So now that you know I am overprotective of my child and her safety as she has special needs and no safety awareness, let me tell you about a product that I love and use all the time!! Mommy's Helper Kid Keeper Safety Harness is wonderful. It gives my daughter some freedom while I can still keep track of her. The few small issues I have had with this product are nothing to the peace of mind I have while using it!!
As my special needs child gets older, I have been on the lookout for products so she can have a little freedom while still being safe. She is now too big to carry all the time especially over long distances and she does not like to hold hands or sit in the buggy ("but mommy!!! those kids aren't!!"). A friend of mine recommended this product to me as I was lamenting why do all harnesses have to look so babyish!! I really was concerned that my daughter would refuse to wear it as her awareness of "baby" things are definitely more keen. This product does not look babyish and is actually hidden by my daughter's sweater or coat for the most part. It is not huge or bulky or blaring that she is wearing it.
I have not had any dirty looks as I was warned about, no one has said anything except "wow, wish I had one of those when my child was young!" I have comfortably went to many crowded events and festivals and felt that my daughter was safe. No running after her as she ran to check out a bouncy castle or new friend. She tends to run after any small child or baby and want to talk to them. So without a harness, I am all the time chasing her. I have said one day I will write a book "Chasing Her." With this harness, she is unable to run off without me. A lot less stress when we go places.
This is a blue harness with shoulder straps that fits around a child's chest and upper body (not stomach), the lead is in the back with a loop for parent to hold.It is adjustable for different sizes of children. "Torso strap fits from 14" to 25 1/2". Kid Keeper strap adjusts in length up from 30" to 42" A swivel hook prevents tangles. It is machine washable.
The issues that I have had with this harness are: Straps fall down on my daughter's shoulder no matter how I reposition it, the waist of the harness seems to ride up on her, even at the longest extension-the lead just is not long enough. My daughter cannot go more than 3 steps away. I would have liked her to be able to walk a few more paces away than that. Also as all kid harnesses, we have knocked things over and tripped up people when my daughter started to run one way unexpectantly. When she has her coat on, the harness pushes her coat up in the back.I have tried putting it through the top of her coat but then I choked her when she took off and I was too slow to keep up. (The coat choked her not the harness.)
One of my concerns is could my daughter remove this harness and get out of it? She cannot. It velcros in the back out of her reach. It has sufficient velcro to cause a very secure closure. I was really worried when I saw it was velcro! But it stays closed well and has continued to stay put after all of the use we have given it! I actually asked my daughter to get out of it before we went on our first outting to make sure that she could not. The only way that she could remove it is taking it off over her head--which I can surely catch her doing before she is completely out of it! I have never had a problem with her even trying to get out of it as we are out and about as she is just thrilled to be "let loose" (in the harness without me clutching her hand) which I never let her be!
Other safety items that I have reviewed, click on each to find out what it is and what it does: http://www.epinions.com/review/Lid_Lok_Toilet_Safety_Latch/content_416433409668 http://www.epinions.com/review/Fridge_Guard_by_Parent_Units_White/content_416431246980 http://www.epinions.com/review/Safe_Lok_Cabinet_and_Drawer_Locks/content_416430591620 http://www.epinions.com/review/Kid_Safe_Door_Alarm_Monitor/content_416428166788 http://www.epinions.com/review/16_Kidsafe_Driveway_Guard/content_416424365700 http://www.epinions.com/review/Ionkids_Child_Monitoring_System_Starter_Kit/content_416308629124 http://www.epinions.com/review/Mommy_s_Helper_Kid_Keeper_Safety_Harness/content_416309350020 http://www.epinions.com/review/Safety_1st_Clear_Grip_Door_Knob_Covers_3_pk/content_425903820420 http://www.epinions.com/review/Beddiebye_Zip_Around_Safety_Blanket_Small_Microfleece/content_416436162180
What is so good about THIS product?
Keeps my child safe as well as gives her a little freedom. Sturdy.
What is unique about this product?
Does not fit around stomach, goes only on upper body.
Is it worth the price?
Yes! I would buy it again. I keep it in the car for whenever we are out and about.
What does this product look like?
Blue harness that fits around upper body of child, has a lead with a loop for parent to hold in back.
There has to be some bad to this product, right?
Could be longer so child has a little more freedom. Straps fall down, waist rides up.
Where can I find this product?
I have only seen it online. I bought mine online three years ago and it still fits!
Any warnings people should be aware of?
Be careful of tripping people with it!
For more information:
http://www.mommyshelperinc.com/kidkeeper.htm
Final verdict:
This is a great product that keeps my child safe! I would never be without it in crowded places.
pablo the overprotective
“A danger foreseen is half avoided."
http://www.safetycenter.navy.mil/media/pod/quotes.htm
"Be proactive--not reactive--towards safety."
http://www.safetycenter.navy.mil/media/pod/quotes.htm
My entry into the Best Little Writeoff Contest: http://www.epinions.com/content_5141209220 Mommy's Little Helper
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