reins.... are they terrible and why didnt i know this?

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Ive been using reins for my dd who is 2yrs 4 months for about 6 months now. She was out of her buggy before xmas and she does well with her walking. But being a stroppy toddler does not really want to hold my hand. I tried her with a wrist strap and we did not get on with it at all. So i brough her some reins. She calls them her pink lead! but shes very happy with them. I hadnt really thought anything about it until i was inthe libary yesterday. The libraian (spelling??) said to me that you dont offen see children on reins anymore but she think it is much safer and saves the mums chasing after the children. The lady standing behind me piped up saying she thought they were very old fashioned.
So is it completley terrible to use them?? and what do i do instead as she really will not hold my hand the whole time we are out.

thanks

you ignore people

you use your reins

I wouldn't use them, personally. I chased and taught road safety myself.

i think they're ok

but i really don't like those wrist ones - i know of a child whose arm was pulled out of its socket by an overenthusiastic parent

If you did want to ditch the reins, but still have rein-tpye control, I bought ds one of these which has been absolutely fabulous, you can detach the reins bit so he is just wearing a back pack, or clip the reins on if you need to keep hold of him.

ignore the old bag!

They are the best things. Have stopped my 19 month old being ran over a few times as he likes to walk along the raod touching all the cars, parked ones ofcourse
Carry on using them if your dd is enjoying them all the better.

I use reins with my DS - he doesn't always want to hold hands, and has a very fast turn of speed, so much safer when out and about. Also safer across roads I think as if they decide to stop you can pull them across sharpish.

DS loves having reins and will demand to have them on. He does like to pretend to be a horse though

i used reins, had little choice you're never going to teach a 12 month old road sense. (dd2 was somewhat advanced in her walking).

I'd rather use reins than risk my child getting run over.

fantastic invention

people in the real world use reins

imaginary people on MN think they are the devils work

I used them for dd2 as the was a PITA and feel no shame whatsoever

2 year olds aren't into road safety I found and I thought that the HGV would win in a toss up so I used reins

You continue using reins. For some children they are fantastic, there is a small window of time where they won't listen to reason and reins are great.

I have had one child who I wouldn't have dreamed of using reins for, followed by one for whom they were essential.

every child is different some will walk holding your hand and others dont, toddlers can be very unpredictable. if you feel your daughter is safer use them.

I have seen many young children running free and under no control at all and I would far rather see a mum being responsible.

Better a child on reins until you feel they are safe enough than a child in an accident.

You will always get people that dont agree with your parenting methods do what you feel is right.

USe them if they work for you. I used them on DS when he was too short to hold my hand comfortably and wanted to walk. It did also helphim walk next to me. At 2.6 he will hold hands near roads (though sometimes I have to insist) and otherwise walks quite well and safely wihtout holding hands. Of he wasn'e preared to walk near me then I'd go back to reins, without doubt.

I think they can learn road safety at a very young age. You just need to be firm but clear.

Children running freely is not necessarily a dangerous thing, by the way

arf

well i shall continue to use them

When i walk the dog just locally i dont use them, but the roads are quieter and less people. But if we go to town or in a shop i think its very necessary. Not just for road safety, but she would just run off anywhere.
Belive me johnso i too think children should be free, but with that i dont want to be telling her no constantly.

I shall just ignore the person who made the comment, just made me question myself for a momment.

Reins, like most things, are neither good nor evil - all depends on how they're used and why, in any given situation

We had/have a cute little backpack with a lead attached. DS loved it, he could take a little toy and his drink in his bag and never really noticed the lead.

Mostly used in airports etc. Have had mostly "isn't he cute" comments, had one negative comment once at a lady saying really sarcastically "Oh look at the little doggy on his leash" (it sounds cute but the WAY she said it was mean). DS looked at her in all seriousness and said "Woof" once. It was pretty funny.

Bugger people who think they are old fashioned or cruel or the rest of it, even if they DO look like dog's leads, I lease my dog to keep him safe - obviously I care more about my kid than my dog!

Reins were a blessing with Ds, especially when he was 3 and we were abroad. He was a real nightmare and the size of a 5/6 year old and just as strong so it was very hard work holding him on them but it must've looked odd with his size iyswim, but it meant he was safe.

Dd was a bit difficult at first with them, so I tried a wrist rein and she is able to slip that off, so I've gone back to the reins whilst holding her hand and she's well away! @ 17 months 'tis fun!

Use your reins and keep your lo safe, you'd never forgive yourself if anything awful happened to her.

I used reins when my ds was a young toddler. I don't care what folk think.

ds got some for his birthday (I asked for them)
he's too young atm but will be using them in a few months

Message withdrawn

Yes it is much better to have your child smashed by a vehicle rather than suffer the judgement of some bloody ubermama who thinks that she thought her child roads safety at the age of 18mths
Use your reins and don't care what others think about your parenting skills.

DD had reins on once I think but she was more than happy to hold y hand or stay close by. I bought a wrist strap thing when ds was born because she was 2 1/2 and cottoned on quickly that it was harder to chase her with a pram and once I had to leave ds in the middle of the pavement and go after her, use the strap as a threat not run it worked.
DS on the other hand needs reins if he is walking and doesn't want to hold your hand and you try he just sits down where he is rens were a good compromise he is happy on them as he can wander beside me and I am happier because he can't race off.

If I had only had DD1 and DD2 I MIGHT have felt the same way as Johnso. But now I have dealt with DD3 I know better. Some children are very very impulsive and the road safety training that works well on most children just doesn't seem to go in. Some parents will never understand that their undoubtedly brilliant parenting isn't the ONLY reason their little ones are so well-behaved near traffic.
Better on reins than dead IMO.