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?

I wouldn't be without some kind of reins either, as my dd is not always good about holding hand and often tries to run away. I use a little rucksack that comes with a rein attached, it also has a handle which is very handy to help them when they start walking. Until recently she didn't mind it but now wants to hold the rein herself...

Another fan of reins

The wrist straps are really designed to stop slightly older children from getting lost in a crowd & not suitable for young toddlers.

Agree with tallulah. Also with those saying put reins on with the first steps. Screaming or surfing children need to be picked up and carried or put in a buggy. If they really want to walk then they will accept reins. My ds (age 22 months) loves his reins. He's been wearing them since he started walking. Now he goes and gets them (and his shoes) whenever I tell him it's time to go out.

Have to say, my jaw drops open when I hear comments about reins and dogs. Reins are safer, they're more comfortable for child and parent, and they help to teach the child that s/he should walk with you. If I didn't have reins, ds would be in the buggy 99% of the time.

mammya, can I just ask where you got your reins from? I saw some ages ago but can't remember where.

Well thanks for all the opininons. Am definitely gonna get some reins now...seem like a great idea! Anyone got any tips on the best type of ones available?

You can get the reins with the rucksack from John Lewis.

They're fab - we bought the "traditional" type for dd1 when she started walking be she didn't have enough "slack" with them so tried the rucksack. She loves it - she has more freedom to walk ahead, and she's always putting things in the little zip pocket in the front. The bag is great for popping in hankies or a drink. Highly recommend them, and ours were only a tenner (last year). Will be getting another one for dd2 when she starts walking (only 6 months so a wee while to wait yet!)

It's called the Baby Runner, by Pinpon, and they have a website . I have to add I've also got the Baby Climber and it's fab too (although not confortable for long periods)

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reins are for safety,i heard of a woman whose child fell into a canal and she left her other child in the pushchair to go and get the one in the water only for the pushchair to fall into the canal as well and the baby drowned,it could happen to anyone but if that child had been wearing reins this tragedy would never have happened

Twiglett - "horrific" would be my child dashing in front of a car, or running off and injuring himself. My ds (aged 2.5) is perfectly happy to wear his "lead" (wrist-strap) - OK I know that sounds extremely dog-like, but so what? I don't think of him as a dog. I have honestly never confused him with a dog. He likes to walk and will happily fetch his lead (that bit's true) and run round barking excitedly.

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i respect your opinion twiglet but all children are different,youre lucky that your ds holds your hand but other children dont,and what about a mum with more than one child,you cant hold everyones hand and push a buggy i think theyre a good thing,my ds was 3 in may and shes only starting to understand about the dangers of crossing a road now

i meant dd not ds

Loved reins, used them all the time when dd was small, didn't hold them all the time if in safe environment when out walking but they're easier to grab when necessary than clothing etc. Also great for clipping onto high chair in restaurants, etc, always took the highchair attachment in my nappybag when went out and the body bit was already in place.

When my ds1 was 6 and 'road safety' trained, he once pulled his hand out of mine and walked straight into the road while we were waiting to cross. He was hit by a Volvo car. It all happened in a nanno-second. Thank god, no one was hurt although there were a few of us that were shaking from head to foot.

When I asked him why he had done it, he had no idea at all. He just did it. At 6, he was much too old for reins, but my point is that if a 6yr old can act as impetuously as that, how much more likely is it a 2 or 3 yr old will do the same? Of course, other people have different opinions but that incident (and dh's brother being killed on the roads, as a child) made me personally feel it was better to be safe than sorry. In fact, just writing the above has made me feel wobbly again, and this happened 22 yrs ago. The fright never goes completely.

Exactly Twiglet, if 'children under 5 are the most likely to die in an accident than any other age group' as you say (and I'm sure that stat is true) then why not use everything in our power to stop it happening? I wouldn't necessarily rely on a 2.5 yo to know about road safety - yep, you can teach them but it doesn't mean they'll always obey. Maybe yours will though, as you say. I think reins are useful too. There was a thread about this a while back, but I've searched and I can't find it, Soupdragon, anyone else? I seem to remember it was quite funny...

Not sure what thread that was, WWW.

No way on earth would I trust my 2.5 year old to be road safety trained. There's a huge, very quiet car park near the ball pit we go to. It has loads of zebra crossings and pavements and is ideal for teaching basic road safety. DS2 is only able to stop at the right bit of the zebra if he's holding DS1s hand (he won't hold mine - too independant!). If we're out and about near roads, he's in a pushchair or on DHs shoulders. I would not trust him to remember to stop at the edge of a road. I do not trust DS1 either, not because I don't trust him as such, just that I couldn't live with myself if he had a lapse of common sense.

I think reins are much kinder than forcing a child to sit in the buggy. Reins are a nice safety measure while still giving child a good amount of freedom to roam.

That said, my youngest hates reins and won't wear them. I have many nerve-racking moments with her.

I always think of James Bulger. His mom had him stand outside the busy butcher shop because she was afraid he'd get lost inside, and she knew he was a "good boy" who wouldn't run off. If she had reins that day, maybe she would have kept him with her.

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twiglett, did/do you strap your child into pram/buggy/highchair/car seat? What's the difference?

Good point janh. We do lots of things for a child's safety when they are little that you wouldn't do when older. Tak cots for one (or playpens) - all those bars where they can't get out. Or shutting the bedroom door when they can't reach a handle to get out - again another restraint. As you say, harnesses on pushchairs and highchairs - strapping the child in so it can't get out. But these are okay? I can't see the difference myself. I use reins with DD and they are great. It gives 15 month old DD the freedom to walk and run as she likes, but me the security that she is not too far away. just want to keep her safe, or as safe as I can, so reins have my vote for sure.

twiglet - perhaps you have a mental image of a child leaning into the reins and the parent holding them back, like walking an eager dog? I have seen parents use reins like that, with the straps held very taut. I agree, that's awful, demeaning, and teaches the child to feel trapped and to always try to get away. When we use reins the straps are just losely held in the hand that holds ds's hand, so that in a way it's as if he isn't wearing reins at all. But we know that he is perfectly safe should he suddenly choose to let go in a dangerous situation. Like someone else said, it's insurance.

There's a lot about infancy that would be utterly demeaning to an adult (nappies!) but is appropriate to the infant.

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