Keeping a hold of a 2yr old in the parks

[jackiemcg]

Hi all, :wavey:

I'm sure I'm asking a much asked question... :blush: How do you keep hold of a two yr old who doesn't want to be in a buggy and won't wear reins? (I will also have a just turned 4 yr old. Same story) :spin:

Any advice gladly received

Thanks
:o: :o: :o:

[Elsie]

Blimey ... we had this situation 11 years ago. I feel old now :(

As my wife was 5 months pregnant with child #2, I spent a lot of the '97 holiday following my 2 year old daughter around as she two didn't like reins. She was quite happy to be in the push chair when tired but at other times she'd go running off. I just stayed as close as possible and picked her up when I felt the crowds were too busy.

It'll keep you / your partner fit!

[I love walmart]

I don't want to be controversial but can't you just make her/him stay in the pushchair? I know how wilful two year olds can be, I have one myself but it will make your holiday a nightmare if you are constantly running round crowds after her/him. What happens when one adult is left with two children. Do you dump the four year old to dart after the two year old? I know how stressful it is taking my two for a short walk together with no pushchair, theres no way I could do it amongst thousands of people, it's just too scary. And don't get me started on all those souvenir shops little ones make a beeline for.........

[roberts family]

when we went with our 2 year old we bought a gr8 set of reins for him it has a monkey as a back pack and its tail was the part u hold onto he never liked normal reins but once he has this on he wont take it off we also bought a dog one at the same time for my youngest who at the time couldnt even walk and now hes 2 he thinks the same as the other lad we got it from walmart approx £4 you can get them online here approx £20 im going to get another 1 when i get there very sooooon

[Karen Mouse]

You can get reins now that are like a little rucksack - get them and show her you've bought her her very own special bag for the holiday...let her choose a small toy/doll etc she'd like to put in the bag, or let her put a lollipop in it each morning etc. She'll feel grown up and you've still got control. ;)

heres a piccie of the sort of thing I mean
http://www.babyworld.co.uk/information/reviews/product.asp?id=253

She'll be worn out fairly quickly anyway - even my 5 year old was grateful for a buggy by the end of the day and he hadnt used one since he was 2.

[beanybucket]

when we went with our 2 year old we bought a gr8 set of reins for him it has a monkey as a back pack and its tail was the part u hold onto he never liked normal reins but once he has this on he wont take it off we also bought a dog one at the same time for my youngest who at the time couldnt even walk and now hes 2 he thinks the same as the other lad we got it from walmart approx £4 you can get them online here approx £20 im going to get another 1 when i get there very sooooon

we saw loads of kids with these when we were there, thought they were brilliant.but we didn't know where to get them from. :( they are definately worth a try.
failing that have you tried using a hand reign, thats what we used for our 2yr old.he didn't feel so restricted as it was only his arm it was attached to. but we had hold of him at all times.

[jackiemcg]

Thanks for all your replies.

That day pack idea looks promising as she has already asked for her own bag for her holidays! Could even get one for my 4 year old. ;)

Do the strollers that you can hire have restraining straps on them or are they literally seats on wheels? :confused2

Cheers again

[foxylady]

Can you still get those wrist straps? When DS was younger, we had these wrist straps that velcro round his wrist and also round yours.

Can't remember what they were called, but they came out just after Jamie Bulger was abducted.

It was also useful to use when taking "Peter" his rabbit anywhere as they could be strapped together and no lost rabbit.

[mobeckwith]

i say the rucksacks are a good idea,i got mine from boots a few years ago.otherwise the just have to have there hands held at all times.we did this with ds6 in october,he didnt always like it but the crowds are massive at times,it would be to scary not to.otherwise strapped in the buggy.i would use the same precautions you would in any busy situation.i know its hard work,i took 4 kids on my own to ibiza when ds was 2 others were a bit older,but watching all 4 and getting the cases :cry: it was hard.ds kept trying to escape but no chance,he soon gave up.it will be fine.have fun :wave: :wave: mo.

[Gizmo473]

The wrist straps saved us a lot of problems a few years ago. Boots still do them as do Mothercare. Strangely enough we passed our 2 pairs on a couple of weks ago to friends who are going in May.

[Alba20]

I have the same problem with DD who is almost two, she'd rather be out the buggy running around.

I saw the backpack with the strap and thought it was a good idea so we bought one from our local outdoor store. She loves it. I made a big deal of her having her own bag and helping me pack things in it like her doll and juice etc and she seems quite happy.

Alba
:smile:

[treacle]

Not taken my wee one there yet but for out and about she hates reigns even a wrist strap can be a battle of wills. I found out that if I attach her end to her belt loop of trousers I can keep hold but she feels free.

[DonnaD]

Jackie

I'm pretty sure the hire pushchairs don't have restraints. They aren't really suitable for younger children as they are hard plastic and not padded. Whenever they are discussed on here everyone recommends taking your own lightweight strollers or buying a cheap one out there and leaving it behind. The rentals work out expensive for more than a couple of days. My daughter loved her backpack too and now wants to lead her little sister around on it.

Donna

[loopy linda]

We havew bought Bailey a backpack reign set from Toys r us.It has Winnie the Pooh on the back and has the swtrap coming out of the bag.I think we paid aqbout £8 for it.

[wazzimama]

ds is now 3 and there is no way i could let him wander loose in the parks, i'd be in too much of a panic... we have had the reins and now just have the wrist strap even though he hates it, it's either that or the chair

[Kimberley Halfo]

We must just be really lucky but last year our 22 month twins pretty much sat in the pushchair, I think it was just too hot and they couldn't be bothered to be runnign round. Not sure if they'll be the sme in June though as they'll be 3 are are far more independent.

[KAY-Partyof5]

ds is now 3 and there is no way i could let him wander loose in the parks, i'd be in too much of a panic... we have had the reins and now just have the wrist strap even though he hates it, it's either that or the chair


I felt the same way! I insisted that my DDs wore their reigns whenever they were out of their buggies whether they liked it or not! My youngest (20 months at the time) had full reigns and my eldest (3 at the time) had wrist reigns.
I would rather they were a little unhappy than lost or snatched in such a big and busy place! To be honest, there is so much to see and do, they soon forgot about complaining!

[nbodyhome]

I was doing volunteer work a couple of years ago, and one family had 5 or 6 young boys - all on leashes/reigns. She said that she'd gotten a lot of negative comments, but I think they are great. It allows for a little freedom - and it is less likely the child will get taken.

It also allows kids to get their energy out, and sleep at the end of the day. :)

I do like the bear ones, but I don't think the leash part is very long on them.