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I think they’re very sensible and practical. They’re quite common in Europe, but in the US people don’t seem to be able to get over the knee-jerk reaction that leashes are for dogs. They can actually give a toddler MORE freedom, in that the toddler is free to move farther away from the parent in settings such a sidewalk on a busy street, where a parent would normally have to keep the toddler within grabbing range for safety’s sake. And they eliminate the need for a parent to be constantly grabbing and chasing and shouting “No!”, “Come here right now!”, etc.

Pretty much all toddlers go through a stage where they insist on frequently testing the limits of their ability to escape from their parents’ control. This often puts the toddler in danger, and also makes fools of parents (in the eyes of everyone, including the toddler) giving chase as a giggling toddler darts away from them. I’ve seen way too many parents who cheerfully allow this to go on, essentially agreeing with the toddler that it’s fun game, but then are terrified when the toddler predictably assumes it’s also a fun game to play while standing on a station platform as a train approaches, or standing at the edge of a sidewalk waiting to cross a busy street. I often see parents react to such incidents with unjustified anger or with a really stupid “explanation” lecture to an obviously uncomprehending toddler. A leash avoids all this. A toddler who is on a leash knows it’s not “play run away” time and doesn’t bother trying, but is still free to impulsively run a few feet in any direction when sparked by an interesting sight (except, of course, when the parent is holding the toddler on a short leash during those brief periods on the train platform, etc).

I’d a lot rather see a toddler on a leash, than strapped into a stroller, as so many are these days, even when they’re plenty old enough to be walking. It’s beyond me why so many Americans are perfectly comfortable seeing a toddler imprisoned in a stroller by a secure 3-point harness, so s/he can’t even sit up straight, but are horrified by the sight of a toddler happily running around at the end of 5 foot long leash.