Baby Leash, Baby Reins? Might As Well Try to Use Some Chains!

Copyright (c) 2010 Ashley J Downs

Toddlers 101. Once they find their feet, your little ones will toddle wherever they like unless you rein them in - fact. A basic essential for letting youngsters enjoy their legs and keeping them safe is a set of baby reins but most toddlers will fight you tooth and nail if you try to put some on.

Unfortunately, even if you can get the reins on without too many tears, children are clever little devils who will find a way to slip out the very second your attention is diverted by checking the traffic before crossing a road or digging a sippy cup out of your bottomless bag.

So what would the ideal safety rein be? For starters, an item that the child would actually want to wear! As back up, it would require a strong leash attachment designed to be completely childproof.

And, whilst allowing them independence, it would be great if they could carry around some of their own stuff, providing easy access to their favourite toy or cup!

In a shopping arcade once I called "watch out!" to a cute padded-anorak wearing toddler that was about to run straight into the path of a mobility scooter. As I registered the unattached baby leash in my hand - or rather, the empty other end of it - it dawned on me that calling the child's name might have been a more effective option. Yup, it was my little man and, like Houdini, he had mastered the skill of escaping his wrist strap.

The thick material of his new winter coat meant that his usual chest harness did not fit and, as there wasn't much choice in reins or leashes, I had to use the wrist strap. Not that that 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...

Luckily, mums these days have the perfect answer - cute plush animal backpacks that include a safety leash as the tail. What child does not enjoy having a cuddly toy on its back - complete with their best treasures and drinks inside. And Mum or Dad gets to hold onto the tail - cleverly attached out of reach of evil genius hands - secure in the knowledge that riders of motorised wheelchairs need not worry about escaped toddlers!

Good news! Baby-reins just stopped being giant pains!

Comments? Questions? Email Here

© HowtoAdvice.com