Talk to me about reins!

[DisneyGirl2387]

My 13 month old is happily walking now and we bought him his first pair of shoes today so he can finally potter around outside. Do I need reins? Or can I get by without? Any advice? First time Mum here so pretty clueless!

They’re a must if you’re walking near roads. Also helpful to stop them tripping

Really depends on your child. I have "proper" reins - not the backpack type ones.

Eldest we only usually used reins for a short time as first child I guess we were being extra careful and were paranoid about roads or her getting lost etc. as it was she was very good, always held hands, waited to cross road etc

Twins.....one is definitely going to be a Bolter! 😂 and when out with the 3 of them on my own I will feel more confident with both on reins

We used a reins backpack - they wear a cute little backpack that had reins attached (secretly to toddler). Seemed to work well.

You get cute backpack ones now mine had giraffe reins v cute. I also had a wrist strap as my youngest was a flight risk and I had a small age gap and 2 older children so I held his hand but knew he couldn’t go far if he wriggled out I sued the buggy a lot though one walked one in buggy then swapped r both in buggy so I could get shopping and go home. They don’t walk far when tiny as it’s tiring.

I got some for my ds but he'd just run then jump and swing. I'd end up walking with a toddler swinging from the end of a rope. Agonising for my arms. Whenever I see a toddler on reins it makes me laugh and ds is 20 now.

We have some for DD but after using them a few times she learnt to hold mine or my husbands hand when we are out and about so we haven't really needed them.

I think it is a case of use them if you need them for your child, don’t if you don’t. Kids are all different and there’s no one right way.

We didn’t use them as my little was small and easily picked up around traffic until she had the ability to follow instructions, and I am a happy runner and could easily outrun her in places like the park. She also easily tolerated holding hands, and had little wrists that I could hold my fingers round while holding hands (sounds weird but it worked), so she couldn’t slip her hand out of mine. But, if any of those are things weren’t true and reins had made us feel safer, I would have used them for sure!

Your child, your choice. You know your child better than any stranger here on the internet.

We just trained ours to hold our hands. (or rather, ours allowed us to train them...)

Priceless for peace of mind about running off, traffic, lots of people, fear of missing them wandering off.
Tying them up outside the supermarket

(That last one is more of a joke )

We always used reins for both DSs. There's the obvious safety benefit, but as other have said they also help prevent them hitting the ground when they trip. I tended to clip the lead onto my rucksack when in town once they were a little older, so I still had control but they could have a little more freedom. I also found reins very useful when DSs were first using their scooters - you can keep them under control when on the pavement, then simply unclip the lead when in the park etc. We used both the harness and backpack styles - one advantage of the latter is that they can be used to carry a few things even after you no longer need the reins function.

We used the backpack ones. DH is 6’5” and I’m 5’10”, DD walked early and couldn’t comfortably hold our hands for a long time. We don’t use the car much so are often walking next to roads, and it didn’t seem worth the risk not to. I’ve never encountered anyone in real life who had anything negative to say about it.

Completely depends on the nature of your DC. My DS (19 months) is naturally quite cautious, isn’t all that fussed on walking outside and doesn’t tend to bolt if he does, so I’ve got away without them. He’s a devil for not holding my hand though, so that might change.

Meanwhile my SILs youngest is just wild and runs without any warning. As she has 2 elder DC to contend with as well, she always uses reins.

I never trusted my kids not to do something stupid, so they always wore reins. And I used the body harness with clips to attach the child to the pushchair or high chair, so they could climb or fall out. Body harness also very useful at the throwing themselves on the floor tantrum stage, you can pick the child up by the harness and carry them at arms length to avoid the flailing limbs, all the while ignoring the tantrum. Since the child didn't get the attention they wanted, that particular stage passed very quickly in our family!

Oops....couldn't climb or fall out of the high chair.

Thanks everyone. I've read all of your comments and found them so useful. I will be buying some for sure. I had my DS during the pandemic so no antenatal groups, baby groups etc whilst I was off work so find forums like this really helpful x

In many situations, the safe options are not reins or walking, but reins or strapped in the buggy. Surely it's better for a toddler to be out and about (even if on reins) if the parents are not in a hurry and have time to dawdle than to be immobilised in the buggy and not getting any exercise due to traffic risk or other hazards.

I used them when we’d be walking by busy roads as an insurance policy but I still insisted DD held my hand.

We attended a dr appointment one day with DD wearing them and the GP said she was pleased to see us using them so it can’t be harmful at least

I actually remember having reins when I was little and loving them! They were a light coloured leather and had rabbits painted on the cross panel at the front. Although sometimes I did pretend to be a horse and galloped along!

Mine is almost 2 and we have never used them, he won’t hold hands either.

I don’t think he’d be pleased if we tried reins to be honest

I don’t think he’d be pleased if we tried reins to be honest

He might be ok about a backpack. Depends whether you think it would be helpful really,

Yes we used them near roads and anywhere busy as children can slip your hand easily and I was always nervous of them running. I felt confident knowing I could control her direction if she headed towards a road or have the lead bit hooked over my arm when paying in the shop so she couldn't go anywhere without me.
They had freedom to roam in parks where i could chase them without any risk.

I think reins are the bees knees! You’re not always at the right height to hold a toddler’s hand comfortably, especially for longer walks. It’s much less stressful when walking in crowds or along narrow pavements. And if they trip you can give the reins a tug & save them! Like Pp said, holding an arm up all the time to hold hands must be annoying for little ones.

Depends on the child.
Eldest needed them as he would do a runner with no sense of danger.
Youngest didn't, as they listen and follow instruction very well.

@girlabouthome

Never used them

What’s with the ?