In wondering what's wrong with reins?

[beebuzzer]

Who uses them?
Who doesn't?

I do and I often get patted on the back for it by passing old ladies who "don't understand why they ever went out of fashion"
My mum used them on all of us. If I didn't use one my little one would be all over the shop and I am guessing holding my hand for any period of time would be quite uncomfortable for her. (she is only small)

We did use reigns on our DD, but it became a hassle to keep putting them on and taking the off. We then tried without, and trusted her to hold our hands. This worked until she ran out into thr road the other week (luckily it was only a very minor street road, but even so!) We now use a wrist link, which works perfectly, we can adjust the length of it to our advantage, and so far DD has not tried to take it off. She still has to hold my hand though.

we bought my son a pair of reins when we went to disney, (they were in a little winnie the pooh back pack) We used to hook the strap on our wrist and held his hand...; He would hold our hands but he was so good at quickly slipping his hand away and running, and there was no way I'd have risked losing him.

We used reins occasionally with both LOs. I wouldn't use a wrist strap (can result in some quite nasty wrist injuries and pulled elbows that I used to see from time to time when working in A&E), but reins were a godsend in certain situations eg travelling via airports with wriggly children and lots of luggage. I didn't use them routinely but nearly always had them in my bag to use when the newly-walking toddler wanted to stretch its limbs without holding hands etc.

I was never aware of opinionated imbeciles judging me - and never heard any negative comments, not that they would have bothered me one iota if I had. I felt reins were an effective and useful safety device, that in the event I rarely needed.

Like some of the comments on here, thanks. It actually seems that most people on here think reins have their place and I'm happy with that. :) At the end of the day we protect our children because we love them not to be cruel. To think that I might be thought by others to treat my child like a dog is just crazy - I do it because we live in a very busy town and I worry a) about her getting knocked down by passers by because she is small b) who knows who is lurking around,children do go missing and c) there is traffic. Basically I do it because I love her and would hate the thought of ever losing her. There is no way of knowing what a 1 year old has in mind all the time especially when they can't even communicate properly.

I tried. I thought they were a good idea. Son just lifted his legs up and dangled.

Toddlers on reins can be hoiked upright again just when they're on the point of crashing to the ground. Useful - they save tears and upset.
I didn't know people had grown judgmental about reins for small children. However, some people are quick to judge.

I can remember an elderly woman sharing her opinion with me that she didn't like seeing my daughter in her baby carrier thing on my front - she thought a baby was much better carried in its mother's arms. Yeah, right - an ideal solution when you're going shopping.

I had a few comments when I used to wear a sling too. One day when my little one was very small I was carrying he ron my front and one old woman walked past and looked me up and down and said `stupid woman' I turned around and asked her why she had said it and she denied saying anything. Still sure she was referring to me. I didnt sling for long though as I got a a bad back. Still, I would NEVER feel it my place to judge any mum in town, I might think something but its not my place to say anything about it. We all do things differently.

some people just like to be judgeypants about anything that they wouldn't do - denotes a level of narrowmindedness and self-centredness that I don't like. My mother always considered anything outside of her sphere of understanding to be "weird" and often "stupid" - because she wouldn't do it. I hate that attitude.

I have to admit, having said that, that I was a bit surprised when I got to Australia because I have seen a lot of mothers of tiny babies carrying them in one arm - baby facing forward, hand round their waist and holding between their legs, iyswim. Baby usually on one hip or thereabouts. Doesn't look comfy to me, but mostly I worry that the child is being held upright before it is ready to be upright for long, because they don't have the musculature for it at that age. Am I therefore judging because it is something I wouldn't do, or because I think it might actually be bad for the baby? (I am talking tiny, less than 4mo babies here, not ones who are ready to be sitting etc.)
But perhaps it is something that they are taught here in classes, since so many of them do it, I don't know and wouldn't dream of saying anything or giving them funny looks.

Yep I've had judgy comments with baby carriers/slings before but never with reins. Several (normally old) people have told me to take the baby out because it is not safe.

I appreciate my mum for her openmindedness. She had 5 of us so is a bit of a pro but has always told us to do things 'our way'and has never tried to `give advice' unless we ask for it. She did slings and reins and she still has the orange cordoroy (sp?) sling she use to carry me around in :)from 1980