For parents, keeping their children safe while crossing the street or navigating a crowded area can be a challenge. While some feel confident simply holding their child’s hand, others turn to seat belts and tethering their child to a leash to ensure their toddler stays nearby.

While some moms and dads consider a belt harness with shoulder straps and wrist straps just another step in their daily lives, others consider belting a child absolutely taboo. But is holding your child the right choice in certain situations? Is it okay to put a child on a leash? Or is this practice harmful and outdated for young children?

For some parents, leashing works
Arieal DeLotte is an Austin, Texas, mom who blogs at TAJ Things and has two children, ages 2 and 3. DeLotte believes that if leashing is about safety and preventing danger, then the odd appearance is worth it – and it’s perfectly fine for the child No problem.

“I’ve had to leash my kids twice when I was alone with them in a large group,” she says. “If I don’t know the environment, or if I want them to feel free and experience the activity, I’ll bring my leash, which binds the three of us together.”

Delott shared her experience with the leash making her children more independent: She doesn’t think it will have a negative impact later in life.

“Personally, I don’t think it causes them any problems because it’s not an ongoing practice,” she says. “There has to be a large group of people in a strange place tethering my child without helping me. Before we tethered my child, I would explain so they could anticipate what was going to happen.”

While DeLotte found a way to incorporate the practice in a way that made sense for her and her family, other parents saw no situation worthy of leashing.

Experts Weigh in on Children and Leashes
Kimberly King is a body-safe educator, parenting expert and the author of the I Said No! author of the book A Child-to-Child Guide to Keeping Intimate Areas Private. As an expert and mother of three of her own, she feels that seeing a child on a leash is a major red flag.

Kim, who lives in Shelton, Connecticut, told Yahoo Life, “I see people with their kids on leashes and I just want to scream.” “Developing little humans – children – need to develop self-control and physical autonomy. Putting a child on a leash limits choices and sends the wrong message.”

King believes that by using a leash, parents can send a very clear message to their children that “you have no choice, you can’t be trusted, and you don’t listen.” She also believes that the use of leashes on children may cause psychological problems in the future.

In addition to posing a risk to their mental health, King says the leash could pose a risk to personal safety.

“Leashes can create a risk of falls, choking and are a disaster waiting to happen because it’s easy to trip over your own leash,” she said. “If you’re not paying attention, a leashed child can still come out of nowhere and scare you away, causing trips and falls.”

In addition to trips and falls, parents using leashes can accidentally cause serious injuries to their children, King said. “A parent may pull the child with the leash and then pull the child backward hard enough to cause a head injury,” she said. “The child has two legs, not four, so the child is one step away from suddenly becoming unstable.”

When Restraint Makes Sense
Jen Bradley, a mother of five who runs the parenting website Jen Bradley Moms, recalls a particular trip to Wichita Falls, Texas, that prompted her family to try out a leash. “When my oldest two boys were very rambunctious toddlers, we traveled through the southwestern United States,” she says. “I was definitely nervous about taking them to the Grand Canyon because I knew how much they loved to run. I also read that strollers are not suitable for visiting the Grand Canyon and didn’t want to invest in a big backpacking cart.”

Bradley found the small backpack straps online and gave them to boys who liked having their own small bags. “There was only enough room in the backpacks to hold a little bit of heart,” she recalls. “They didn’t even really seem to realize they were on a leash.”

Bradley says that while leashes never became part of their daily outings, they were perfect for specific needs. “Because the leashes double as backpacks, we’ve only used them a few times in very specific situations, and they’re a great, albeit temporary, solution,” she says.

What do adults who were tied up as children think?
Photographer and Future Fashion Icons podcast host Michael Freebee says his mother used a leash as a child. He reflects on how that memory made him feel like an adult. “My mom used to put me on a leash – the way the line was passed felt very awkward,” he says. “That should be enough to convince anyone not to put a kid on a leash.”

While Freebie reports that he wasn’t traumatized by the incident long term because his mother had only been tested once or twice, he still felt the practice “lacked respect.

“It’s traumatic on a broader scale because it’s an incident in a legacy of disrespect,” he said. “When parents put their kids on a leash, you have to realize it’s not just that: If they’re willing to put their kids on a leash, what other selfish things are they willing to do? The standard of respect for children is set very low, to say the least. …… Yes, it’s uncomfortable.”

What’s the alternative to putting a child on a leash?
King says, “Parents [should] teach their children to develop self-control and follow rules with support, guidance and communication in order to stay safe over time.”

“Most young children have impulse control issues,” she adds, “and active adult supervision is always a better option than a leash for children with impulse control issues.”

For parents who are considering a leash, King shares options that may be worth testing first.

“If you’re worried about losing your child at the airport or theme park, buckle them in a stroller or backpack,” she says. “They won’t be able to run. If you’re moving a group of 18 preschoolers for a field trip, try using long ribbons or old-fashioned handles.”

King reminds that every family is different: Ultimately, parents know their children best.

“If your child has a developmental disability or communication disorder, I can understand why some type of child-friendly backpack traction system might be needed,” she says. “Some children can’t understand instructions or control any impulses. In these cases, pay extra attention to the child to prevent accidents. If you have tried everything else and feel that a leash is indeed a safety benefit, go for it. “