'Reins' for a toddler 'cruel' ????!!!

[suzib76]

In the grand scheme of things using reins/not using reins is irrelevant
Who honestly cares. They help some parents and are useless to others. I've just been told on my son's birthday of all days that he needs another op. I wish I could say no but we risk him losing the use of hos thumb completely if he doesn't have it. Sucks but we do what we have to do for our children.

I'm really sorry to hear that but tbh this thread is ABOUT reins, so it's quite unfair to post and say that using reins or not using them isn't relevant because you have had bad news today

 

[sequeena]

In the grand scheme of things using reins/not using reins is irrelevant
Who honestly cares. They help some parents and are useless to others. I've just been told on my son's birthday of all days that he needs another op. I wish I could say no but we risk him losing the use of hos thumb completely if he doesn't have it. Sucks but we do what we have to do for our children.

I'm really sorry to hear that but tbh this thread is ABOUT reins, so it's quite unfair to post and say that using reins or not using them isn't relevant because you have had bad news today

I just think it's a bit daft to get so wound up over them. I did earlier when a pp said we should be able to teach them early on and not ise reins as they look like dogs but now I really don't care. I'm all for reins I think they're a fabulous safety device. I also think that if you don't want or need them that's fine too there's no need to compare kids wearing them to dogs though or assume that parents who use them aren't watching thwir kids

Anyway hope I didn't offend. I just gained some perspective in the last few hours x

 

[tommyg]

Are the people who are anti reins also anti stair gates, " I'll teach my kid to climb the stairs" it just seems odd people are so wound up about what is a safety aid.

 

[ILoveShoes]

My DH would not fit a stair gate at the bottom of the stairs, as he wanted LO to "be confident on the stairs."
We had one at the top though.
I really wanted one at the bottom but, to be honest, LO is really good on the stairs and has never fallen (touch wood!).
We got rid of The gate at the top a good few months ago too.
We've also never used reins, but are not against them.
xx

 

[aliss]

Heh, my MIL is against stair gates. She said my OH only 'fell down a flight once" and learned his lesson. BRB, pushing my baby down stairs or into traffic to learn

 

[xprincessx]

my son has (suspected) autism and tries to run across roads in front of cars because they go "brrm" so if any cheeky cow wants to come up to me and say to my face that reins are cruel I will not be held responsible for my actions..

Callum WILL run in front of a car, he will NEVER understand road safety and I will probably be using reins until he is about 6/8 years old because I would rather do that than have him get killed, he adores all kinds of vehicles and always wants to "have a look" so for that very reason I would politely tell the person judging me to f*ck off!

My thoughts are you never know the reason behind why a parent is doing something the way they are and until you have walked a mile in their shoes, don't judge them. simple as that.

 

[jjbump]

All children are different. Agreed, if you have a easy going laid back child who listens to everything you say, you might not need reins. However, most toddlers push healthy boundaries and you have to do what you feel is safe for your child, be that reins or not - really depends on the childs temperament and what it will take to keep them safe.

I think you've hit the nail on the head. Each child is different and I don't think it has anything to do with how they're taught. My LO 'understands' when I am telling her not to run into the road, but young children's minds are easily distracted and she'll see a butterfly or cat and suddenly forget where she is and what she's been told. That's toddlers for you. I suspect many of the parents whose children don't do this put it down to how they've taught their children, but it really boils down to how the individual child perceives the world. My LO's cousin (same age, but a week) is never interested in what's around him and will gladly hold your hand and go wherever you want to go without any fuss. His parents have NEVER taught him about road safety.

I also agree that is depends on pavement size. In the UK, the pavements are very narrow, especially where I live. It would take just a second for my LO to reach the road if she let go of my hand.

 

[emyandpotato]

Today I tied a balloon around my LO's waist and let him run free, deciding that if I lost him I'd just look for the balloon, as if he was my tent at a festival. How's THAT for lazy parenting?



In all seriousness he was always within grabbing distance, but it did make hand holding quite unnecessary at times. As for reins, I have no problem with them at all, but luckily my LO is pretty good at listening and holding my hand so we rarely use them (unfortunately, cos he has those gorgeous Little Life dino ones).

 

[sequeena]

my son has (suspected) autism and tries to run across roads in front of cars because they go "brrm" so if any cheeky cow wants to come up to me and say to my face that reins are cruel I will not be held responsible for my actions..

Callum WILL run in front of a car, he will NEVER understand road safety and I will probably be using reins until he is about 6/8 years old because I would rather do that than have him get killed, he adores all kinds of vehicles and always wants to "have a look" so for that very reason I would politely tell the person judging me to f*ck off!

My thoughts are you never know the reason behind why a parent is doing something the way they are and until you have walked a mile in their shoes, don't judge them. simple as that.

T has suspected autism too I completely understand the lack of self preservation (which a lot of toddlers have anyway as they don't really get the dangers in this world) and it can be so scary. In Thomas' case he's extremely over friendly. He will run up to anyone and ask to be picked up. He will happily walk off with anyone and it's terrifying. It's the same with traffic too. He ADORES buses. He would step out in front of it if he could so he can touch it.

 

[XJessicaX]

Genius idea!!

I am quite tempted to attach DD1 to a very long rope and attach it to a stake in the ground so she has freedom to run, but only able to pivot in a circle!

 

[sequeena]

Genius idea!!

I am quite tempted to attach DD1 to a very long rope and attach it to a stake in the ground so she has freedom to run, but only able to pivot in a circle!

Give her the lawnmower and she can earn her keep too

 

[XJessicaX]

Genius idea!!

I am quite tempted to attach DD1 to a very long rope and attach it to a stake in the ground so she has freedom to run, but only able to pivot in a circle!

Give her the lawnmower and she can earn her keep too

Interesting fact about myself ( )....I have never mowed my garden due to owning 5+ at any one time free range guinea pigs over the years!

 

[sequeena]

Genius idea!!

I am quite tempted to attach DD1 to a very long rope and attach it to a stake in the ground so she has freedom to run, but only able to pivot in a circle!

Give her the lawnmower and she can earn her keep too

Interesting fact about myself ( )....I have never mowed my garden due to owning 5+ at any one time free range guinea pigs over the years!

I have also never mowed a garden because who really has time for that plus we don't have grass in our new home it's either patio, fancy pebble stones or bark

 

[Foogirl]

I've never mowed a lawn either. That's an outside job and therefore my husband's responsibility. Under no circumstances should this be seen as the reason I married him....nope....honest...

 

[Foogirl]

Are the people who are anti reins also anti stair gates, " I'll teach my kid to climb the stairs" it just seems odd people are so wound up about what is a safety aid.

Yep, people can have some strange views. I'm actually someone who would have reins but not a stairgate, or any other baby proofing stuff.

However, my stance on that has yet to be properly tested as our LO was two and a half before she moved and has only just mastered the stairs. By that age she was old enough to be told not to do the stuff and it was all good. I'm sure I'll be propping up the baby proofing industry if we ever get to experience a baby moving at the age that babies should do

 

[tommyg]

I don't mow lawns either however Hubby is now interested in the Gunie pig idea

 

[Foogirl]

Mine is after one of those automatic ones that cut the grass when you are out. He also wants the equivalent hoover. I've told him he can have one when they can climb stairs!

 

[tommyg]

I'm just not convinced how good a job the automatic ones would do.

 

[Foogirl]

In Mr Foo's world where anything shiny or with the word "turbo" attached to it must be bought, how well they actually do a job is pretty much at the bottom of the list!

 

[tommyg]

Well there has to be somebody who wants to buy all these gadgets. That said the price tag put me off when I had my flat, they are a big expensive to buy if they are hopeless at doing the job.

Can I just say we have completely de-railed this thread...
Must be the biggest derailment ever