even with my husband just an arm reach way from him could not move fast enough to stop him. So I will never go anywhere in public or anywhere else without my child leash
- Crystal on
Someone above said that they failed to see a single point made that overrides the benefit of reins and the safety they provide for a child.
What about the people who siad they taught their kids at a young age to hold hands, stay with them, etc. Why are those people ignored in this debate?
Also the same person mentioned that they don’t mind the quick tug on the harness to pull their child back. I don’t think the harnesses are meant for that, harnesses are apparently meant for keeping your child close, but if you need to actually yank your kid back to you if you are unsure where they are then maybe you need to start paying better attention and realize that maybe you are using your leash in an improper way. Leashes aren’t supposed to be a substitute for being attentive as some people use them for.
I guess the false sense of security is worth it for some.
- newmom on
Newmom – I think your post was meant for me, and if it was, let me clarify a couple of things you may have missed. I never said I liked the idea of being about to locate a child with a quick tug on the reins, what I said was that if someone was careless enough to lose sight of a child, it would be better to be able to give a tug on the reins than it would be to lose the child entirely. I don’t mind you focusing on my post, but please read it in it’s entirety first! 
.
Secondly, teaching a child to hold hands etc is NOT a reason against reins. It’s an alternative, like a scooter is an alternative to a bike, different, but neither makes the other better or worse. I don’t think you understood what I was saying there. There is no harm done to a child wearing reins, that’s what I was drawing attention to. My daughter holds my hand and has done so all along, I did not use reins with her because I didn’t hold her hand or because I couldn’t be bothered to watch her, I did it because I wanted her to be as safe as she possibly could be, and like I said, the reins provide an extra line of defence for multiple reasons. I fail to see how this point was misunderstood, but I hope that clears it up.
Lastly, I NEVER allowed the reins to give me a false sense of security, they gave me a real sense of security for reasons I have already said. I never lost sight of my daughter and I was never lazy enough to need to yank her back, and I very much doubt that many parents who use reins are any different than me. Reins were security and safety for her, and were a way for her to become steady and confident on her feet.
No one is ignored in this debate at all, using reins is much like using a buggy etc with a child, some parents like it, some don’t, but they are all designed with the same thing in mind, keeping a child safe and close to you. If someone chooses not to use them, that’s fine, but I still haven’t seen a reason why not to, and I am still extremely surprised that reins are so controversial. It’s essentially the same as a parent saying they were not going to put their child in a buggy because they didn’t want to confine them (which I can only guess is the reason people don’t like reins?). People consider this strange, but if I am right (that the so-called confinement is the reason for all the dislike), then I find this whole debate quite strange still. A buggy is used mainly because it’s convenient for the parent and we don’t bat an eyelid at this. Why the problem with reins?
- phoebe on
newmom,
Read Shannon’s post and also Crystal’s post…and then tell them they have a “false sense of security” with their kids being in the harness.
- SH on
Ever is oh so precious. Milla definitely makes gorgeous babies.
As a mother of an autistic child who is a runner, child safety harnesses were perfect for me when he was younger. My son would go into full blown ballistic tantrum mode if you put him into a stroller, holding his hand worked sometimes, but his hands would sweat soooo bad you’d loose grip. The child safety harness solved that. No more tantrums, no more worrying about him slipping out of your hand. Just perfect.
I made the mistake of not putting him in it one day, and his hand was sweaty and I lost my grip. He was gone in a flash and almost ran in front of a semi. I barely grabbed him in time, and pretty sure the semi driver almost wet himself. I never went anywhere again without the child safety harness.
Some parents don’t need them and thats awesome. However, some parents do, and there is nothing wrong with it. Yes, some people do abuse the power of the harness, but there are people out there who will always misuse stuff for its intended use.
Oh, and the “not attending to your child arguement”…umm, folks, do you pay attention to your child while they are in the stroller? No, you don’t have to watch your child every second you are out while they are in the stroller. It seems parents who use the child safety harness are giving their kids more needed attention than those who use strollers.
- Tonya on
aww Ever does look like a little like Shiloh!! she is so beautiful and adorable and so is her mom!
In regard to the leash or harness, however you choose to call it, I think it is humiliating and embarrassing and I wonder what happened to the old days when things like this weren’t invented and like someone else said, the only invention was old fashioned holding hands. But that’s just my opinion, one I’m sticking to, as well.
- Audrey on
Well Audrey, finally someone who was willing to say why they disliked reins. I wonder if the people who have such an aversion to them also have the same opinions on playpens and buggies? Seeing as they do the same thing to a child as reins do? And honestly Audrey, I really don’t agree with you, but at least thanks for sharing your reasons as I don’t see how anyone else has! Just because something isn’t the way it used to be (in the days before reins) doesn’t mean it’s worse, sometimes things change for the better.
- phoebe on
audrey, thank you for at least giving a reason for your dislike of leashes. i also disagree though. i can’t imagine a baby/toddler being embarrassed or humiliated by something. a lot of posters here that use leashes have said that their kids love it.
also, how is it any different from a stroller? you’re still using a device to restrict your child for the sake of convenience and safety.
- Sarah on
Audrey, which good old days are you referring to? The 70′s? Nope, my parents had a harness for each of my two sisters and I. Let’s go back further. How about the 1700′s? They were called leading strings back then: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leading_strings. My grandparents told me how their mothers would tie straps around the younger children on the farm to keep them away from the oven or from wandering off in the fields while the older kids were in school but mom had work to get done.
And while you may think they are humiliating and embarrassing, and you have a right to that opinion, I think it depends on the child and the harness. If I had used something like Milla has on Ever, my boys might not have responded as well. However, we have a puppy backpack that also has a pocket that holds toys. My boys love to use it. If ever I tried to put it on them and they protested, then yes, I would need to find another solution. Just like I have had to find another solution when they protested being in the stroller and having their hand held.
On another note, my boys also like to pretend they are various animals and have asked that I put the harness on them while they are playing these games. I don’t because I have explained to them that it is not a toy. We don’t play with the stroller when we are not out on walk and we don’t play with the harness either.
And yesterday I really wish that our harness were not currently packed away. We went to the library and as I tried to check out, my two-year, still holding his book, bolted towards the front doors, triggered the security alarms and nearly got outside. If there had not been another woman right at the doors, he probably would have got out. He is much faster than I am.
- finnaryn on
i will be purchasing one of the monkey backpack harnesses thanks to this debate. we definitely need it! i think it would be better to give my son a sense of independence while giving me a feeling of security knowing no one i going to run off with him or hit him with their car. he HATES riding in a stroller, hates shopping carts, struggles to get down when we carry him & pulls away & falls on the floor if we make him hold hands. no, my kid is not some uncouth savage, he’s a 2-year-old & i want to honor this time in his life while still protecting my precious child. a harness is a great compromise for us. “oh, boo-hoo, i don’t like the look of children on leashes! my kid is a perfect little carbon copy adult who does everything i say, you’re just a bad mom who doesn’t want to keep a constant eye on her kid.” really? and seriously – to the previous poster who suggested just not going out with your kids, are you for real?? i would rather have my son, with me, on a harness, experiencing the world than cooped up in the house for his entire childhood to protect the delicate sensibilities of people who are so easily offended by the parenting practices of others! viva la harness!
- I-dra on
oh, and while i do not feel it necessary to defend my parenting practices to anyone, i feel, right now, like i need to defend my child’s right to be in the world, regardless of his behavior. if i feel safer knowing we are physically connected via a harness, then why does anyone care? what do you all find so offensive about a child being looked after while experiencing a degree of independence they wouldn’t feel in a stroller or in arms? and what are you trying to sell me in it’s place? a baby carrier? got one. i also make & sell them. since patti, you’re so keen on leaving my child at home, how about you come over & babysit – oh, and i don’t have any money to pay you, so i hope that’s alright. i’m glad your kids are perfectly programmed automatons, but my kid is a KID. are you going to mourn with me if he gets hit by a car? when i need to look away for one second, are you going to be my second set of eyes? god forbid anything ever happen to any of your perfect children, people, because i would never judge you & say, “you shoulda had them on a harness.”
- I-dra on
I don’t think I have been accused of it, but I will say that I am in no way saying someone a bad parent for using a harness, or that they also do not have right to an opinion.
I find it humiliating and embarrassing not just for the child but for me too, and of course a change is good, a stroller may be no different to a harness, and yes I am old fashioned. My point is to me personally, I think they are horrible, but that’s my opinion only and I am not judging at all. If a parent finds they work for them, well that’s great, but you’d never see one on my child.
- Audrey on
Audrey – even if I could understand you saying about the so-called humiliation and embarrassment (which I don’t), do you really find this a more important point than the safety that reins provide? Or, for that matter, a child learning to walk with more confidence? And I don’t really think you can put it down to being old fashioned, when Finnaryn pointed out that reins, in some form or another, have been in use for 300 or so years.
The reason I keep coming back to this post is because I fail to see anything that justifies such strong anti-reins opinions. I keep hoping that someone will write something here that will make me understand it, but I somehow don’t think they will because I simply don’t think these points exist. It’s totally personal choice so this is not a judgement of the people who don’t use reins, I just would always have assumed this would be considered an everyday choice, like whether to use disposable nappies or not, with no one looking twice at you no matter what your choice was.
- phoebe on
Mila and baby are gorgeous. I admire her for going against the grain and putting her child on a leash – what a very responsible parent. A celebrity just needs one second with her attention away from her kid (distracted by a fan or autograph seeker) to have her kid disappear into the arms of a stranger. I commend her for caring for her daughter and not about public opinion.
- Lisa on
It is not a leash, it is called a child harness. I used it with both of my children-it allows more freedom for them while still keeping them safe from being snatched or running off. (do we call playpens kennels?)
- Vicky on
Aya,
Thanks for the info, I wasn’t aware of dislocation etc that could happen from those types of wrist to wrist harnesses. That’s a little scary when you think about it. The mum was just talking about what works for her Babies of that age can have incredible speed, and as long as their safe, that’s the main thing. Having been out on many public outings with very small children – its a constant fear, they can dart out at any moment.
- Maddie on
Oh, another reason a child “rein” is very useful is for a child that happens to be deaf and cannot hear the parent telling it to stay or calling it to come back. So yeah, another safety pro for child reins/harnesses/ropes, whatever the name of the day is. This has been a rather interesting discussion to follow, many anti-harnesses countered with many pro-harnesses, and it all comes down to one issue, safety for the child which a harness indeed does provide. I do know if I had children this would be right on my list of baby shower gifts, and I’d want one in several colours to coordinate with the kid’s clothes!
- DLR on
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