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.)

No.

I judge parents who allow children to run around near roads/ crowded areas etc and that aren't safe.

I’m a nanny, one boy in my charge would have ploughed himself headfirst into oncoming traffic or off a tube platform for no good reason other than he would want to see what would happen. Since I knew what would happen if he managed either of these, he wore reins.

my current charge is not yet 3 and he will stand utterly still and hold your hand if you ask him to while waiting to cross. He doesn’t need reins.

They’re all different, our job to adjust the needs accordingly.

What does you husband think people are judging? It's never even crossed my mind to think anything when I see someone using reins. They are a marvellous bit of 'parenting equipment' for want if a better phrase.

I was a bolter, my mother would have been chasing me around without them. Use them if you need them.

I wouldn't judge anyone for keeping their child safe. I used them with my twins so I could keep them both near and still have one hand free if needed.

No and I don't judge people using them with older looking kids or using pushchairs with older kids- not only are they literal life savers they are also invaluable with additional needs whether diagnosed yet or not

Absolutely not. I never understood the hate on reins and have used them myself.

Judge them??? Like 7/10 for style? 6/10 for artistic impression with perhaps a difficulty factor???
It would never cross my mind that this is something to judge someone on. I don't know if you think people judge for it or against it.
No I would never judge someone for this.

This. 100%

There was a poster in n here many years ago whose husband felt the same. It resulted in the death of one of their twins. I also always think of James Bulger. Denise had to let go of his hand to pay for shopping. Your child's safety comes before anyone else's opinion or judgement.

I had twins who would bolt in opposite directions, plus one a year older who I couldn’t leave to run after the others.
I thought those rucksacks with the leads would be the answer to my prayers but sadly twin one sat down on the floor and refused point blank to move and twin two would always walk at least six foot behind me (or try to) so I still couldn’t run after twin one.
I don’t judge I ‘m just jealous 😂😂

Having had a runner myself, I certainly wouldn't judge at all.

I totally judge them and think they’re doing a good job keeping their children safe. My twins were always on reins when I was alone out and about with them.

No never. My sister in law openly does but has never been alone looking after all her children at one time since they were born.

No DC1 was a bolter and we live in the city centre with busy roads on the walk to shops/nursery/the park etc.

I was always amazed seeing families with toddlers walking nicely at their side! DC2 will actually walk nicely and listen (not about anything else though…), all children are different.

I do make a judgement about people who use reins on their small Children: I judge them to be very sensible. It doesn't mean you can't hold their hand and teach them, but it does mean that if they slip your hand in a crowd they are still safe.

And how can you say 'giddy up!' And teach them to play horses if they don't have reins on?

Nope, I used them when mine was a feral toddler.

Even now if I'm driving and I see a wee squirt of a child running freely without their parent holding their hand it makes my stomach do a somersault. It only takes a split second for them to dash into the road and the consequences don't bear thinking about.

I used reins for all of mine, also I once had to grab a stranger’s toddler at the last minute who was about to run into heavy traffic, the mum was racing behind him but too far back, I’ll never forget the look on her face.

I judge them as being good and careful parents.

I did not use reins and do not like them much but I can see the benefits particularly if you have two young children to tend to.

Your husband is an IDIOT, who needs to locate his spine- pronto

Some kids need them more than others, BUT any toddler/small child can suddenly forget themselves and run into the road, even those you think won't.

Reins have been in use forever. I'm 60 and a have picture of myself age about 2 on reins. Why is it suddenly a thing to judge parents for being safety conscious?

I had no idea they were even controversial - I use them for my 16 month old. He holds hands well - in addition to him holding my hand he also has a toddlerpak with reigns that i keep looped over my wrist so that when we're in car parks, pavements, walking by the side of the canal etc I know I've got an extra layer of safety. Sometimes he'll let go of my hand to inspect something on the ground, or I'll need to let go of his to fish something out of my bag etc and the reigns being there just makes everything a lot easier.

No. But I do have a vivid memory of wearing reins once as a toddler and hating it.

You won’t get people admitting it on here but yes some people do, I don’t use reins personally but when my mum use to have my kids she use to put them on reins when they was little I was meeting her somewhere and a woman who didn’t know I was with my mum said in front of me “look a kid on a leash” and started laughing with her partner