Reins - yay or nay?

[ApplesTheHare]

Do/did reins help you?

DD is 12 months and a full on bolter. She can walk, run and climb stairs, but is too small to hold our hands or learn road safety. Would reins help?

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MNHQ

I used reins when DD was still having balance issues!
I used a rucksack with a rein attached when she was older and I wanted her to be safe toddling a bit ahead and having some freedom but not ending up under a car.

*judgey

Yes and definitely preferable to strapping a walking toddler into a pushchair to control them.

As pp say the window you need them for is quite short and depends on where you are, temperament of DC and how many other things / DC you have to consider.

If you have a bolter then it's a definate yes.

Neither of mine had them as they were both were very good at hand holding. When he was a little older and DS wanted to run i always gave him strict instructions on where to stop and he was very good at stopping. So we'd go from lamp post to postbox and so on.

I haven't started using them yet, but I'd feel much more comfortable taking my DTs out with reins than trying to watch them both all of the time.

This thread, the fifth post.
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/parenting/2239765-Road-safety-for-toddlers
I never used to like reins much. Then I had kids, early walkers who could not be reasoned with. Reins were a sanity saver (and probably a life-saver too)

Yes definitely use reins.

I've told my story lots of times on here, but whenever I see a reins thread I can't help myself.

In 22 days, it will be 31 years since my son died because his dad didn't put his reins on him,

He wasn't a bolter, but his dad was distracted by his twin sister, it only takes seconds to put them on and seconds for them to be under a car...which would you prefer?

I hate seeing toddlers without reins, no matter how careful people think they will be without them, it takes seconds, just 2 or 3 seconds to change your life forever

Please, please use them!

Oh sorry Felyne bit of a cross post there

Yes I always remember that poster Felyne a tragic story which hopefully sharing helps save another little one's life.

I am a childminder.. I do not discuss reigns with my parents..If I am not confident they will walk next to me hold on or not bolt.. they wear reigns..It is my job to keep other peoples children safe in my care.

It was you I was thinking of MrsPresley when I posted. Your post still haunts me today.

So sorry to read your story MrsPresley .

Please do not give a moments consideration to anyone else's judgement and just make sure your children are safe.

Absolutely yay for reins-if only for the comedy value of being able to lift your toddler like a puppet
I had the leather Winnie the Pooh ones (they're still in the cupboard and eldest is 18!) as I have a coach built silver cross Pram and needed reins for them sitting up in the Pram

We used to walk with DD along an unmade road. Reins prevented scraped knees and hands many a time.

I genuinely don't understand why anyone would be negative or judgey about using them.

Yes definitely. Though I pop the loop on my wrist so I can still "teach" DS that he needs to hold my hand. Then when he gets road savvy enough for them to come off he will still know to hold my hand. However for the moment if he does decide slip through my hand and make a run for it I still have the reins as back up.

Yes.

They're a potential lifesaver.

Used them with DS2, who has ASD until he was almost 7.

I used them a lot with my 2 tearaways. I can't imagine how I'd have coped without reins.
I even remember the ones my mum used to keep me safe - blue leather, with a rabbit on them.

I had them for twins, they had longer handles and could attach to a belt, so totally hands free.
A nursery near us has a long ribbon, think bigger thicker! it has holes in, Which the little kids put their hand through and walk along... about 8 or so toddlers .. very sweet to watch!! All lined up, all holding on!

MrsPresley Your story was the reason I have bought my DS one of those rein backpack things in advance!

So sorry for what happened to your DS.

I'd never heard that people got judgey about this. Jesus. I think they're great. It gives my 18mo a little bit of independence. And I'd rather that constantly having to strap her into a buggy when she could be walking.

mrspresley thanks for keeping on reminding. So sorry for your loss.

Oh crumbs yes! Reins are a godsend. I use them on my almost 2 year old, although she's getting much better at holding hands, the pram etc. 18 months was a bit of a bolting age. But like having a small dog though!

We used one of those rucksacks, which has been fab, especially in crowded areas or shops. I didn't care if anyone was judgey about it. It made me feel safer when DD started to want to walk more and was less able to follow instructions.

Mrspresley

I used reins, usually in combination with hand holding. I used to loop my hand through the reins so they were around my wrist and hold the Biter's hand. The only time that differed was if we were somewhere exciting or when I had to push the push chair with DD2 in and DD1 and DS2 were walking alongside. They had the reins on and I had the reins, but they'd have to hold on to the side of the pushchair.

Reins are fantastic for giving a little bit of freedom, saving scraped knees and avoiding heart-stopping 'where are they?' moments. They are also useful in handbags as a threat when they get older and go through the old-enough-to-know-better-but-are-still-inclined-to-sprint-off phase. No 4 or 5 year old wants to be seen wearing baby reins because he can't behave and walk properly

Aw thank you all so much. I'd got it into my mind that there was something 'bad' about reins but they sound like exactly what we need. DD is only 12 months so totally useless at hand holding/following instructions but bolts the second you put her down (usually after 15 minutes of trying to hold onto her despite thrashing).

MrsPresley thank you so much for continuing to tell your story, I will buy reins today, I'm so sorry about your little boy

Nothing wrong with reins, we wouldn't be without ours. Dd1 won't hold hands for more than two minutes, won't listen, just wants to scamper about. So the reins go on and they are a life saver especially when pushing a pram as well! We have a buggy board too which is great but she often wants to walk and I think she should, it's good exercise for her. But reins - absolutely!