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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

My MIL just bought my baby a set of reigns and I am horrified. What to do?

297 replies

BumblBeee · 29/01/2008 14:56

I think they are horrid?!

OP posts:
SaltireOShanter · 29/01/2008 14:58

Don't use them then. I personally used them a lot, but if you don't, well put them in a cupboard

DarrellRivers · 29/01/2008 14:58

I love reins
Very useful in right situation
Do what you want , hopefully MIL was only being helpful and they were much more fashionable when she was a mum

Gitch · 29/01/2008 14:58

really? mine were great, i loved having them.

nappyaddict · 29/01/2008 14:59

mine are helping ds learn to walk.

Gitch · 29/01/2008 14:59

and actually, i loved having them on when i was a kid, i remember it distinctly.

Oliveoil · 29/01/2008 14:59

what is wrong with reins?

BumblBeee · 29/01/2008 14:59

I feel like it is turning Bubba into a dog?

OP posts:
nailpolish · 29/01/2008 15:00

take them to the charity shop

imaginewittynamehere · 29/01/2008 15:00

If you don't like them don't use them. I personally find them very useful when dd wants to walk but won't hold hands - much better than leaving her in the pushchair which I assume is the alternative...

Gitch · 29/01/2008 15:00

no, that's a lead you're thinking of...

MeMySonAndI · 29/01/2008 15:00

Oh the sort of thing that inspires the "I would never do that" thoughts until you find your toddler has legged it in a bussy supermarket.

BumblBeee · 29/01/2008 15:00

It looks creepy to me. I worry she will be scarred for life!

OP posts:
MamaG · 29/01/2008 15:00

HORRIFIED?

oh fgs, get over yourself! I don't like the wrist strap ones, but if you have an active toddler, reins can be a godsend if they refuse to hold hands

fairylights · 29/01/2008 15:01

how old is your LO? i was horrified at idea of reins but now that my LO is starting to walk i think i will be getting him some - not least because we live near a main road where i have seen a small child being knocked down because he was running ahead of his mum.. just tell her you are using them even if you are not, unless you see her often of course!
ps the little boy i saw bring knocked down was OK in the end.

Oliveoil · 29/01/2008 15:01

I had some for dd2 which we used once or twice

now they use them as dressing up stuff when one of them is a horse

BumblBeee · 29/01/2008 15:01

Ok maybe it is me who is mad. You are all resoundingly in favour.

OP posts:
nailpolish · 29/01/2008 15:02

im not

take them to the chairty shop

Gitch · 29/01/2008 15:02

actually dd is very good about holding hands but i liked to have them as a saftey precaution. it depends how busy the streets are round your house, i suppose. i much preferred to have dd walking/being carried to do local shopping than stuck in her buggy.

Teuch · 29/01/2008 15:03

reins? fab...keep the upright without hindering too much, and letting them feel independent, let you secure them into highchairs/trolleys where the straps are buggered...

Loved mine!

If you don't, then just carry them around in the change-bag for a while and don't use them.

But they ain't 'horrid'

Gitch · 29/01/2008 15:04

naily doesn't like them, bumble, it's not just you. (it's you and weirdy naily).

Teuch · 29/01/2008 15:04

by that I mean, people are unlikely to think you are cruel for usng them!! Didn't mean it to sound so abrubt

MeMySonAndI · 29/01/2008 15:04

I found them very useful to teach DS to stay near me. He hardly wore them. I used to say, if you go away again I will use the reigns for 2/3 minutes. A couple of times did the trick all right

BumblBeee · 29/01/2008 15:04

"ps the little boy i saw bring knocked down was OK in the end."

Oh thank goodness.

I guess she is just trying to be helpful.

I haven't seen anyone use them since the 1960's. I didn't even think they made them still.

Maybe I don't get out enough!

OP posts:
Lubyloo · 29/01/2008 15:04

I would rather use reins than have DD run into a busy road. If I didn't have reins she would be strapped in her pushchair all the time. They are great and DD loves them.

DiamandaGalas · 29/01/2008 15:04

No, they don;t get scared for life.

My little bro used to run and find interesting things to follow away from us EVERYTIME we went out.

He got lost in every holiday we went, every outing,
My mum was sick of calling the police to put a search for him. One day she discovered reigns she never looked back.

Some kids are perhaps not as good as the ones of the mums that are horrified. Considered yourselfs lucky your children are so well behaved!

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