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Long toddler reins?

22 replies

flikka · 11/03/2008 22:32

Hi, i'm looking for extra long toddler reins as i am 6ft and don't want to bend over all the time. Has anyone come across any?

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gigglewitch · 11/03/2008 22:37

err, not quite, but (and i may not have said this and will deny ever telling you) but when we are caravanning we have toddler person on reins with dog-lead attached so that it is long enough to get around the awning and so on but not long enough to escape! We use the dog-clip reins which [obv] clip on to anything with a loop on.
If all else fails, get the dog-clip sort and make yourself a longer strap with webbing or ribbon from a craft shop, with D-rings on the ends?

theyoungvisiter · 11/03/2008 22:38

I haven't seen any reins, but if you don't have any luck here then have you thought of trying the Little Life backpacks?

They are a kind of combination rucksack/rein. You put the rucksack on the child and it has a kind of attached dogleash thing(!) which you hold onto.

I haven't measured the lead bit but DH uses it with DS with no problems, and the lead bit unclips so if it's not long enough you could always take it off and put on a slightly longer version.

jennster · 11/03/2008 22:44

No but am interested too. Only 5'10'' myself but walk lopsided because of it. Clippasafe is SHORT

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gigglewitch · 11/03/2008 22:47

clippasafe may be short but our extending dog-lead is long

UniS · 11/03/2008 22:50

Little life back pack reins. should be long enough for you unless child is majorly short or sits down for a pastime.

mollymawk · 11/03/2008 22:57

Another vote for the Liitle Life backpack with a strap you can attach to the back.

SlightlyMadSecretSoundWinner · 11/03/2008 22:57

I think there may be a safety consideration to short reins - at least the ones that forma big loop as opposed to a dog leash type single lead.

If the loop style ones are any longer (than the clippasafe ones than I have) and I let go DD will trip over them. They may be deliberately short to prevent them reaching the ground and being tripped over???

jennster · 11/03/2008 23:36

I suppose so, but then dd is really short too, and will trip over the lead anyway....You tuck them in to the belt surely when they are free range?

RTKangaDYSONMummy · 11/03/2008 23:41

get a set of regular reins and then a wrist strap thingy

loop the wrist strap thingy thru the handle/loop of the reins and you are fine

it can also be made shorter by putting the wrist strap thingy thru the back of the reins by the buckle thingy

IYSWIM

RTKangaDYSONMummy · 11/03/2008 23:42

the hole of the wrist strap thingy

ie the oposite end to the one you have round your wrist

Weegle · 12/03/2008 16:35

I'm 6ft and LittleLife backpack is perfect

flikka · 14/03/2008 20:56

Thanks for the tips. I'll look out for a LL backpack!

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UniS · 14/03/2008 22:22

cotswold outdoor shops, also on line various places. about 12-13 quid. big enough to hold a mini nappy change kit or snack and drink, so kid can be own pack horse for a change.

flikka · 15/03/2008 16:35

This is very frustrating. I thought LL backpack would solve the problem. I found it online. But then I saw this picture
shop.babyworld.co.uk/DisplayDetail.aspx?prodid=461
...and having seen it, i realised i would feel so guilty about putting a bag on him - even though he wouldn't be carrying anything. I know that sounds weird & maybe i'm being a bit precious... but it's not as though he's a chunky sturdy toddler yet. He's only just turned one and has only been walking for three weeks. He loves walking more than anything & i like the idea that he's walking rather than in the buggy all the time. But we've already had 2 accidents in the house in the last week & he's very strong minded so i dread to think what will happen if we go walking soon without reins. We live in a town centre and i think we are absolutely going to need reins. I have no problem with the reins themselves. But I can't help but think it's mean to put a backpack on a baby that's just learnt to walk. Is it? Would the product even be suitable for that age?

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DANCESwithaMuffinTop · 15/03/2008 16:42

Oh dear. He's not your PFB is he by any chance?! Why is it a problem? My ds has one and he loves it (he is older though) It's as light as a feather and he'll look v. cute with his own back pac. Stop being silly

pistachio · 15/03/2008 16:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

flikka · 15/03/2008 17:09

That must be PreciousFirstBaby? How could you tell! I think you're right DWAMT. Maybe i'm just feeling very guilty about the unbelievably heavy oil filled radiator he pulled over this week. We had to go to A&E. He couldn't walk & i thought his leg was broken. They said it wasn't but he keeps falling over now and still isn't walking as before or running at all and so every time he cries or falls over i'm convinced he is in pain & his Negligent Mother's Actions have Permanently Damaged his Future Life Chances ...whereas DH thinks he is just being wilful. But then he wasn't there when the accident happened. Or when the next day he got hold of a poker (through the bars of a fire guard)at someone's house and almost poked his eye out. And so i probably have gone particularly protective all of a sudden. I think we will get the LL even if we only end up using it later. It's good to know it's v light. Anyway, I think reins we can use have got to be better than no reins.

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DANCESwithaMuffinTop · 15/03/2008 17:26

Yes, what it comes down to with reins is a slight indignity all round v. keeping your toddler out of the path of moving vehicles. It's a no brainer really! BTW my dh is over 6 ft and he uses the LL with no prob

DANCESwithaMuffinTop · 15/03/2008 17:29

Oh and if it helps when ds was about 2 weeks old and I had him on my own for the first time (had a c-section so had help for the first two weeks) I picked up the bouncy chair he was in thinking he was strapped in (he wasn't) and he just slid out onto the floor. He's now a v. sturdy, noisy 3 yr old. They are remarkably tough (oh and at the time I cried like a mad woman...was still crying long after he stopped)

flikka · 15/03/2008 17:43

Yes, it helps! IKWYM. A few minutes after it happened, although he couldn't walk he was waving out the window at the park whereas I was panicking, shaking, feeling sick & was so distracted i took the wrong turn to the hospital & ended up stuck in the one way system at rush hour!

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UniS · 15/03/2008 20:17

you don't HAVE to put any thing in the back pack....

flikka · 19/03/2008 14:49

LL arrived the other day. It is cute, but best of all it is long! we are off to test it out!

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