reins: what do you all think?

[Joso]

My 14mth old dd has just started walking (Today actually!!!) and I was thinking about getting some reins. Just wondered if anyone has any strong opinions either way?

No advice but wanted to say a big congratulations to your DD

My 17 month old ds loves his - if he finds them lying around he insists that I put them on him. Don't think this is normal though...

Congratulations on your DD's walking. You'll have even less peace now

DD (also 14 months) has been walking a while now and we use reins with her really successfully. She is at the stage where she likes to be walking rather than in her pushchair sometimes, but likes to run too. She will normally hold hands but I find the reins a reassurance for myself. I usually hold them and a hand for save measure. Been useful from stoppinf her tumble off a couple of times too

Can only say I love reins

If you're going to use them it's a good idea to start stright away and then she gets used to them and associates them with walking outside. Hopefully this will lessen her reluctance to wear them when it realy matters.

I'd suggest the harness type not the wrist type. When they fall you will automatically yank on the rein, if it's a wrist type it will mean disaster!!!!!
Good luck

hello. husband of joso here.

was considering the harness type. we dont want to inhibit her new found freedom, but obviously want to be safe in the big outdoors. in an ideal world dd wont realise she's got them on....

Agree with Mummysurfer on both points - the type of reins and in particular using them right from the start.

As soon as ds started walking he wanted to walk all the time, and I always used reins on him. With dd she hasn't wanted to walk all the time, so we often don't have the reins with us. So as she hasn't had them on all the time she now fights against it.

I am definately in favour of reins.

Joso, and husband of Joso. I think safety has to be the overriding concern. It doesn't need to be inhibiting her freedom, and if you use them religiously right from the start the she probably won't be aware of them.

agreed anais.

it was such a buzz tonight watching her trundle up the room, there and back, there and back .... the look of triumph on her face was priceless....seems a shame to rein in such enthusiasm!

joso showed me this board tonight. it's excellent! why isn't there a dad's net?

My ds doesn't seem to mind his reins at all, I don't think he feels very constrained in them. I think they are better than holding hands as they can walk more normally and keep their balance more easily. I also use them at the playground if ds wants to go on some of the more scary equipment (scary IMO, that is). I go up there too and hang on to him so he can't fall.

I would get some, they're not expensive, and just see how you get on.

Husband of Joso, this is really Mums AND Dads net. Several dads post here, so keep visiting

Another fan of reins here when outside. Can save littlies from a nasty tumble when using harness reins. I was never so keen on wrist straps.

Reins are a godsend, especially when crossing roads and when you have your hands full with shopping etc. It's so much easier than trying to hold a wriggly, sweaty little hand at knee height! Definitely start using them now, so it isn't anything unusual.

I prefer the harness type, although I used the wrist one for a short time when my dd was about 3 and kept running off. She learnt the lesson very quickly and if she shown signs of legging it all I had to say was 'wrist strap' and she'd come back. Wish the dog was as well trained....

I was lucky with DS ... he was never a 'runner awayer' IYSWIM ... he hated and still hates to have me out of his sight ... so I never needed them but I can see why some people would need them ... My friend had twins and she used them as it was a nightmare chasing after two toddlers in a busy shopping mall.
I think the harness ones are better too.

I use reins with ds and they do get used to having them on, you dont need to hold them all the time-but I find them particually useful in shops because it stops them running off. I thing they all do that hanging in them business though

I think reins must be more comfortable for a child than holding hands, too. Just think about holding your hand up above your head for any length of time....

I've never considered them as I haven't ever needed them. Ds walks well alongside me or I follow him! I suppose it depends on what kind of child you have.

you have a point there oakmaiden, its must be very tiring

Urban living make reins a must, but dd doesn't seem to mind, in fact she calls out for them. The harness type also let you check a fall and avoid grazed knees, palms, noses, foreheads etc etc. They've also come in useful in restaurants without highchairs. My advice is start using them outside as soon as they're up and about. DD now walks around with reins on and holding Mummy's hand at every opportunity.

Husband of Joso, it really is a parents' net - I'm a SAH dad and had to eventually come clean to my dw where I was getting all my expert parenting knowledge from.

Just wanted to add yes reins are fantastic, definetly use them straightaway. I find they don´t inhibit her freedom because I generally go where she wants anyway if we are out for a walk for her. I think the best thing is that you can be out, and relaxed, I worry that if I´m just holding her hand she could suddenly pull free and run into the road or something. dd is 21 months by the way. IF you are in a park or something you can tuck the reins up the back and let her go free.

The only use that I have found for reins, was dragging a screaming child along the floor in the shopping centre.

But whatever works for you....

I really don'tt like the look of the wrist strap type reins as they look as though they might hurt is they were pulled tight for any reason. I much prefer the harness type. I am lucky too, DD doesn't try to run off really and likes to hold hands - used to it frim nursery - but I wanted to get her used to them more than anything else. She is 14 months old so the running off may come later I guess. I still like the security though - less likely to break free or be pulled from me if I have her hand and her reins.

The only time I used reins on dd was a disaster, she just 'pavement swam' and thought it was hilarious! But then she is pretty good at holding my hand and she doesn't run away. I have to say that I'm not keen on them really, I've seen toddlers being dragged across streets dangling by their reins. When they are used like that they don't seem to be of much benefit to either mother or child.

Wrist straps are a different issue, I've been tangled up in a few wrist straps in town - very annoying! Not sure I like them much either!

i used reins on ds as he used to think it was funny to run away but reins dont go down too well in other countries we were in uruguay and we walked past a restaurant there was a big family eating outside when one of the women saw me walk pass with ds wearing his reins she went mad(she heard me talk to dh in english so asumed i couldnt understand)she called me all the names under the sun in spanish saying i treated my son like a dog,so i walked towards her and gave her a piece of my mind,i left her and her whole family speechless,mind you dh was pretty speechless too as he didn`t have a clue what had happened!

I have heard the horror story about wrist straps where the child steps into a lift, the mother stays outside, the strap gets caught in the lift mechanism and the child has its arm wrenched off. It's probably just an urban myth, but I wouldn't use a wrist strap. I don't think they're as effective as harnesses anyway - wouldn't stop a child falling the way a harness does.