Toddler reins, baby leash? What a pain, give me peace!
You know why they call our lovely mini-people toddlers? Because that’s what they love to do most! Toddle around on their unsteady legs, first practising staying upright then fast gaining speed and agility until before you know it they’re out of your sight and you’re going out of your mind!
I recall being in a shopping arcade once and calling “watch out!” to a cute padded-anorak wearing toddler that was on course to run – full pelt, arms flailing and all – into the path of a mobility scooter. It was only when I looked down at the baby leash in my hand – and more to the point, the very empty other end of it – that I realised I’d have been better off calling the child’s name. Yes, he was my mini-person and yes, he’d learned to loosen the grip on his wrist strap. The chest fastening harness I had didn’t fit over his winter coat and there really wasn’t a great deal of choice in reins or leashes around at the time. Not that that fact made me feel any less guilty of course, nor any less panic-stricken as I thought of all the even worse situations we could have been in when he broke free and ran like a wild stallion.
Baby reins are an absolute essential when it comes to letting youngsters enjoy their legs whilst keeping them safe at the same time. The trouble is a lot of toddlers just don’t agree and let’s face it, who wants a nice trip out to begin with a tantrum or upset? Even if you can get a safety rein on without too many tears (be they your child’s or yours!) children are clever little monsters and will (believe me on this!) find a way to slip out the very second your attention is diverted by paying a cashier, digging a sippy cup out of your bag or checking the traffic before crossing a road.
So what would the ideal baby reins be? Well for a start, something children actually wanted to wear! Secondly it would need a strong leash attachment that was child “evil genius” proof. And if I were really going to ask for the moon? I’d want them to be able to carry some of their own stuff around and make it much more accessible for those urgent moments in the middle of outings when only that particular green sippy cup or silky edged blankie is good enough!
Luckily, mums these days have just such a thing (well, not only lucky but a good job being as those mobility scooters seem to be everywhere now!) I’ve seen the cutest plush animal backpacks that have a safety leash attached as the tail. Kiddies love wearing a cuddly monkey, bear or unicorn on their back with all their own favourite toys, drinks and snacks inside while Mum gets to hold onto the tail that’s cleverly attached out of reach of little hands and know that riders of motorised wheelchairs need not worry about escaped toddlers!
I do believe the baby rein just stopped being a pain!
Author: Ashley J Downs. Reproduced from The Blog of Babybluebird.co.uk – A fantastic baby boutique and on-line baby catalogue based in Rectory Grove, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex. Telephone: 01702 470727
So what would the ideal baby reins be? Well for a start, something children actually wanted to wear! Secondly it would need a strong leash attachment that was child “evil genius” proof. And if I were really going to ask for the moon? I’d want them to be able to carry some of their own stuff around and make it much more accessible for those urgent moments in the middle of outings when only that particular green sippy cup or silky edged blankie is good enough!
Luckily, mums these days have just such a thing (well, not only lucky but a good job being as those mobility scooters seem to be everywhere now!) I’ve seen the cutest plush animal backpacks that have a safety leash attached as the tail. Kiddies love wearing a cuddly monkey, bear or unicorn on their back with all their own favourite toys, drinks and snacks inside while Mum gets to hold onto the tail that’s cleverly attached out of reach of little hands and know that riders of motorised wheelchairs need not worry about escaped toddlers!
