Hold on Tight, There’s a New Travel Product in Town
By: Colleen Lanin, The Travel MamaAugust 12th, 2010
At first I was skeptical about the usefulness of the My Handy Hold, an alternative to a safety harness that children hold onto instead of being buckled into. I thought, if they can let go of it, what’s the point? But, I figured what they heck, and I accepted a free My Handy Hold from the manufacturer to see if it might be something worthwhile for traveling parents.
Well, I tried it and guess what? I like it! The My Handy Hold provides a good alternative to hand-holding for kids who like a bit of independence but who still need to stay close to mom or dad. This child security strap helps keep kids close by when out and about. As an alternative to a harness, attach the My Handy Hold to your belt, purse, shopping cart, or (my favorite place for it) your younger child’s stroller. When crossing a busy street, I still recommend holding hands if possible.
Sometimes I have a hard time wrangling my five-year-old daughter when we are out exploring the world. Getting her to hold my hand when we are in a busy place, or when she is dawdling and falling behind, can be a challenge. Asking her to hold “her handle” seems less stifling than holding hands to her. Plus, it keeps my hands free to push her younger brother in the stroller. Ahh…more freedom (and less whining) for everyone!
My Handy Hold comes in your choice of blue or purple and costs just $13.95.
What do you think about using a safety harness or security strap for young children? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Tags: My Handy Hold, preschooler, safety harness, travel gear
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Yes, I can see this coming in handy when walking with a child in a crowded area. But $13.95 for what looks like about 6-8 inches of nylon?! I don’t think this would be a purchase I’d make. However, I can certainly see how some would prefer this to hand-holding or the traditional safety harness.
This concept is similar to the preschools using the big piece of rope to hang on to when walking in groups places. I like the concept because my daughter will choose to hold daddy or brother’s hand over mine (sad, I know!).