How to Keep My 2 Year Old from Running Away from Me in Public

Get out the leashes. They work and they are great. I use one on my two year old when we take my baby for stroller walks and they are great. Once I'm alittle more comfortable with him not running off, then I will stop using it. Let the toddlers know that once they start obeying you and stop running off then they will not need them anymore.

Malini i have a 3 yr old and he loved to that he would run away from me into strangers and sometimes in front of cars in walmart parking lot. i was so scared that he would get ran over by someone noy paying atention and or running to far away to where i could not see him and someone taking him. So then I considered the kids leash. I didn't want to at the first because i thought people would think bad of me as a parent whick is the worst feeling. But when I talked myself into it and started to use it i realized a difference. some kids do not like it but they will get use to it and then I started to get complaments and people asking me where to find them. And that alone just made me realize that its not bad it safe. If i were you i would consider useing the leash you have in your closet it helps. GOOD LUCK
H. a

I have a son who does the same thing. Some kids are runners and others are not, so at this point, all you can do is prevent it. I would either use a small side by side umbrella stroller, or use the harness. With my hands full with other kids, I cant leave the other ones to chase after him. In a second, he has run, and nearly made it into a parking lot. I prefer peace of mind, and I insist on gettng out of the house, so for my son (who is actually almost 3) it will always be the stroller or "leash". Maybe in the fall when 2 of my 5 kids will be in school, I will make opportunities where I can work harder on teaching him, and observing how he behaves, but not during the summer. If you know he will run, or even suspect it might happen, I would make sure that you prevent it every time..you just never know! ~A.~

I have a 3 year old that liked to do that when she was 2 also. I just had to reiterate to hold my hand but you have more than one to manage. I have seen how preschool does it and it seems to work well. Her teacher uses a colorful rope or jump rope to keep everyone together. She tells them all to hold on to the rope when walking back to the class with her. Maybe a reward for doing it may help too.

Hi. I see this is an old post so I hope you still get this. I'm curious how this panned out for you. Your son sounds just like mine. Super sweet, well mannered for a 2 year old, etc. Mine runs and laughs and people just look at me. I finally stopped running after him because I can't catch him so I look ridiculous! Plus the closer I get the further he goes!

Did your son just grow out of it? If so what age? Did you find a trick that works? Your post is the closest I've seen to my situation as you do not sound like an ignorant mom and you have a sweet boy. PLUS mine has ridiculous dimples so he looks cute to everyone! Which does NOT help me at all when it comes to others seeing him act out...

Oh and when I test him to see how long he can actually run constantly, it's between an hour to an hour and a half straight running before he poops out. So doing that every single day isn't exactly schedule friendly when you have 3 kids.

~Exhausted (S.)

Have a frind or daddy go with you to a safe place you think he may run off, and then one of you keep track of the other two and you (pretend) not to be watching where the other one goes. When he noitces no one is chasing him, and stops or comes back, then act scared and say mommy didn't know WHERE you were, you must not do that again, I don't want you to get lost. Another thought, if you thought he was old enough to understand, say that if no one runs off, we will (play in the park) (read a story) or get an ice cream, something he may want to do, and if he runs off, he is told the other two get the reward, but he ran off and was told not to, so can't have the story, or ice cream etc. I really think the first suggestion is better, it is hard to do the second. but anyway these are ideas.

For your piece of mind, I would get the leashes out of the close and use them. If he doesn't want to walk, then use the stroller. He will have to learn how to obey you. You can't be chasing one and leaving the others as someone could turn you in for abandonment. The use of a leash is not bad as many people would rather you use the leash than to be running, calling or shouting at the child. You would never forgive yourself if something did happen to the one because you did not use the leash especially near a streat or parking lot as people don't look or slow down now days like the used to. Always remember safety first even if he protests. The other S.. I had a runner and we used a leash/harness.

I used a backpack leash for my daughter, she didn't run away a lot but I have a son who is disabled and in a wheelchair & it made me more comfortable because she would not be able to get away, since chasing her would be very difficult. I would suggest trying it out, I always said I would never use one, before I was a parent, but hey live and learn. It is better to protect their safety than to not use one for whatever reason & have them get hurt from running away. If my daughter did run away, we did what we do for any discipline in public, first time is a warning & then if they do it again we find a corner & she has to stand there for her time out (one minute for every year of age). then if she continues we go to the car for a time out but we never get that far. There are corners everywhere which is why we use a corner for time out. at age 2 there is not going to be a lot of reasoning with them you can explain why it is important to stay with mommy but it's more a battle of wills & you have to stand your ground

I had the same problem with my daughter at the same time. I once followed her and hid to see how far she would go before she got scared and she never looked back for me once! I would consistently tell her she had to stay by mommy or she would have to go in her stroller (which she hated). If she ran off, which she did, I would make her sit in her stroller. It took a little time but she does not run away at all now (she's 29 months now). That may be a little harder for you with two others, but it worked for me. Good luck.

Sounds like you have your hands full! :) Use the leash.

Well if you are willing to let things appear ugly a few times the problem can be solved pretty quickly. Plan a few outings just for this purposed so that you can keep yourself focused on the task at hand. Use a stroller or a buggy. If the child refuses to come when called or leaves your sight then they have to sit in the stroller or buggy. Let them sit in there and throw a fit, wait a few minutes and give them another chance. Repeat if necessary. Explain what you want from them before going in and what will happen if the rules are broken then back it up EVERY time. Works like a charm.
I have used a lease for my 2nd son that is two only to help him understand what staying close to me means. It helped us alot.
Best Regards,
C.