Ridiculous Parenting Products

I bought a doggie backpack/harness for my kids to use when we go to the zoo and airport. People can think it's like treating your kid like a "pet" but it keeps them SAFE, while letting them feel some independence. How fun is it to chase a kid, hear them cry to get out of the stroller, and to have them constantly fighting to get you to let go of your hand? Better safe, than sorry, no matter what others think.

I agree - the harness should NOT be in here - my child does NOT hold hands or always stay close by; this is vital for him being safe and my piece of mind. Until you have a child that would rather run off (and possibly be hit by a car or get lost) you don't even know how important a kid 'leash' can be!!!

BOO, Parenting! Sorry, but you get a thumbs down on this choice. When you are in a large crowd, these are very handy for making sure your wee one doesn't get separated from you. It only takes a second, folks.

The hands are used in the NICU to comfort the preemies and get them used to being touched as well as to comfort them. There is nothing weird about them.

The “leash”, well, does the author of this article even have kids? And if so, do they have more than one?

I had 2 kids within 2 years and the first thought to me was “what do I do when I have one walking and one in the stroller and the walker decides to take off?”

I’d rather get the dirty looks then have a missing child.

Have you ever tried to do ANYTHING with a 2 year old? Good luck getting a child that age to “stay where their parents can see them”.

I have to give kudos to the mother of the Zaky hand pillows. The story behind her invention is a very loving one.

the placenta bear is CREEPY! but I do like the tummy tub just wish it was cheaper.

The Zaky hands are primarily used for babies that are in the NICU or something like that. It gives them comfort and support that is needed when out of the womb so early. I wouldn't say these are useless.

I have to admit to owning the Time Out Pad, and I LOVE it. Sometimes I have to leave the room while my little one is in time out, or just walk around the corner and can't see if she's staying put. This has been great for us. It hasn't made time out anymore of a game than it was before. I also have a harness and leash for my daughter. The author has obviously never seen a child hit by a car because he jerked his hand out of his fathers and went running into the street. It was horrible, and safety backup to hand holding is exactly what I wanted. If you think it looks like I'm walking my dog, so be it.

Before negatively judging parents who may use some of these products ie: harness, helmet, hand pillows, keep in mind their child may have a disability ie: autism, where no amount of "discipline" can prevent a little one from bolting, where the pillows can give a much needed night's sleep, and a helmet can prevent a serious injury for a child with no sense of where their body is in space. YOU may think these products are ridiculous but for a disabled child and parent it could mean much needed help and quality of life. Be very grateful you do not have a disabled child and feel you can critize someone else's methods

I had purchased the Nasal Clear Battery Operated Nasal Aspirator, then immediately returned it after reading the warning that came with it. May cause Death!

Due to the fact that Infants lungs are still developing, and the suction may suffocate the child.

Just thought I'd give a heads up.

plecenta teddy bear, can you say gross.

I agree with the list. Harness = lazy parenting

I agree with kensfoxywife I have used a harness a few times when I needed both hands but didn't use it all the time. LYNDANR also makes a lot of good points.

Regarding the harness - my dad is 6'2" and for him to bend over to hold my littlest sister's hand killed his back. My husband stands 6'5" - you'd better believe that we will have a harness for our child, who's hands will probably be somewhere in the vicinity of his knees when she starts walking. It's not bad parenting - it's making sure that when you leave the zoo or airport or fair or wherever you are that your back is actually able to straighten again and you can pick your child up. Overuse - bad; occasional use - life (and back!) saver.

as a child, i was put in a harness. The only reason is because my younger sister and i were close enough in age that we both wanted to run around by ourselves, often in the opposite directions. Being the oldest, my mother chose to put me in the harness. She still insisted on holding my hand, and not every time we went somewhere was i put in to it. its not cruel, it peace of mind that your child wont get grabbed when she runs off under the clothes in department stores while you chase her with a stroller.

I absolutely loved the pee pee teepees for my newborn boy! They fit great into a diaper bag and washed easily. They were great since he was born in September. When we'd get up to nurse/change diapers and a cold draft would hit him I wouldn't worry about having to change my clothes

To SJG & DMGLYNN, I for one am fully capable of teaching and disciplining my children. I always said I would Never use a child leash, then I had my son who has multiple special needs. He didn’t like to be held, either in our arms or by the hand. Touch is something he still to this day does not like. Therefore we bought him a teddy bear backpack/leash. We never used it in a store or a park, always in large places busy with people; airports, museums, etc. Places where he wanted to explore and learn. From the ages of 1-3 it was a lifesaver, not only for me but for him as well. Do not judge those you do not understand. Come walk in my shoes, you'll beg for your own back.

I totally agree about the use of a child leash for a child in busy and crowded places like the airport or the zoo. I think the writer of the article is describing people that take the use the leash out of context. I have a neighbor that keeps her child fenced on their porch and doesn't allow him to even play in his own front yard unless he is leashed.

Oh my. That placenta Teddy bear grossed me out. I admit I used the peepee teepees for my second son who would start to whiz as soon as the diaper was beginning to be removed. I also have a variation of the leash. I had it for my first son but never had to use it. My second son, on the other hand, has used it when we went to the zoo and other fun places and I feel SO much better knowing he can't run away from me. His babysitter has used it too and loved having it. SO much easier than trying to get a stroller around/up stairs. Most of these are rediculous, but a few are good to have.

There are some places that can be very dangerous for kids, and where a leash might be a reasonable safeguard. Imagine taking a child to Yellowstone, where adults and kids wandering off boardwalks have broken through a thin crust into scalding hot water. They've had kids die or get severe disfiguring injuries there after being severely burned.

I used to think that leashes were awful and first child (girl) never needed one and I didn't understand why anyone would use them. My second child was actually 2 (twins, boys) and I needed the leashes for them if I let them out of the stroller after they started walking because it was absolutely impossible to track both of them (one of whom is a "bolter") and the then 3 yo when we went places. Then when my next (also boy) came along a mere 14 months after the twins, the leashes were again a lifesaver because the stroller would only fit 2. Now 3 years later we don't use them because they have learned, partially through using the leashes, to stick close to me in public (most of the time.)

Oops double post. Sorry.

I think a few are weird (the bling? heels? really?) but some I actually use. The helmet, my oldest who is 4 has Downs and I can't watch him every second. When making lunch, or when it's a Mommy Potty break I put the helmet on and when I come back he's just fine. With the leash, I need it. Aside from my 4 year old, I have a 3 year old and a 1 year old. The 3 year old hates strollers and trying to walk around with him screaming in the stroller is too much.

If putting my child on a leash means I'm treating her like my pet, well considering how well my pets have it, I'd say that's pretty darn good. The leash isn't for every day use unless you have a child with extreme special needs (my daughter is severely autistic and mentally retarded, she wears a harness that also has a patch on it that helps people realize she has a disability. She may be 8 years old, but in her strongest areas, she is a 2 year old developmentally).

A harness isn't foolproof, but its an extra layer of security that in crowds will help parents relax more and allow the child to lead the parent where they want to go safely.