Child-to-Adult Safety Harness
for stronger or larger children and those with Special Needs
such as Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD and Down Syndrome
A Safety Harness for anyone of any age
This Safety Harness has 2 chest straps that fit very comfortably around anybody who may be just plain strong for their tender years or overly active due to a predisposed medical condition.
I have made a number of these harnesses for parents with large toddlers on their hands who wanted a 2 chest strap harness for their child rather than my Child Harness. The little girl pictured here is 3 years old. Her parents are avid hikers and they wanted a Child-to-Adult Harness with a long lead so their daughter could safely enjoy the trails with them.
This Safety Harness is the harness of choice for larger children and older persons with diagnoses such as Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD and Down Syndrome who have no sense of danger and continuously put themselves at risk when out in our communities. The man pictured below and on my Home page and Photo Gallery wearing a Child-to-Adult Harness has ADHD. He is a happy and content "5 yr old" who must wear his harness each and every day (especially at school) to keep him with his caregivers and especially out of traffic.
A basic and essential piece of Special Needs Equipment, this Safety Harness makes it possible for families and caregivers to include their loved one with special needs in everyday activites and outings such as walks, visits to the mall and doctor's appointments. The boy pictured below wearing the red Child-to-Adult Harness is 8 years old and has autism. His Dad has put the hand loop of the harness through his waist belt so everyone could have their hands free to eat popcorn.
The majority of my customers are families but numerous community organizations and schools throughout Canada and the USA, including some medical supply companies have also ordered a Child-to-Adult Harness for someone with special needs.
How much does the Child-to-Adult Safety Harness cost?
I charge a base price of $50 (Cdn or US) if the harness is for a person with a chest measurement of 26" (66cm) or less and $75 (Cdn or US) if their chest measurement is over 26" (over 66cm).
I make all my harnesses with plenty of extra webbing to allow for the person's growth and expansion of the harness over heavier clothing.
If the harness is for a younger child, it should last the family approximately 3 to 4 years before the child outgrows it completely.
If the harness is for a teen or adult, it should be the last harness the family has to buy.
When the total cost of your purchase, including additonal items and shipping, is averaged over the number of years the harness will be used, and the safety and security my harness will provide during those years, I can understand why I've been told many times that I am underselling my product. But to me, my prices seem fair and will remain as they are for now.
Financial assistance if the Safety Harness is for a person with Special Needs
A number of my customers with special needs received financial assistance with the purchase of their Child-to-Adult Harness.
Depending on where they lived, monetary aid was accessed through their case worker, local community organization or their primary care physician.
The Safety Harness can be classified in a number ways, for example;
- special clothing for the person
- medically necessary for the person's safety in the community
- a necessary assistive device, in school for example
- required for safe travel to and from doctor's appointments
Contact your local community resources and/or your family doctor to find out if you are eligible to receive financial assistance with your purchase.
Description and Features of the Child-to-Adult Safety Harness
My Child-to-Adult Harness is a modification of my Child Harness.
The design was first suggested by one of my customers who asked me to make it for his 9 year old son with ADHD who needed more security than my Child Harness offered.
My Child-to-Adult Harness has the following features:
- the top chest strap circles the person under their arms
- the bottom chest strap circles the person approximately 3 to 4 inches (7.7 to 10cm) below the top chest strap, depending on their shoulder-to-waist measurement
- together, the 2 chest straps give the harness a very secure and very comfortable hold around the person's torso
- the harness is put on and removed in the same manner as my Child Harness; over the head, chest straps under the arms, buckle up at the back (see How to use the harness)
- the 2 buckles at the back of the harness can be covered or replaced with locking carabiners (see below) to increase the security of the harness
- the shoulder straps are stitched to the chest straps at the front of the harness. The spacing of the shoulder straps is determined by the person's chest measurement.
- the shoulder straps pass through metal rectangle rings at the back of the harness. This allows the shoulder straps to be adjusted.
- the top and bottom support loops and the lead are attached to a metal O-ring at the back of the harness. The O-ring has a smooth, welded seal. The quality of the weld determines the strength of the ring and these rings are rated at 500lb weight capacity.
- a long, non-detachable 5'8" lead allows the person a sense of freedom. If you would like a longer or shorter lead with your harness, just ask.
- in some situations, a detachable lead is more appropriate than a non-detachable lead. This is especially true when the child will be wearing the harness all day at school or with their caregiver. You can request a detachable lead when you order; the additional $5 covers the cost of the snap hook.
- re-inforced zig-zag stitching on all seams to ensure strength and durability
- each harness comes with a mesh storage/laundry/stuff sack for easy storage and to keep the harness contained while in the washing machine
- available in black, denim blue, red, army green and pink
How to adjust the Child-to-Adult Safety Harness
Adjusting the fit of your new harness is a simple matter of moving the sliders back and forth to shorten or length the straps.
The same method is used to change the length of the shoulder straps and the chest straps.
You will receive your harness adjusted to the chest measurement that you gave on your order form. And since you measured your child when wearing a light t-shirt, their new harness will be ready to be worn over similar clothing.
This works great in the summer time!
But it's not always summer - at least in Canada...
The extra webbing on the harness that you use to make the harness bigger (e.g. to fit over a sweater or a jacket) is between the two sliders on that strap.
These pictures show you how to move the webbing through the sliders to lengthen (or shorten) the chest straps.
By moving the second slider toward the back of the harness, you "free up" a length of webbing that you then feed through both sliders to make that strap longer.
If you put the harness on your child and there is a 2 inch gap between the buckles at their back, lengthen each chest strap by 1 inch.
You must lengthen the chest straps evenly so the front panel, made up of the two shoulder straps and two chest straps, stays centred on their chest.
Lengthen (or shorten) the shoulder straps so the O-ring sits just below their shoulder blades.
The O-ring is in the correct position if you can buckle the top chest strap through its support loops and the chest strap passes just under their armpits.
The Child-to-Adult Harness should be fitted snuggly on your child - snug, not tight!
When fitted properly, the harness will be extremely comfortable to wear and will not be restricting to your child.
To Order a Child-to-Adult Safety Harness
If you would like to order a Child-to-Adult Harness, please use my order form which will ask you for the following information:
If the Safety Harness is for a Child:
- their chest measurement under their arms when dressed in a light t-shirt
- their age (to estimate growth spurts)
- the information requested below (see and for all orders)
If the Safety Harness is for a Woman:
- her ribcage measurement below her breasts when dressed in a light t-shirt
- her chest measurement under her arms and crossing her front above her breasts
- her bra size
- her age i.e. has she reached maturity
- the information requested below (see and for all orders)
If the Safety Harness is for a Man:
- his chest measurement (under the arms) when dressed in a light t-shirt
- his age i.e. has he reached maturity
- the information requested below (see and for all orders)
and for all orders:
- their shoulder-to-waist measurement
- the maximum number of clothing layers to be worn under the harness
- the colour they would like (black, denim blue, red, army green, yellow, pink)
- the address to which the harness will be mailed
- any additional items to be included e.g. removable crotch strap (specify colour), non-removable crotch strap (specify colour), extra buckle to use the lead as a tie-down and/or lock(s) instead of buckle(s)
