mother at school trying to make me feel shitty

[PlonkerFace]

I went to pick my 2 DSD's up from school with my 6 month old DS in pram and almost 2 year old DS on the reins. We live opposite the school, less than a minute walk otherwise I'd have taken the double pram.
I was pushing the pram with one hand and holding the reins with the other, ds1 tripped up and fell over but I pulled him up with the reins and caught him just in time for his head not to hit the ground.
One of the mothers walking behind me had to chip in telling me that I shouldn't do that and that when I'm bathing DS1 later on I will be wondering why he has graze marks under his arms (from pulling him up by the reins).
Firstly, he had a t shirt, a hoodie and a thick coat on so there's no way it would have hurt him.
Secondly, it was either that or let him smash his head in to the floor.
AIBU to think she should have minded her own bloody business?

She needs to mind her own beeswax.

mine used to end up doing an aeroplane when on the reins as he would lunge forward and end up swinging to avoid a face plant, women is weird

YANBU. I did this when mine were on reins. What do you say, "no sorry DS/DD, l let you get your head bashed on the ground when I could have stopped you in case the reins grazed your body through your clothes" ffs. Idiotic woman. DS was a bolter. I had to use reins!

Reins are better than a runaway toddler getting hit by a car.
I once grabbed DS by the back of his jacket and held him in mid-air as he hit a manhole cover on his scooter at high speed. It was either grab and yank or he would have face planted on to the concrete. Sometimes quick reactions are necessary!

Nosy cow! There's always one!

I used reins on my two, back in the day when reins were absolutely normal - for exactly that reason.

Not because they were bolters (they weren't); not because I wanted to control them like a dog (I didn't).

But because even 2 year olds do better at balancing and coordination when they've got both hands/arms free. Many's the time that a face-plant was avoided thanks to the reins. And even when wearing the lightest of summer clothes, they didn't get any marks.

Ignore her and people like her, OP. Think of her as "Mrs Batshittery Judgy-Pants".

My inner childish mother would have asked her if she fancied a biff kick

If I'd been behind you I'd have said 'Good catch, well done!'

Don't let some stupid twat bother you.

You should have pushed the woman in to the road and said ''oops sorry, it was an accident, I couldn't save you because you had no reins to grab''

Some people just love to give you the benefit of tbeir wisdom. Just smille and then ignore her. Don't let some silly woman upset you and spoil your day.

Yanbu. Years ago I didn't catch DS quick enough when he fell...cue him having a fit in the car as we raced to the nearest A and E.

Asprilla - yes I agree. DS had reins. I meant I'd prefer the chance of a minor graze under the armpits to stitches / head injury any time.

iklboo

Sorry I probably didn't make it clear, I was agreeing with you, it was a very good point. I was just expanding the point even more.

I once attempted this manoeuvre but because I'm shit, what I actually did was stopped DS from tripping initially and then the reins slipped and I dropped him on his face. In front of school Mums. Not my finest moment. Luckily DS is a bruiser and bounces.

YANBU OP. If the same woman was watching me, she would have had loads to say.

That might be something I would say but in a just in case you aren't sure where they came from way rather than a judgy you have your child in reins way (iykwim) I often look at bruises or marks on the toddler and can't work out where they've come from!

So her answer to it was you let him fall and smack his face on the ground?!

Ignore my comment, by the time is rtft I'd forgotten the op and after rereading she was being a cow and yanbu, ignore her, she sounds like a tit.

If I'd been behind you I'd have said 'Good catch, well done!'

Heh, this would be me, also.

Yanbu. Mine used to dangle like a demented pantomime fairy from hers.
Ignore!

Asprilla (high five)

Reins are not just to stop them running off, they stop them smashing their face in if they trip up. I think they're an essential part of parenting. You did nothing wrong, she should mind her own business.