18 Month Old Getting Her to Hold My Hand When Walking

Hi K.,

Practice, patience and practice. For me it was the patience part that was difficult. Eventually they get the rules, hold hand or be held or whatever but until they do it's trying. One of the moms mentioned the walking rope like they have at preschool and let me tell you, it's amazing! We do it with our dog's leash. Finn holds one side, I hold the other and I can lead him around anywhere!

Good luck!

I don't recall ever having a problem with it because it wasn't an option. Either hold my hand or I pick you up. If you don't want to be held right now then I'll put you down, but we're not going to walk a stitch unless your hand is securely in mine. Pitch a fit, cry, try and wriggle away, whatever, but we're not making another move unless you are in my arms or holding my hand. Then end.

I know every child is different, but I firmly believe that if you are consistent and don't give in, then they get it. And at 18 months, she's still little, but totally understands you.

Good luck.

K.,

She either holds onto your hand, or she's in the stroller or shopping cart....end of story. If she/he wants to walk around, they understand the rules pretty fast. (There is one other alternative, which I use to hate, but now can see this would be the solution to keep children safe, whose parents say, "they won't do this or that".....it's one of child halter/leashes...

Blessings.....

My son was a little over 2 before I started having success with that. He's very spirited though.

my kids are 7 so I don't remember when I felt I could trust that they would hold my hand when out walking - I do remember using the "hold hand or you're in the stroller" tactic that another mom mentioned, and I also would use the toddler harness on occasions (one twin in a single umbrella stroller and one twin in toddler harness) because we lived off of a very busy street. I didn't get any snide comments about the harness but was quite prepared to respond with something like "Oh, you think the harness is cruel? Well, that's what we used to think until....<sniff, sniff>.... we lost one of our triplets!" ;-)

One other thought - is it hard for her to hold your hand because of the height difference (I imagine it could get tiring for a little one to be holding one arm straight up for a long period of time). If so, maybe having something you could dangle from your hand for her to hold on to would help. At our girls' old preschool the 18MO class had a long nylon webbing strap with a bunch of little plastic donut-shaped handles that the kids would hold on to when the teachers had to walk them out of the building for fire drills - something like the "Walking Ropes" on the Lakeshore site http://www.lakeshorelearning.com/seo/ca|productSubCat~~p|...
you could probably improvise something similar with a ring-shaped toy and some webbing strap.

I believe that I am the parent and I decide the rules. My children either have the option to sit in the stroller/cart or walk while holding my hand. They can throw a fit or whatever they want I will not give in. I do not believe in the toddler leashes. I have a child not a dog!! I do have family who uses the leash and their child never learned to stay close to mommy. Now she constantly runs around the store and they don't understand why my children behave so well. My children stay close to me without any argument even my two year old.

Because you are so tall you may want to purchase a sling. You can simply slide her in the sling when you are out and about. She can sit on your side or your back. You can even put her in it when she pitches a fit until she calms down. www.seamscountry.com is the sling that I have used for my childrn until about age 2 1/2 - 3 years old.

Remember you are the mommy so make a rule and stick with it. Constistancy is the key!