Poll: Reins - wrist strap or backpack?

[Ewe]

What did you use?

Is there a benefit to one over the other?

There seems to be so so much on the market, am confused!

I have always loathed those wrist straps and swore I would never use one as I always seem to see them in the context of people dragging their DC along like dogs whilst entirely ignoring them.

DD, as ever, is defeating me, though. She will not hold hands and has no fear of separation - and whereas carrying DS until he decided to walk nicely and hold hands worked as a sanction, DD sees it as a victory and she is too heavy to lug around.

I think a backpack may be the compromise I am looking for - I had forgotten about them - Thanks for the thread, Ewe!

Reins here - I think they are fab, dd 23 months still won't put her hands down if she falls, they are great for catchingnher before she smacks her face!

stealth your dd sounds like my dd2. I hardly use the backpack now but I put it on her with the handle tucked inside and if she wont hold my hand i tell her I will use the rein which she isnt keen on so will hold my hand now and thats after about 2mths of using the bag.She still loves the bag as she can carry her own bits in it and she sees it as her bag.

www.toysrus.co.uk/Babies-R-Us/Travel-and-Pushchairs/Safety-Harnesses/Winnie-the-Pooh-Mini-Bac kpack-and-Harness(0015724)

thats the one we have

Nemo, I do the same thing. Do you tuck it into the little mesh pocket?

5in I tend to unclip it and put it in the bag on dd2s.

Sounds good, Nemo - she is very into bags generally so I think she may be getting one of those for Easter

i had reins when dd was very small, about 1ish, as they can save the child tripping

she is now nearly three and i occassionally use the backpack thing (not a chance in hell of getting reins on her now!) but i feel more secure if she has her backpack on waiting for a train on a platform/in crowds at legoland etc. as i can hold the buggy easily and take my eyes off dd for a second to concentrate on ds

We had a money back back with looped detachable lead. Dd loved it and would ask to put monkey on around the house!

er, that should be 'monkey'

Backpack. We have the Little life one, the dds loved to pack it for the 'expedition' - juice, wipes, favourite toy etc and now still use it without the parent strap bit. They are like reins by stealth.

I got a wrist strap, but dd2 could get it off in an instant and would then run away, cackling with glee so we only used it twice.

what doyou all do one small trips i.e out of car, ealk to 2 shops back in car? Is it not a faff putting on backpack etc when you have baby in buggy? ive got buggyboard but a)ds1 gets off and runs or b)i couldve got to the shop and back before getting it assembled!

im not walking distances to shops etc hence the car!

I couldn't find a back pack in any local shops so use reins. But the strap is quite short, even if I unclip one end.
Wrist straps didn't work on my 2 yo. He just yanked his hand out of them. I think they are better for older children.
What I want is someone to invent a flexi lead style of rein, like the dogs one, so I can reel it in and out depending!

They are really quick to put on, doesn't take as long as putting on a coat!

We've got the Little Life backpack too. Handy size for a nappy, packet of wipes and cup. And my keys and phone which avoids the need for my handbag!
I have put DS into the buggy with it on before, when it's been fairly empty. He sits forward in the buggy a lot so doesn't seem uncomfortable.