Does anyone on here actually think that reins on children are the work of the devil?

[JesusInTheCabbageVan]

If so, why? I'm genuinely curious.

Also, so far as I know there hasn't been a bunfight about this yet, so potentially a good Friday topic

I did think it looked weird but then my cousin was very frail with diabetes and used to rein her son as she couldn't chase him if he bolted.

So it depends, sometimes they are genuinely necessary.

No, they are a godsend.
I bought mine when DS first started walking, but was annoyed because he wasn't a runner and it felt like I didn't need them. And we didn't, until now, at nearly 3, and I am glad I bought them.

Yesterday DS nearly got run over because he would not listen and he ran ahead of me into the road. I am just physically not fast enough to catch him, and it even takes my much fitter DP a while to catch him. Luckily for me, DP managed to just catch up and drag DS out of the road - if I'd been on my own, I don't know if I could have caught him.
DS thinks running away is a game, and no amount of telling-off will make him think otherwise.

I got some terribly judgy looks at the bus stop yesterday (probably thinking "oh, young mother can't handle her child, typical") as I was wrestling DS into his reins after the incident above. But I would rather people judge than have another moment like that ever again.
Child safety > opinions about reins. Simple.

I think it's bloody wierd to see toddlers running towards the road and even in the road while a drippy mum says ' oh Jamie you are a bad boy' outside my school yesterday!!

Fucking mental. My boys had reins because they would have done just that and I didn't want them to get run over.

My girls didn't as they could be trusted to hold my hand or the pushchair.

When I was a cm the parents were grateful that I took the safety of their toddlers seriously. If they needed reins they had them.

Some people are just daft.

I've never really used them. I tried a couple of times as I have a 23 month age gap between dc and they are difficult to handle while out and about but found them more of a hindrance to be honest, getting twisted around, toddler going rigid. I just use the car/pushchair for all except short distances during which I hold hands very tightly / carry the lump youngest. But I'm certainly not just about parents who do use them. In fact I think it's much safer.

Judgy. Preview, Rat, preview.

My DD is 6.6..looks. 8 and has a backpack with a wrist strap..she loves to run along the street with.me tearing along behind her..just like walking a labrador.

If you ever feel.self conscious with a toddler and reins..it could be worse

Have had two comments..one from students laughing that it was like a dog lead. .sensitive. .and one from an old lady praising me for keeping DD safe.

I've got a 16 month old bolter. She is far too young to reason with or explain to and has no concept of danger. Her mission in life at the moment is to use these newly discovered parts of her body called legs as fast as possible. Her reins are a godsend bet I do get judged as DD falls on her bum again as she reaches the end of the rein length with a jolt

I used reins when my ds was little but most people didn't. Most of my friends seemed to just let their kids run in the road, tell them off and then act like this was the way to teach them.

I used to get older strangers commenting on how nice it was to see to see a child in reins instead of running around dangerously, but most parents seemed to think reins were a bad thing. It baffles me.

Essential for us having tins who walked at different ages. Try wrestling a double buggy down a very steep hill and expecting a 12 month old child to hang onto buggy, not getting in the way of the buggy wheels. Reins allowed me to have her walk safely, away from the buggy wheels and have both my hands on the buggy.

• twins, not tins!

I had pink leather reins with my name engraved on, I can assure you I'm now perfectly capable of crossing a road safely as a thirtymumblemumble year old adult.

The first time i saw my friend's dd in reins i congratulated her.

My mum has been eyeing up the littlelife animal ones for ds practically since conception. He's still only 6 months and not quite crawling yet even!

DS had a pair of the Turtle LittleLife ones and they saved his bacon on quite a few occasions. He was an early walker who also hated his pushchair.

I say anything that keeps your DC safe is a great idea.

I think it depends on what bit you use.

I never even knew people thought badly of them. I've only ever thought how useful they are. My DDs were not bolters but I found the backpack reins very useful when out in crowded places where there was a high chance of being separated.
I would always recommend them.

Not very controversial this is it?

Oh yes, some people think that toddlers should be able to run free across the wide and dreaming plains of Surrey and Provence without let or hindrance whilst playing their flutes and reciting Keates.

Not such a great theory in the middle of a busy town centre with traffic, another child in a buggy, a bag of shopping and a bolter.

I used mine to help me teach dd about road safety. When about to cross a road I reined her in then took her hand, and talked her through the stop at the kerb, look etc stuff. Once across the road I let her go at her own pace. Without reins, don't you need to hold their hand all the time! She hated that.

None of mine have been bolters so far but I've still used them! DD2 is just starting to enjoy walking to school for her sister at 15 months and they are essential kit IME. If nothing else it keeps them going in the direction you want them to rather than 4 steps forward and 3 in a totally different direction

Does anyone remember that lovely MNetter who lost her child and shared her terrible, terrible pain with us because she believed that reins would have definitely saved her child? She was one of the most courageous and articulate people I have ever encountered on here and I will never forget her. To the person who said fuck the fuck off etc, please don't say that. save your hatred and venom for people who really do abuse children. I am upset now remembering her. Next time anyone feels like judging someone, remember you don't know the whole story and if this is a way of stopping terrible catastrophic deaths that will essentially finish a person's life forever due to the burden of guilt and hindsight then who are you to dictate?

We used twins reins for the boys I never had the moment if do I drop the hand of the boy I have to Chace the one who slipped from my grip - boys just accepted it they went being dragged along by them but it stopped them bolting in 2 different directions

I got rucksack with reins for the GPs as they're not so fast. Plus DS can carry his own snacks and drink (a bulky load)

SOme people hate them. I wish they'd put that energy into something useful.

As with everything they can be a little misused and it looks odd when you see someone hoiking their child around by the rucksack (but DS actually likes this)

DS3 was a bolter and I used them till he was 3yr 9m. They probably saved his life many times over. He is 4 now and has to hold hands unless at the park etc. However many of his friends are allowed to run or scoot a long way in front. One of them stepped into the road the other day and I managed to grab her. She was still allowed to carry on in front though. I let DS walk in front with a friend once as felt pressured a bit and was a very quiet road. He stepped straight out into the road. Now he has to hold hands and I don't care if people think I am OTT as it is better than the alternative.

I remember speaking to my Health Visitor about reins and she said that she wished more parents used them. She said that years ago when when the prams were so big and heavy, children were in reins earlier, but now that pushchairs and buggies are so much more convenient, children stay in them for longer. I had twins, one bolter and one that dragged their feet and I used the backpacks for busy roads, airports and supermarkets/shopping centres etc. Never had any negative comments - lots of people asked me where I got them, should have been paid commission. They don't look weird - they are safe.

I also get nervous when I see kids running ahead, but put that down to my DS being a bolter. But there is a little girl the same age as my DS (3) near us, and she has always been more advanced- walking/talking earlier etc. She already has a little scooter and she scoots along the footpath way ahead of her mum. That makes me terribly anxious when we are walking to the park or somewhere together. Her mum is confident in her child, and it is true that she always stops at the kerb, but it makes me shiver.

Yes, yes, yes to reins. It is so easy for a little one to slip your hand and run off. DC always wore reins and have had no ill effects from using them either. I used to use the rein harness to clip DC into supermarket trolley seats too. They were both climbers and I took no chances with them landing head first on the ground.