What are your thoughts on baby reins?

[LordOfTheOnionRings]

Good or bad idea?

I have a one year old who has been walking for a few months - HATES being in his pram so like to walk as much as possible but he is still a bit shaky outdoors. He fell forward yesterday and face planted some gravel :( I am wondering if baby reins might help me stop him from falling and hurting himself. He also won't hold my hand anymore. I am not worried about him walking into roads as I am right there with him, just more the falling aspect.

Thanks

I've found them invaluable and would always advocate using them.

@SeasonallySnowyPeasant

I think they're a great idea and don't see why anyone thinks otherwise. They keep the child's hands free and stops them bolting. What's not to like?

Because some of the parents who don't/didn't have bolters think it's enough for every child to just hold hands, because they can't imagine a world where not all children happily hold hands with an adult upon request at all times.

For some bizarre reason they think they are better parents, because they hold their child's hand...

We have rucksack ones for our 2yr old. They were invaluable during lockdown when she was only 18 months and prone to ignoring verbal instructions. I still love them now. She hold my hand most of the time quite happily but when she's tired she's a bit less predictable. I keep the strap round my wrist so if she lets go of my hand and bolts she can only get a few steps. She certainly doesn't mind them - when we get ready for a walk she reminds me to get her backpack if I forget!! Better safe than sorry with impulsive small people and roads!

At that age it's not his/her option to not hold your hand.
I hate reins. It makes me feel that those parents think of their kids as pets instead of human beings
I knew that old chestnut of "the child is not a dog" type statement would come up. You are 100% right, they are more important than that.
You want to keep your dog safe but surely your child you want to keep your child safer!
Its not always practical to hold on to your child's hand. For example if you are paying for something in a shop or stopping at the ice cream van. Sure you have perfect parents on here saying that the child should do as they are told but they aren't little robot's.
I always thought of Jamie Bulge's mother who was distracted for a few seconds while paying for something in the shop and in a blink of an eye her child was gone. This could have happened to anyone anywhere. She was doing an everyday interaction. However it heightened my awareness of how sometimes you can't have your eye on two things at once.
Reins stopped me stooping and having back ache but my kids cold still walk and chat away with me.
Op I didn't stop every fall my children did, its not always good to intervene but they do have a lot of other uses.

Great in the snow and ice you can pull them up if they are slipping.
Even better for safety, especially if you have a runner/ bolter.
I used them with all 3 of mine, never regretted it and was glad of them a few times.

I couldn’t get on with them, but I’ve got a massive dog and kept nearly yanking the child over 😂

I used them for my second DC as he was a runner with no sense. Still has no sense at 12.

The other reason being they were perfect for yanking small hands out of the way of chicken bones and pools of various bodily fluids. Living on the East End/City of London border had its drawbacks

I agree with the arm lifting comments too.
Dh is 6ft 4 and to hold ds hand when was around 1 meant either dh stooping or ds having a weird lean to reach dh's hand

I have a DD, 2, and use a backpack with reins. We use them for the short walk to the park and to pop to the shops with if she doesn’t want to go in her pram or carrier. Although she will hold my hand and I don’t think she’d bolt into the road I just don’t want to take that chance.

Brilliant for my 17 month old DD. She is a confident Walker/trotterindoors but outdoors she falls over a lot, normally because she’s excited by puddles or dogs or something. She likes holding my fingers rather than my hand, but I’m 7 months pregnant and not super fast or agile, so if she suddenly lets go or trips I can’t do much. However, by having her rein straps round my hand, I can immediately catch her in a way that’s safer and more comfy for her (around her chest, equal pressure both sides, not yanking one arm). We have the trunki reins and she thinks they’re great!

Loved them for my two.
Kept them safe, didn’t have them with one arm up holding mine, stopped them hitting the ground when they tripped.
I was in the NW with my first, and I got a few snide comments.
Then James Bulger was taken and killed, and for a while, everyone was using them. It only takes a second for them to slip away.
I used car seats and life jackets when appropriate for them too, I saw reins in the same light.