To think there’s nothing wrong with toddlers on leads?

It's what happens whilst teaching them that though. It's a mile to school, two bloody big main roads. Articulated lorries, ambulances on blue light and the odd fire engine down one, all that plus buses down the other. If one of my twins had bolted, do I leave the other and run after the first or pick up the other and run after the first?

Now at 4.5 they hold my hands when needed, know where to wait etc and walk fine. We ditched the reins.

ds had the little backpack and he loved it. It was the bumble bee one he could put his drink in

I didn’t think ds was a bolter then one day in sainsburys he decided it was great fun and it took a few minutes to catch him (with staff help)

from then on he had reins or lead whatever people prefer to call them (I don’t particularly care)

I'm always surprised about the judgement around the use of reins. I can actually remember how easily distracted I was as a toddler, even though it's a very long time ago. I was taught about the dangers of traffic, how to cross the road safely, stranger danger etc, I understood it all but if I'd seen a friend or something else exciting on the other side of a road I'd have forgotten it all and run. My mum had 3 under 5, reins were very necessary. Thank goodness for common sense.

It's all well and good thinking your parenting is superior until your child gets hurt because your attention was diverted for a just second because that's all it takes.

Hardly see toddlers wearing them now. How many times have I toddlers walking/running into things then scream as hurt themselves? Thinking to myself if parent(s) made their child wearing harness and reigns, this would not have happened.

Harnesses and reigns were commonplace when I was a toddler (early 80s) why are they not seen as much now

I used to have reins for DC1. DC1 had a tendency to run away and the only prevention method I could think of when breastfeeding DC2 when out and about was to tie DC1's reins to my chair.

I have reins that go on our wrists for DD. Don’t care what anyone thinks. She’s non verbal and has Autism, she’d randomly run off in any direction if she could

It's not always so simple. I had a nightmare with my DS where he wouldn't hold hands, wouldn't hold the pram and I couldn't keep him in the pushchair either as he would just unstrap himself! My only hope was the backpack with lead but I had to trick him that I wasn't actually holding it!! 😂

They weren't for me, to continue the vernacular we taught our 3 to heel. It's certainly not easy at first and it took some discipline but it worked well for us. Now youngest is 4 and they need very little input out and about to walk sensibly/wait at crossing & stop if they are chatting away distracted and getting ahead. I think if we had gone the reins route they wouldn't have gotten into a position where they can cycle on the roads etc which feels well worth the effort now as we really opens things up!

Yes I remember reading this as mine was first learning to walk. I had the reins delivered the next day.

He only wore them for about a year, but early days they were very necessary as he would refuse to hold hands and was always wanting to wander into the road to stomp in puddles etc.

Also good for preventing him hitting the pavement hard when he took a tumble.

He used to bring them to us when he wanted to go for a walk!

My older DB (now 56) would just sit on the pavement and refuse to budge if our mum tried to put reins on him. But then, he always was an awkward little shit. 😅

I had a backpack one for my kids. Didn’t like the wrist version as they could undo them! To be fair they probably got that from me. I apparently unclipped mine aged 2 and ran out of M&S towards the big Christmas tree in the shopping centre and grandparents didn’t notice 🤣🤣🤣

I did use a lead at least once when I forgot his backpack strap, kept it in the car. He was safe, I was happy and he only barked once at the passersby. Very civilised. He was convinced the dog was his brother so it was all good... long as he didn't lift his leg at lampposts I didn't mind.

That. After reading her posts I don't see how anyone could disagree with them
It takes a second for them to yank their hand out of yours and they're in the road

No issue with them at all, in fact they're really handy.

Were you expecting to start a row with the word 'leads' OP, and that's why you didn't bother coming back? 🤣😂

Perhaps if the toddler that ended up in the middle of the road two foot from the front of my bumper had been wearing reins....

Thankfully got a sixth sense and was going a lot slower than normal. The speed other drivers drive along there would have done for her.

I used reins with dc1, he had no sense of staying close, wouldn’t hold my hand and it was needed until he was old enough to listen when I said stop etc and could trust that he would.
He is now a very sensible, careful and cautious (but not overly so) 6 year old

dc2, we haven’t needed to use them. I kept them from dc1 as they were a god send with dc1, but he is a very different personality. Will only go so far away from me before heading back, and very happy to walk nicely next to me holding my hand the entire time.

I think people who oppose the use of reins must have a dc with a personality more like my dc2.
I don’t judge people using them at all, why wouldn’t you do whatever was necessary to keep your child safe whilst letting them grow and explore.

@marmaladeandpeanutbutter mone would never hold hands, I tried my best and he just wouldn't.

They have much more freedom to explore safely with reins rather than stuck holding hands or in the buggy.

Hold hands
Hands on the pram
In pushchair if necessary.

You can keep your children safe without putting them on a lead.

@marmaladeandpeanutbutter I don't agree that they aren't child focussed and don't really understand what you mean by this in a normal
Life.A child with reins on the school run can potter along unfettered by the pushchair , can keep their balance with two free arms, can communicate properly with hands and arms free and can be safe . The alternative is often the stroller or sling with no freedom but admittedly closeness with mother and safety and security.Both scenarios are child friendly.

Traditional reins clipped on at both sides, so looked like a horse's reins.

The single option when they were a bit bigger was usually called a wrist strap I think.

The more modern ones that attach to a backpack just clip in one place, so look more like a lead. I think most people still call them reins though, because they're doing the same job.

Only used them with my youngest, my older ones didn't need them by oh my God the youngest had 0 risk awareness and he never walked he bolted and was afraid of nothing.
There's no chance I would've let him walk without them he was just a mad man.
Once he calmed down when a bit older we took them off, that's that.
Don't give a shit what anyone thought of them.

If they’re the same thing then they’re the same thing. I was wondering if there was an actual difference. If I were using them for my toddler I wouldn’t care if they were called leads instead, I don’t think it’s a rude word.

A big difference,suggesting that a parent uses a lead is rude ,disrespectful and judgmental is my personal opinion.Your opinion is fine if that’s what you think.