Page 7 | What is the problem with reins?

Nikki76 · 18/05/2007 22:50

Hiya first!

taffy101 · 18/05/2007 22:52

i don't have a problem with reins but my dd just does a dangler with them. However, she thinks she is a dog and just LOVES having a doglead on teehee

veruccasalt · 18/05/2007 22:54

My dd loved being a 'horse' on her reins ;D.

FirstAtForty · 18/05/2007 23:00

Galloping is healthy imo

hi Nikki

Oblomov · 18/05/2007 23:01

I knew lucyellesmum, must have got the wrong end of the stick as soon as I saw OP. Twig wouldn't say such a thing.

AitchTwoOh · 18/05/2007 23:08

actually one of the reasons why i'm happy to have dd on reins is i remember how much i loved mine when i was a nipper. made me feel all safe and at liberty at the same time. but i wasn't given to scarpering particularly, i was just the eldest so my mum was busy with the pushchair a lot of the time.

piximon · 18/05/2007 23:14

I often use reins with mine. I have a 30 min walk to the nursery everyday and have DS1 (4) DD1 (2) and the twins in the buggy so holding hands is a no go. DS1 has reins and holds the buggy and dd1 has reins and holds hand/or buggy.
I'm not worried about them running off. As soon as we get to the park etc I encourage them to run around, but need the extra reassurance when near the big roads/river.
I've never had a problem with them not wanting to put them on. When my mum was a child she saw a little girl run over after slipping from her hand so reins were really encouraged in our house. Also recently a little boy fairly locally was on the traffic island with his mum when he slipped out his hand went forwards and was killed. So personally I'd rather not take the risk.

BandofMothers · 19/05/2007 09:46

So what do you do if your 2.5 yo is too big for a double buggy, and you have a newborn??

Just let them do what they want.

Pushchair just wasn't an option when dd2 came along. She had to walk. If I take her out now without dd2 I don't bother with reins as much, depending where we're going, but if I have the pushchair too I need the reins. It's that simple.
I have gone without them a little more if we're not going far, as she does need to get used to not having them, but I don't think she is beyond learning road sense with them on. Doesn't hamper her at all. She now stops and goes pretty much on command, but that's only if she's actually listening to me. If there's a lot going on then she usually isn't listening.

I don't see the problem. I even got stopped once when heavily pg and told it was lovely to see someone using reins and she hadn't seen it in years.

Blandmum · 19/05/2007 10:00

I'm with gess on this one. My (nt) ds was impossible to manage without them, and a danger to himself an others.

Easy to dislike them if you don't havethat sort of child.

I never needed them with dd. Ds was a totaly different child.

chocolateteapot · 19/05/2007 10:06

Too many posts to read quickly so will just put my point of view. I wouldn't have dreamed have using reins for DD when she was little, there was no need. However for DS when he was at that stage where he just wouldn't listen, something like between 18 months and 2 years, they were fantastic. He is 3.6 now and really good when we are out. I would much rather have had him safe and on reins than squashed in the road and I don't give a monkeys what anyone thought when I used them.

If I had just had DD I might possibly have a different view on them and say I think they are horrible.

belgo · 19/05/2007 10:07

cyclon babe:
'children under the age of three can be put in a pushchair, and older can be taught road sense.'

Of course, sometimes children under the age of three should can go in a pushchair, but it is far healthier for them to walk! And it is exhausting pushing a child of that age in a pushchair! And what about those parents who have two or three children under the age of three? Double and triple buggies are even harder to push!

Walking is very healthier way of using up a toddler's energy, rather then keeping them in a pushchair all of the time.

My dd1 has been walking along the pavement since the age of 12 months (with reins)- she is now three years old and can easily walk two miles (now without reins).

I've been teaching her road sense from the first time I took her out in reins. The reins have kept her safe until she has learnt the road sense.

squeakybub · 19/05/2007 10:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

SpawnChorus · 19/05/2007 11:04

Reins a necessity here as DD has easily dislocated elbows . In fact, the first time it happened was when she tripped while DH was holding her hand.

Also, it's easier to hold reins than a hand if you're also pushing a buggy/pram.

Twiglett · 19/05/2007 12:27

thanks lucyellensmum .. and on my part sorry for over-reacting

I was just momentarily scared of the peasants with flaming pitchforks coming after me due to being misquoted rather than me putting my own foot in my own mouth

PeachyChocolateEClair · 19/05/2007 12:47

Twig the MN peasants are lego peasants

actually pirates but anyway

should they come after you just get any handy 6 year old boy to pull their head off and you'll be OK

Lovecat · 19/05/2007 12:58

Have tried reins on dd (those godawful pink 'princess' ones as I couldn't find any others - now they're offensive!) and she too did the 'tom-cruise-spinning-on-a-wire-in-mission-impossible' thang, so they have been put away for the time being.

For her it's not so much that she runs off, it's that she won't come in the first place (there are interesting stones, beetles and bits of chewing gum on the pavement to be investigated). Because there's just the one of her, I've had it fairly easy, but I would definitely persevere with the reins if I were to have another child.

An Irish guy I once shared a house with (about 20 years ago now) came home and said in tones of horror 'I saw a child on a dog-lead in town today! Is that what you English do to your children?' - we all fell about laughing, having had reins ourselves as children. As someone's already said, why afford your dog protection that you wouldn't give to your children??

LEM - I haven't done the 'Walk On!' thing , but I have found myself bawling 'STAND!' at dd on the rare occasions when she's about to peg it - surprisingly it works - obv. my horse-scaring voice is far more commanding than my mummy voice....

Monkeytrousers · 19/05/2007 13:01

We use reigns with DS beside roads.

No one has ever said anything to me, and I have never caught a look either.

I can honestly say if anyone ever did make a snidey comment I'd be down their necks like a rotweiller.

I'm not taking any judgmental crap from anyone.

Original poster

lucyellensmum · 19/05/2007 15:20

he he, what a can of worms pink princess reins?? shame on you!!!!

I just find that dd can have more freedom than having to drag along holding my hand, it is simply not safe by a busy road, or in the harbour as we were this morning and she doesnt like having to be clamped in my hand, this way she can lead and do as she pleases but we can keep her out of danger. I make a point (especially now after this thread - very aware of it on our walk this am) of making her hold hands when we cross the road etc.

OP posts:

munz · 19/05/2007 18:16

exactly belgo - we use reins, but I still teach J the road safety - how much he understand thou is another thing. to push him is easier for me but doesn't tire him out- i'd rather he have the exercise from the walking and not to mention exploring as well cos every where we go has new things for him to explore and being sat in a buggy most of the time won't cover it. iycwim.

PeachyChocolateEClair · 19/05/2007 18:48

I think a lot of it does depend on your lifestyle and where you live.

Our cottage fronts directly onto a road that is pathless, it is one way and normally VV quiet but also part of the school rat run in catchment where the vast majority of mums have to drive in from outside. Therefore, for 30 minutes a day its extremely dangerous and I dont want to be fiddling with bags / lunchboxes / violin/ lockinng the door and having to hold a hand owned by a screeching small child who is desperate to escape and bolt.

Our CM uses reins too, its much safer.

misdee · 19/05/2007 18:54

i have used reins on all of my children except dd3. dd3 is now ready to walk to the school and back so am after a new set of reins for her. i will take the buggy with me, have the reins on dd3 with the strap twirled round my wrist, but i will also be holding her hand as we walk.

lizziemun · 19/05/2007 19:22

I used reins with dd, in the context if she wanted to walk she had to wear them and hold mmy hand when asked. If not she was put into her buggy.

I have to say i was the only one out of my freinds who had children the same age used them and dd is the only one who doesn't run away, is aware of cars in carparks etc.

I don't know if this is because i used reins or the fact i was quite strict with dd when it came to walking by herself.

LadyMacbeth · 19/05/2007 19:31

I can only say I do not give a flying rat's arse whether people use reins or not. It is only through MN that I have discovered that to some it is an issue.

Some people clearly don;t have anough to worry about.

I did see a lady walking with about a four year old ds along a footpath today with what looked like a proper doggy lead, extender handle n' all. That ooked odd and made me wonder.

But reins? Who cares?

PeachyChocolateEClair · 19/05/2007 19:36

Actually I would love reins like that doggy lead with an extender handle

I accept ds3 is needier than most, but they'd be a godsend in places like woods and the like, he could run free but still be stoppable when he spots a hole in the fence or whatever

LadyMacbeth · 19/05/2007 19:40

Well, if I see her again, I'll ask where they came from!