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

[VieraSky]

We have one of those leashes that looks like a monkey backpack and you hold onto the tail. I don't think they are cruel at all. My child has a tendency to run off. People may think it's cruel of me, but at least I'm taking my child home with me.

 

[JASMAK]

I don't think they are cruel however I don't agree with them. It's another thing in my opinion that alot of people use instead properly teaching children to behave or watching them properly . Your child can be taught really early to stay with you out in public , and if you keep any eye on them there shouldn't be on a leash like a dog

A fellow Canadian....and I would sum up that this is how our country, give or take, feels about them. Every country is different. I am not trying to offend, just stating the differences. That is why I said they are rather 'frowned upon' here. My LO ran at nine months, so I understand keeping kids safe and the struggles with that.

Agreed, you would not see these used in Canada. But most of us use cars anyways, we don't necessarily have the same street planning or logistics of girls in Europe.

That being said, my 3 year old is still a pain in the ass to walk and it's not about teaching, it's about him being unable to focus properly. I don't use reins (it's just not done here, ever) but that doesn't mean all kids still walk fine either.

I also think it's very easy to say when you've only gone one little one to wrangle in!

Yes, its just not done here. My daughter has asd, and still, at age 8, runs off, but they just arent used here. I have seen the odd one, and I am not all judgey about it. I probably did a double look to see. I think Aliss is right, its different here too...with streets and most people use cars ect.

 

[meli1981]

I live in canada and i would use them, not cruel in the least. Altho i agree, dont see them used here very often.

 

[Starry Night]

Another Canadian here. I would totally use reins and am meaning to get some. Just haven't gotten around to it yet. Carters/Osh Kosh stores sell the little backpacks that look like a monkey or you can get one that looks like an elephant. They're really cute!

Yesterday was the first time we had our son in the city out of his stroller and were chasing him NON-STOP. The moment we loosened our grip a little he was gone. And he's fast! It was a long car ride so that's why we let him out of the stroller for a bit. But we eventually just put him back in.

I haven't seen others use reins either but my mom used them on me as a child because I took off all the time. I wasn't trying to be bad. I was 'independent' and just got it into my head I wanted to go somewhere and I would go. It seems my son is that way too. My son had to wear one of those helmets for plagiocephely so I am accustomed to strange looks for using strange gear. LOL I wouldn't feel judged.

 

[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.

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

I checked back to see where this thread was its kind of back on the rails.

But I thought I should mention stair gates are my only baby proofing. We had socket covers but questioned why we needed them on the basis UK sockets have safety features built in. Then we came across a website slateing them stating as they aren't made to the same spec as plugs they can be inserted upside down therefore opening the built in covers over the live and neutral. Actually undoing one of the safety features, allowing another object to be pushed in. apparently it's very difficult to find something the right shape to fit the earth to open them but socket covers are designed to fit. The man also shows a 3 month olds fingers are already to big to fit in any of the holes.

 

[Foogirl]

Yeah socket covers are one of my pet hates. I can't believe people pay for a piece of equipment to make their sockets less safe!

 

[tommyg]

But again it's scary that people are dubbed into beliving they are a required bit of equipment. As I said we questioned them HD is a electrician by trade but we still bought them, and came across the website - linked to on there - confirming what we thought and worse so went round the house and binned them.

 

[Natsku]

Those in other countries I think maybe have wider pavements? I know in Germany they don't use reins really and I know from experience the pavements tend to be wider. In this country pavements can be really narrow with cars parked on them as well etc which can make it a real hazard for toddlers running into the road especially when they're still learning. I think that might have something to do with them being used more in the UK.

Thats a good point. People don't use reins here and pavements tend to be really wide and often the busy roads have a stretch of grass or bushes between the pavement and the road so you have a better chance of grabbing back hold of an escaping toddler before they reach the road. Then again in the older parts of towns they don't have pavements at all, but also not so many cars drive down those roads.

 

[marymoomin]

I didn't use then with dd but I will be using them with my twins .

 

[babydevil1989]

We have a littlelife backpack - we used it a lot when he was younger and would use it now if we were somewhere really busy - why would something keeping a child safe be cruel?! I had reins when I was younger and I think im fairly normal lol x

 

[Dragonfly]

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.

I seen a row on facebook about these the other day, the amount that where calling them dog leashes I thought was disrespectful. As if parents where treating kids like dogs. I have never used one but I know Williams granny had one for when she took him to the shopping center as she isnt the fittest for chasing children and I rather she did than him run off. They are a safety harness, no different from strapping a child in to a stroller or a carrier., All have their uses I do not get the anger about this one product.

 

[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.

I seen a row on facebook about these the other day, the amount that where calling them dog leashes I thought was disrespectful. As if parents where treating kids like dogs. I have never used one but I know Williams granny had one for when she took him to the shopping center as she isnt the fittest for chasing children and I rather she did than him run off. They are a safety harness, no different from strapping a child in to a stroller or a carrier., All have their uses I do not get the anger about this one product.

Exactly I can't understand why people are wound up about other people's use of a safety aid.

 

[Dragonfly]

It was assumed those who use are abusing them and treating kids like dogs. Rather insulting to any one. I see many uses for them even if I dont use them. Certainly not one being the use for a kid as a dog.

 

[tommyg]

I an way people are treating their kids like dogs, both are stupid enough to run into the road and daft enough to get lost. People keep them on reins or leads to keep them safe - is that a bad thing?

 

[beanzz]

I really don't get how they can be seen as cruel. These people who think it is cruel, what would they rather, let the child run into the road?! Don't think so.

It's not as if you see people dragging their children along by these, they are so children have the freedom to walk but are safe from running into danger.

 

[katy1310]

My granny once made a comment about them being cruel, but I don't see any problem with them at all. They give them a bit more freedom than holding your hand all the time but keep them safe at the same time. We had them for a while but Sophie quite happily holds my hand now. Safety is the most important thing, in my opinion x

 

[meli1981]

Theyre not cruel, unless youre tying them up to a parking meter

 

[mayb_baby]

Or outside the shop

 

[tommyg]

Now that would be a bit cruel to tie them up in the street with no where soft to sit. At least the earlier suggestion of tieing them to a stake in the garden they had somewhere soft to sit and play.

 

[NellyLou]

I haven't read the whole thread, but have to admit that before I had a child I thought they were cruel too! Now I have a very busy 18 month old who hates to be confined to a stroller, but tries to run away and does all she can to get her hand free from mine. She's too fast and thinks it's a game to run away, so I now see that people use them to keep their children safe! We have one and have used it a few times. My child's safety matters a lot more than what someone else thinks