Dad Leashes His 5-Year-Old Quintuplets — And The Internet Has A Lot To Say About It

When Instagram dad Jordan Driskell posted a video of himself walking his five 5-year-old children on leashes, the internet did what it does best: judge. The clip, featuring Driskell calmly guiding his quintuplets through a public space while Doja Cat’s “You ain’t nothing but a dog, playa” plays in the background, quickly went viral — racking up over 3 million views and a storm of hot takes.

For the record, Driskell and his wife Briana are the proud parents of five (yes, five) children: Zoey Hart, Dakota Faith, Hollyn Grace, Asher Blaze, and Gavin Lane, born in 2017 after a two-year battle with infertility. While many applauded the dad’s effort to keep his kids safe and in check, others were less understanding.

“They’re not dogs,” said the comment section — and it went downhill from there.

Critics flooded his page with comments like:

• “Can’t you just train your children?”

• “Those kids are way too old to be walked on a leash.”

• “Are they rescues?”

But others — especially parents of multiples — had his back. One fellow dad of quintuplets offered, “Never used a leash, but I’ve definitely used the preschool rope with colored loops. I don’t have boys though… that’s a whole new level.”

Some pointed out that it’s not about parenting style — it’s about safety. One comment summed it up perfectly:

“I’d rather see kids on a leash than read about another Amber Alert.”

Driskell: “You can judge me, but we’re going to keep doing what works.”

Doubling down, Driskell posted another cheeky video with the caption:
“Just a dad taking his pet sperm for a walk. Mind ya business pplz.”

In an interview with Today Parents, he said,

“Kids are so curious — they want to run off and explore. For our peace of mind and sanity, we use a leash. It allows us to leave the house and do fun stuff without stress.”
“They want to walk when we go somewhere crowded. A leash gives them the opportunity to do that — but we’re still in control. They love it.”

Are Child Leashes Safe?

There’s no clear consensus. The American Academy of Pediatrics doesn’t officially recommend them, and some pediatricians worry about injuries from misuse.

“I’ve personally witnessed parents pull back forcefully on a leash, resulting in a fall,” said Dr. Benjamin Hoffman, M.D., chair of the AAP’s injury prevention council. “I’d rather see a child in a stroller.”

However, parenting expert Dr. Deborah Gilboa disagrees.

“This is creative problem-solving,” she told Today. “This isn’t treating kids like animals. It’s a great system for a parent with a neurodiverse child or one who hasn’t nailed listening skills yet.”

The Bigger Picture: Stop Judging Parents You Don’t Know

In today’s hyper-opinionated, overly public parenting world, Jordan Driskell’s story is a reminder of a fundamental truth: you don’t know what other families are going through.

If you’re not parenting five kids under the age of six at the same time, maybe — just maybe — take a seat.

After all, in parenting, there’s no one-size-fits-all. If the kids are safe, cared for, and loved, the rest is background noise.