"No hat, no outside" not working. Been trapped inside with toddler for 4 days.

[SelfBuild]

Toddler (22 months) will not wear a sun hat, only a wooly bobble hat, we've tried 5 different sun hats with his favourite things on. Just not working. Went out last week and it was hot and he'd only put a bobble hat on and he was sodden with sweat afterwards.

So I toughened up, put the bobble hat out of sat and have lined up a selection of sun hats next to his shoes by the door. Everytime for the last 4 days he's asked to go in the garden, for a walk or to the park we've had the "no hat, no play/no go outside" argument. He will not back down and just tears it off so we haven't left the house. It's so sunny and nice and I'm just stuck indoors with a cranky toddler who hasn't had a proper run around in days but neither of us will back down.

What do I do?

He'll be fine without a hat in April!!!. You do realise children need the vitamin D from sunshine ?

Go to.woods and shaded areas of parks if you are worried. Put cream on his face and arms etc and let him play and enjoy the sunshine bit in-between the shady bits

I used to use scalp spray as we always had a similar battle! I found letting him choose one helped as well.

Heliocare factor 50 spray

UB forecast in the UK is 5 today. Temperature is irrelevant as anyone who isn't wilfully ignorant should know. Spray kid and yourself with something suitable and go out.

@Brieminewine

A sun hat?! I’ve had to defrost my car every day this week! I must be a bad mam as my 22MO has been out every day without a sun hat or sun cream

It is only April.,and you don't need to be locked in your house for 4 days because your son won't wear a sun hat. You are making things worse by lining up an assortment of hats near his shoes, Just have one hat for his head, and that's it.stop messing about!

Mine are fair - even at 22 and 26 . Never wore sun hats - or other hats - DS even used to wriggle his hat off in the pram when he was less than 6 weeks old. It's the UK; it's April, keep them in the shade - if he's still in the buggy at 22 months put a sunshad/parasol over it. Barely need sun cream in this weather.

Sunshine is good; it helps make vitamin D.

Do you wear a hat? I have to get my kids to. Bucket hat for mummy, bucket hat for DS, bucket hat for DD.

My DS hated the hat but was solved by me wearing his and putting my big hat on him. Model the behaviour you want. Also maybe his teddy can wear his old baby hat to come out to play?

Start signing the sun has got his hat on too

I don't think you are insane and I had a toddler like this. You'll get there
Do's:
Find a silly song about hats
Do be consistent
Do state the non-negotiable
Do give two choices (silly hot bobble hat or cool baseball cap)
Do tell him that you are going to be very pleased when he wears his hat long enough to go out in the sun
Make a race of getting ready including hat, prizes for the winner
Don't :
Give him the power to dictate the day
Back yourself into corners
Don't give any negative attention to non hat wearing as it will reinforce it
I think it's a necessary battle to pick, but saying that, don't make it a battle because toddlers are little dictators and always win.

Sunscreen spay for heads is available. But it’s April. Assuming you are in the uk ....

None of my children will wear hats, even DS's nursery who could get him to do all sorts of things I couldn't gave up. DD is only 18months but it barely gets near her head before she takes it off, she's happy to put a toy chicken on her head and say hat though

@InTheFamilyTree

Where do you live, the Maldives?? Seriously, it's April, the sun is not some mythical beast of Satan, just go!

This. His hair is there to protect his head. Cream him up with Sp50 and get put in the sunshine, ffs.

@Haberdasheryhen

I think you need to give some context here op. It's not hot enough to need to wear a sun hat in most of northern Europe atm. Where do you live? Oz or USA or elsewhere?

Children need their skin protected even at moderate uv levels of 3 or higher.

Yes, same with people with pets, sun cream should be applied to animals outside.
My daughter wouldn't wear hats, so slathered her scalp with sunscreen instead

It’s frustrating that some posters don’t seem to understand that people have different skin types/propensity to sun burn/hair thickness.

At under 2 I'd go out and just keep putting the hat back on and telling him why. Also, he'd find it easier to understand if he can see a playground and has the choice of staying in the buggy in the shade or playing with the hat on than if he is home with his toys.

Hoodie?

Yes, same with people with pets, sun cream should be applied to animals outside

Yes I can see my dog submitting to that! Completely bonkers.

@kowari

At under 2 I'd go out and just keep putting the hat back on and telling him why. Also, he'd find it easier to understand if he can see a playground and has the choice of staying in the buggy in the shade or playing with the hat on than if he is home with his toys.

That's also true, perhaps when he can see the park etc will be more inclined to pop it on.

OP you are not insane. My DS is very fair too, he’s now 18 and we still have battles over suncream! I know I know, he’s an adult, don’t judge!

I would say for your DS to carry on with the bobble hat, hopefully he will realise by himself that he’s too hot in it then you can give him a choice of fab hats to wear. We had an initial battle over hats but it didn’t last very long, we got a lovely floppy hap from the zoo with animals all over it which he loved. If you do find one he’ll wear I’d advise buying more by the way.

My DS has a sweaty head too, his school caps were disgustingly stained. I hope you don’t mind that I allowed myself a little smile at the thought of your little fair DS with his woolly hat and sweaty head, bless him.

Pet suncream you say 🤔

I'm sorry you've had some snotty responses. I haven't had chance to RTFT, so I apologise if any of my post is irrelevant.

I wouldn't take mine out without a hat either. Whilst there's less chance of harm in April, you'd be setting a precedent for the whole summer.

Have you tried a cotton jersey type hat, like as a half way house? I know you've tried a few sun hats, but how about taking him to a shop and letting him choose his own? Or for the time being, using the bobble hat and few layers on his body?

Hope you find a solution soon and get out to enjoy the sunshine

shower cap?

Why not the bobble hat? It’s hardly hot outside at the moment.

Hahaha scalp burn. However do Africans live

Op has said that child is fair skinned.

The MN fuckwittery about uv strength is early this year. Scary that so many are stupid enough to think that air temperature is relevant. Universal schooling does seem to be a waste of time.