Reins at 3 years old

[saladsandwich]

ds is 3yrs 3 months and still on reins, without them he literally just runs off... i don't know if thats age appropriate behaviour? but its becoming a nightmare, he slipped the reins in town today and i lost him for a minute in a shop, luckily a man spotted him and told me which way he went, he doesn't even look back to see where i am he just goes.

people are questioning now why i use them and im saying because hes bad for crossing roads but he is use to walking, hes walked for miles from being 18months to burn energy off and is use to the roads (although still wouldnt trust him to stop for cars) but that isnt the main problem he just runs and runs and runs without looking back, he cannot walk at the side of me even on reins he is farting about when holding my hand he is walking side ways, backwards, spinning, hanging, dropping to the floor. he finds it impossible to just walk he has the occasional 10minutes where he is great, off the reins he just shoots off and he won't stop running.

don't know what to do, ds is a parrot he copies everyone and anyone and he wants to be off reins like other kids and he starts battling me if he sees other kids without, i'm having to use the puschair more and more just to get from A to B but hes too big really and it feels like a step back.

am i expecting too much from ds? im having to pick him up quite alot now after hes ran off or refused to get up off the floor and hes getting heavy

ouryve thats a brill point... when its a friend thats just casually commented their childs been off reins ages i will say "well, you know my ds, i'd rather have him on reins than splatted in the road or lost"

the HV who does the developmental checks is out this week, i actually feel like she sees what i see so maybe she can help? i dunno about getting a buggy, been made to feel like its me not coping rather than ds... do i ask gp?hv or developmental paed?

saladsandwich - does your ds see an OT at all? we got ours through the OT

i think i'll try get referal to OT then get them to refer to wheel chair services, im having trouble getting people to notice ds's behaviour so doubt they'll refer, i've told them he lays in the street and i cant pick him up no more hes too heavy "well dont pick him up" so what do i do???

the one person who as noticed his little quirks is coming this week over one particular quirk... i'll tell her the situation with public walking, i mean he is manageable but annoying with reins 90% of the time the other 10% he is carried or in the buggy, without reins he is 100% unmanageable

My daughter is 3 years 2 months and exactly the same! Luckily she like her backpack reins otherwise it would be a nightmare, she’s the type that just keeps going with no fear!, even with them on I’m running to keep up. I’ve questioned myself too if she’s too old to be using them but safety has to come first x