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Reins for twins

8 replies

Waterdropsdown · 02/02/2018 09:59

Does anyone have any experience of using reins for twins? I’m thinking of buying some and not sure whether to get 2 separate ones or special twin ones.

I’m so keen to be able to go out to the car not using the buggy, we’ve bought a second buggy to keep in the car but in order for that to have any benefit I need to get my 15 month olds out to the car and strap them in without using a buggy. Might use them some other times but I was thinking primarily for this car situation that I find so very irritating.

Anyone have a recommendation?

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user1473337123 · 02/02/2018 10:02

I used the Little Life rucksacks for my girls as they hated reins and felt more grown up with ruck sacks. Although be prepared to be pulled in opposite directions at the same time!!

HamNJam · 02/02/2018 10:15

I used 2 pairs of separate reins. I've also heard of parents-of-multiples using a third pair to link them up together, but I've not tried that technique.

When my twins walked a bit more, we used a single buggy with a buggy board as backup - one twin sits for the outward journey and they swapped for the return journey home. The walking twin would have reins on, looped to the buggy so they couldn't stray too far but I'd not need to hold onto them constantly. I also taught them to hold on to the side of the buggy as they walked.

For your irritating car situation, do you mean that's where the buggy is stored? So how to get the kids into it when the buggy isn't in the house?

If so, I would pop both kids in the back seat area of the car, then close the door whilst I go round to the boot and get the pushchair and set it up. Then I'd get Twin1 out, close door or block the doorway with my body whilst strapping Twin1 into pushchair. Once Twin1 is secure, allow Twin2 out of the car.

Btw I always always put their reins on inside the house, before we went outside. I was paranoid that my kids would make a run for it Grin

Waterdropsdown · 02/02/2018 13:53

Thanks guys. Sounds like the individual ones are better. I think plain ones would suit me best as I would want to keep them on if they were to go in buggy so the bags might get in the way.
HamnJam we just bought a second buggy to keep in the car as I find it so hard lifting up the mountain buggy into the boot. I wanted to just leave the new buggy in the car only to use when out in the car (we live in London so very often don’t use the car) but in order to leave the buggy in the car I need the kids to walk out to the car which is parked on a road! It’s such a faff strapping then into a pram just to go to the car! That’s a good idea about getting both into the car strap one in their seat then get the other in their seat.

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ScrunchyBook · 02/02/2018 13:59

My twins are 17 months and I have just started using reins for them. We got just basic reins from Boots.
If I'm going to let them walk wherever we are going, I make sure we put them on before we go (so they are wearing them in the car seat/pushchair).
Getting them back into the car when they're both walking is a little tricker than when they are in the pushchair. My method so far is to walk them both back to the car, shove one twin into the passenger seat (and shut the door so they are trapped). Get other twin safely into car seat, then retrieve first from the front seat.

Pennywhistle · 02/02/2018 14:01

We used reins immediately they could walk at 10 months. One of mine was a runner so being able to hold onto the reins in one hand was a real benefit.

Reins also makes strapping them into the car easier as you can hold on to one while strapping the other in.

I used to keep their reins on even in the car seat so that I could hang in to them as soon as I got them out.

We didn’t use back pack reins until they were much older (eg 2.5) because they wouldn’t stop a determined runner giving you the slip! We used them mostly on day trips to stop them getting lost/separated in busy places.

I did receive a few rude comments from friends/random people in the street about using reins.

My answer was always a polite “do you have twins?” The answer was always an embarrassed “no”. Grin

slippermaiden · 02/02/2018 14:04

I tried it, my mother in law gave me a set from a charity shop and a friend lent me a pair... we got half way up the street with one twin eager to walk, and the other one stopping to look at every leaf, brick and insect on the way. Never used them again! Grin

Waterdropsdown · 02/02/2018 14:17

Thanks everyone. Great idea about putting one in the passenger seat!
I’m going to buy 2 sets of single reins from John Lewis, they only cost £14 for the pair so it’s not the end of the world if it doesn’t end up working out! Smile

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Pennywhistle · 02/02/2018 19:32

Slipper but why was that the fault of the reins? Sounds like a normal walk with toddlers to me! Grin

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