Baby reigns

[Mammadibambini]

I’m a single mum and my DD is very strong willed. She’s getting to grips with walking but she already is pulling her hand away and my reaction to this is to ask her her to hold my hand and if she refuses I carry her. (We don’t have a pram with us when out walking. Yes I know I could just wheel the pram around too but what a faff.) I don’t want to carry her. She’s picking up speed with her walking but is also still a bit unsteady especially if the surface isn’t perfectly flat.

would I be unreasonable to use reigns?
I’m a bit worried about restricting her movements but then also want to keep her safe. Any alternatives to using reigns?

Baby reigns supreme

Reins any day over a child squashed by a car. I don’t see the problem with them. I only use them when it’s needed (walking by a road or dangerous area) because of course I want him to learn to walk safely without needing them. But when they’re still so young and not aware of dangers and learning boundaries, it’s safety first.

DD massively preferred reigns to holding my had or being strapped in the buggy. She seemed to feel like she had some autonomy and I knew she was safe.
I had a few comments from people, but in general I heard more in support of reigns (usually from older people) than I heard negative ones (usually from people with no kids or very young babies).

I'm so glad other people remember MrsPresley. The worst thing possible happened to her and she's made sure it doesn't happen to other mums. I hope it brings her a tiny amount of comfort.

I'm shocked you not using reins already.... everyone around her does from moment they walk to around three

It massively pisses me off when people just look at a parent with a toddler on reins or in a buggy and think the parent is lazy/treating their child like a dog/not giving their child exercise. My son has severe autism and just sits on the ground or runs into the road randomly. It potentially puts other pedestrians at risk including their kids on the school run (narrow path on main road) if they're nearby or at the very least pisses them off as they stop them from walking ahead (no doubt they'd moan about that too).

Maybe my son doesn't look disabled enough for them and their cognitive miserliness/lack of critical thinking.

My son has to wear reins in school between lessons sometimes due to his bolting, running into others and autism. The teachers don't seem to have an issue with it. If it wasn't for reins he'd be missing or dead by now.

Exactly this. Why would you want to keep a dog safe but not a small child. No toddler is completely reliable and it only takes them making one mistake close to a road at the wrong time and they are dead

I had a dad have a go at me for using reins. He told me that if I couldn’t control my son, I shouldn’t allow him out of his buggy! CF!

I don't see the problem with reins. My little brother used to love bounding along on his own, yet he was still safe.

I did nearly give a couple of old ladies a heart attack once, I went charging towards the side of a ship. What they hadn't seen was that Dad had hold of me.

I'm not a single mum and I use reins! He's nearly 2, confident walker, runs, climbs just mastering jumping. Someday he will walk holding hands, some days its a battle. I use the rein backpack, loop the handle through my wrist then walk holding his hand. If he does let go and try to run he can't get far especially as we live on a very busy road but hes not pulling on the reins its more of a safety thing to get him used to walking at a pace and get him some road sense and patience when waiting to cross. I get judged I'm sure of it but I'm pretty sure I'd get judged more if I was the mum who's toddler ran in the road and got squashed. Running after him isnt always going to be an option as hes far too quick when he starts then it's too late plus when you start chasing him its become a game and then im fucked! He was a late walker (18 months) so he's not had much time out the pushchair until recently. It doesn't matter if you're single, parenting without this so called village (me) or a whole town of people to help, you do what you need to do and what you think is best for your child. My friend is on her third. 1st time using reins as DC3 is a runner!

I used a little backpack that looks like a stuffed animal with a tail for the reign for my 3 older kids, but this time around I can't find anything like that. Mine is a runner! Where should I look for these?

Reins - holding their hand up in the air for long periods of time to hold a grown up’s hand must be so uncomfortable for them, and it’s lovely she wants to walk and not be in the pram

We had the backpack ones. Safety is more important than others opinions. She will have plenty of free movement in the home, at parks and other safe spaces.

Surely on Amazon? But spell it correctly for more success? It's baby reins.

Absolutely! I saved a runaway Toddler a few years ago- Mum had head down in phone.
I used reins on my fast toddler- no shame, and if they fall, reins stop a nasty bang on forehead
Toddlers are head heavy.

I thought this was going to be a thread about 'princess' behaviour. Now I know it's about toddler restraint.

Agreed, Reins, Rains and Reigns so often get mis-spelled!

Reins- For guiding a horse or toddler
Rains- Precipitation from clouds
Reigns- What a King or Queen does

Well he clearly couldn't control his own mouth or manners. What is wrong with people?

I used the wrist rein on my son when he was a toddler. He was unimpressed and complained to the member of staff at the shop checkout that his arm was hurt (it wasn't, he was just miffed he could no longer get me to chase him up and down aisles).

Don’t be dense.
I’ve already said I was young and naïve.
Or do you just troll Mumsnet looking for people to criticise and belittle?
Wow

Just use reins. Would you rather your DD was kidnapped or she has slightly restricted movement. I know what I would prefer 🤷‍♀️

Oh please, no need to overreact. Of course I'm not looking to criticise, but what a thought to have.

I used them, meant dd1 could push her dolls pushchair whilst I pushed her sister, I looped them around my wrist. Better to be safe than sorry. They are only 2 years apart. Didn't use them much with dd2 but she was lazy and preferred the pushchair

And for those of us who had very small early walkers they have the added bonus of not stretching their hands uncomfortably (mine walked at 9 & 10 months but obviously had no common sense!)

Little Life back pack reins 💯 they love choosing what to put in them, bring some toys and snacks, they don't get run over. Brilliant.