Do you judge parents with toddlers on reins?

[Strategist]

You ARE being unreasonable = no
You AREN'T being unreasonable = yes

(Personally I use reins in crowds, but my husband reckons most people judge us. I'm interested to see.)

Of course not

God no. Some children are runners, or simply unaware that they wander off. Whatever you need to do to keep your children safe and give you peace of mind, you do!

Yes - I judge them - in a positive way! It keeps the child safe whilst allowing a certain amount of freedom. Nothing wrong with them.

No, some children are biddable, some children aren't. I'd much rather see a child walking safely on reins than in a pushchair.

Nope, have periodically used them myself.

Nope. Rather them on reins than lost or hurt.

No.

There's a horrific story on here where a parent let go of their toddler's hand accidentally, they bolted into traffic and were killed.

Reins are a safety device and I think all toddlers should be on them near roads or in busy public places.

I judge that they are able to make great decisions about keeping their child safe.

Of course not. In busy urban areas with roads it's simply practical. Anyone who judges either lives in a really quiet area or has never had a tot who is a bolter. My toddler escaping and getting hit by a vehicle is my worst nightmare.

No it makes sense to keep them safe.

I used to. Then I had my own children! I don't use reins, mine are pretty good at holding hands, but then most of their toddler hood was during a pandemic where we didn't go anywhere busy.

Nope I use a rein of sorts for my 9yo, he's a runner. I'd rather be judged than lose my child anyway.

Reins are great. Great for the parent who knows exactly where the child is and can save them from danger ( see Jamie Bulger), great for the rest of the world who don’t have to fend of your toddler canyoning into them to the distress of both parties.

I’ve got a picture of myself age two, on the deck of the ferry to the Isle of Wight; my darling Dad has my reins firmly in his hands.

Yes, I judge that they are obviously sensible and keeping their toddler safe.

some kids are runners, reins keep them safe. no judgement needed.

No, only an arsehole would find a way to judge a parent for doing their best for their child to keep them safe.

No. Some toddlers are bolters. I used them with my two.

Nope. Some kids, like mine, are bolters and sometimes just don't think. I'd much rather put up with a few disapproving stares than have a injured or god forbid, dead child. Reigns till they can control themselves is a-ok with me.

Raising children in urban USA I used reins and had a lot of negative comments. I just ignored them because I knew I was doing the right thing and being a good parent.

My son was a bolter and I wasn’t going to keep him in his stroller until he was 5. The reins enabled me to train him safely and walking tired him out. Your husband needs to grow a backbone and stop caring what others think when it comes to parenting.

Plus the toddlers are more free on reins than holding their hands.

I had a bolter. He had a backpack with a long strap. I didn't care what anyone else thought. He needed it to keep him safe.

Yes and I judge them harshly. They’re clearly the sort of people who put their children first and don’t want them to race out in front of a car. Absolute fucking monsters the lot of them.

Very sensible - yes, I would judge it as 'responsible parenting'.

I grew up in the era when the Jamie Bulger tragedy occurred, so no I would never judge a parent who does this.

I judge parents who have no control of their children who then get into dangerous predicaments (such as the toddler I stopped from running into a car park after he had left a shop without his parents realising). Not any parent who is doing their best to keep their children safe