Do you judge parents who use reins?

[sqirrelfriends]

Just that really. My toddler has recently started walking and is showing interest in being out of his pram when out and about. He is enjoying his newfound independence and will absolutely not hold my hand anymore so I'm worried about keeping him safe and close without having to constantly run after him.

I bought some reins but have been told since that some mums have been receiving nasty comments and have felt really judged for using them (it's like you're walking a dog, lazy parenting etc.)

I was really just wondering what your opinions of them were and if they wouldn't use them, what the reasons would be?

Tia

It took me years to grow a thick skin, I’d like to give people who say that ds4 when he was younger for a week.

Actually even now it’s hard to have a thick skin

@SinkGirl the judge will never stop. You only have to come on here to see the level that some people go to. If you mention on here that your kid has juice once in a while, your a terrible irresponsible parent and the kid should be taken off you 🙄 anybody would think your feeding your kid acid.

Nope you just have to stick two fingers up to the judgy haters. They think they know best and are perfect parents and look down on other parenting. Fuck em is my motto 🖕🏼

With all the judging I got from my mother, school gate parents and even teachers I have no idea how my two lads got to the age if 22 and 19 respectively, got decent jobs, lovely girlfriends, brilliant sense of humour, great grades,no real problems with the teenage years, care about both of us, tidy up after themselves,
respect their girlfriends etc In other words become two fully functioning humans that take responsibility for their actions.
How can this be? I used reins, we mixed fed them, they had McDonald's from time to time, they were given a lot of pocket money ( I got slated on here when I answered honestly how much they got) ? I allowed them to have the occasional beer at 15,I didn't go round screaming ' my house, my rules' but understand as they got older a house is a shared space and everyone needs to respect each other including parents tiwards children as they become young adults.I've done so many things that people get slated for on here.
I'm never going to win parent of the year, I, same as everyone else, have made mistakes but I didn't let the people who were negatively judging me away influence my feelings if I felt something was right. People like to pull you down, be smug or try to be superior to you. Fuck 'em!!!
My true friends didn't critise but they would gently offer advice and try and make me see the bigger picture ( usually it was along the lines of' pick your battles, this isnt one of them!)
Please parents, ignore the critics that aren't in your shoes,living your life. As my MIL used to say 'nod and smile darling, bugger them!'

I use them. I’ve had a few judgemental looks but I don’t care. My just turned 2 year old runs off. If he’s not in the mood he will not listen and I don’t want him getting hurt. I have a baby too so I need the 2 year old reins sometimes so I can look after both of them. Anyone judging me can quite frankly piss off.

Blimey, that was an essay, I was just musing some thoughts while I had a brew and biscuits!!
Anyway reins are great!!!

Nothing wrong with them. They kept my daughter safe when I was travelling by plane on my own with her, lugging luggage, a buggy and changing bag. Safety first and just ignore the people who feel they need to judge.

I had a 2 year old and 1 year old twins so more toddlers than hands. I thought twins were better than constantly using a buggy. They got wise to them though after a while and used to just sit down and refuse to move if they had them on.

I used reins for ds, & horror of horrors, an extending dog lead attached to his reins when we were at our caravan because there were lakes on the site & he was a little bugger for running off, it allowed him to think he had his freedom & me to know I could stop him if he made a bolt to see the ducks.

I used reins for DS and then a wrist link and then I kept that in my handbag for at least f

five years just in case.

Saved him from going head first down an escalator once in a department store, whilst I was paying dfor something. Not to mention the countless saves on narrow pavements by road with heavy traffic.

Even if they do judge (and I never had any comments more than 'I didn't know they still made them!'), DS1 also refused to hold hands, and was walking before he would reliably obey. Saved him a couple of times falling over too.

DS2 was calmer and easier, and held hands, so didn't use them for him. Horses for courses.

I had a 2 year old and 1 year old twins so more toddlers than hands

I wish I could buy you a big drink - I have no idea how you survived that!

@SinkGirl thanks. They are 16,15 and 15 now and the combined hormones are much more likely to drive me to drink than the terrible twos were

Can’t say I’ve ever noticed being judged. I have arthritis and a 2 year old who runs. I can’t move fast enough to stop him and while he’s quite content in his pushchair it’s good exercise for him to walk. He has a wee giraffe backpack with a strap. If he walks holding my hand then everything is fine but if he bolts I have hold of him. Surely his safety at the roadside is more important than what some yummy mummy with full health and probably in leisurewear thinks?

Oh don’t say that, the terrible twos are bad enough!