What do you do if your four-year-old insists on running off in a shop and you don't have enough spare hands to stop him?

[iwouldgoouttonight]

That's it really. Just been to M&S and he just decided he was in a naughty mood and just wanted to run while we were waiting to pay. Telling him to stay still didn't work. Ignoring him didn't work - he just ran far enough away so I couldn't see him. Even tried distracting him by making jokes about big pants (we were near the ladies underwear dept).

I ended up with him in a kind of headlock between my legs while I tried to hold onto several pairs of school trousers and tried to get my purse out of my bag. He just wriggled and screamed and it just felt as though there must have been a better way of handling it but I don't know what!

Reins or in the case of when my 5 year old vanished without telling me baby reins.

Ask for help.

Distract him.

Reward/bribe.

bribery or blackmail

Another Smiths name!!!

Reins.

I think you handled it very well. a headlock between the legs is the perfect solution.

If you got down on your hands and knees in M&S you would see just how boring it is for short, young people.

I think we need a MN campaign to make M&S interesting for children during July/September.

agree, reins or wrist strap.
DD1 hates them just me threatening her with them makes her cling to me.

Reins. My DS is 3.9 and still has to go in the pushchair for town as he won't stay in one place. Once he's school age I will put his reins on if he's still a 'bolter'

Headlocks do the job though.

I hadn't thought about reins - thought he was too old for them but think they might be a good idea, or certainly a wrist strap. Otherwise I end up grabbing hold of his wrist while he tries to prise me off.

Just realised how many times I used the word 'just' in my first post!

I used a wrist strap for my ds until he went to full time school. It gave me real peace of mind. He was happy on it. He is now 7 and if he doesn't behave I use it as a consequence.

reins or a wrist strap. I seem to have developed a knack for walking with my 5 year old wedged between my legs

the other thing to do is use a trolley that can be abandoned. Sounds like all you had was one DC with you and were piled high with shopping....?

He is too old for them. That's why it works
I told DD that only small children and babies who can't listen run away, so if she runs away she must be a baby and has to wear the strap. Instant compliance.

I use the Little Life toddler daysack - from John Lewis. It's a little rucksack with a strap attached so that your child is on a rein but it doesn't feel like it.

It goes on their back and clips around the waist. You hold on to the strap. Highly recommend it.

Baby reins.

pushchair if you've got a runner

Had a similar problem, I told DS that he had to hold my hand in case I got lost.

Mostly? Shout like a bastard until people tut...

And next time: lay down law - you will be holding his hand at all times UNTIL he shows you he can walk nicely and stay nearby. And when he does manage it for 2 whole minutes, bribe reward with sticker, lolly etc.

Definitely take reins with you wherever you go for the next little while and make sure he sees them in your bag, "I've had to borrow X's baby reins that her baby wears because she isn't grown up enough to listen or be sensible... I do hope I won't have to use them on a 4-year-old" etc. etc.

I did this with my 4-year-old DD after she'd had a strop when I was heavily pregnant because I'd asked her to do something highly unreasonable such as hold my hand on the main road. The reins came everywhere after that for a few weeks and my OTT checking that the reins were in my bag each time (or sending her to fetch them) was a strong enough reminder to her that she didn't want to wear them.

Stop going to M&S with you children. Seriously.

I have never forgiven my Mother for days out in 'Markses' looking at the same fucking thing over and over again. yes, he's only 4, but he will grow to hate you for this

I clearly remember being about 4yo in Oxford M&S, screaming my lungs out, begging someone to pay me attention while my Mum looked at knockers. Obviously I got ignored but gah I was desperate to get out of the hell hole!!

Oh, for fucks sake... KNICKERS! not knockers..

LOLOL at your mother looking at Knockers in M&S, Jareth.

I have a wanderer, rather than a bolter and do anything to avoid taking him into town. Online shopping, getting Granny to babysit.

I did try out these fab tattoos which do not stop him getting lost, but give me the feeling that at some time I might get him back if I wait long enough. And have my mobile switched on.

I find saying "Bye, I'm going this way" brings my 4yo DS back when he's heading off in another direction.

He's not too bad though and rarely runs off these days (He prefers to hide now. He giggles while he's hiding though so he's easily found) but up until about 6 months ago I kept one of the wrist strap reins in my bag and would threaten to put it on him if he didn't keep hold of my hand or my bag if my hands were full.

I used to ignore it, or said 'OK, bye, see you later'. They always came back.

BUT I knew they wouldn't go far, and that they would wander back. One of my friends had a child who would just run, and not stop. Ignoring and playing it cool was definitely not appropriate for them.

Beware that the "bye i am going this way" thing can back fire. DS2 is quite willing to carry on walking where ever he was going. he doesn't actually care that we are not there.

Good lord, Ghoul. They're breeding I tell you! thereisalight will be along any minute...

If you're aim is good, tranquiliser darts are helpful.

Other than that, screaming like a bastard and headlocks are the only way