What is the problem with reins?

[lucyellensmum]

?????

I took my dd into Allders china dept once sans reins which surprised some folk (she was in pre-school by this time). Have to admit she was given death and destruction threats about behaving herslef before we entered and we weren't in there very long. But we didn't break anything so you can control children without reins once they get to a certain age. In Macro during the day, my dd was allowed to roam loose.

Try taking twins out then! It is not possible to run in two separate directions safely at the side of a busy road without reins.

Never used them with my own - but had about four sets for GS (cause he would hide them). Much, much better then running after him everytime he made an escape. I would rather my child be safe than worry about what other people thought. ALso, the amount of people who did comment were all positive and generally commented on how sensible they were and how nice it was to see a small child safe and not runing riot.
And th argument that they all soon learn that holding hands is a good idea, won't wash either. I only stopped using them with GS around september last year (when he was over 3 1/2) - phased them out gradually.

we did try wrist straps - but after three or four times of suddenly realising that there was no child on the other end (budding houdini) - I went for th reins

am wiht coppertop...only peopel with children that anturally don't run off are in a position to moan about reins....
See, I probably would be one of them if my youngest son had been my oldest instead....lol...

My mum used reins to strap me into my cot once - I had a habit of climbing out of my cot and going a-wandering in the early hours. Since we had a steep flight of stairs, she was concerned that I'd hurt myself falling down the stairs. Lots of people criticised her for that as well.

Whatever kept me safe I say, but luckily I didn't have to resort to such measures with my dd .

Cor, I WISH reins would have worked on my jail-breaker.

I'd put them on him in the hope that I could stop him dashing out into the dual carriageway with a demented look in his eye on a daily basis etc etc... and he'd just sit down in the middle of the street and give me a smug smile, like 'yeh alright mother dearest, you really think I'm going anywhere looking like a fecking reindeer? I think I'll just sit here in on this dog poo stained pavement for a bit until you give up the ghost you silly woman'.

I gave up after about 2 days of harnessing him up. I say more power to those of you who can rein those little terrors in.

well i don't use reins much as we are either in buggy/car but when we do walk somewhere, i use these ones here which have been brilliant as my DDs are happy to put their "backpack" on but i can grab them when and if the need arises.

get nothing but "where did you get those?" when i use them!

i can see why some people react negatively to reins, i see some (usually grandparents i think) people in the park, with their kids on reins, and i do want to say "oh, please let them run!"

Ah some people (usually those with one child) seem to think that all kids are the same and those whom it is harder to control just have rubbish parents

I lost a friendship once when I suggested to a friend that the reason he r son doesn't do certain things and a mutual friends (and mine ) does is that our kids have SN and her son is somewhat easier to handle in certain ways

She bizarrely interpreted that as a criticism and ahsn't spoken to either of us since.

The real definition iof a rubbish aprnet ehre of course is the aprent whose child is ahrd to control and STILL doesnt use reins
I would actually have to give to a parent of a difficult child who doesnt use reins because of what someone would say

we use those amidaiwash, mainly as ds3 is almopst 4 and I wanted something a bit more grown up looking

reins are for dogs. not humans.

my children are a nightmare to control by the way. but i have stuck it out and now they may be running off down the road, but they have good road sense. i'm not sure how i managed it, but its instilled in them.

a 14 month old can sit in a pushchair

if you're going to quote me then put the context in

Lucky you cylonbabe

unfortunately I have an almost 4 year old with the ability of an 18 months old,, So I think i'll just go ahead using them if thats OK?

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

I did not .. I quoted someone else mentioning thick chav parents with regards to dummies for children .. I also then, when asked, listed the types of opinions that might be held regarding them .. because I was fucking asked to ... and then I added the pierced ears and reins comments because they're flaming well mumsnet legends

I'm bloody livid .. how dare you!

fucking arse

would care more about my dd being run over really than someone who clearly has no experience of a slippery eel type child thinking im a bit of a chav.

"i look chavvy"
"injured dd"

choices...choices..

cross posted twiglett btw!! thats two threads now where ive looked like i was having a go at you, oops. sorry

Cyclonbabe, you say you stuck it out. I tried but got terribly bored with DS sitting down all of the time, so I used reins as lifting him up by the backstrap to carry was like hoisting a heavy bag. Twas easy. I like reins.