A video shared by an Indian-origin woman sparked debate online after it featured her 3.5-year-old son tied to a leash during a family holiday in New York City.

Shubhangi Jagota, a Canada-based Indian, posted the clip on Instagram, where her toddler could be seen running and jumping around Times Square while safely tethered to his father with a child leash.

Jagota explained that the leash was not about control but about safety and freedom. She said her son loved exploring, and the leash helped them keep him safe in the busy streets of New York without restricting his curiosity.

“He’s 3.5 and we’re not ashamed to say we put him on a leash. In a city like New York, this was hands-down the best decision for our trip. Our little runner always wants his freedom, and this gave him just that—without giving us a heart attack every 5 minutes,” she said in her post.

She added, “The best part? He thought we were on the leash. He called himself the sheriff and us his captives. Honestly, everyone was winning.”

Jagota said they used two types of leashes during their trip, a longer one for open spaces and a shorter one in crowded areas.

Take a look at the video here:

The post divided the internet. Several users called it poor parenting. “You should be ashamed. Teach your kid to follow rules, not put him on a leash. If he wants to run, run after him,” a user wrote.

Others defended her decision. “Handling toddlers in crowded places is not easy. This keeps them safe. It’s the smartest thing to do,” one user said.

Another parent shared their view: “I’ve used a leash when travelling alone with a hyper child at an airport. It’s about safety, not shame.”

A few users added that parenting in today’s world is about being practical. “These little munchkins run faster than you think. Safety comes first,” a user said.

As debates continued, Shubhangi Jagota’s message stayed clear; for her, it was never about shame but about giving her child the freedom to explore safely in a bustling city.

– Ends