Your baby’s first steps will be one of the most memorable moments in your life. From then on however, things begin to get a bit trickier. As your little one begins to wander and enjoy their newfound sense of freedom, keeping them safe becomes a whole different ball game!
Thankfully, to help keep your toddler from straying too far, baby reins exist! These are a great purchase for two main reasons: you can support your little one if they haven't quite mastered the art of balance yet, plus you can keep them within arm’s reach whenever you're out and about. With so many options available to buy online though, how do you know which set of reins is going to be right for you and your child? Read on to find out!
Quick List - Top Baby Reins
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Table of Contents
Before we take a look at the various products on sale, let’s consider the features that different types of baby reins have. This should help you identify which type will be best for your needs and budget.
The first thing you’ll have to determine is which style of harness is going to be the most suitable for you and your little one. Here, we’ll look at the advantages and disadvantages of each kind.
The first style we'll talk about is the classic harness, which has straps that pass over the baby’s shoulders and fasten around their torso or waist with a clip. These are quick and easy to attach to your toddler, plus they're suitable for children at all stages of walking.
The main issue many parents find is that the thin straps can sometimes be uncomfortable for kids when worn for a long time, so if you do opt for this style then you’ll want to check for additional padding, which we'll discuss in more detail later.
Next, you have the option of a backpack with reins attached. These are generally popular with children as they can store their toys or snacks inside, plus they're less restrictive than regular reins so kids feel more grown-up when wearing one.
The downside? The clip that keeps your little one locked in is often located on the backpack itself - if they ditch their bag at the playground, you'll find yourself without any reins to hold!
The final type available is a wrist strap - this is by far the simplest choice as you just need to attach one part to your wrist and one to your child’s, usually with the use of Velcro. It can be useful if you have more than one child and need to push a pram with the opposite hand while walking.
However, we recommend this style for kids who are already confident on their feet. Since this kind of product doesn’t provide the same amount of support as a harness, yanking your toddler up from a tumble by their wrist might cause issues!
Finding a design that both excites and engages your child will help with the battle of getting them to let you put reins on. That's why we’d advise looking for something cute and colourful, such as an animal or cartoon character - this way, the product can double up as a toy as well as a safety device.
One way to make sure that your little one will definitely like their reins is to get them to help choose the design if they’re old enough; this can make them feel like it's their harness, rather than something you have control over. Involving kids in this decision means they won't throw a strop about putting it on and, more importantly, keeping it on!
It’s worth saying off the bat that none of the baby reins on our list should be too uncomfortable for your little one. However, some do have added padding which will make them much more pleasant to wear.
The type of padding will depend on the style of the harness - classic reins may have extra layers of cotton mesh on the torso area, while a backpack might have padded shoulder straps. When it comes to wrist straps, padding is less common but a few brands do incorporate it.
Of course, these extra features will likely bump up the price a bit, but if you know your little one is going to be spending a lot of time in their reins then it’s probably going to be worth spending more to keep them feeling comfy. After all, a happy toddler means happy parents!
We’re sure that any parent checks for this regardless of what they buy, but a set of reins that's machine-washable is definitely something to consider. If you like to walk outdoors in the great British weather, they're bound to get mucky!
You’ll find that most harness and wrist style reins are perfectly fine for popping in the machine, whereas backpacks may need to be wiped clean instead.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Trunki ToddlePak | ![]() | Convenient to Put on and Totally Secure | |
2 | GAGAKU Cute Cartoon Backpack with Harness | ![]() | Sweet Yet Spooky, With Plenty of Padding | |
3 | Evedaily Wristband Safety Link Belt | ![]() | Functional, Sturdy, and Skin-Friendly | |
4 | Babymeo Toddler Assistant Walking Harness | ![]() | Ideal for Practising Walking Indoors | |
5 | Moonlove Dinosaur Walking Safety Harness Backpack | ![]() | A Rainproof Backpack That'll Stand up to Wear and Tear | |
6 | Children's Wrist Link Walking Rein | ![]() | An Adjustable Wrist Rein That Doesn't Feel Too Restrictive | |
7 | Hey Duggee Kids Rein with Backpack | ![]() | Help Your Little One Become Part of The Squirrel Club | |
8 | LittleLife Toddler Rein | ![]() | Build up Their Balance Whilst Making Sure They're Safe | |
9 | Sunnybaby Safety Textile Harness | ![]() | A Classic Harness for Everyday Use |
What sets this classic harness apart from all the others? Well, the main reason we've popped it at the top of the charts is that it's so convenient and quick to put on. Once clipped on, strategically placed pull straps that attach to Velcro can be used to tighten and adjust everything - that means no fiddling around with buckles!
There's no need to worry about naughty toddlers undoing the Velcro as it's carefully hidden underneath the rest of the harness. To round it all off, this product has reflective details to help with staying safe on evening walks, as well as cosy padding on the straps. This adorable lion harness truly is the perfect fit when it comes to baby reins!
Looking like something from the imagination of Tim Burton, this sweetly spooky backpack rein from GAGAKU is a bit like Marmite - we happen to love it! The 134cm long leash gives your little one plenty of freedom, while still allowing you to feel completely in control.
The design comes in three different colourways: blue, green, and pink. Each one has enough room for small toys, snacks, nappies, and whatever else you might want to store in there. Best of all, it's highly padded so your child won't feel uncomfy on their travels.
By far the most advanced wrist rein available, this offering from Emwel stretches up to a massive 149cm and is made from sturdy steel wire encased in plastic. The wrist cuffs themselves use a mixture of anti-pricking Velcro and soft neoprene material, for ultimate comfort.
Not only are the materials used top quality, but they're also totally skin-friendly and can be wiped clean if they get dirty. Emwel is so confident you'll love this product that every purchase comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee and a lifetime warranty.
This offering from Babymeo doesn't extend much so it's best used for building up your baby's walking skills indoors rather than keeping them safe while outside. Part of the fabric forms a seat under your child's bottom, but this can be detached when needed.
Made from safe, snug materials like pearl cotton and Oxford fabric, this product has been manufactured with your child's comfort in mind. The charming owl design is pleasing to the eye too!
Made from Oxford fabric, this dinosaur backpack is as tough as well as fun. The choice of material means that it's rainproof, sturdy, and while not machine-washable, thankfully it's still easy to clean - all of which are great features when it comes to baby reins!
This backpack provides a good cushioned surface with ventilated mesh material, which is ideal if they're going to be wearing it for long periods of time. Also, if the pink dragon isn't to your child's liking, there are 6 other colourful designs to choose from.
This adjustable band can extend up to 78cm, so your little one can won't feel too restricted while they walk. It's also completely machine-washable, meaning you don't have to worry about wiping off bogies or other mucky bits after use.
The issue is that there is no clasp, clip, or hook to secure this to your child. We'd therefore say that it's probably better suited to quiet strolls in the park as opposed to overcrowded places where your child could wriggle loose and run off.
We can almost guarantee that if you have a child between the ages of one and four, then you've no doubt heard of Duggee and The Squirrel Club! After all, Hey Duggee has been the most-watched kids show on iPlayer in 2020. We reckon this should encourage little ones to keep this cute backpack on all day long.
Luckily, this is more than just a simple rein rucksack - once your child is ready to walk on their own, it can be used as a school bag. Plus it's machine-washable, which is pretty rare for this style of harness! We only wish it had some extra padding, especially considering the high price.
If you're looking for something magical that can entice your child while keeping them safe, this unicorn-themed padded harness is perfect! It'll help your child build up their balance and will boost their confidence when it comes to walking.
The robust nylon straps and solid metal buckles will ensure that your little one, no matter how tempted, won't be able to escape. Just be aware that this design is known to come up small, so you might want to check the sizing guide before purchasing.
The first baby rein on our list is this classic harness from Sunnybaby. It's primarily designed for use when walking, but can also work with high chairs, prams, carrycots - you name it! It's fully adjustable, making it ideal for tots between the ages of 8 months and 4 years.
This harness comes with one big clip that fastens on the back and all of the straps connect via D-rings for additional security. Our only concern is that the straps are pretty thin, so it could be a tad uncomfortable on longer walks.
No. 1: Trunki|ToddlePak
No. 2: GAGAKU|Cute Cartoon Backpack with Harness
No. 3: Evedaily|Wristband Safety Link Belt
No. 4: Babymeo|Toddler Assistant Walking Harness
No. 5: Moonlove|Dinosaur Walking Safety Harness Backpack
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