Parenting young children is challenging enough, but raising five energetic five-year-olds takes the experience to an entirely different level. For Jordan Driskell, a father of quintuplets, everyday outings can quickly turn chaotic as his kids explore, wander, and test boundaries the way curious children naturally do. After finding a traditional six-seat stroller too heavy, inconvenient, and frustrating for his little ones, he decided to try a different approach. He began using child safety leashes—tools meant to keep his kids close while still allowing them the independence to walk and explore.
The family’s trip to an aquarium, captured on video and shared online, immediately sparked strong reactions. The footage, which showed the children attached to harness-style leashes, went viral, gathering millions of views. While some parents understood the choice and applauded the effort to prioritize safety, many critics harshly judged the method. Comments flooded in, calling the leashes “demeaning” or comparing the children to pets. Others questioned the parents’ decision to have so many children in the first place, offering unsolicited advice instead of empathy.
Amid the heated debate, parenting experts offered a more balanced perspective. Dr. Deborah Gilboa, known for her work in child development, explained that leashes can be a practical tool in specific situations, especially for toddlers or children who are neurodivergent and struggle with impulse control. She emphasized that these devices do not harm a child’s self-esteem or make them feel like animals. In fact, for some families, they prevent dangerous situations—particularly in busy, unpredictable public spaces where a child can easily wander out of sight.
Gilboa also noted that as children grow, communication and listening skills should gradually replace tools like leashes. For neurotypical children, she suggests that by age eight or nine, parents should be able to rely more on verbal guidance than physical equipment. But for younger kids—especially five siblings navigating the world at once—safety leashes can be a practical, loving choice rooted in protection, not control. The Driskell family’s experience highlights a larger truth: every child, and every parenting journey, is different, and compassion often goes further than criticism.