The dreaded kiddie reins....
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Forum Name: Toddler Times
Forum Description: Is bubs growing up and getting into everything? How do you train them to use the potty? When do you start feeding solids? Share your tips and advice here!
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Topic: The dreaded kiddie reins....
Posted By: Paws
Subject: The dreaded kiddie reins....
Date Posted: 24 February 2008 at 6:25pm
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....does anyone else use them?
In the last few days Maddie has gone from stringing together her shaky steps to walking everywhere and from today attempting what would at least be descirbed as a light jog.  She doesn't like the stoller, shoves you if you try to carry her for too long, won't hold our hands and shows all the signs of being a runner. She really is little miss independent!
So we bought kiddie reins. I know that they are a practicality at least until she can learn not to run off. Still it felt funny walking through the mall and knowing people were glancing over. Even though we feel we are doing what is safest and most practical I almost felt like I should go up to everyone and justify ourselves! Does anyone else use these? I am being paranoid or how have you found people's reactions? ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Replies:
Posted By: Kazzle
Date Posted: 24 February 2008 at 6:45pm
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i used them on Rhiannon, and the only ppl who made any comments were the elderly funnily enough, and some were neg and some where pos...i basically just ignored everyone, as far as im concerned as rhiannon is a runner, that reins was the best way for both of us to be happy ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: aimeejoy
Date Posted: 24 February 2008 at 7:09pm
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Yeah we used some a few times with Hannah - and I think it was more me being paranoid about what people were thinking (or not!). ------------- Aimee Hannah 22/10/05 Greer 11/02/08 |
Posted By: Kels
Date Posted: 24 February 2008 at 7:13pm
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Im dying to get some reins, After this weekend it has confirmed my need for them as Alize was all over the place, he is such a runner, climber........etc! my mischief busy wee man I tell ya ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
Busy mum to Miss 15yrs, Miss 10yrs and Master 4yrs |
Posted By: katie1
Date Posted: 24 February 2008 at 7:17pm
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Ollie is the same. He tries to run off and then has a tantrum when I pick him up - very embarassing! Am tempted to get some but I am also paranoid about what people think!! Silly but I can't help it.
I think good on you. They are definitely safer. |
Posted By: Paws
Date Posted: 24 February 2008 at 7:31pm
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Maddie has tantrums when she is picked up too! And if she is put in her stroller, not taken out of her stoller....it is embarrassing! You can't help but feel everyone is looking at us for it! So I guess we can't win either way! ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: pepsi
Date Posted: 24 February 2008 at 7:32pm
We bought one of those http://www.safety4baby.co.nz/ - Harness buddy ones which looks like a unicorn and my mum has used it on Alyssa a couple of times. She said people usually comment on how cute it looks rather than the actual purpose of it.
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Posted By: Nic01
Date Posted: 24 February 2008 at 7:35pm
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Don't worry about the funny looks - better that than her running off everywhere! I wasn't keen on the actual reins, so we got a wrist strap thing which works quite well, but we still got a few funny looks with that too. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Paws
Date Posted: 24 February 2008 at 7:38pm
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Thanks Pepsi!!! I had no idea where to get those! I'm going to order one! ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Bizzy
Date Posted: 24 February 2008 at 7:49pm
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i used the wrist strap with gabriel and really liked that... gave him a bit of independence without me losing him. ------------- http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker"> 
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Posted By: FionaS
Date Posted: 24 February 2008 at 8:24pm
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Good luck! Elle hates the reins, wrist ones and the standard ones that go around the torso.
She is older that Maddie though so I can explain to her that if she walks she stays by me and if she runs she goes back in the chair. It is not easy though! If she is too excited she either doesn't hear me or forgets what I say (or deliberately ignores me LOL). ------------- Mummy to Gabrielle and Ashley |
Posted By: Rachael21
Date Posted: 24 February 2008 at 8:27pm
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I bet you would get the looks too if you had a child who ran riot all over the place
I can't even remember what we did, I think just put him in his pram or chased after him but I remember wanting reins, just never got around to getting any. I think they are cute don't worry about anyone else. |
Posted By: caraMel
Date Posted: 24 February 2008 at 10:02pm
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I used them for Ella too.
I was really paranoid about what people would think about me having my child on a leash but I found it was actually about 30/70 with more positive comments than horrified looks. What it came down to for me was that I was way more worried about her running off into the street or getting lost than I was about strangers disapproving of my choice and they really did make life so much easier when we were out and about. ------------- Mel, Mummy to E: 6, B: 4 and: 
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Posted By: lizzle
Date Posted: 25 February 2008 at 7:02am
| i had one on Taine at the market. some woman said "oh is mummy not letting you run around" - i said "no" and she made some comment. i said "if i let him off, he will come over and push all your vegetables on the ground." she backed off. |
Posted By: newmum
Date Posted: 25 February 2008 at 7:54am
I use the wrist strap with Joey, it is great!!  ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: AliaDawn
Date Posted: 25 February 2008 at 9:30am
lmao  -------------  
 
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lizzle wrote:Posted By: The_Stuarts
Date Posted: 25 February 2008 at 9:35am
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We used reins for Michaela and if anyone commented negatively on them I was fully prepared to give them an earful, although no one did **sigh**
I bought a set from baby factory which had anchor straps and I used a key ring to join one of the anchor straps to one end of the rein so it was like a bracelet. I’d then slip the ‘bracelet’ over my wrist so I was attached to Michaela but also hands free with no chance of the rein slipping out of my hand. ------------- http://lilypie.com">   http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: nikkitheknitter
Date Posted: 25 February 2008 at 9:46am
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Yeah, you can't freaking win. People judge you no matter what!!
I didn't use them but wish I had. Hannah was a terrible escaper. I lost her soooo many times. She hated the wrist strap. |
Posted By: The_Stuarts
Date Posted: 25 February 2008 at 10:09am
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When I was 14 I was walking through Auckland with my 18mo cousin who I had on reins and lucky I did because as I stopped at a crossing he noticed a toy store across the road and tried to run across and very busy street. Because he wasn’t old enough to understand the danger the reins saved him. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Carmel
Date Posted: 25 February 2008 at 10:24am
| We have a harness buddy for Piper, it was great to use lately on our trip to the uk as we needed it around the airports. got alot of comments about how cute it was |
Posted By: Paws
Date Posted: 25 February 2008 at 10:37am
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I'm defiently getting a harness buddy come pay day!! They are cute...in the meantime, reins it is!
It is good to know others do use them as you don't see them much, probably all the other parents too scared to use them for fear of negative comments! ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: daikini
Date Posted: 25 February 2008 at 10:47am
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I used reigns for Kiya... and we're thinking we might just get some for Josiah to make it easier when out and about with 3 little boys! Josiah's a bit older though, and pretty good about walking along holding the pushchair the few times I've gone out without the toddler seat. ------------- Becca, mum of 2 girls & 3 boys |
Posted By: AliaDawn
Date Posted: 25 February 2008 at 12:31pm
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I'm lucky in that Seb won't run off - he'll wander off to inspect things, but because he's so small and I keep an eye on him all the time that isn't a problem. Those little harness buddies are so cute though! -------------
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Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 26 February 2008 at 9:07pm
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The gremlins both have harness buddies, they are awesome! Haven't had any negative comments (yet!) but I have had two Asian couples stop and ask if they can take a photo of them coz they are so cute. I think it's the twin thing, that might put people off making negative comments too - there are two of them, therefore I *need* reins to keep them under control!
I had a wrist strap with Maya when we were in London, she was closer to 2 at the time and it was good coz it gave her a bit of freedom but not enough for her to get run over or abducted. -------------  Maya Grace (28/02/03)
 (02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: SMoody
Date Posted: 26 February 2008 at 10:06pm
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I think I am getting over the whole People looking at me ect. Had it with breastfeeding in public and get it with the reins as well.
Once someone asked me if I think my child was a dog. McKayla got on all fours and started barking and I just couldnt stop laughing. Lets just say the really interfering woman couldnt stop blushing. Then someone else asked Grant how much that animal cost him. And Grant just answered back Most of my salary actually and the guy said good come back. Most of the comments are positive actually and people trying to find out where they can get some too. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Jennz
Date Posted: 27 February 2008 at 4:04am
Lol! That would have been so funny! I so don't get what the big deal is- why people even think to comment. Surely its better to have a 'runner' in reins and safe I could understand people commenting if you had a choker chain on- but its not like its doing them any harm, quite the opposite.
I'm so getting one of those buddy ones for Kate! I get the feeling shes going to be a runner. We had a wrist strap that we've used for Charlotte in the international airports or the odd big busy place we've gone too- not so much to stop her running off but more to stop anyone running off with her  ------------- Jen, Charlotte 7 & Kate 3 
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Posted By: The_Stuarts
Date Posted: 27 February 2008 at 7:52am
LOL. That is classic!! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: The_Stuarts
Date Posted: 27 February 2008 at 7:55am
It's like from the second you become pregnant you and your child are suddenly public business. I've had a couple of instances (not related to kiddie reins) when I've had to put strangers in their place. I guess it's all part of the job. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: cat007
Date Posted: 12 March 2008 at 10:01pm
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I think that people simply do not understand that having a harness is simply a matter of safety. I am getting a pair for my toddler because he has started to run and Im looking forward to explaining to rude people that make comments about them, ------------- http://lilypie.com">  [/url http://lilypie.com">
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