Reins for toddler

[Rhian82]

My DS is starting to walk more outside now, and I'm loving the idea of him walking a bit more and being in the buggy a bit less. However he does have a tendency to strike off in his own direction, sometimes very quickly, so I want to get some reins so I can keep him safe and close.

Does anyone have any particular recommendations or things to look out for? What about those backpacks with reins attached, are they any good? (Like the idea but seems a faff to have to take off to put him back in the buggy).

[kreecherlivesupstairs]

I don't know what a back pack is with reins attached. it's been a long time since my dd was a toddler. She loathed reins so we used a strap round her wrist (and ignored the scare stories of people cutting them). They are cheap and easy to carry.

[MrFibble]

We went for a littlelife back pack. It helps but not so much because of the lead (which DS hates) but because of the convenient grab handle at the top so I can catch him as he absconds (which he does alot).

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He likes to wear it and the problem is trying to get it off him!

[FrogmellaMoonbeam]

DS used to be absolutely impossible with traditonal reins so we got the turtle LittleLife backpack and he loves it as he feels he has some freedom and independance but we still have control over him.

[MrsBadger]

dd was fine with trad reins - cheapy John Lwis ones v good

[Firawla]

they fit in the buggy with little life back pack still on, ive got the bumble bee one i dno if the non animal ones fit or not, but these definitely do

[Rhian82]

Oooh, interesting. Might try him out in a couple then and see which he prefers! Though reins are definitely cheaper.

[lexcat]

Never used them for dd, use to be a nanny for twins. Their parent brought them reins but both boys hated them. I always had the boys wear them to start with but soon gave them up. Went out every day with a single buggy. If the child who was walking couldn't hold the buggy I held the reins which they hated, so they soon learnt to hold the buggy or my hand.

When dd came along it was you want to walk we hold hands or we go in the buggy/trolley. By the time she didn't always need the buggy she had learnt to hold hands. So never had the need for reins.

[mrsruffallo]

You just have to teach him not to run off, esp not into the road, it's much better in the long run than using reins imo
Do you only have the one child?

[Triggles]

We have the reins, usually just linked around my wrist as a backup. I hold DS's hand, and we are working on safety and "staying with mummy and daddy" and such. But he's fast and with a 6 month old as well, I prefer the safety of having the reins just in case. He's slowly getting the opportunity now to be off them, when he shows that he can stay with us.

[Rhian82]

That's my thought - they're a 'just in case'. Of course I want to teach him to stay with me, but he's 15 months old and finds all sorts of random things interesting - and he can move really quickly when he wants to.

[Triggles]

We tried the wrist ones, and DS was easily able to detach them, which really isn't helpful.

[Tangle]

How confident is he on his feet? I found reins were great for catching DD before she did a major face plant on the pavement. We now use a pony one of these as and when I feel the need for a bit of extra security (although its not seeing too much use now she's nearly 3) - the rein is quite long so she can run around a bit more without being able to get away, and she's pony mad so rarely objects to putting it on. I do wonder if an extendable dog lead would have been a cheaper solution

[Ineedsomesleep]

We've got a wrist strap and reins. We use whatever I can find when we are dashing out on the school run. They are both cheap and both do the job very well. She hasn't been squashed yet.