11 of the best baby reins for your little one

Won Silver at the Mother&Baby Awards 2023 for Best Safety Product 

LittleLife Toddler Backpacks have been made to last through the years. Not only are they designed to last, but they are also made from recycled bottles, and one per cent of all profits are donated to sea life conservation charities to help protect our oceans. What's more, all plastic packaging from these lines has been removed.

Sydney the Stingray celebrates one of the most iconic animals in the sea with a beautiful spotted back and a cute face on the back panel. The backpack still incorporates the standard safety harness, including toddler reins and has a name tag inside in case he gets lost. 

One parent tester said: "This is a fantastic product, the rucksack fitted comfortably on my little boy and fitted a nice amount inside it, just enough without being heavy. I also liked the design, which was both fun but also easy to match to most outfits and look super cute with them."

These unique and practical toddler reins double as a backpack pod for your child to pack their favourite plaything or picnic. The cute ladybird design will encourage your toddler to wear this with pride and you can keep them safely in distance with the detachable walking reins. Sounds like a win-win to us.

One reviewer said: "Bought for my 1-year-old who is already walking. Perfect fit and lightweight, lovely bright design and cute antenna. Easy to put on and tighten up, little one likes wearing it too."

This fantastic, fuss-free harness is super easy to use, as it comes with a cute range of animal designs that your child will want to wear. It can also grow with your kid, so you don't need to invest in a new one every few months. It fits from 6 to 48 months, so this makes it a great investment for your little one.

One reviewer said: " Easy to adjust. Slightly fussy to take off until you get used to it. (you just push the button and pull). Saved our new walker from many a face plant on the uneven pavements and paths where we live and comfortable enough to wear with a t-shirt. Have taken his weight on them many times when he’s fallen, and he’s never had any issues or complaints.”

This is a different kind of baby rein, with a comfortable wristband for both child and parent. If you don't really like the idea of using traditional baby and toddler reins, this is a safe alternative. The wrist link will give you a wide range of motion for maximum flexibility and comfort. We love this unique design.

One reviewer said: "This is an amazing wrist link! Not only is it incredibly soft and comfortable to wear but it's so strong. The connecting coil is a metal cord encased in plastic so there is no chance of it snapping. The adult wrist fastening is strong velcro coming back over itself whereas the child's wrist is nothing short of genius! It's two layers of velcro going in opposite directions so my daughter will peel up the first one thinking that she's opened it yet she's still securely fastened in by the second layer underneath it!"

These cute teddy bear reins can be used by children up to 4 years old. There's a quick release button on the reins so you can free your child fast if you need to, and you can also use it as a safety harness for a highchair or a stroller. This design will ensure that you can keep them safe as they grow.

One reviewer said: "Had these in the past and just bought them for two new toddlers. These reins are brilliant, and robust and the children love the little teddy on the front. Unlike the modern single-line cute animal reins these allow you to "catch" a falling child and stop them from hitting the floor. Fab for the toddling period where they are not so steady on their feet. They can later have a little more freedom on a single line when they are more stable. Personally, I think these are the best reins out there and definitely the safest and best value for money."

A simple rein system, with brightly coloured straps that can be washed easily? Sounds like a dream to us! You can use the anchor straps for pushchairs or just as simple walking reins so, this will be an essential for travelling or going out and about with your little one. We also love the rainbow colours.

Tested by Sophie Knight, mum to Eli, aged two: "I wanted a simple pair of reins for nipping out to the shops now my little boy is happy walking around but I don't want him to go too far. This set fits the bill and is very no-frills. Eli likes the bright colours and is happy to wear them. The clip can be a bit stiff and fiddly when you're wrestling to get him back into the car quickly and safely, but on the whole, I'm happy with these, and it's great that you can wash them. He has a rucksack with reins too, but these are great for short walks out and about. I like choosing Clippasafe as a brand for safety gear as I know I can rely on them."

If you want your little one to rock a bit of sass as they wobble down the street, check out these gorgeous leopard-print reins from Onk. It offers strong protection and durability at a reasonable price, plus the stylish look is a fun bonus. You can even get a matching phone strap for yourself - how cute is that?

One reviewer said: "We absolutely love our Onk reins. Dotty has been running since she was 10 months old and these reins have been an absolute blessing. I still hold her hand but have the reins on as an extra bit of security in case our hands ever slipped. I love that the straps are removable so she can have the body part on in her pram or car seat and then all you have to do is swiftly clip the straps on!"

A fun way to keep active little adventurers safe while you're out and about, this clever design will allow you to teach them to walk by helping with balance and confidence while keeping them safe and secure by your side. We love all the beautifully-designed animals to pick from and think your little one will too.

Review: "Brilliant little item for my 1-year-old who has just started to walk and tends to wander off in a random direction. I bought this as an alternative to the backpack ones as I wasn't sure he would like the feeling of having a backpack on. The lead is a good length and the reins are easy to put on and clip in place on a wriggling toddler."

Fully adjustable as your child grows, the Cuggl Harness can be used to keep a hold of your little one as they toddle on their own, or to secure them safely by the side of the pushchair as you push it along. Reins are detachable so you can quickly release your child at the park or playground, or if they get tangled.

One reviewer said: "I bought these reins for when I’m out with my 19-month-old grandson as like all children they don’t like to hold hands for any length of time. This way he has freedom and I have the peace of mind and security of him being safe. The holding strap is a good length. I would definitely recommend this product."