Are reins really considered "chavish"?

[Gateau]

Have been looking into buying reins for my 16month old DS and have read that they are often considered "chavish" nowadays.
This - yet another example of - inane snobbery will not sway my opinion either way, but is this the way reins are viewed nowadays?
And if so, WHY???

[maidamess]

No, they are considered safe.

[Iklboo]

I'd rather have been perceived as chavish than have DS run under a bus

[PuppyMonkey]

Chav is a word used by many and not understood by most!

Just use them and be happy!

[WaynettaSlob]

General MN opinion is that a safe child on reins is better than a toddler who could run onto the road.
Get your reins, and enjoy your walks!!!

[DisenchantedPlusBump]

I don't use reins but use a 'backpack' which is just fancy reins!

Ditto iklboo

[olympicsnotfederer]

then I am a chav

[ceebee74]

As Iklboo says - who cares what people think as long as your DS is safe.

Fwiw, we don't let my DS walk anywhere without them as he will not hold our hands and I am just not prepared to take the risk.

[katiepotatie]

No, How can this be described as chavish??? I use a pair on my dd, she loves it when I put them on, because she knows she is getting to walk, far safer than hand holding only. And much better that those wrist band strap thingys

[Gateau]

Well, yes, I think so, but apparently "some" mums view them in the same light as dummies and playpens, ie with contempt.
I have heard that "Reins take away their liberty.." and bollocks like that.
But surely cramming LOs into a pushchair is worse, and prevents them from vital exercising?
Anyway, can anyone recommend any good reins? Has anyone tried the Tommee Tippee ones?

[Tortington]

i have no words.

[Morloth]

Well I am quite posh .

We used one of the backpack thingies, he loved it to bits, he could carry a little toy/drink all his own!

We still use the backpack but no longer need the leash.

[Gateau]

By thw way, I reiterate I am not BOTEHRED is some say they are chavish or not.
I'm getting them anyway. Just interested in the general opinion.

[ThatBigGermanPrison]

I seriously don't give a shit. People who thing reins are chavish tend also to think pushchairs are chavish, trainers are chavish, having your hair in a ponytail is chavish, cheap clothing is chavish - in other words, anything to do with being poor and not having a car, therefore needing comfort and practicality rather than high heels, pencil skirts and pretty blowdries while your children sit stunned, blinking in the unaccustomed daylight when you eject them from the car.

[PootyApplewater]

reins are considered to be reins, in my neck of the wood.

[kittywise]

Well I think they are horrible. Looks like you are walking a dog.
chavish in my books.

[MrsMattie]

I would have loved to use reins with DS when he was a bit younger and a complete and utter health hazard to himself. However, he would just sit down in the road and tantrum when I put them on!

He is still quite dodgy around roads and I am having another baby soon, so am considering wrist reins for shopping trips etc. I think they are a good safety device.

I used dummies and playpens, too

[Morloth]

Hang on pushchairs/ponytails/trainers and no car = chav?

Maybe am not as posh as I thought...

[katiepotatie]

Oh FFS, how can it look like you are walking a dog????
I would rather my daughter be safe than run into the road

[Gateau]

What does "chavish" mean to you kitywise?
Not being aggressive, just wondering as someone said here that it's a word not understood by many.

[MrsMattie]

We walk dogs on leads because we want to keep them safe from traffic, don't we? Because we care about them, yes? (Well, not me perosnally, I hate dogs...but you get the gist!)

So it's OK to keep your dog safe, but not your child? Bizarre!

[Morloth]

Who gives a toss if it makes them look like a dog?

I love my dogs (well the ones I have had over the years) and always kept them leashed for their own safety why wouldn't I extend the same consideration to my child who I love more than any dog?

[PootyApplewater]

Never yet fallen foul of the "Is it a dog? Is it a child?" quandary myself.

[ThatBigGermanPrison]

I personally think it is dreadfully nouveau to refuse to meet your child's needs on the basis of what other people think.

Such idiots would rather have a miserable sucky baby than be seen to use a dummy, would rather risk their child being run over or refuse to let them walk than to be seen using reins, and would rather leave a far-too-big baby in a bouncy chair than be seen to use a playpen.

Ridiculous. Since when did the upper classes worry about such trivialities? Answer - they never did. They left it all to Nanny, who did whatever she liked.

It's only the hard of thinking that have so little to occupy their minds they set up lines in the shifting sands of parenting.

[whomovedmychocolate]

Are reins considered 'chavish'? Only if you are Max Mosely

Seriously, I'd far rather see a mum with a kid with reins on than run the kid over because he's legged it between two parked cars and in front of me (as happened to me this morning)

My DD holds my hand but before I could rely on her to do this, she had reins.

But I bet someone posts about how dangerous reins are with lifts at some point in this thread anyway.