Do people still use reins?

[violentvioletx]

DC 19 months old Wants to do nothing other than walk everywhere. It's difficult to hold hands whilst walking as still slightly too short. DH wants to get some reins but something about them makes me feel uneasy. Do people still use reins? Or are they frowned upon? If you didn't use them how did you cope with a squirming toddler whilst out and about?

My boy's only a bit older than yours and we've been using regular reins for a while because he literally won't stay still A N Y W H E R E.

We do get looks but it's not terribly bothersome, only because the alternative is just too exhausting (running after them constantly).

The ones in the pic are only about £5 from Morrisons and you can just undo one side to make the strap longer, i.e. give them a little more freedom.

The only thing I would advise for a first-timer is watch out when they pull away as hard as they can and then stop pulling suddenly... Need to be quick to catch their weight else they'll sink like a stone on to the hard floor while you're trying to pay at the till

I use them. Don't care what anyone thinks, it's a better solution than DD throwing a strop in her buggy or running into the road.

Yep. Another proud owner of child reigns. (Sod the haterz)

I used reins with both of mine but because they "lead" bit was so short and dc wanted to run I attached extendable dog leads. In a shopping centre when there were only a few people about they could run around but I ultimately was in control

I use them with my toddler and they are great especially in busy situations as it gives them a little freedom and you the confidence they're not running off into danger. I've only had one comment when I had baby in a sling, toddler on reins and dog on a lead but we were at a harbour and if I didn't trust my dog not to run off chasing seagulls then I certainly wouldn't trust my toddler not to do the same and potentially fall in!!

we have a backpack with a lead, I'd rather this than loose him or him shoot off under a car and die.

I don't care what people think, I have a bolter and I make sure he just can't bolt, he is getting better now that he is 2 and can understand what I am asking him to do, so I can see the end of the reins in the upcoming months.

I used to swear by them with mine when they were really little, not so much for the sake of running off (definitely a couple of occasions that they helped with that) but more tripping. I managed to keep them from falling flat on their face a million times over!

Neither of mine were particularly fussed on being pushed around so walked everywhere from being about 16 months.

Never really understood what it is about reins that gets people's backs up but it's the same with everything. Once had some old woman tut at me as I walked along the river with my son in his reins, he was only just starting to toddle. He was behaving and he was safe, I couldn't grasp what her issue was. It annoyed me at the time, but as my gran always says "if you're overly-opinionated you're probably uneducated".

I used them. Dd was a bolter and we live near a main road. If someone else frowns on it that's their issue. We used to call them her lead.

I use reins. Wouldn't have been able to cope pushing a baby in a pram whilst letting my older child walk otherwise. Don't care what other people think, doesn't affect their lives.

Don't like the backpack style though, much prefer the traditional style and you can buy them for about a fiver.

agree with mrsteapot about the tripping: reins are brilliant

also, a child who throws himself down in a tantrum won't get hurt if restrained by traditional reins: if he is holding your hand his shoulder can dislocate (knew someone that happened to)

also all the points made above by other posters about bolters

the beauty of reins is that you can allow a child a far wider range and more freedom than if you have to hold them by the hand

the people I knew who did not use reins on their bolters kept strapping them in the buggy until they were school age or very nearly

I never understood why that was less restrictive

I have the trunki toddlepak ones for dd, I found the back pack ones a bit bulky so you have to take them off in the park etc but the trunki ones you can just take of the 'leash' bit. I've never noticed any snotty looks but I would just glare back if I did, dd is fast, not keen on hand holding and really it only takes a second of distraction and she could be in the road, in the duck pond, in someone's garden etc etc!

I used backpack reins for a bit. Must admit I didn't find them very useful as its not as easy as walking a dog! Child tries to walk in all sorts of directions and you can end up getting nowhere!
There will always be someone who tut tuts at reins, but then again pretty much everything will be criticised by somebody. The backpack was very useful for carrying drink and snack and we used it long after the reins came off.

Another vote for the little life backpacks here. I probably used ours in a slightly different way, I would put the lead part over my wrist and still hold (or at least try to) toddler's hand, so she learned to hold hands but I had back up when she slipped out my grasp.

It then became invaluable when I had DC2 and had to travel alone with both DC, buggy and luggage as I could slip the rein over buggy handle, one hand on buggy, one on suitcase and although 3 year old was instructed to hold onto buggy I knew there was a back up and she couldn't get lost in a crowd.

But yes to people being weirdly opinionated on them. Particularly non-Brits as others have mentioned. I overheard someone say that my DD was 'un petit chien' and smirk. If anyone dared comment to my face like above I'd be using the 'better than under a bus' line without hesitation.

Get a LittleLife backpack. I hardly used it with ds until he was 4 and tried sit-down protests - he hated it so "walk or backpack" worked.
With escape artist dd it was a godsend for a couple years. She loved it and wore it even when we didn't need the leash.

I live near an A road in a city, and almost all parents use them for a while. You can train your child to go "woof woof" and pretend to be a dog, to wind up the non-parwnts who think they look bad.

*the people I knew who did not use reins on their bolters kept strapping them in the buggy until they were school age or very nearly

I never understood why that was less restrictive*

excellent point!

I see loads of toddlers with reins of all types round where I live in SE england. Never heard any negativity. We bought a little life backpack for DD when she was about 15m and very spontaneous but she didn't like wearing it and was happy in the buggy... Now 6m later she does like wearing the backpack but doesn't need the reins as she's very good at holding my hand (even when we're in the park and i tell her she can walk by herself). I wouldn't hesitate to use them if I needed them. Am wondering about putting them on her when she's scooting...
Although I bought the little life thing I actually thing the trunki reins look the most sturdy.

We also had the little life back pack. I used it from around 15 months - 2.5. I also used to just have the loop round my wrist and made him hold my hand, but I liked the back up of knowing if he did bolt I could protect him from the massively busy road!

At one point I was 38 weeks pregnant with dc2 and had a broken ankle. I needed that back pack!!