walking reins / harness for special needs

[Saker]

I usually keep Ds2 in his Maclaren buggy on busy roads as he has never been able to walk great distances anyway. However he is able to go a lot further now and it would be nice to go without the buggy but he can be hard to keep under control, so I was thinking about reins.
I am not sure they would work though as I think he would object and promptly drop to the ground which is what he does if I try to hold his hand. Have other people got experience of this or is it different with reins (she says hopefully..)?

Are Crelling reins the best (only?) ones and is their website the only place you can get them - (I hate faffing about with great long order forms and then phoning my credit card details in separately so hoping there's somewhere where you can just click and buy!)

Thanks for any advice / suggestions anyone has.

Have you tried "Fledglings"? They are good for sourcing special needs thingies!!
www.fledglings.org.uk/

I cant find any other ones than crelling but FWIW I just telephoned, it took about 3 minutes and theya rrived next day, even though that was the immediate pre-Christmas epriod.

Dont bother sending the form in forst- just telephone and do it all then, thats what I did (had to get one of those car harnesses).

are crelling reins (although as they pointed out to me he is wearing them back to front )

sorry try again for link

Thanks everyone - I'll give Crelling a ring tomorrow. I think we might need the ones with the shoulder straps as well to help with the collapsing, and Ds2's generally instability - it might not help to be pulling just from the waist. Even if they are not generally successful it would be a comfort to have them for the times when he just has to walk, especially in crowds.

do ring them, they're very helpful on the phone.

Would one of these be any good? There is a strong clip on the front of the straps making it almost harness-like, and a handle and removable strap on the bag.

Kinki - thanks for the suggestion - I like the idea because it is good for Ds2 to carry a rucksack anyway as it helps his proprioception. However they are designed for toddlers and he is a big 6-year old so I think they would be too small. Also I can't see that there is anything to prevent him slipping out of the rucksack. thanks though

Have you had a look at a 'walk-o-long'? I bought one from Ebay and it's not bad at all.

I have seen those too, but I think he needs to be properly strapped really otherwise he could wriggle out. Also whilst I recognise the need for using reins, I'm a little self-concious to be dragging my 6-year old along in them so would prefer something less conspicuous!
I have phoned and ordered the standard reins from Crelling. Thanks everyone for your help.

The backpack ones are great anyway, but really they don't last that long- in his coat, DS3 is now too big for them (he's 4.5 but quite small for his age)

besides, if you get DLA you get to drop the VAT at Crelling which does help after all

You can look about an company in Canada called childrenharnessCA

here Just seen this post. Try these. American company but they dont take long to get here. We have Crelling reins for ds1 with a crotch strap as he manages to wriggle/slide out of other types. Theyre ok but they do look a bit kinky and we get quite a few stares, but when they are necessary who cares???

twins uk sell special needs reins and clippasafe will also make reins to order for an older child. we are currently using the full body harness style from crelling with our 14 year old daughter with behavioural issues and she has acualy grown to like the saftey and security they offer and not being nagged to stay near to me all the time. she was stroppy about wearing them at first but has acepted the routine whenever we go out.
let me know if you need any more info. hope that helps. lucy

what is the best option for a 15 year old with autism

Crelling harnesses go the whole way up to adult sizes and are very good?

I just want to know if people think this is a good idea and how it would work maybe we can talk more about it Bella

thanks Katie

Sorry Katie I misunderstood,

I guess it depends on the needs of the young person.

In my experience the cons of reins are that you tend to attract lots of stares when accompanying a young person rather than a small child and of course members of public tend to have an ‘opinion’. It depends how you would feel about this. If your young person generally fits in quite well in public you may find it challenging, if however your young person already displays a lot of challenging or inappropriate behaviours or loud stimming behaviours you will be well used to being gawped at anyway!

Directly related to the young person their response to reins is very variable. Whilst lots of young people I have supported have not been a huge fan of reins some much prefer them to having their hand held all the time as it actually allows them to be more independent.

A lot of it will come down to what you think is right for you and your teenager. If reins are the best way to keep everyone safe then I would say go for it!

I just find that when he is asked to hold on to my hand he refuses and does what he wants anyway. He runs off alot when i tell him not to so its left me looking at other options. I don't know how a harness would work for him this is why i wanted to talk to someone first
Thanks katie

Visit www.fledglings.org.uk/shop/by-category/search?keyword=reins&limitstart=0&option=com_virtuemart&view=category&virtuemart_category_id=0 for walking reins

These are very good for children with autism. Adventure Belts can be used up to 27KG and are really cute!
adventurebelt.co.uk