[Closed] Reins for a toddler?

Father of two little boys here and we've never used them. If it works for you then go for it but there does seem to be something intrinsically wrong with tethering your kids. I'm not convinced that it teaches small children good habits and unfortunately the whole browsing/paying thing is just a by-product of you having kids. Our two are right little monkeys so we've just had to impress on them how important good behaviour is when we're out - and have eyes in the back of our heads, 8 arms each and endless patience...

Actually where can I get these from?? 🙂

there does seem to be something intrinsically wrong with tethering your kids

Mmm but people are fine with pushchairs, aren't they? Isn't that worse?

I'm not convinced that it teaches small children good habits

Yeah but it might save their life.

I will use the Little Life rucsack or something like that when MiniTT is walking. Given the height difference, I believe it to be less traumatic to a prosthetic arm and hand extension which would be the alternative.

How tall are you? Your kid might be dangling from the leash 😉

Mmm but people are fine with pushchairs, aren't they? Isn't that worse?

I guess it depends why they're being pushed. I usually end up with the little one on my shoulders on long walks as the view is better so he tells me.

Mmm but people are fine with pushchairs, aren't they?

It gets to a point where some parents use them as a way of control. Once they can walk the distance required, then there is little excuse.

There is a child at my daughters nursery who is 4 who's mother still puts him in the push chair because its easier for her - no wonder he's on the large side 🙄

We have one of the Little Life ones that looks like a backpack with a lead on the top. They are quite handy for keeping them on the path and out of danger, you can also break their fall if they trip over.

Keep them on a leash, it could be a dog's face next time!

My brother had reins, my mom said they were a god send. My brother was a hyperactive mentalist as a child though. He ran off in Wolverhampton and my mom found him weeing in a fountain in the middle of the shopping centre. He was two. He managed to grow out of such behaviour by the time he hit his early 30s.

Somebody link Mumsnet to this thread.

Suggested title - 'Dogs and toddlers, pretty much the same, yeah?'

😛

we use the little life backpack too (ladybird version), but our daughter (20 months) very rarely has the 'lead' on, normally to keep my wife happy when we are near busy roads - she (daughter, not wife) absolutely loves wearing it and having her own drink in it, the major problem is getting her to walk anywhere without the rucksack. It also has a loop at the top that is good for grabbing when she falls or attempts to bolt - I find it more successful than grabbing her hood and consequently strangling her.

Wow - I didn't realise that the sanctimonious parenting police were looking down on me for this too! So in true STW style: "Should toddlers without reins wear helmets?" 🙂

We had proper reins when our son was just learning to walk, then "little life rucksack" once he had mostly learned not to fall over. It wasn't used a whole load, but it is useful not only to stop them wandering off - but because it stops idiots (i.e. the general public) walking between you and the "obedient" child at your heel in busy places like shopping centres. If you are holding their hand that won't happen - but as you encourage development and independence this is not always what you want. The little rucksack is quite useful too.

His little sister is somewhat more spirited! At almost 3, if she decides she's not holding your hand you have no choice (Where do they get that strength from?). She's not big fan of being tethered in the reins either. We use them when we think the circumstances dictate.

Personally whether as a cyclist, pedestrian or driver I'd rather see parents using reins than see them running out of control. I love to see them acting responsibly without a leash too. But for goodness sake let parents make up their own minds on how to raise their children - unless they are actually running wild in front of cars!

P.S. I've seen first hand what happens when a bus hits a 3yr old who ran beyond the path when her mum was locking the house door and its not something I'd want to see again. She has never run off before!

Jesus I must be an awful parent, our wee boy isn't a fan of the push chair unless he's tired or hungry, he runs everywhere as life is way too short for walking, he's also a magpie so anyting shiny and he's away. Reins have ben briliant to the point than now he walks with them on and only once or twice on a walk doesw he notice they are there.

Far better than forcing him into a push chair against his will, never realised this was on the list of things i could be judged for

bravohotel8er - Member

Somebody link Mumsnet to this thread.

Suggested title - 'Dogs and toddlers, pretty much the same, yeah?'

sounds about right. They both need training, they both need to be kept under control in a public place, most parents like most dog owners don't believe their little angel could do anything wrong.

so yes - sounds about right

+1 on the dogs and toddlers. A friend who's a vet thinks that all prospective parents should have to train a dog first as a qualifier!
Young_Master_Dab just used to swing on the reins, so they were no use, same with a wrist strap, so firm hand/wrist holding, picking up, or push chair were the order of the day. He was/is a one man escape committee!

A friend who's a vet

you need a license to have a dog but not a child, go figure

Reins are great! Top tip: on camping holidays you can team them with:

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and

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Invest in a good cable. Those toddler teeth are stronger than you think.

you need a license to have a dog

eh, not where I live they didn't (northern ireland)

I wonder should we stop keeping our boy in an open topped cage, sorry cot as well? It's probably un-natural for him to have shoes too, and skin is waterproof so scrap the coat and hat idea

I had reigns when I was a nipper.

They consisted of blue leather straps with silver buckles and a picture of Peter Rabbit on the chest.

They call me the wanderer
Yeah, the wanderer
I roam around, around, around.

I wonder should we stop keeping our boy in an open topped cage, sorry cot as well?

We have a nice wooden "playpen". It is basically a cage. I see nothing wrong with sticking her in that with some toys to play with when mummy/daddy need to get something done (i.e. go to the loo!)

They consisted of blue leather straps with silver buckles and a picture of Peter Rabbit on the chest.

They sound pretty much identical to the ones we inherited for our little one (undecided whether we'll need them or not as she isn't walking yet - but I look forward to the tutting and muttering if we do).

I have used the reins on my youngest when we were on holiday in France in busy areas, as despite what the sanctimonious above claim its not possible to instil in a child so young the dangers of a busy area. Whilst it may be good to feel smug I would even go so far as to say the risks of getting it wrong are too high.

I usually end up with the little one on my shoulders on long walks as the view is better so he tells me.

IMO this is great fun with small kids but the times I have seen people running with small children on their shoulders makes me shudder. The potential for serious injury must be very high, particularly on hard surfaces.

We have a nice wooden "playpen". It is basically a cage. I see nothing wrong with sticking her in that with some toys to play with when mummy/daddy need to get something done (i.e. go to the loo!)

you are a bad bad man (our kid still asks to get into the plyypen when the mother in las dog is annoying him)

I have used the reins on my youngest when we were on holiday in France in busy areas, as despite what the sanctimonious above claim its not possible to instil in a child so young the dangers of a busy area. Whilst it may be good to feel smug I would even go so far as to say the risks of getting it wrong are too high.

Er, perhaps its better not to take very young kids where [i]the risks of getting it wrong are too high.[/i]

Just a thought.

you need a license to have a dog but not a child, go figure

But the purpose of the dog licence isn't anything to do with the owners suitability is it? It's just a way of tracing stray dogs. If you want one, you can generally get one.

You need a to have a licence to have a TV but not a child, but does not indicate that the government values TV over children.

So I'm not really sure what the point of that comment is.

the times I have seen people running with small children on their shoulders makes me shudder.

Er, perhaps its better not to take very young kids where the risks of getting it wrong are too high.

Just a thought.

that's us back to the cage then

[img] http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR8YwREGEUwvWDkPeO-I8BYCApKt0_Img5XxwNkb9SoYPN100HZ-g [/img]

that's us back to the cage then

Nope

Er, perhaps its better not to take very young kids where the risks of getting it wrong are too high

What, like walking down a road? Should we be driving instead?

I now mostly use the shoulder technique but Lil Grips is 17kg at 2 years old and hence rather heavy for me and far too heavy for Mrs Grips.

What, like walking down a road? Should we be driving instead?

Nope and nope. A bit of common sense is all that is required.

That's exactly what I am proposing!

This is one of those things like sleep, where there are people who have babies who are naturally good sleepers who think they know everything about getting babies to sleep, and people who have bad sleepers who know that some babies just find it harder to sleep.

Same goes for this, if you have a slow or relatively tame and biddable baby, no need for the dog lead and you can be sanctimonious. For those who have little houdini / Sebastian coe crossbreeds, reins might just be useful, especially if they are early developers who learn to walk / run before they are so good at communicating or learning lessons.

joemarshall - Member
This is one of those things like sleep, where there are people who have babies who are naturally good sleepers who think they know everything about getting babies to sleep, and people who have bad sleepers who know that some babies just find it harder to sleep.

Same goes for this, if you have a slow or relatively tame and biddable baby, no need for the dog lead and you can be sanctimonious. For those who have little houdini / Sebastian coe crossbreeds, reins might just be useful, especially if they are early developers who learn to walk / run before they are so good at communicating or learning lessons.

I don't think I've ever agreed more with a post on this website.

joemarshall = The voice of reason.

Come on this is all far too reasonable now. Mumsnetters would be laughing at us for giving in so easily 🙂

I had reins when I was a toddler - never did me any harm.

Still ran off so I also had bells on my shoes!

Er, perhaps its better not to take very young kids where the risks of getting it wrong are too high.

No toddlers on the busy streets of Paris then. Without reins = can be risky, with reins = much less so.

Shall we do the whole small.... far away... thing for you Geoff

the times I have seen people running with small children on their shoulders makes me shudder.

This is a troll surely?

No. why?

I weave drunkenly around with Lil Grips on my shoulders, to entertain her. She loves it.

I take care not to fall over 🙂

Er, perhaps its better not to take very young kids where the risks of getting it wrong are too high.
No toddlers on the busy streets of Paris then. Without reins = can be risky, with reins = much less so.

Shall we do the whole small.... far away... thing for you Geoff

How did we ever manage? The world is such a scary place. How many Parisians with kids on leads? That's right, you guessed it!

As I said in my original response ymmv and later on, it would be a dull place if we all agreed, but don't let that stop you.

How many Parisians with kids on leads? That's right, you guessed it!

I didnt actually. Being a bit of an empiricist however we did spot a few. You may be right though they may not have been natives.
The good news is we all got out alive.

How did we ever manage?

Some of us didn't. Some got run over by cars as little kids.

The good news is we all got out alive.

Thank goodness for that! 😉

Some of us didn't. Some got run over by cars as little kids.

Yeah and some of us had lots of other accidents involving trips to a&e, with or without leads.

The issue appears to be one of convenience for the parents. There are alternatives like holding their hands firmly and concentrating on what you and they are doing. - or maybe I just have angelic kids and nieces? Bring your kids up the way you see fit and dont worry what other people think.

There is no need for the snide comments though Surfer.