to think that there are times and places to insist a toddler wear a sun hat?

[MiladyDeScorchio]

It's another one from my sister I'm afraid but it has upset me very much and I don't really know what to do as it is one in a long line of things.

DN is almost three and had been playing in the garden all afternoon with my DS. He is quite savvy when it comes to the sun and seeks out the shade so I wasn't worried about a hat for him.

However, when it was time for my sister to take DN home she strapped her into her boiling hot car, plonked her sun hat on her sweating curls, windows closed, doors shut then came back into my house to look for her bottle of Ribena. She was ages doing it.

I ran out to open doors and things and was firmly told that DN had to learn to keep the hat on when she was told to. WTF? Under a car roof?

We lost the plot a bit last night.

Sun hat in a stationary car. AIBU?

I was especially sidetracked by the hats at nursery issue because I can't for the life of me see that DS is going to have a positive experience reintegrating at his mainstream one next week due to the hot weather. He is going to have a shite time of it and so will the staff

But there has to be one rule for all again, as hmc said. I just feel very sorry for the children who are missing out on outside play as well as the poor kids who have been sunburnt recently

If we are outside in the spring/summer then the hat stays on, no buts, no excuses, no nothing, the hat stays on. DS2 (10 weeks) now has a sunhat and if he leaves the shelter of the buggy then the hat goes on.

You shouldn't leave children in hot cars, this is completely unrelated to the hat staying on.

I was rather rude - sorry. I tend to come on mumsnet when I am pissed off about something and vent a bit of spleen here. Must watch that!

how refreshingly honest of you. i have been accused of being drunk on mn when stone cold sober.

Gulp, was that me? (...examines inner recesses of mind to try and recall distant events)

Actually, maybe schools and nurseries SHOULD have more flexible guidelines, as opposed to firm rules about sunhats.

Y'see, AfroCaribbean children are at far more risk of vitamin D deficiency then they are of sunburn or skin cancer.

Maybe they should just leave it up to parents.

Have just checked this thread as it popped up again, had forgotten all about it. Know it was a couple of days ago but going to reply as was slandered!

I don't think schools/nurseries should advise the children on wearing sun hats, but the parents - I just don't think it should be compulsory, but up to the parent. I don't think there should be different policies based on skin colour/hair texture, that is quite an offensive suggestion - I don't think there should be policies regarding sun hats full stop. Give the parents some credit for protecting their own children. If you have a fair, hairless child who burns easily, of course it should wear a hat. If you know your child doesn't need one, why must they be forced to wear one? If a child is never, or has never been, made to wear a sun hat at home, it is odd that they suddenly have to at school, imho. Disclaimer: Not wishing cancer on any little children.

And as to my question on the purpose of sun hats, I was thinking more of those fisherman style ones I see a lot of, they don't seem to provide shade anywhere (and if the shild has long hair they don't need shade on the back of the neck anyway). So it seems like you'd just be making the child hotter by putting one on their head.