Rein/harnesses for children

neverdespairgirl

sweaty_betty wrote: »

(someone told me once that children don't really understand danger until they're about 7+), so never say never

I thought it was more like early 20s?

neverdespairgirl

pigpen wrote: »

I call the playpen a baby cage, the crib is the dog basket and the backpack with walking rein is the baby lead.. doesn't stop me using them though. I realise they keep my child safe so what is in a name?!

I do think sometimes mine need to be in a dog crate!!!

OH called our playpen "Guantanemo Baby" and put an Amnesty International sticker on it.

mrssmiff_2

pukkamum wrote: »

I took reins to spain last year for my then 18mth lo as I knew there would be crowds etc well you not believe the comments we got from several older spanish women, basically they were berating me for treating her like a dog! They were horrified!

Whilst on holiday in Majorca in 2011 when my DS was 21 months we were using reins. We got disapproving (treating him like a dog etc) looks from foreign guests - not sure whether reins are an unknown concept in Germany/Scandinavia??.

Yet the English guests who actually SPOKE to us (rather than just "looked") said that they wished that their child would wear reins/backpacks as they were a complete nightmare with pools/roads/lots of hotel steps etc.

Like many people who have already commented about their children, our son is tall for his age (my Grandad was 6ft 5") and is also slightly behind developmentally, so some other guests presumed he was much older than his age, and therefore had special needs/over compensating parents etc..

Thank you to the 2 english sisters (twins) who actually said to me -it's nice to see a child of normal healthy build, rather than these sparrow legged kids running around the pool..... These 2 ladies stopped me questioning myself that I was being cruel to my child by "restricting" him rather than letting him run straight into the olympic sized pool etc..from the "pool gossip" that they had overheard my baby was 5/6 +!

As another poster has raised, - would we take a puppy out and let them run wherever in the road to have or cause an accident, or do we take care of those precious to us that are not aware of how to take care of themselves ??

Sometimes in life people are far more likely to criticise and comment/gossip, rather than offer support and practical help (I am sure that we have all been in a situation like Desperado).. Personally, I have lost count and try not to feel guilty, thinking that my DS' safety is far more important than some stranger/busybody's opinion...

I remember when DS was 5 months and old JW knocked on the door asking if they could benefit my life. Bearing in mind it was 3pm and I was still in my dressing gown, unable to get a shower as my DS was constantly demanding attention/being held - I said if you would like to wash up, cuddle the baby whilst I have have a shower and prepare the dinner, then crack on...Funnily enough they !!!!ed off asap....

We would love to be able to trust our young child to walk beautifully with us whilst in town/traffic/busy situations. but this does not happen automatically in reality.

PS: on the "sit " command both my 3 yrd old DS and my 2 dogs jump up and sit on the settee, (very comfortably with cushions,) so something was worked.

Makes me think that dogs and kids are the same - need routine, strict discipline etc (and if you show them fear you are !!!!!!ed !)


Love to you all, and keep on staying in control xx

pinkladyof66

Yes i agree my son is 4 and a half and i have to use them (backpack ones0 to keep him safe and away from danger. He has gdd and is functioning much younger. We go out to park and shops with him wearing them, yes other people may look and it may seem odd however at least I have control of my son and there is not a chance he would run into traffic or get hurt, as this is what would happen if i let him walk, even holding my hand.

however if we are out and about where there is no danger and no chance of him being hurt he doesnt wear them. Yesterday i took him to the park as we had to walk past the boating lake and busy road he wore them then, as soon as we were in the enclosed park he took them off. I would never forgive myself if my son came into trouble cause I hadnt used them.

he will hold your hand but only when he wants too. So the reins are taken everywhere with us just in case.

Next week we are off to butlins on holiday however the reins will only be used if we go out the camp and onto busy main roads. He will not be restrained whilst we are in the camp.

Raksha

The dogs and kids comment made me larf <G>

My Dad used to worry the neighbours when he said he treated his children like animals and animals like children (shame that used to mean he beat us with a cane, which I NEVER saw him do to a dog.......)

HOWEVER, I used to run Puppy School puppy classes, and whilst you do need to use a lead, a pup still needs to be allowed off lead to learn that being with you is good and to make the decision voluntarily...

There was a line in Steptoe and Son, when the son was pointing out that the dog had been run over because he was never allowed outside the yard, and the first time he was let out, he got run over, because he'd never learnt that vehicles were dangerous.

Saturnalia

mrssmiff wrote: »

Whilst on holiday in Majorca in 2011 when my DS was 21 months we were using reins. We got disapproving (treating him like a dog etc) looks from foreign guests - not sure whether reins are an unknown concept in Germany/Scandinavia??

My German housemate was shocked when we were at a busy Christmas event and saw a child on reins - she said it is illegal to use them in Germany and she was quite insistent that it was child cruelty! :eek:

I said that in the environment we were in (Hyde Park Winter Wonderland - market stalls, fairground, entertainment galore, 1001 things going on and very crowded) the reins were the kindest thing to do - it takes a second of distraction for the child to get lost in a crowd like that and there's no way I'd chance letting a child that young off the leash there.

ALIBOBSY

WestonDave wrote: »

They can also be useful when they are still a bit unsteady on their feet - you can let them walk as if unaided with the reins slack, but when they fall you can often catch them before they hit the ground.

The other problem is that no matter how well you think they are trained to hold hands and not run off, they still occasionally might so if you are going alongside a busy road or near water etc, it might be better to remove the risk rather than be sorry later.

TBH I found this was the main use as a support to stop them falling over. Only ever had one child who needed the reins to stop her running off and lets just say she has been a challenging child all around-love her to bits but she was born independent, strong willed and assertive to say the least .

TBH they are only useful for a very short period, never really used for DS as he was seriously lazy and always preferred to be pushed around in his trolley .

Have to admit to loathing those baby "play pens" basically no better than the baby cages they had in the 30's. We always said our house is the kids house as well and so they should be able to potter around as they like.

Ali x

Noctu

A 3 year old boy was knocked over recently in my home town (Darlington) - he wandered out into the road, was hit by a car and killed. The driver did not stop and is on the run.

Whilst the driver is despicable for not stopping, I can't help but think that this wouldn't have happened if his mum was using reins for him. (Not placing blame but just an observation...)

Kaz2904

We had reins for DD. we also used a wrist strap. I didn't like that because she'd yank on it and leave marks on my wrists and I wouldn't be able to get stuff in and out of bags easily. I also have ridiculously thin arms so struggled to get them to stay on.
When DS came along, I would sometimes loop her reins through the pram handle so I could be certain she couldn't escape.
She always wore them when out after the time that I'd not put them o her as I got her out of the car to put into a trolley at Tesco. As we were walking towards the trolleys she slipped my hand and legged it. By the time I'd flung 5 month old DS at MiL she was a long way away. I chased her full pelt down the main road shouting for someone to stop her (nobody did) and caught her after several hundred yards. That was only because I knew I couldn't run any further and leapt at her hood.
Thank The Lord she didn't go into the road is all I can say.

DS wouldn't wander and at almost 10 will still hold my hand when we're walking along. He just liked to be with us and in sight at all times. Poor boy held a strangers hand at futuroscope in France and cried for half an hour. I had to carry him around for a good hour with his face buried in my neck and that was when he was almost 5.
Funny how they can be so different isn't it?

lollipopsarah

Long time ago but I used reins with first son so much easier to hoik them up when they fall over, I hate the wrist strap things that remind me of dog leads on a tender wrist.
Always better safe than sorry please parents, I can't tell you how many times I see little ones near the road (scares me).
Please teach them to walk on the inside.
xx