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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

Reins - hate them but think might need them

48 replies

Hohumchops · 09/03/2010 09:16

My 13mth old is a competent walker and runner already (save for the occasional trip over) and is a right busy-body. He loves running about and walking on his own (not holding a hand) to the shop down the road. I know that reins seem the sensible option, but I don't see any kids with them any more - why is that? Any suggestions? Someone tell me it's my only option and tips on using them. Why am I so reluctant? How come no one else's kids need them?

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Original poster

Hohumchops · 09/03/2010 09:18

P.S DH and I are quite tall and DS is quite small, so hand-holding is quite tricky.

OP posts:

LadyintheRadiator · 09/03/2010 09:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CuppaTeaJanice · 09/03/2010 09:24

What's wrong with reins? Loads of people use them round here - in fact all the parents in town get given a free set at the child safety talk from the fire service.

I think they are great - you can hoist your nipper up as they trip to avoid them falling flat on their face, steer them in the right direction and away from the roads, you're not constantly stooping to hold their little hand, and they don't get a dead arm from holding it in the air for ages.

We still use them sometimes at 22 months!

Why are you so reluctant to use them?

Coffeebeanz · 09/03/2010 09:27

Reins ? Definitely use them or those wrist strap things, you can get them on ebay for nowt.

Not sure why you are so against them ??

EggyAllenPoe · 09/03/2010 09:28

i used reins - just for that bit when she could walk but wouldn't necessarily follow us - avoids many bumps and bangs. Very sensible.

there are some odd people who have ideas about it 'restricting baby's freedom' which is daft because - that's the idea! the alternative is to eternally be after them grabbing them which is no more liberating for them....but much more hassle.

you can get sets which are very soft and with longer straps for taller people - take a look on ebay.

CuppaTeaJanice · 09/03/2010 09:28

Oh, and the reason you don't see them much is because they are only used on children 1-2 years old on short trips, so most kids you see in the street won't be in this age group, or will be going longer distances so will be in a pushchair.

MrsBadger · 09/03/2010 09:29

lots of rein-users (inc me) round here

try a backpack

Original poster

Hohumchops · 09/03/2010 09:30

I just don't see any kids with them so am wondering why I think I need them and no one else appears to - what's different about my child or what I think. The wrist straps say they are for 24mths+ not opened a packet as are sealed, but think they may not be long enough or perhaps small enough for his wrist

OP posts:

Rubyrubyruby · 09/03/2010 09:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

Hohumchops · 09/03/2010 09:33

I was in a shopping centre yesterday and DS was having a great time running around in an empty bit and was fairly easy to control as no roads, but didn't see any other kids of similar age out of pushchair - is it cos people in SE just drive or use pushchair and those of you who see them a lot live in areas where people walk more?

OP posts:

RunningOutOfIdeas · 09/03/2010 09:35

I also used a Little Life backpack with my DD. Until recently she loved wearing it and would choose a small book to carry in it. It was really useful for several months because she did not like holding my hand all the time.

DD is now 22 months and at the moment the back pack is not so useful. She likes to carry it but usually does not want to wear it. However she is happier to hold my hand now.

CuppaTeaJanice · 09/03/2010 09:37

I live in the South East too!

LadyintheRadiator · 09/03/2010 09:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

Hohumchops · 09/03/2010 09:40

Thanks Lady. I have just had a look and there seems to be a wide range of styles.

Think will have to get some as it does seem the sensible option. We were thinking about getting one of the trikes for short journeys with him, but actually, yes, that is just constraining him in another way and not allowing him the exercise.

OP posts:

babyphat · 09/03/2010 09:42

i love my littlelife backpack, got it cheap on e-bay. i
don't care if people don't approve - my 18month dd won't hold hands and we live in London so v busy roads. i think most people near me just don't let the kid out the buggy until they are old enough to not need the reins, but i want dd to get some exercise!

Twinkster · 09/03/2010 09:45

I hated reins (make child look like a dog, curtailing their freedom to explore, etc, etc, etc, etc). However, I decided I didn't much want DS to have the freedom to explore the underside of buses on the main road, so bought some reins. They were fantastic. He got the exercise he desperately needed, and I knew he was safe. Fab.

CMOTdibbler · 09/03/2010 09:50

I used reins too - when DS was of an age to want to walk, but wouldn't hold hands nicely/understand about crossing roads.

Worked perfectly for us, kept DS safe. He liked being a horse with reins, so didn't object

MrsBadger · 09/03/2010 09:55

a child on reins has way more freedom than a child in a pushchair, which, safety-wise, is the only viable alternative

neolara · 09/03/2010 09:58

The people who are snooty about reins are, IMO, people who haven't had bolters.

bruffin · 09/03/2010 09:59

Doesn't anyone use the reins as a safety harness in the push chair or high chair anymore?
I used to have a set for the pushchair and another for highchair. The clipped onto the d ring on both. Also meant if the got out of the pushchair they already had the harness on and only had to clip the strap on.

Undercovamutha · 09/03/2010 10:04

Don't agonise about it. If you think they may be useful, buy them and try them.

I agonised long and hard about both dummies and reins. What actually happened was that baby DD refused the duumy anyway, and when she was a toddler she used to flop on the floor whenever I put the reins on her, rendering them useless. My only option, other than dragging her along the floor by the reins, was to work hard on the hand-holding.

MrsBadger · 09/03/2010 10:09

I did just the same in the pushchair, bruffin

MindySimmons · 09/03/2010 10:17

Another vote for the Little Life backpack - please don't even give it a second thought, you know your little one and if your ds is a runner, it is very sensible and responsible to be thinking about them. I live in Bristol and see lots of kids with the backpacks - when dd had one, people used to comment on how cute they were rather than scorns of disapproval!

nubbins · 09/03/2010 11:09

I'm in the south east and I use reins and love them so much i have 3 lots. one in my bag, one in the car and at one time had one attachted to the pushchair.

it's so much easier to carry shopping and hold onto reins than it is to keep hold of a tiny wriggly hand.

ScarlettCrossbones · 09/03/2010 11:13

Yes, I was soooo snotty about reins too ... before I had kids!
They're invaluable.

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