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

Diva, some of us live in busy towns, we are there every day.

My friend was still pushing her 4yo around in the buggy, because her road sense could not be trusted. I preferred mine to be getting more exercise at that time. Though I have to admit that I never used the reins on a child much older than 2. But then I suppose the buggy wasn't the best place for my friends dd to practise her road sense.

In answer to the OP I don't think the woman was being funny, in fact I have made the same comments as I rarely see people with reins so I wondered if they were Not The Done Thing anymore? Thats said, when DD becomes of age I will certainly be getting a pair, and hope to encourage her to walk as much as possible.

P.S. i am also one of those people who scorns at children IMO too old for buggies being carted around but I expect that it's one of those things that you judge till you get into that situation, different with different children I imagine too.

Anyone else read the recent story about the four year-old who ran off - mum goes after him to stop him running into the road and buggy with 18 month-old daughter rolls down imperceptible slope and under HGV .
I use reins if my daughter wants to walk while we are going along the road and will do more when the new baby comes and she is walking even more.

i think you do need to be careful of scorning at people who's dc seem too big to be in a buggy, you odnt know how far they walk to get where they are going, the child could be big for their age as my ds was, or even a medical condition, my cousin has a heart prob and as a result couldnt walk very far at all so was in a buggy until she was 5 and had open heart surgery. so to anyone else a child may look fine and healthy but you shouldnt make judgements esp if you dont know them

slinkie thats an awfully sad story

Absolutely dylsmum, I agree.

cory-i live in the town centre and i often see 2-3 year olds being smacked/shouted at because theyve run off.surely it would be preferable to have them in a buggy?

I am late, I know, but thought you might (?!) find it useful? I have all types of reins, back-packs, old fashioned reins and the arm straps. I don't use them because my girls (3, 2.5 and 6 months... not that she does much walking) are naughty (honestly!) but because even with the best will in the world, kids fall, trip, get pushed, etc. My reins have save dd1 before. Also, dd2 VERY clumsy and they have saved her face from a party on the pavement many a time. I admit that with 2 on reins I do look a bit husky-pack-ish, but, I am stress free! And its not just road safety, you can't always watch them, even if you think you can. Plus, I go out with a friend who's child runs free. She doesn't want to use reins though, "They don't learn that way". Lost him several times. Go figure

i also find if dd is walking along next to me, but not holding hands people will try to walk between us!! reins stop this happening

divastrop children still don't learn if they are strappe din a buggy so they cant run off- it then becomes an issue of when do you turf them out the buggy?

i let dd2(2.6) out of the double buggy for short spells (which she likes) and put her back in if she runs off(which she doesnt like).

there must be some sort of techique to reins which ive never been able to master,as i always ended up in a tangled mess or carrying the child along like a holdall

i oh isee i thought you meant just put them in the whole time sorry i understand your method now and can see how it works

i find conventional reins difficult when pushing a buggy, that why i bought the little life backpack ones for dd as i can put it over my wrist and still manage the buggy

whats wrong with reins anyway???? They are for safety not restraint!