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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

It must be that time of year again.... SUNHATS!

26 replies

Squarer · 05/05/2006 11:56

Sigh... I'm sure there is a million and one threads on this subject somewhere, but can't find them.....

How on earth do you convince a nearly 17 month old to keep his hat on?

I put it on, he takes it off. I put it on, he takes it off. I put it on me (balanced) saying "mummy wear hat then, mummy wear hat". He laughs. I put it on him, he takes it off. I'm sure you get the picture.

What did you do?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

mandymac · 05/05/2006 12:00

No idea on the hat front - it seems like anything that could be used to fix it on - string, elastic, staples , has the potential to injure!

On another subject, sorry I haven't been in touch to sort out a night out, had a busy week at work and now DD has come down with a virus, so I am at home this morning, with DH taking over this afternoon. Lets try and get together next week!

MrsBadger · 05/05/2006 12:02

Either

wear his hat yourself for half an hour or so before you go out ('Mummy's had her turn, now it's ds's turn')
wear your own hat at any time you want him to wear his
get one that ties on

None of these work. Keep hoping that eventually he'll fall in love with the hat and refuse to take it off (see also spiderman pyjamas etc).

WigWamBam · 05/05/2006 12:03

I'd suggest that you stop putting it on you and making him laugh ... the sheer entertainment value of that will be enough to make him take his hat off in the hope that you will put it on and amuse him. Maybe once you stop putting on a cabaret for him he might keep his hat on!

cod · 05/05/2006 12:04

squareer
noe of it works

Original poster

Squarer · 05/05/2006 12:05

I'm considering staples! I'd say you have all this to come, but you won't, you and your lovely placid DD!

I guessed you had been busy btw . Coupled with the fact that I'm still not quite right meself (yes still the same problem ) I've a bit busy too so not had chance either. I'm ok for next week though!

OP posts:

poppiesinaline · 05/05/2006 12:06

DS1 used to love hats. In fact anything on his head. I have a photo of him at 18 months wearing a plastic flower pot on his head! Very embarrasing out and about! He used to get lots of stares!

DD had a 'shoe' thing, loved shoes but hated hats. I just gave up in the end and tried to keep her out the sun as much as possible.

DS2 wont wear one either! Very frustrating! Sorry, no tips, just that youre not alone.

charliecat · 05/05/2006 12:07

I used to refuse to move anywhere till the hat was back on. They soon go the message. No hat, no park. No hat, no shop for sweety etc..

foxinsocks · 05/05/2006 12:07

at that age, it's more of a game really!

do you wear a hat? I often found that mine, at that age, were more likely to keep their hats on if I had one on aswell (lovely!)

Also mine love the cap style hats now but at that age, they would only wear those GAP cricketer style hats that you can tie (with velcro) under their neck

Hausfrau · 05/05/2006 12:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

Squarer · 05/05/2006 12:11

PMSL at this! So, it's not just me then? (well, it's just me putting on a cabaret, obviously

Right - next question - how do you deal with DP who thinks he knows everything and says "he'll get burnt you know - he needs his hat on" like the thought hadn't crossed my mind.

I was never given a hat as a toddler and I survived..... but I haven't got fair to ginger hair. What do you do when you come to this realisation that the hat just aint going to be on said toddlers head unless you're holding it. I think DP thinks I should just keep him inside or something. I think that's not going to happen...

OP posts:

MrsBadger · 05/05/2006 12:16

hand dh a parasol and tell him it's his job to keep it shading ds at all times

Original poster

Squarer · 05/05/2006 12:24

Ooh, I could make him fan me at the same time - a punkahparasolwallah

OP posts:

bran · 05/05/2006 12:31

You should say to your dh "Yes, you're right, he does need his hat on", then hand the hat to your dh. Make sure you point it out to your dh every time your son takes his hat off.

I have an Outlook sunshade thingy on the pushchair so I do the "It's your choice" thing with ds, either he wears the hat or he sits in the pushchair. I remember last summer when he was 12 months I just had to be persistant (using Hausfrau's method) for the first 3 or 4 weeks and then he got the hang of it.

Blackduck · 05/05/2006 12:49

the only time ds will wear a het this summer (I can guarantee this) is for the last two weeks of May...how do I know? We will be on holiday and all the other kids in the kids club will be wearing one so he will too.....from then on in forget it..!

cod · 05/05/2006 12:51

mine never wear htem

Original poster

Squarer · 05/05/2006 13:30

Is the whole hat thing to do with sunstroke or burning?

Are your DS's quite olive skinned Cod?

OP posts:

beansprout · 05/05/2006 13:32

I had a very pointed comment from our CM this morning as we were all in the same park and ds did not have a hat on. Grrrr. IVE BEEN AT WORK AND THAT MEANS I CANT GO SHOPPING!!!!

gladbag · 05/05/2006 13:39

My ds was very similar at that age....
The thing that worked best was spending time with another toddler who would wear his hat (do you have one available....?), and ds wanted to be the same, and also getting one of those Gap hats with a velcro strap under the chin (it isn't foolproof, but meant it was more of a struggle to get off and he gave up eventually and just started wearing it).

No help otherwise Good luck

cod · 05/05/2006 13:46

yes they ae but htey rearely wear htem
apart form ds2 ( now 5) who iwll wear anythign sporty
he is very vain

Fimbo · 05/05/2006 13:57

My ds can always get the tied on/velcro ones off aswell. He justs yanks and yanks until it comes off and then looks very satisfied with himself.

Original poster

Squarer · 05/05/2006 17:26

Update:
Professor Pieheads Partial Success Take I
Take child to country park with said offending item. Hat goes on, hat comes off, hat goes on, hat comes off, hat goes on, distract child by throwing ducks some bread. Child guffaws at the ducks, then throws his hat in for them.

Bugger.

Have tried hats that fasten under the chin (winter). He just stops short of ripping his own head off to remove them, so I'm with you there Fimbo. I can only hope he develops into something akin to your vain DS Cod, cause this is one baby that is destined to burn....

OP posts:

kayzed · 05/05/2006 17:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

Squarer · 05/05/2006 23:15

Thanks for the link Kayzed. Think that might be part of the battle between me and DP - he is a New Zealander and I realise it is a huge "ishoo" on that side of the world - Australia more than NZ and NZ more than UK.... I'd love him to wear a hat - I am very dark haired with very pale skin (think ginger without the freckles) and DP is dark ginger with waffer thin skin and dark freckles. DS is pale blondey ginger and has baby ginger skin. It was a given!

I think I will buy one of those hats for when I can reason with him as I think they are fab (I don't currently have the option of the "stay in the buggy" threat as he only started walking last week! Have a "Protect-a-Bub, will use, like it or not!!)

OP posts:

TinyGang · 06/05/2006 00:15

Well here's how it goes:

At that age I did the on/off/on/off thing too. Then it inevitably gets chucked out of the pushchair and is lost.

I then buy new one and we're off again...on/off/on/off...lost. Buy a new one...so it goes all summer.

Eventually it has cost you a thousand pounds in hats; you have spent the summer begging and pleading and lost the will to live. The baby has worn a hat for maybe half an hour in total, and has won.

The only time they want to wear the summer hat is when it's freezing and snowing and you want them to wear a winter one.

You can gues what happens with winter hats, I'm sure...

fastasleep · 06/05/2006 00:17

BHS have explorer type hats with straps, that's the only one that DS will keep on..

except his Liverpool cap, dbut that doesn't give his neck any shade at the back...

I'm freakish about the sun

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