Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6

Original poster

Are child reins a big faux pas?

142 replies

MerryMarigold · 26/01/2007 14:51

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?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

fishie · 26/01/2007 20:43

i live on a busy road so had always expected to use reins. but i found that ds kept falling over because they upset his balance so have stopped using them. he is very good at holding hands as a result - no holding, no walk.

rachfran · 26/01/2007 20:48

I use them all the time for my DD who is 20 months. She does not go in her pram so walks every where. she loves them and often brings them to me to put on her when we are in the house!

flutterbee · 26/01/2007 21:02

I use them on DS who is 14 months and never had any doubt about using them.

It wasn't that long ago that everyone used them it just happens to have gone out of fashion.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Families General parenting

joeysmum · 26/01/2007 21:45

I use them all the time for my 16 month old DS - he's very independent and doesn't like to hold my hand, so it gives him a bit of 'freedom'. I'd rather that, than the potential consequences of him running off etc.

kickassangel · 26/01/2007 22:05

gosh, it never even occured to me that there was anything wrong with reins. as soon as dd could walk we got her some, don't need them now, but when she was only 1 it hurt her arm to hold hands for long. reins let her learn to walk safely, and meant we didn't have to take the buggy everywhere. even at 18 months she happily walked a mile or so round town without complaint.

snorkle · 26/01/2007 23:21

Message withdrawn

adath · 27/01/2007 13:19

I used them on DD when she first started walking outside as she was still quite young I held her hand but kept the reins round my wrist until she made a bolt for it I always had a hold.
Never used them for very long at all she was good at holding hands. I don;t like them particularly but I do think they have a place. I had a friend who had her son in reins for years as she had no control over him. Rahter than use the safety of the reins to teach him road sense or that he had to hold her hand she always relied on them to keep him safe.
I used them again in the same way skyler did when DS was born. By then DD was walking everywhere and when I was shopping beside a busy main road I could not take the risk of her running off as it was harder to chase her with a new baby in toe too. I never put them on her to leave the house they were always there though if she ran off she would be warned once more an the reins go on and if she did they did. I think I only used them then for about a fortnight and from then on she always walked beside me and they have never been out since. I would use them again on DS in the same way.

There are always people out there that think something other parents do is wrong, some people hate pushcairs, some think people using slings and co-sleeping are wrong. We just have to do all these things including using reins responsibly and do what is best for our family situation.

adath · 27/01/2007 13:21

And just to add I have had several people compliment me on using reins for being poractive in keeping DD safe rather than caring what people thought.
Not that she would not be kept safe not on reins but you know what I mean.

bettythebuilder · 27/01/2007 13:39

Dd never got on with her reins (she would just swing rather annoyingly on them) but the best use I found for them were on buses (especially holiday transfers when you rarely get a bus with seat belts).I'd put them on her and loop them over the seat back.

susandk · 27/01/2007 23:43

Glad I found this site. I still use reins on my 7 yr old daughter. She is a wanderer. I have gotten some very nice comments too. I really don't care what others think, reins provide me peace of mind when we are out.

tigertum · 27/01/2007 23:58

I think reins are great! My DS has been a strong walker since he was about 15 months. I have often taken him out on reins alone and ditched the pushchair, carring him when he gets tired. It's not easier for me, the pushchiar would be, but he absolutely loves it. We go at his pace, tuck them in when were at the park so he can run around. He loves being on his feet, stopping and looking at streetlights, signposts, hedges - all the things toddlers his age find intersting. We have taken him for walks in the wood on them, entire days out at theme parks. I am quite amazed that there are those out there who think they are a Faux Parr? I don't see that many other people using them, but then I dont see that many toddlers on foot.

I say use them, they're great!

Gemmitygem · 28/01/2007 02:41

I think reins are great for toddlers, but a bit surprised someone would use them on a 7 year old girl, that really seems a bit extreme..

mumfor1standfinaltime · 28/01/2007 03:12

I used them for a while when ds started to walk 'properly' around 18m. This is mainly because I live next to a river and in an open plan area, so there are no boundaries/fencing. I can't swim and so I would always worry when we went for our little walks by the river!
He is now 2 and I don't use them. He happily holds my hand (at the moment!)
I have no objection to them at all.

I tried those wrist straps but didn't feel safe using it.

Jimjams2 · 28/01/2007 08:53

I use them with my 7 year old son when he either has to wait whilst I pay for something, (so I need two hands), or I have ds3 with me (aged 2) who needs me to hold onto him as well. DS1 is severely autistic and we have a special large set from Crelling harnesses. People gawp, but a)they gawp anyway if he's trying to get away and I'm trying to pin him down whilst I pay for something and b)had too many near misses with traffic.

Gemmitygem · 28/01/2007 13:08

I didn't mean to criticise you, Jimjams, I can see there is a need if your son is at risk of wandering off, but otherwise I would have thought 7 was quite old for reins. Mind you, reins might be good for the teenage years..

my DS is only 3 months, so not time yet, but we already have a set!

PeachyClair · 28/01/2007 13:37

Have used them at the toddler stage for all mine, and they were safer or it- especially important in big famillies I feel, as you only have so many hands. Also am gettinga set for ds1 who is AS, as he DOES runa way, but how would you tell the difference between him and another kid on the street? COz ds1 is probably much mroe able to most people's eyes than Joe Bloggs.

Bodkin · 29/01/2007 10:20

Would have loved to have used reins with DD - but everytime I tried, I felt like a puppetteer, with DD dangling limply by my side - she just would not stand up or walk with them on.

I actually saw once at a steam fair, a woman with her DS (about 3) with reins on, and attached to that, a retractable long dog lead. Personally, I thought it was a great idea in that situation - he could wonder on ahead, she safe in the knowledge he wasn't going to get lost. Or am i "barking" (ho ho) mad?

gegs73 · 29/01/2007 10:35

I thought they were great with ds. I used them until he was about 2.2/3 months old. Saved him from running into busy roads many a time. He held onto the pushchair whilst I held his reign at the same time.

Don't really need them now but they were a life saver at the time. Don't know why everyone doesn't use them.

bitzermaloney · 29/01/2007 10:45

I have no objection to reins in principle and can see they might be a good idea.

And I know we shouldn't care what other people think or how it looks... but when it comes to the time (ds is only 6 months atm) I do wonder whether walking down the road with two dogs AND a toddler all on leads would make me look somewhat like I was a tad confused...

LittleBoSheep · 29/01/2007 10:45

Your choices

Put your child in the buggy so he gets no excercise

Walk without reins risking your child running into the road (with irreversible consequences)

Use the reins - DC gets to use the little legs and is safe.

I cant understand why anyone would get upset about it, the children certainly dont, it just makes walking with them so much more enjoyable. At the end of the day if anyone says anything its none of their damn business anyway.

I used a playpen too (yes I know im spawn of the devil) the children LOVED it, they were very upset when I sold it on as it was "basecamp"

caterpiller · 29/01/2007 11:05

Pc-ness gone mad again????

Tortington · 29/01/2007 11:08

whatever gets you through the day.

seriously if you really give a shit about what other people think - your lifes gonna be a tough one.

if reins float your boat - help you get out of the house
beat depression
meet other people

etc etc then fuck 'em all

i personally think they look dreadful BTW.

i always did compulsory hand holding - but then either my kids were very good

or ( and more likley)

i instilled fear.

nowt wrong wi' that me thinks.

AlanasMum · 29/01/2007 11:09

I use reins on my 13 months year old I didn't even make the dog connection but then my mum used reins on all six of us kids so I guess I got used to it.

I think we read too much into such things.

tinkerbellie · 29/01/2007 11:21

i would have loved to have used reins with success formy ds he is five now and well behaved when out out (apart from the "i wants"), but when he was 18 mths to about 3 he was awful always runing off in shops etc but evrytime i put the reins on he would just go limp and i would have to drag him along...soo annoying.
luckily he was well behaved outside just in shopping centre etc he was like satan!!

am hoping to use them with dd, i would much rather not lose my child or have my child knocked down because some small minded people can't keep their comments to their selves

would have loved a playpen butno room and they screamed their heads off when the safety gate wsa shut

what are they going to say next, that we shouldn't use cots cos they are like prisons....there will lots of babies going to a and e

Fubsy · 29/01/2007 11:25

I tried to use them, but DD just dangled on the end and I ended up dragging her - funnily enough my old dog did the same when we began lead training her as a puppy!

Eventually went back to holding hands and shouting when she ran off (DD, not the dog).

Of course reins arent PC - they all want you to believe that teir children would never be so badly behaved as to need reins (which is why they're nailed into their buggies then).

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6

Swipe left for the next trending thread