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AIBU?

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Original poster

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

108 replies

shhquietplease · 19/06/2024 10:25

I’m not a parent so maybe I just don’t get it’s

But isn’t it the best of both worlds? Your child gets freedom walk and you can make sure they are safe.

Maybe not needed if you only have one child and they can have your full attention.

I don’t get the “I’m not treating my child like an animal” comments either.

OP posts:
longdistanceclaraclara · 19/06/2024 10:39

I used the backpack type with DTs, don't see the issue at all.

One day when my mum was looking after them she couldn't find them. She actually did clip dog leads on to their belt loops. They thought it was hilarious.

GaspingGekko · 19/06/2024 10:37

I used a backpack with reins for DS, he was a bolter and had never heard this expectation that children will only go so far before freaking out and coming back, he would just run and run and never even glance back.

DD on the other hand I would actively try to make leave me, she stayed attached to a parents leg until the age of about 3. So no need for reins.

I always presume that those people dead against them had children more like DD than DS.

Schoolrefusa · 19/06/2024 10:31

Try putting them on my DC - out of 3 of them they have all had absolutely no truck with tolerating reins 😁I just keep a really close watch on my toddler or occasionally he's happy to wear a rucksack with a rein attached as long as I don't restrain him too obviously with it !

BlowDryRat · 19/06/2024 10:30

Reins are brilliant. As you say, it keeps hands free to explore while reducing the danger of running off. I don't understand why people have a problem with them.

Topseyt123 · 19/06/2024 10:30

I assume you mean reins or a wrist strap.

Nothing wrong with either. My kids had reins at that age. They had a choice whenever we were out - pushchair (fully strapped in) or reins. That was it, no matter how hard or loudly they might have protested.

Better a protesting toddler than a lost, injured or dead one.

spuddy4 · 19/06/2024 10:29

Both my children had the backpack type reins, the younger one would have probably been run over without them because she had form for stepping out onto roads resulting in us yanking her back.

Personally I don't see it any differently to strapping children into a pram, it's for their safety and others around them.

boombang · 19/06/2024 10:29

reins are a perfectly acceptable choice that work well for many situations - I don't get why anyone would object to others using them, even if they choose not to themselves

scrapsontheside · 19/06/2024 10:27

Leads are for dogs, reins are for children