Reins - 3 year old holiday

[firsttimemxm]

Hi my dd is quite a danger to herself, absolute wild child, no sense of danger, doesnt walk just runs, prone to wondering off etc the only way to keep her safe when out is usually a buggy. We got one of those backpack reins for asda and that seemed to do the trick and worked on hand holding whilst on strap. We’re going on holiday and i dont feel that those bags are safe enough for longer walking journeys can be quite flimsy at times. Does anyone have any suggestions between full harness reins / wrist straps? I’ve seen some spring wrist reins on amazon but just worried someone could easily cut the wire or how effective this is to stop danger when just pulling a spring wire? Tia

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I have reins from smyths- think they were about £8. You can make them smaller so they are nearer to you. They've worked with my DD and she doesn't even realise she has them on.

My reins were leather.

We had the clippasafe walking harness one (less the £10 on Amazon) you can have it doubled as a short loop, or a longer to give them a bit more space, but it’s a fabric strap. I’d have been worried that the spring type ones would not allow me to pull my toddler back from something in an emergency, whereas the fabric ones don’t stretch so you can.
I still encourage holding my hand or walking close to me. Shouting stop didn’t always work, but ‘freeze’ was more effective, and reminding them of the behaviour I wanted immediately as we were leaving the house.

A bit like these but less posh. They were from Mothercare.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Leather-Harness-Silver-Balmoral-Kensington/dp/B0BYKCDVVV/ref=sr111?c=ts&keywords=Reins+for+Pushchairs&qid=1682692139&refinements=pnnfeaturefourrbrowse-bin%3A74709031&s=baby&sr=1-1&tsid=9641521031

I wouldn't head to Aldi unless they are advertising these as being on sale. Check the website for special buys

Mine had standard mothercare loop reins on a harness (harness doubles up to secure them in high chairs) I highly recommend for the wayward child

We users little life dinosaur backpack. Very sturdy and the backpack part held spare t shirt shorts and snack. Plus DS loved it thought it was so cool

Wrist reins always worried me because if they fall their could hurt their wrist. Personally I’d prefer backpack reins

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Trunki-ToddlePak-Toddler-Walking-Dinosaur/dp/B00PGHHITI/ref=mp_s_a_1_2_sspa?crid=1AWZYGYFO05PZ&keywords=harness+for+kids&qid=1682700696&sprefix=harness+for+kids%2Caps%2C153&sr=8-2-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9waG9uZV9zZWFyY2hfYXRm&psc=1

These are significantly stronger than the back pack style harness. Your child tends to be about 3 steps away from you. My DC was a major bolter and these were really good as its on the whole chest rather than on a bag that hoodini aka DC could simply remove.

Amazon has a lot of dubious safety products that are anything but safe.

I wouldn't buy anything off there unless you know 100% it's a product that you could pick up the exact brand/model in a proper UK shop where it's passed the right safety testing to be sold.

Reins are fine but but please don't use a wrist strap. They're awful.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Eidyer-Children-Adjustable-Fluorescent-Security/dp/B07QSQBT54/ref=asc_df_B07QSQBT54/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=309924724032&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=9738610398407988273&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1006886&hvtargid=pla-774156823914&psc=1

I use these ones. My daughter didn’t like the backpack ones and always tried to take it off. We use the wrist ones and they’re quite loose on her so doesn’t exactly cause ant issues.

If someone was trying to cut the cord and run off with your child, you’d realise. They can’t exactly go that far on the rain tbh

Get a pair of handcuffs. That way no one can cut through them and you'll be close to your child ❤️

The point of reins is to keep the nearby. You don't get long leads for kids, they aren't dogs. Walk with her if you want her to be able to explore further afield safely - that's what most parents do no matter how annoying it can be. A long lead strikes me as ridiculously dangerous too - people tripping over it as you sit there airing her like a dog, paying so little attention someone can cut the wire 🙄For someone who describes themselves as an anxious parent you do not seem very concerned about actually keeping an eye on your child.

Oh and don't get a wrist one, babies' joints are really not very strong and prone to dislocawtion so it's not a great idea to pull her by her wrist or her arm.

So overall, YABU.

We had no issue with the backpack type. Made it easy to practise holding hands while also having the backup of the strap.

You should get one of those poles you put in the ground so she can run around in a circle on the grass outside the hotel.

Seems you are after a retractable lead

OP, I understand you’ve explained you’re very anxious but I do think you should take on board what has been said here. No one is going to cut through your child’s reins while you’re walking with them. That’s actually a really extreme and obscure thought to come to your mind when considering purchasing them. I mean this kindly, but it you haven’t already you should consider seeking help for your anxiety.

Why is she always ‘secured in a buggy at home’, OP? Without any more context this seems extreme for her age.

Seems she's not looking for walking reins, but rather some kind of longer lead so she can air her toddler without being nearby apparently. Which, lead or not, isnt' exactly a great idea.

OP unless there is some massive drip feed about you not being mobile I am wondering this too. Stuck in a buggy at home (do you mean in your house?!), long lead to explore on holiday? What's this about? Most parents follow their toddlers around to allow them to move and explore safely. I am failing to see why your only options are restrain or a long lead?

I was thinking this too.

The option that the OP seems not to have considered is actually staying with her child, that's the best way for a toddler to explore.

I can see why you can't do that all the time and use a buggy or reins some of the time but keeping them in a buggy all the time is strange. And probably makes her more wild.

I have a "spirited" 3 year old too and I can't say it's fun to run around after him all the time, I definitely do sometimes put him in the buggy just to get somewhere fast, but he would go crazy if I never let him off the lead.

I had reins for two of my three who were good at doing a runner, usually as I was paying for things or otherwise engaged.
Last Childs was a Monkey backpack and the handle was the tail. worked great, she used to want it on backwards so she could hug the monkey. Monkey backpack

We had LittleLife backpacks which were great.

Just to clarify, with my daughters reins I hold her hand the whole time. She just has form for holding your hand, letting go and then running off. The reins just make sure that she can’t run off if she was to let go.

I certainly don’t drag my daughter by the reins!