Are child reins a big faux pas?

[MerryMarigold]

My friend's child is constantly running off and I always declared mine (who is now just walking) will be on reins as soon as he's running. But I never seem to see people using them. Why not?

It's true they're quite unfashionable.
My kids once saw a boy in the park with reins and my dd said, 'Look mum. A boy on a lead'. His mum heard.

I used them. I like my children safe. But I have had a number of 'dog lead' type comments. Some people get awfully worked up about them. Not sure why.

They're a big faux pas in Belgium where I live, but I have seen them used in England. If you feel safer using them, then use them, and ignore what other people think.

Aha - there we go

they give me the creeps

but who care what people think? do you waht you think is best for you and your children

I use them. Stops dd2 falling so hard to as I can sort of hold her up by them. That sounds awful but I wouldn't be without them. I can't trust my 19mth old to know how to behave and she loves to walk. If I didn't have them she would be in her pushchair a lot more.

I can always be relied upon to uphold a prejudice.

Becky lol at 'I like my kids safe', cos most people far prefer putting them in mortal danger at every opportunity.

I use them with dd. She is 3 & spending more time out of the buggy, we walk everywhere & we cross lots of busy roads.

I like them...I feel secure using them.

As dd1 got older they were part of a punishment to teach her to walk safely ie if she ran off she knew she would be going back on the reins.

Not as big a faux pas as an absconding child/busy road interface.

I have used them, and the wrist strap thing.

If you want to use reins, use them now when he's walking, don't wait till he's running. Get him used to reins so he doesn't question them going on straight after his coat.

Well spidermama, I do see some children hareing off towards the road and I do wonder....

But yes, it was badly phrased!

I used to contemplate it. If you have a wandering toddler who makes a bee line for roads then it's a choice between reins or the buggy and surely reins would be better for them.

I guess it's due to lack of familiarity but I do always feel slightly shocked at the sight of a kid with reins.

We used to have them when we were kids and we used to swing on them.

skyler

both my dd's were out of buggies by age 2 and were taught to hold my hand when crossing the road. they are v good at walking to heel

I've been thinking about them recently, although my mum bought one of the wrist strap things - we tried it out and he went berserk. Mum said he just needed time to get used to it. I really don't think DS agrees.....

bugger other people. both mine had reins. (well, the wrist straps) in fact until about 6 months ago they were still in my bag in case i had to use them!

my kids are 6 & 7 but they are both autistic and limited sense of danger. what do i care if other people sneer? my kids couldnt whip their hand out of mine and leg it into the road!

its a safety issue. if you feel it is safer, then use them. it only takes a second for a child to wander, to pull their hand out of yours, for you to be distracted at the till........

Think I will be using them and having 'child on a lead'. I'm not actually a hugely protective (over protective) parent, but am a little absent-minded and can easily see myself taking my eye of him for a second and him getting lost. Also, yes it is better for him to learn to walk rather than be in buggy, I agree, hate the buggy.

sometimes I think they would be quite useful .. but I just never could use them .. I think they are a little crass tbh (sorry, its a visceral 'dog lead' reaction to them .. can't help it)

to be fair though neither of my children have really needed them . .more than on the occasional incident .. they both learned quite quickly about road safety .. maybe they were open to it .. maybe I totally hammered it home .. I don't know

but DD is 2.8 (DS now almost 6) and I've never needed so far

sometimes I think they would be quite useful .. but I just never could use them .. I think they are a little crass tbh (sorry, its a visceral 'dog lead' reaction to them .. can't help it)

to be fair though neither of my children have really needed them . .more than on the occasional incident .. they both learned quite quickly about road safety .. maybe they were open to it .. maybe I totally hammered it home .. I don't know

but DD is 2.8 (DS now almost 6) and I've never needed so far

nailpolish, dd's are i think (in general) slightly less wriggly and runny than boys...certainly the ones i know anyway.

erm, you do know they are supposed to be fastened round the wrist, right Twig?

lol at Marigold's girls are less wriggly and runny then boys - you obviously have never met my dd!

he heh heh .. with my kids I think a short sharp jerk on a chain might just work

maybe cos i never had a dog they are more acceptable! will it be less crass if he is wearing John Lewis clothes?

my girl is far harder work than my boy btw

but that's cos I'm not as good at this mothering lark as I was first time