[Closed] Reins for a toddler?

There are alternatives like holding their hands firmly and concentrating on what you and they are doing

Lol. Right.

If it were always possible, then we wouldn't be thinking of reins would we?

- or maybe I just have angelic kids and nieces?

Maybe.

Out of interest, all you rein-haterz, at what age did your kids do without pushchairs?

Just another post to register a lazy parent/reins user!

Little Peyote (LP) is learning to walk to heel, so a lot of the time they are just stuffed into the hood of his jacket, but as a failsafe I find them very handy. The Missus has a dodgy back, so while LP does hold hands, it does mean stooping which isn't good for back ache. Although I suppose these could just be excuses for us being lazy. 😉

molgrips - Member

Out of interest, all you rein-haterz, at what age did your kids do without pushchairs?

Not a rein-hater, but my son gladly stayed in his stroller until he was 4 and if offered now at the age of 7 he would probably take it up again!

My two daughters were the opposite and hated being in strollers.

All three have never had reins, but there have been a few times when they would have come in handy.

I can understand why they would come in handy with a certain type of child, but in most cases the children I see in reins (and I must admit I don't see that many) look well subdued and certainly not interested in running away anywhere.

There is no need for the snide comments though Surfer.

Your right Geoff. Its inappropriate to champion individual choice then call those who exercise it as "lazy" when you know nothing of individual circumstances, so yes keep the snide comments to yourself.

Surfer, RR asked for opinions. I gave him mine. I'm sorry it's not one you agree with, and you feel aggrieved by association, but I never intended to offend anyone.

look well subdued and certainly not interested in running away anywhere

They do, until they suddenly decide to do a runner!

We walked as far as we could with Meg from 9 months onwards stooping to hold her hand, then from 12 mo onwards she walked on her own which includes lengthy stops for her to pick up stones and leaves and examine them. Now at 24mo she rarely goes in the pushchair at all, we leave it behind on shopping trips and the like unless we're hitting the big busy city. It takes quite a bit of effort to manage her like this so I don't feel we're being lazy. Like I say we don't use reins but I would if she showed more of a tendency to bolt.

There was a similar thread on mumsnet a few weeks ago, it was about as divided - I think Joemarshall speaks the truth.