I love looking at photos and portraits of people who lived long ago. We can gleam so much information by the way they dressed and posed. I often wonder about them, their lives, their thoughts. One detail in pictures that involve small children that I sometimes see is the presence of a belt or rope attached to the child’s garments right under the arm. These fabric belt is called Leading strings, sometimes also called Leading Reins.

Leading strings seemed to have served two purposes: to aid the child while learning to walk, and to keep the child from straying too far away.

By Pieter de Hooch (1629–after 1684) – http://www.mdbk.de/sammlungen/detailseiten/pieter-de-hooch/, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=40616518

As a mother of six children, I spent a lot of time leaning over, with my fingers extended, so my babies could hold onto them to keep them steady as they learned to walk. A leading string might have saved a lot of time with a tired back. And in a busy public place, keeping track of a toddler can be a challenge. I always had the fear that the second I looked away, they would run off after some new fascinating diversion or be spirited away by a stranger.

Translation: “A young governess helps a very small child to walk. He wears a little sailor suit and carries a (rattle?), and still wears leading strings.”

 I sometimes wonder why we stopped this practice of sewing leading strings into children’s clothing, don’t you?

 

Author of Historical Romance and Fantasy, award-winning author Donna Hatch is a sought-after speaker and workshop presenter. Her writing awards include the Golden Rose and the prestigious Golden Quill. Her passion for writing began at age 8 she wrote her first short story, and she wrote her first full-length novel during her sophomore year in high school, a fantasy which was later published. In between caring for six children, (7 counting her husband), her day job, her work as a freelance editor and copywriter, and her many volunteer positions, she still makes time to write. After all, writing IS an obsession. All of her heroes are patterned after her husband of over 20 years, who continues to prove that there really is a happily ever after.

6 Thoughts on “Leading Strings”

  • In the UK they haven’t–or at least hadn’t when my first two were small. They were often called reins, but the idea was a sort of harness with a strap which Mom (or Mum, I guess!) kept a good grip on. I loved it. I could pause to look at things as I went through a store without having to check every minute or so to see where the little one had gone. It was particularly useful leaving the house, which like many Victorian row houses built long before the automobile had maybe 10 feet from the front door to the street? Not much space for a toddler to conquer while you were checking you had your keys before letting the door shut. My other two children were toddlers in Michigan where there was maybe 30 ft. or more to the street. No reins needed there, but in stores I missed them!

  • While raising my children we had a cord strung between two bracelets. One I wore and the other on my child so he couldn’t get out of my sight. I too was worried I’d lose him in a crowd. Kids can be so quick at times.

  • My 3 year old daughter watched Disney’s The Rescuers and concluded that if she wandered away from Mama , a witch would get her and put her down a hole. It broke my heart to allow her to believe it, but I kept my mouth shut because she never tried to get out of the stroller or shopping cart. It was either that or leading strings!

  • I’m not sure if you realised the link between the final picture you chose, and your comment about “bending over” etc for your babies…
    Have a look at the governess… obviously corsetted… I suspect there’s no way she actually COULD bend over in that get-up!
    At least, not without risking falling over and not being able to get up again….like an upturned beetle?… to chase after the wayward toddler!
    So I presume that’s another reason they liked the ‘leading strings’
    Well chosen!
    No mention though
    of the sometimes holier than thou sideways glances that these leads get these days… Certainly I’ve thought “there but for the grace of God go I”, watching the bouncy hyperactive curious sweet bundles safely reined in!

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