‘Like a dog’: Mum roasted for common parenting device

A mum has been brutally roasted online after sharing her controversial “parenting hack” that stops her toddler from running away.

A woman has hit back at critics after she was ridiculed for sharing a controversial “parenting hack” that stops her toddler from running away in crowded spaces.

Mum-of-one Rachel Butcher shared a picture of her son on social media and explained that she had to put him “on a leash” to keep him safe.

The pair had gone to the shops and she explained that her little one “runs fast” and so she gives him a backpack with reins attached so that he cannot run away from her.

“My child runs faster than me. Due to scar tissue from my hysterectomy, I have trouble running sometimes to keep up with him,” The U.S. mum wrote on Facebook.

The mum explained that her toddler runs very fast. Picture: Facebook

“Let it also be known, I religiously ran races and ran every day before my surgery. So it’s not due to laziness.”

She also stated that her son, who is adopted, seems to have “more speed and energy” than other children his age.

“Our son has more energy and speed than your average 21-month-old,” she wrote.

“Aside from his already rough beginning of medicine exposure, we know little to nothing about his biological family and their genetics.

“So he could be more hyper just from experiences that I don’t know of.”

The mum said her son hated to be confined to strollers or car seats and added that this seemed to be the best option to keep the both of them happy and safe.

Despite this, she said that the “leash” does often attract mean comments and cruel stares from strangers while out in public.

“I’ve come home crying because I’ve left stores before finishing shopping when he’s having a meltdown,” she explained.

The family was slammed for using the device. Picture: Facebook

“I also get snide comments and nasty looks now and then too.

“But today, today was worse. We went to Target and he wore his backpack and he did amazing.

“He was happy, laughing, smiling, and yes, running, but he was close to me. My son is nearly three now and still runs like full out sprints.

“He still attends OT, PT, and speech therapy, and we’re working through his developmental delays and he is thriving.

“Remember his name, one day he will be a running back!”

In 2022, a father of quintuplets was blasted online for using a “leash” to take his five kids out for a walk.

A dad of quintuplets was slammed online for using leashes for his kids. Picture: Instagram

Jordan Driskell uploaded a video to social media that showed his five small children wearing soft leash backpacks as they all went for a stroll.

“Come walk a mile in my shoes,” the father captioned his clip, defending his use of the accessory.

Driskell and his wife Brianna say it’s difficult to keep an eye on their kids – Zoey, Dakota, Hollyn, Asher and Gavin – and regularly use the child leash backpacks while running errands.

But after posting clips of their walks online, the pair were met with mean comments from strangers who said they were “disturbed” by the sight of the father using the device.

“Those kids are way too old to be walked on a leash like a damn dog,” one person said.

The device has sparked a debate online. Picture: iStock

“They are not dogs. How about teaching them what to do?” said another.

Meanwhile, a third said sarcastically: “Are you gonna train them to pull a sleigh next? Which one has the red nose? Are any of them rescue?”

However, a large number of people defended the dad.

“Do what you have to keep them babies safe! Love is what I see. None of them look stressed at all. Good for you,” one wrote.

“Keep it up Dad! They are safe, you are sane and naysayers are stupid,” another commented.