Are reins really considered "chavish"?

[Gateau]

Have been looking into buying reins for my 16month old DS and have read that they are often considered "chavish" nowadays.
This - yet another example of - inane snobbery will not sway my opinion either way, but is this the way reins are viewed nowadays?
And if so, WHY???

Well not in ours.

They seem to sell things like Werthers Originals and those round tins of sweets found in cars though

Who gives a crap if anyone thinks they are "chavish" (poor use of a lazy word emoticon). Do they keep your child safe? Yes. Do they keep you happy because your child is safe? Yes.

Job done.

Yes Gateau, I am so awful, they're foul aren't they?

He can't have milk so can't have normal sweets/chocolate, and for many years disliked sweets like skittles etc. So for a while he looked like one of those perfect kids who don't like sweeties, or rather I looked like one of those pita superb mothers who never let their kids have sugar. All over now, though . . .

I was being sarcastic; it's refreshing to know someone gives their child "normal" sweeties.

Reins also handy for using as a harness if a highchair doesn't have straps. some reins are adaptable.

Used them a little with my 1st DC who like walking a lot at an early age but was not yet to be trusted not to dart off. I used to wrap strap around my wrist and hold his hand - the reins were a 'back up'. Would rather have done this than put him in his buggy when he was capable of walking.

DC 2 not such a keen walker so have never needed them - I just 'release' her from the buggy when we are in a safe open area!

I did not come on mumsnet when I just had my 1st DC so had not realised at that point that they were looked down upon by some

I think the arguement on previous threads is usually that those of us who use them are too lazy to teach road safety, because obviously you can't do both. I for one positively encourage my DD to rush headlong towards busy roads, and then pull her back at the last minute. How I laugh at the look on her little face as an HGV whistles past her nose!

I will be buying reins for my DS as soon as he's walking. If only to hoik him up in order to avoid the pools of phlegm on the streets round here.

Only chavs would consider them chavish

They are useful and I hope that my baby will eventually respond to them the way dogs do to leashes

Sorry, but they are for safety, first and foremost!

I don't like aubergines. I have never seen the need for them. Are they a vegetable for chavs?

kitty wise is it just reins you think are chavish or backpacks, wrist straps etc too.

Gateau - am a big fan of the little life backpack - can stick cup and spare nappy in it. I prefer my child to look like a pack pony rather than a dog.

oh, must be a chav then upwind, perfect logic there, can't be faulted

somehow I don't think so

Chavs never think they are chavish.

And judging by appearance rather than function is surely the hallmark of the chav?

kittywise - not sure your logic of not liking and not needing something = it's chavish is that much more sound than upwind's.

Actually it's the reins.Wrist staps look ok so do backpacks. It's something about the reins.

My typical experience of seeing them used is thus: child either dragged along whilst dropping itself to the ground squirming and screaming, falling over etc so no progress made or child running ahead straining at the leash screaming, panting squirming etc, bit like a dog would.

I don't mean to attack you kittywise - you are the only one who has had the guts to say you don't like them and there will be lots reading this who don't!

but I think that TBGP summed it up brilliantly

"I seriously don't give a shit. People who thing reins are chavish tend also to think pushchairs are chavish, trainers are chavish, having your hair in a ponytail is chavish, cheap clothing is chavish - in other words, anything to do with being poor and not having a car, therefore needing comfort and practicality rather than high heels, pencil skirts and pretty blowdries while your children sit stunned, blinking in the unaccustomed daylight when you eject them from the car."

To me, the sort of person with that attitude is themselves a bit chavvy, cause they are placing undue importance on appearances and public displays of wealth (or lack therof)

In that case it's the parents who are "chavish" and the reins immaterial.

With Germanprison, think it depends on your child. Wouldn't occur to me to use reins with dd as she is pretty well-behaved and can't run very fast I don't really like them in principle BUT I'd rather see a toddler on them than a kid running into the road, or a stressed-out frantic mum (hard work if you're pregnant) struggling to catch a wayward tot. Each to their own!

FWIW I did use a dummy (even though I hated the idea) because she was so sucky - and she turned into angel baby. Wish ds would take one...

AT least you have a reason, kitty. Loads of mums just follow the herd as to what's "acceptable" and what isn't. Pathetic, really.

yes habbibu, perhaps that is it

gateau I am always running in the opposite direction!! I don't mean to though!

I can remember them being looked down on as rather down-market. Then the awful Jamie Bulger case occurred and they were deemed very much acceptable.

I've seen lots of toddlers misbehave in public. Yesterday I was minding a toddler (not my own) who only seemed calm and happy when carried along upside down.

But when you see a toddler tantrumming in a buggy, it doesn't make you think that the buggy/parents are chavvy right? Or when you see one running off/ screaming on the floor of a supermarket you don't condemn the parents, it is just what little ones someitimes do. Usually at the most inconvenient time!

i use reins, to prevent escapee running in front of a car.so preferabale to road kill dont you think?