What is the problem with reins?

[lucyellensmum]

?????

I can cope with reins, but I could never work out how the saddle was meant to work

I wonder that as well?

Because some people would rather their little Tarquinella was run over rather than curb her spirit by 'tying her up like a dog'.

IME those who don't like them are those who are lucky enough to have a child who never runs off.

By Twiglett on Thu 17-May-07 21:02:04
lucyellensmum .. please feel free to do a title search on reins .. honestly .. gake your blood pressure tablets first though

She had previously mentioned that these are only used by thick chav parents!

I honestly have never come across this point of view before, and well, i wouldnt want to give the wrong image of dd2 would i

we bought reins and have used them, but with the youngest, have just made sure that they hold hands all the time and if they run off they get picked up.

boy, do they want to walk! and after being picked up a few times and a few tantrums - they soon get the idea that holding hands IS a good idea (at 22 mths).

would have loved to use them but my little er, angel ,just lies on floor as soon as attached or ends up spinning round like tom cruise in mission whotsit iykwim. ignore snotty detractors, if it keeps them saf eand works go for it.

yes, i wondered what is wrong with reins too?

i understand the dummy and earrings thing but reins??

agree with exactly what coppertop said

I have a wrist strap for DS and get some withering looks from folk in town when we tangled up in the lampposts!
I couldn't care less. He's alive and well and my blood pressure is no longer in the "morbidly high" range.
Oh I can also now use a cash machine for the first time in about 6 months as I could never master the one handed technique.

my dd will only hold hands when we crossed the road, after being told that the cars will squash her flat! It is also those times when the dc's wriggle free and might step/fall out into the road. I have to say that it depends where i am, but if i am by a busy road then its reins or push char, end of!

I live in Belgium and have had the 'walking the dog comment' directed at friends of mine who fortunately didn't understand. Also had a colleague say the same to me.

I think I have only ever once seen reins used in the town were I live.

The general assumption seems to be you have to hold a child's hand and teach them not to run off. If you use reins, how do you teach your child not to run off.

I do see children running off.

allgone, yes i mean FFS who the hell in their right mind would peirce a childs ear - child abuse if you ask me. The dummy debate:each to their own.

Nothing is wrong with them. I used them with DS and I am EMPHATICALLY NOT a chav (Times reader, utterly middle class, tendency toward being a bit snobbish).

I think reins are much better than those wrist strap things, because a) they DO remind me of dog leads and b) reins can't cause a dislocated shoulder or elbow if the child falls over.

I think what guise your reins come in makes a big difference! I have one of those little back packs with a lead of it (feel like I am taking the dog for a walk) and people seem to love that, get loads of comments and people asking where to get one. If I didn't have it DD would deff be squished by now

i prefer to teach holding hands from start.if you use reins,what happens when you stop using reins?do they still stay near?or run off?(just wondering)

oh but apparently i am odd because my 7 and 6 year olds 'still' hold my hands.apparently this isnt normal

good point clumsy (i'm not a chav, although i never read the Times! all that alpha mummy stuff brings me out in a rash). The wrist straps seem more restrictive, i simply have the reins attached by one clip and DD has relative freedom, demonstrated by the fact it takes us an hour to make the quarter mile trip home from the shops. Well, there are cats to be stroked, doggies to bark at and flowers to sniff aren't there

Not sure Kitty, we aren't at that stage yet, DS1 would always hold hands so didn't need them, DD is a nightmare when out and I can't run after her quick enough with DS2 in a sling

kitty pants - the point of reins, like any other safety device, is to keep the child safe while they are learning to be safe.

Holding hand really hurts after quite a short space of time.

moopymoo, haha yes i totally remember the spinning/ tom cruise in mission impossible stunt thing my dd used to do..

can remember her doing it in the lakeside shopping centre with people pointing and pissing themselves laughing - she did look v amusing!

kitty, how can you teach hand holding to a 2 year old when , as i have said there are cats to be stroked etc etc. Personally i think i'll take my chances on the image stakes and go down the chav route.

Snuggle, where do i get me one of those??

some children need them some don't - mine have different in "compliance" the least compliant ended up strapped in a pushchair for as long as possible.

My friends near 4 year old, always compliant, always walked nicely next to the pushchair for nearly 2 years, never ran off, suddenly ran across the road and got knocked over a few months ago. He is fine but it just shows you doesn't it - they can't even work out why he did it - didn't see anyone/anything, weren't waiting to cross the road etc.

It is very hard to hold hands with a toddler and push a pram at the same time.

you just hold their hands