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!

I use them on my 17 month old. Wouldn't feel safe not to. The fear of if she trips into the road or similar. I have traditional reins not a backpack.

Only time I used anything was on a trip to Paris which is completely unchild friendly. I had a baby in a pushchair and a line that went around my two year old sons wrist tied to the pushchair. Here it didn't seem necessary because I didn't take both of them into central London on my own.

My over enthusiastic puddle jumping son, ran for a big puddle into a road. I was post c section, pushing the pram and no amount of screaming made him stop. Back pack with a rein attached was brought that afternoon. We are around 6 months post that incident and he has matured enough to either hold hands on go on the buggy board, but my god the situation can change within seconds. I was lucky!

I used reins for the falling aspect to avoid a fair few face plants. As previous posters have said, it's so easy for a tiny toddler hand to escape and dart off and they like to think they are walking by themselves without holding hands all the time.

Depends on your DC personality.

If you have a determined bolter they are essential equipment.

Thankfully mine were naturally fairly compliant and the choice of being in the pushchair or holding hands worked.

We found them incredibly useful. Partly when they're not totally confident walking as, if they trip, the reins take the weight so they don't land on the ground with quite so much force.

And it's the only way I'd have been happy taking DD along a pavement near roads or into a shop. It's hard for them to hold hands when they're tiny - it's uncomfortable for them holding their hand almost above their head and very very easy for it to slip out of your hand. Which could be lethal when you're within metres of a road. In a shop it's too easy for them to dart away whilst you're looking at something whereas you can hook reins over your arm and know where they are.

We used them to at least 3.5 yrs - until she was much more reliable!

We never used them with DD but I did end up doing loads of silly short walks to the nearby park to train her to hold hands. She's not a bolter though.

DS can't walk yet but given how much trouble he can get into crawling I imagine we'll be using reins for him for years.