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Extra-curricular activities

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Original poster

Technique for getting a swimming hat on

18 replies

Tangle · 31/07/2011 16:08

DD (4) is having a crash swimming course this week coming - and they've recommended she wear a swimming hat. We now possess one, but I've never used one in my life, and the attempts we've had at getting it onto DD's head haven't resulted in all her hair being trapped underneath (which is why they want her to wear it).

Anyone got any advice on how to make her hair do what its told and stay under the hat? She hasn't got masses of it and its not massively long, but what there is has a mind of its own Confused.

TIA :)

OP posts:
belledechocchipcookie · 31/07/2011 16:12

Put talc inside it first (not loads though), it stops the hat sticking to her hair and pulling it. Put it on over the front first and then pull back. Smile

Original poster
Tangle · 31/07/2011 16:17

OK - what do I do with her hair first? Can I use hair clips and things or will they tear the hat?

We've started with it at the front and can more or less get the hair out of her eyes, but its a bit hit and miss and there's sill lots that stick out round her ears and at the back (and its not long enough to put in a plait first...)

Sorry - I'm feeling very daft, but step-by-step idiot guide is needed Blush!

OP posts:
Milliways · 31/07/2011 16:19
belledechocchipcookie · 31/07/2011 16:20

Tuck them in. Smile Keep at it.

CokeFan · 31/07/2011 16:24

We used to have to wear them for school swimming lessons. If her hair's long, tie it up in a pony tail. I used to tip my head forwards, fit the cap over the back of my head and stretch it forwards, then tuck any hair up the sides that's escaped.

Is the cap big enough? They do sometimes stretch after you've used them a couple of times. It is hard to do at first but you do get used to it.

RustyBear · 31/07/2011 16:30

DS's swimming instructor used to turn it inside out, fill it with water and drop it on the child's head... Worked every time!

Original poster
Tangle · 31/07/2011 16:43

Thanks all - just had a trial run and getting as much of her hair as I can in a ponytail seems to make it work reasonably well (although I can't tuck any ends in as she says it hurts...) Annoyingly her hair is at just the wrong length - too long not to do anything but not long enough to tie back easily... The hat does seem to go on so I think its big enough - and she'll be gutted if its not as its got a funny face on (oh the things that are important when you're 4!)

RustyBear - in the big YouTube search I've just done I did see a clip of someone doing that. But I don't think I'm brave enough!

OP posts:
EduStudent · 31/07/2011 17:08

Me and my Mum used to take a two pronged attack:

I would tuck the tips of my fingers in the front of the hat and hold it to my forehead (with my fingers between the hat and forehead, IYSWIM).

She would then stretch it back with one hand and sort of smoosh my hair in it with the other. It was mostly tear-free!

jenniec79 · 31/07/2011 17:16

Cheat with my cunning 3 point plan.

  1. Forget about it keeping hair dry/unchloriney - just never works. One hair sticking out and wet all over Angry, plus probably coated in wet talc from shoehorning the damn thing on. Sad
  1. Once you've mastered point 1 - get rid of the hideous, uncomfortable latex swimming hat, replace with a lycra one. They may not be waterproof, but keep hair out of eyes/filters, which is really the point. They are no more tricky to get on than a swimsuit Grin
  1. I (still, in my 30s now) think no more tears is the best way to go shampoo wise in getting chlorine out while washing hair frequently with swimming. It's also dirt cheap compared with grown up shampoo Grin
Panzee · 31/07/2011 17:18

Get a silicone one - more stretch and less painful.
And then do what Edustudent says. I have put hundreds of hats on children and this is the method I use.

stickylittlefingers · 31/07/2011 17:25

I've been trying to find the big round style ones, as opposed to the flat tight speedo ones, for DD1. She has lots and lots of hair, so I thought it would be easier. Haven't bought a swimming hat since i was at school, tho, so was surprised to find the big floppy kind seem to have disappeared... No luck in Sainsbos, local sport shop or internet searching...

If anyone knows where to get them I'd be grateful!

(We do have a huge collection of fabric ones, but they don't cut the mustard for school rules apparently Hmm)

Panzee · 31/07/2011 18:24

The flat ones, if they're made of silicone, will be far better than the latex ones they had when I was at school. Try one if you haven't - you might be surprised.

Panzee · 31/07/2011 18:25

Oh and you'll need waterproof for school otherwise your daughter will be sitting around at school with wet hair for the rest of the day. Not fun in the winter!

stickylittlefingers · 01/08/2011 17:25

I guess we'll have to Panzee!! Mind you, we managed with wet hair when I was at school (not to mention living at the bottom of a lake eating gravel etc Grin)

Panzee · 01/08/2011 17:26

:o :o

dizzyday07 · 25/08/2011 00:33

My DD has a shoulder length bob which doesn't really go into a pony tail - coupled with a growing out fringe - so she needs a hat otherwise she can't see where she is going!

I put both my hands into it, pull it open a bit, put the edge nearest me onto DD's forehead, then move my hands away from me so that I end up cupping her head. I then pull my hands out gently. I then tuck any remaining fringe into the front, make sure the hair is around the back of her ears, and let the hair at the back just hang out! I am probably not describing it very well - but it works for us!

Jude89 · 06/09/2011 12:28

Second the fill it with water and drop approach,

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