So, DS walking outside for the first time, who's leading who???

[whoopwhoopdingding]

Is it just me to have found the coming home bit a big stress? I ventured out with DS (13m) today on his first mission outside. His mission, should he choose to accept it, to the postbox and back before tea. Accept it he did. With knobs on. All fine and dandy until the home for tea bit anyway. I foolishly let him continue for some more exploring which unsurprisingly resulted in a right paddy when we evenutally headed home. Now rod and back are terms springing to mind .

I thought I'd go with the flow, with gentle encouragement to go the direction we needed but was not prepared for the major tantrums. I think I have a very strong willed expoditioner on my hands....

And what's with the wrist strap versus reins? I went with reins as a) had some handy b)shiny new shoes so couldn't resist, and c) visions of dangling by one arm and pulling arm out of socket; but must confess to not having read up much on the pros and cons of either

I have reins for DS because he is a sprinter and a climber and I need all the help I can get! I think if I had a wrist strap I'd be dragging him around by one wrist (or being dragged myself).

Walks always take forever for us because he is off like a shot in every direction - ooh look, a cat! look Mummy, a cigarette end! - so if we go a mile in straight line distance, he probably walks 3.

Bless him on his first walk!

Thanks for posting hairy monster, and yes bless, twas very sweet (well the walking bit). I wonder what it is about wrist straps - are they for when they are bigger? Are there meant to be benefits over reins or are they just a newfangled thing?
Any tips on getting them back in buggy or back home without tears?

I just follow my DS around and turn him around if he goes too far towards something eg. a road. Are you walking on a pavement? ie. alongside a road?

I wish I knew... I just let him toddle until he gets tired! We regularly get those "scream scream, arch, go rigid" epics when I try and stick him in the buggy - he just has to yell, I'm afraid!

I love my reins I can just pick up ds when he's stropping, like someone out of thunderbirds.

Yes Quootie we're on a roadside pavement, and he's still very wobbly, imagining many a bruised chin incidents if unaided - am I overprotective do you think?

I hate this tantrumming in public thing, better get prepared for more though

LOL thunderbirds

What's the downside to reins then? How long to use them?

I can't see any downsides yet. Love them!

oh, ok... I'd use reins. DS won't have them on now (only used them twice I think) but I'm sure if you get them used to it early they would be ok. If you hold them slack and get him to stick to the pavement of his own free will then you can just use them as a backup if he suddenly darts towards the road or something.

Thanks all, I guess I'm wondering if there's a school of thought that's anti-reins, or if there's something to be aware of that I don't know about. I must say I found them quite a relief today, and DS too when nose-diving!

I think your thinking of when people slate reins because people use them in places where there is no need, it's just them being too lazy to run around after their kids ie. parks but walking along a road I wouldn't be without reins. They really are so quick, especially when they get abit older and more confident, and even if they trip into the road, your grip on the reins should hold them back.

I seriously considered getting one of those retractable dog leads for the park - clip it to DS, and he can run around in a large circle while I sit on the grass and read the paper

That's hilarious hairy monster!
And thankyou Quootie. TBH I wasn't really aware that reins were slated, though I can see that there may be an argument over them being used for too long? ie LOs being too used to having you there, cushioning every fall, or even restricting the amount of freedom/independence. Is this where wrist straps come in? Perhaps I've just answered my own question. Still not sure about the difference with wrist straps though, any wrist strap fanciers out there? Any tales of woe? of glee?

love teh image Hairyt, I've been tempted to that myself on days out in busy places with no traffic. I want to let him explore with out me hoovering but equaly I dont want to lose him.

I'm a big beliver in reins, its back up to hand holding/ buggy holding. Wrist straps I'm not so keen on as seems more stress on childs shoulders when they disagree with you on where to go. Also easier to get tight round neck if your child is as wriggly as mine when hes cross. Back pack with strap is just reins by another designer.

what have shiny shoes got to do with anything?

i'm so glad my dd is not the only one!
she is the only one of her friends walking and has been since 12.5 months (now 15months) and also seems to be the only one who has tantrums-is it connected? their dcs all sit there all quiet and dd has major tantrum when stopped from doing things or trying to escape out of any door!

I really don't know how to deal with the tantrums

it looks like dd is going to be very independant and love exploring....she will only hold hands if she needs help (or there is a tantrum!) how do i stop that?

she did get a backpack with stap thing for her birthday i'll have to dig out-it hadn't occured to me she was old enough

my ds isn't walking and has major tantrums if you move him away from where he wants to be or stop him doing what he wants to do.

yikes, i could've written that post myself! dd is exactly the same, she is now 15mths, and everything always ends in a tantrum at the mo!
she is v v v independant and strong willed, dont know how to deal with it, especially in public! just end up picking her up (although its like carrying a wet slippery wriggling eel!) and whisking her away!
i use reins when we are out and wouldnt be without them! without them dd would run away into oblivion i think!

how should you deal with tantrums?
Please tell me!! I need help

I'm a wrist-strap lover. I tried a harness but poor DS couldn't see it/get to grips with it and kept walking off and falling over.

He loves the wrist strap, especially as he sees me wearing it too. I only use it in the park though (have a double-buggy and can't leave my DD whilst I run around after DS, it's not laziness, honest). Not sure I would trust a wrist-strap on a busy road as they might just be able to slip their wrist out and run away.

Just re-read my last post - I mean that I wouldn't trust a wrist-strap on a busy road as I have two DCs, am sure if you're walking just the one child it would be fine.

What kinds of things does she have tantrums about mostly? I think you can premeditate them a lot of the time . my son (17 m) is very boisterous and strong willed so i tend to take him to places he has lots of space and lots of things to climb. i don't use reigns. T o get him back in the buggy i give him a drink or a piece of fruit or something... as for worrying about tantrums in public, i really wouldn't bother, all parents hav been through this but for some reason everyone likes to raise their eyebrows or comment.. i think the main thing is to keep calm yourself, don't speak just hold them until they calm down

Thanks all, soz for delay but been away from MN for a bit - a miracle in itself!

DS been walking out fine on reins, and he's generally accepting when it all needs to come to an end! The advice re manaaging tantrums was very helpful too