Baby reins?

[Nessynoonars]

I have a very active and independent 1 year old. He is not quite walking yet but don't Think it will be long. I was just wondering if baby reins would be a good option for him as he likes to do things independently.

Same here.
Mine was very high maintenance, wanted to do everything and anything, would just march straight closer to what she was interested in and vould scape or fall very easily.
The reins helped us a lot!
Many people will not understand it, because they do not have a toddler like this.

I’m 5’9” and my toddler is 80cm.

You try walking around with your arm above your head for half an hour or so and see how you get on. It’s not lazy parenting, it’s being considerate to your child and their comfort.

“I never strapped my child into a car seat and they were fine”, “I weaned my baby at 8weeks and they were fine”.
FFS. Can’t you see outside your own little bubble? Disabled parent? Busy road? Others having lives that are different to yours?

This!! It’s not recommended to hold the child’s hand above their head now.

I saw a mum use reins on her toddler (2 if not 3) in the park, on the playground which had a fenced perimeter. It took everything in me not to go up to her and point out how idiotic it was. If you needed a better illustration how girls are limited and brought up without physical risk-taking, that was the epitome of it. So yeah if you do think you need reins (I never did with two boys tbh) please please don't use them in scenario where it is safe to take physical risks.

For what it's worth I've not dragged mine with reins. I tended to wear the strap and hold hands but it was a back up if one of them tried to run.

How do you know that those kids haven't escaped before? My nephew could climb those playground fences - and also see kids zip through open gates.

Yes, they are. My son was a *good" hand holder, but would occasionally yank and try a d go off somewhere.

We used them where we couldn't strap him into a buggy at the time. Harbours, river walks, lakes, ponds, cliffs, canals etc.

I would put his back pack on, put the loop of the strap round my wrist as a "backup " and hold his hand.

Yes!! I’ve used the backpack ones with all four of mine and they are always safe and you can’t put a price or fear of others judgement on that, trust me. I have very active children and even with the best behaved children you can never predict what’s going to happen and I’d rather not take the risk introducing them early is the best idea as it will be all they know of independently walking in public rather than sudden restrictions

My daughter loved her Little Life ladybird backpack! Happy memories.🙂

Tbh, we rarely had to use the 'lead' in the end as she wasn't much of a bolter, and had been trained well by the childminder to hold the pushchair if she wasn't in it. But very young children can be unpredictable, and we lived in London, so it just gave a bit of peace of mind when walking near roads. Wasn't unusual or frowned upon particularly and the period they were needed was pretty short.

I used the backpack reins on DS1 as he wouldn't hold hands and would run off and climb or be into everything. I also used traditional ones to double strap him into his pushchair for a while as he learnt how to undo the buckle and would then run off, and while heavily pregnant it was difficult for me to catch him.

DS2 was a completely different character and circumstance and I don't think I used reins other than once or twice.

Essential safety equipment for any small child when out on the streets.

They stopped her chocking on a bit of banana!

How do you think?

Yes you don't drag them along with it

Used them for all three of my dc. Never had any comments. Dd1 loved hers because it gave her a feeling of independence with the reassurance I was still there. She used to ask for them on.

Dd2 used to decide to dangle from them if she was tired, and let me carry her like that. Unfortunately she didn't always give me warning. 🤣 But it was also good when they were learning to walk, and if they tripped, easier to balance them.

MrsPresley tells her story on this thread.

www.mumsnet.com/talk/parenting/2478526-Reins-yay-or-nay?reply=56851457

I had the same and got two types. Kid hated them both and just hung off them and screamed until she was released. Hope you get on a little better than we did!

I sometimes see parents holding on to small children by the hood of their coat- I think this looks far more uncomfortable/dangerous than reins as the point of contact is the child's throat!

I use them with DD as even though she's not a bolter and very good at holding hands, we live on a busy road, so feel safer knowing she's got them on and can't escape - I figure that it could only take one out of control dog running towards her (not that it's ever happened) to spook her and it could end in tradegy so why take the risk. I don't tend to use them in places where there's less danger, though - eg walking through the woods/park

I bought baby reins for my toddler with full intention of using them. As it turns out she's a good hand holder so they were never needed, but I think in principle they are great, and will definitely default to using them with any future child unless they also turn out to be a great hand holder.

Small children run out of parks, they’re like that.

it took everything in you to not go and massively overstep and be judgemental?

Really?

Really well put!

Me neither, pretty sure the children won't grow up to adulthood thinking they are dogs 😁. Not sure what the problem is. Can be so stressful having a toddler who can run but has no concept of danger, why wouldn't you?

Yes. Restricting a girl's freedom and ability to judge physical risks for themselves is massively damaging. The playground was in the middle of the park, not near any parks. For the most time they were so slow in responding to the child's desire to move the child was leaning diagonally forwards. I have a background in developmental psychology and this was absolutely damaging behaviour from the parent.

Of course you have!!

But still MYOB!!

The drama of “it took everything I have to hold back”, because you think you know their child better than you do.

Part of me wishes you had approached and been told to get lost.

My DS would try and go on the play equipment for older children, he'd climb to the top of the highest frame at just 16 months if I let him outside rugby tackling distance. He has no fear and it was dangerous. This mum may have had similar experiences.