A child harness (alternative: child tether, walking harness, British English: walking reins) is a safety device worn by children when walking with a parent or carer. Child harnesses are most commonly used with toddlers and children of preschool age, though they may also be used with older children, especially if they have special supervisory needs such as ADHD or autism. Various types exist, though all are worn by the child and have a lead (tether) or rein which is held by a parent or caregiver. As child harness designs and purposes have evolved with cultural norms and parenting techniques, they have become subject to common debate.
Use and purpose
Child harnesses are designed to provide safety for a child when walking by preventing them from being separated from their parent or caregiver. Additionally, some may be used to help keep a child safely seated in a stroller or high chair. Typically used for children between one and four years of age,European Committee for Standardization. (November 2004). European Standard EN 13210:2004 Child Use and Care Articles — Children's Harnesses, Reins and Similar Type Articles — Safety Requirements and Test Methods the use of child harnesses depends on a variety of factors including the age and maturity of the child, as well as any perceived dangers such as busy roads, large crowds, and potential distractions. Other factors such as neurological and health conditions may also be considered, particularly for older children with unique supervisory requirements.
History
Pre-1900
While there is little documentation on child harnesses before the twentieth century, they may have emerged from leading strings used during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. In the late nineteenth century, evidence suggests they were mostly considered as items of clothing, primarily worn by young children learning to walk. The "Baby-Exercising Corset" patented in New Jersey in 1874 aimed to "enable them to learn to walk much sooner, and much more readily, than they could with out[sic] its use."
Early 20th century
After 1900, designs evolved from a type of garment into dedicated safety harnesses most commonly "in the form of a waist belt, shoulder straps connecting the waist belt...and a suspending strap for a person to sustain the weight of the child." While earlier patent applications for child harnesses mention protection from potential dangers, designs beginning in the twentieth century were "particularly directed to the prevention of injury." With the transition towards safety as the main priority, designs changed "to provide a readily applicable harness for retaining a child in standing position in a chair, go-cart, or the like, and thereby obviating the danger of the child falling." Harnesses at this time were usually made of leather, and some designs also had small bells attached.Coles, F.P., quoted in Stray Thoughts, quoted in
1940s–1980s
By the 1940s in the United Kingdom, child harnesses were fairly common.There is no sales data available for the 1940s; however, child harnesses appear frequently in classified advertisements and were a commonly donated item at community fundraising events. Examples include Christmas List, , Bacton: Women's Institute, , For Sale and Wanted, , For Sale or Exchange, Designs in the United Kingdom and the United States began to change in the 1950s with the straps being made of webbing instead of leather, and purposely designed fittings to make the harnesses easier to use for parents and caregivers.
In the mid-1950s, various local campaign groups in the United Kingdom began to recommend the use of child harnesses as part of road safety campaigns.Mind That Child, quoted in In addition to recommendations, the campaigns also focused on abolishing the thirty-percent sales tax payable on child harnesses, arguing removing the tax would be "a sign that the Government was sincerely interested in the safety of young children." The debate around possible legislation for child harnesses continued into the 1960s, with the British Standards Institute issuing new safety standards. The "stringent specifications" sought to address the "harnesses on the market which were not sufficiently strong to restrain a bouncing baby in a pram, or to take the weight of a falling toddler," with all designs after November 1964 being subject to "rigorous performance tests" for both design and materials.British Standards Institution. (November 18, 1964).BS3785:1964 Specification for webbing safety harness for baby carriages and chairs and walking reins
Designs advanced further in the 1960s with Roland Cheetham (W.H. Cheetham & Sons Limited) inventing the first terylene webbing harness in 1961. Going on sale in 1962, the new webbing material had "a high resistance...to abrasion and moisture" with the company claiming the design was "virtually ever-lasting." The new materials were lighter than previous versions, and the company also claimed the material was more hygienic as the harness could be washed and dried in five minutes. The new design was awarded the certificate of the Royal Institute of Public Health and Hygiene.See Product Packaging "Clippa-Safe Hygienic Nursery Harness, Model B.S. I (1962)" The design also featured improved fittings "so that the mother does not have to bother with buckles" and could "vary the size easily." The harness was sold in four different colors with a suggested retail price of twelve shillings and sixpence.
Child harness designs remained largely unchanged between the 1970s and 1990s, the most significant change being the replacement of metal parts with plastic parts. The most notable exception, patented in 1987, was the "wrist link" or "wrist strap" which dispensed with the chest harness section, instead consisting of a length of webbing with a loop at each end. One loop secures around the wrist of the child, while the other is held by the parent or caregiver. The idea was to address how parents and/or caregivers could find it "very impractical to use one hand to hold the child at all times" and thus "leaves the parent's hands free." The wrist link/strap design was also noted to be "adaptable to children of any size or age". Other hands-free adaptions to the established designs of child harnesses were also developed in the late 1980s.
Post-1990
In the United Kingdom, following the 1993 James Bulger murder case, sales of child harnesses "dramatically increased" and some stores sold out when "trying desperately to meet demand." Two years later, child harnesses were recommended by the Child Accident Prevention Trust as part of their "Seven Steps for Safety Campaign."
In 2005, after a largely standardized design for forty years, an alternative design for child harnesses was created which merged the basic strap elements with a soft toy. The new design, developed by Goldbug, Inc. in the United States, evolved into "a backpack...in the form of a novelty character of animal or human form" which also included a "storage pouch" with "the shoulder and waist straps of the harness representing the limbs or extremities of the character, and a tether attached to the harness in the form of a character tail." The alternative designs, which included a variety of popular soft toys such as monkeys, giraffes, and teddy bears, were developed and marketed as "Harness Buddies"Goldbug Harness Buddy and Carrier Covers to discourage any objections of a child to wearing a safety harness through providing more comfort, padding, and overall novelty.
In 2007, Scottish primary school teacher Elaine Stephen, MBE launched the Walkodile harness. The design, developed in partnership with The Design Unit at De Montfort University,Elaine Stephen, MBE quoted in was the first child harness which could be used for multiple children, allowing for two or more children to walk together side-by-side. Each child has their own simplified safety belt which can be attached to any connection point located on an extendable modular section which is located between the parallel rows of children.
In May 2014, British retailer Boots was criticized for its range of child harnesses as some felt the colors and designs reinforced traditional gender roles. The company sold two harnesses; a blue version with the words "Train Driver" and another pink version which featured the words "Little Cupcake" specifically labelled as a "Girls Walking Rein and Harness". After a consumer photo of the harnesses went viral, the retailer responded by promising to change the packaging to demonstrate their "commitment to prevent gender stereotyping."
Types
Standard harness
The standard design usually consists of a waist or chest strap and two shoulder straps forming a simple chest harness, most commonly with the closure behind the child. A walking lead, tether, or rein attaches at the back or sides of the chest harness and is held by the parent or caregiver behind the child. This design is sometimes used to safely secure a child in a stroller or high chair as well as for walking. The most historically established design, standard style child harnesses are made of either leather or webbing and are primarily sold for children between four years of age or younger.British Standards Institution. (November 2004). BS EN 13210:2004 Child Use and Care Articles — Children's Harnesses, Reins and Similar Type Articles — Safety Requirements and Test Methods, p.5
Character harness
Character harnesses integrate the functions of the standard child harness and a soft toy. Some designs are based around simple generic soft toy characters such as monkeys, teddy bears, or bunnies; while others are based around well-known children's entertainment characters. Character harnesses share the same basic features as standard child harnesses, but often have a front closure and are designed to be more appealing for the child, parent, and/or caregiver via additional comfort and novelty. Some also feature small storage pockets.
Backpack harness
Backpack harnesses integrate the functions of a standard child harness and a backpack. Designs are generally based around a basic backpack, suitably sized for a child with a connection for a lead or tether. Like character harnesses, backpack harnesses usually feature closures at the front of the harness and are marketed as an alternative to standard child harnesses for a similar age group.
Wrist link
A wrist link (sometimes called a wrist strap or wrist rein), is a simple length of webbing with two loops; one at each end. One loop is worn on the child's wrist and the other is held by the parent or caregiver. Usually, the loops are adjustable for size and the strap often features an elastic section to prevent injury by absorbing shock from any sudden movements. Some wrist links use a strong coiled line instead of webbing or elastic. Wrist links are sometimes marketed as suitable for those in the "junior" age range and are occasionally worn by children who may have outgrown the standard or backpack style child harnesses.Minett, Pamela. Child Care and Development, 7th Edn. London: Hodder Education, 2017. p.120
Special needs harness
For older children and adolescents who have special supervision requirements due to health or behavioral conditions, larger, and sometimes bespoke, versions of child harnesses are available. These designs vary, but often include features atypical of standard child harnesses designed for younger kids such as support handles, lockable closures, and additional straps to prevent removal.The National Autistic Society, Autism Services Directory (2011) Autism World Magazine, Resources for Special Needs Handbook (MagsWest Publishing Pty. Ltd., 2015), p.44
Sports/recreational harness
While not designed for everyday use, some specialist child harnesses exist for specific recreational purposes such as hiking or skiing. These types of harnesses feature unique elements such as longer leads to assist children in sports training techniques.