Yup same issue just turned 2…we had to put up a chainlink fence😊
My son did it and he is now in his 40s.It was a very hard time.A time I will never forget. I would say to you keep him out of harms way That harness is the safest it sounds like.He will grow out of it but when he is ready.For now don’t beat yourself up be as firm to him as you can good luck
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I showed my kiddos fresh road kill… Told them if they ran into the street that is what will happen to them…
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This is why I have a harness. All of my kids have been runners & one time my oldest was almost hit by a speeding car.
I’d whoop my kids ass. Yup, go ahead call me “mom of the year” or some other comment.
If a child is doing something that can severely hurt themselves or someone else and is given a chance and continues doing it; an ass whooping is necessary.
2 is old enough to know that no means no. If you are using a stern voice and it continues, nope done.
My daughter tried that, she got a good couple swats on the ass and she never tried it again.
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We went to pick up my stepson n seen his mom let him jump off the curb into a busy street n she made like a game out of it with him laughing like it was funny…he tried to run in the street with us a few times n we grab his arm n yell at him. Hes 3 he stopped with us but not with her…he knows he don’t play about safety. Yell at him whoop him do w.e u gotta do to keep ur kid safe
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My son was like this from the day he learned how to run lol. He’s finally grown out of it at 3, but it was really bad around 2. We would take him to fields and just let him run his little heart out and he would still run away if we put him down. You honestly just gotta keep doing what your doing, I wish we could have gotten him a harness. Better to keep him safe 
I told my 2&1/2 year old that the street is for cars and if she runs out there then she might get hit by a car. She knows they’re big and it will hurt so she’s never run out in the road.
Our son ran away and wasnt afraid of strangers. We bought the leash and used it everywhere we went. Got dirty looks. Didnt care. He had his freedom of some kind and I had peace of mind. He out grew this cause hes head strong and stubborn and curious. Let him wander on the leash and don’t stress too much. Your doing great. We added a fence for this reason as well.
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Good luck with that i know it is a tough age. We always made the kids have one hand on us at all times, and if.we are getting stuff out of the car then a hand om the car. Something he may be too little for it now, but you can start introducing it and use it for later
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I used a harness with my daughter. I couldn’t even loose my grub to get my car keys out the bag. People seem to look down at on your for using one (I even had someone bark at me when using)… but really I didn’t care. I’m sure it saved her life. She didn’t stop running until just after she turned 3.
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Mine does it too. I have a 7 month old aswell and my toddler will take advantage of the fact i only have 2 hands sometimes and bolt, i usually reach out and grab him by his hair, that stops him. Once he was running towards the street so i tripped him, 
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Mine always wears the harness with the leash . and he was not aloud out the house wt out it . He love it . it ment he didn’t have to hold my hand .as long as he stay next to me .and didn’t run . busting ass may help . but if thats not your thing . then they can’t go wt you .if they keep running .
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My two year old is a runner too, he doesn’t have a harness yet but I will be getting one soon though, but i tell him stay with mum n hold my hand or I carry you or you sit in the pram, if he takes off or anything he doesn’t get walk so he generally stays with me coz he likes to walk everywhere lol
sorry … but spank his ass
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I used a harness. Worked for us and she is almost 21 years old and no lasting scars from it…lol
My daughter is 2.5 and a runner. When in public we have a leash for her or she goes in shopping carts. But at home, we set boundaries…she knows shes allowed to go so far… if she goes further & doesnt listen when i tell her to stop, then i go get her, she gets a swat on the butt & her outside time is over. I take her in & tell her exactly what she did wrong & why we cant play outside now. After about 3 times she caught on & hasnt tried again because she loves to be outdoors.
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I have twins and another child and one was a runner. So I started playing red light green light with them at a young age. They loved it and it was our fun game. But we did it so much that at any point I say red-light they freeze. It has really been a game changer in lots of senerios.!
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Literally same with my almost three year old. Beach, grocery store, park, anywhere we go if we let go of her she is gone. She’s has been talked to, “spanked”, sat in time out, and nothing has woooorked!
Sounds like mom is on it! You will get it done
My daughter did it too, had to hold her hand constantly. One day we passed a dead rabbit on the road, it was squished like it got run over. Looked at my daughter, told her that’s EXACTLY what would happen If she runs out on the road. She never did it again
My son started this. I would have to literally stand in the street and play goalie waiting for him to dart… running back and forth the length of our property with him /after him.
It literally took about 2 weeks but he finally stopped. He will now go to the curb and stop and look back at us … which we’re already telling him no and to come back … im sure he’s waiting for the 1 time we arent paying attention and he’ll dart out again.
For us, it was just he repetitive and not allowing it no matter what. My neighborhood doesn’t have sidewalks so its lawn then street. It’s stressful
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We put bells on my daughters shoes … you could hear the jingle and used a harness in public. They were her special shoes …No matter how hard we tried she found a way until she thankfully outgrew it.
When my son was like that i carried him or put him in a stroller. We didnt go to the park and he was only free to run around in the fenced backyard. I know it sucks goodluck.
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My beagle was a runner 
my son is still 9 weeks old so if thats the case w him I’ll use a harness. I would def be anxious abt being judged tho
Following! We only have a front yard and it’s not fenced… not an option as we rent. My 20m old runs towards the street often and it’s so scary!
I resulted in the backpack with the string, made him atleast survive
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Play red light green light and teach him the importance of signs. We take my son (3) on walks and we taught him a stop sign, red light (for alley ways) green light (no traffic and can cross)
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My son was like that and no solving, just have to keep hold at all times, even now hes older I turn my back and hes gone. Good luck 
My 1 yr is on a harness if we walk out the door. I have already taught him to stop and look for cars. Practice. He’ll get it quick if you do. Everytime you go near the road teach him he must hold your hand, then tell him to look left (show him which way) &look right(again show him the way). It’s never too early to start. Once he learns that it’s much easier for him to learn not to run into the road.
My daughter was a runner from 2-3, I would just make her hold my hand whenever we were out walking or I would carry her. Shes 4 now and has grown out of it. Best of luck to you, I know its scary.
my mom swears by a leash/harness, you shouldn’t worry about being judged if it is what keeps your child the safest. and it’s not like you could actually get in trouble for it because they wouldn’t manufacture it if you could
My kid does that too. I got my 16 month old a backpack with a leash/harness whatever. Honestly, if you’re worried about how others will look at you, just remember you’re doing what keeps your child safe. Not only can your kid run off but someone could also try snatching them away so idc how it makes me look. Whatever works
When we took our kids to the beach. I was nervous about the youngest one who was 5 , seeing something interesting and wondering off. I got wrist harness. One goes on him the other on me, so when he walked so far it would pull on my arm. It gave me a peace of mind.
I had a runner too and also bought a harness for her. My daughter is now 26 years old.
Your doing the right thing. I have a 22 1/2 year old granddaughter who likes to run and I can’t catch her. We spend most of the time in the house wheni’m watching her. I would like to use aharness but she’s to smart.
Running is pretty normal I haven’t met a toddler who didnt do it… we used a harness/backpack and made it a huge deal our kids could store whatever treasures they wanted within reason and if we didnt use it we always placed the child in a safety restraint of some kind, high chair at a restaurant, child seat in a buggy etc… eventually they hate it if not right off… we would explain if I let you out you have to hold a hand the moment you let go its back in the seat… depending on the kid timeframes differ but eventually they get used to staying right by you… we moved to holding the cart to just using gentle reminders… when it came to the street we explained that if you are hit you die and do not get fixed… some people hate that idea but I dont shelter kids from death and it helps a lot when family members move on… it’s all a part of pushing boundaries which happens at almost every age, curiosity, some kids attention… if you can help it dont chase them bc then it’s a game… my husband and I would pretend we didnt know we were blatantly ignored and both move on either side of whatever they were running around or to and then sandwich them… time out every single time and take away their freedom to run… it’s a process and its exhausting but honestly I’ve gotten better results than spanking… also teaches good choices equals good outcomes and we always asked why and if they just wanted to look at something we would show them the appropriate way to get that result… it’s never to young to start …
My son started this when he was able to walk and is now 3. He’s Autistic too so it makes it 10x harder. So what I’ve done is take him to the park for their big long walking track and let him run as far as he wanted . We’ve been doing that since last year and now he runs about 5 feet in front of me and stops to put his hand out for me to hold it. He still thinks he can run off from our patio sometimes but he doesn’t do it as often. Good luck mama and I hope you can find what works for your little man.
When I was younger, there was a runner the next block over. Sadly the lo was ran over and killed, I didn’t see it, but I heard the screams that came after. It’s been over 20 years and I still hear that scream when I’m asleep some times. I just had my first and will use a leash if need be… Don’t let anyone shame you for wanting to use a leash, if that’s what you see fit to do, do it. Please do it.
I see so many people being so nonchalant, “it’s just a phase lolol”. Like this isn’t the same as fucking biting. This is death. This is permanent, real damage. This isn’t “just a phase”, it’s literally a life lesson to be taught before serious consequences happen.
Take her seriously. Give real advice or just stfu and scroll past.
My daughter is 16mo OP and she’s been a runner since about 12/13mo, we’ve got the backpack with a leash and thankfully so far that’s stopped a lot of attempts but she’s recognizing the leash can be unclipped, she doesn’t have the finger strength yet for it though.
I have a little boy who use to do that he is 5 now and grew out of it
My response was absolutely zero tolerance. If we were somewhere fun we went home. If we were outside we went inside. When it was a serious matter of personal safety I did not give second chances. I dealt with a couple tantrums and I left a party I really wanted to attend but it was over quickly.
My first was a runner. I remember being 8 months pregnant with his sister and he ran straight toward a busy car park with me struggling to catch him. I was beside myself that day.
My middle daughter was a runner. I had to do the harness thing for her own safety lol. It was bad. She outgrew it, is now 16 and is fine. She was just a handful in general as a child. Hang in there mama, just keep doing what your doing and reinforcing the message about it being dangerous and why and keep your little one on the harness. It will all smooth over in time.