Tips to keep toddler’s hat on

One of the biggest problems with toddlers in summer is trying to keep their hat on. It must be an instinct, but don’t they just seem to hate it?

I’ve seem countless threads on Facebook and the likes with people asking for tips. So, instead of writing it again and again, here’s what we did..

My top tried and tested tips to keep toddler’s hat on:

1. Everyone be cool wearing?hats

Yes, all adults (and I guess any other older kids in the house) wear a hat every single time they go outside. Make a big deal of it. “Mummy’s wearing her hat, daddy’s wearing his! Oh no! Where’s your hat?” “We’re all the same! Mummy’s hat, daddy’s hat, your hat!” Pointing at everyone’s heads.

2. Repeatedly take them inside

This is hard, but be persistent. Every time they take it off put it back on. Tantrums and all. Be firm, and tell them they “have to go inside if they don’t wear a hat. We have to wear hats, see mummy has hers, daddy has his, where’s yours?” After a few times, every time they take it off pick them up and take them inside telling them why.??They’ll soon realise, or get distracted and forget their wearing it.

3. Routine

Every time you go outside (even without the toddler) make a big deal of getting everyone’s hats and checking they’re on, just like you do with shoes and jackets. Make it a sign of going out. Do it consistently, even just going out to the car, or to sit in the pushchair.

4. Wear the child’s hat….

They always want mummy’s or daddy’s things so wear their hat and they’ll think they’re getting to wear yours. Sneaky mummy tactics sometimes win ?

5. Make it cool (and a big deal)

Occasionally don’t wear your hat and see if they bring it to you, or make a big deal of “oh no mummy’s forgotten her hat!” When you put it on say things like “mummy loves her hat! Don’t you?” “Yayyyyyyyyyyy! Mummy has her hat!”

6. Give?the toddler a choice – give them control!!!

We had a pack of two hats, so let H choose which she likes. I guess you could let them choose in a shop too. Then they think they’ve chosen and had a choice.

7. Straps/string/Velcro

Tbh these didn’t work with Toddler H, but do with some, less Houdini-esk toddlers. At least I’m told they do, don’t hold me to it!

I wanted to write?10 tips, but I’m stumped and tbh it was the first three (doing them all at once) that really won our hat battle. The only others I could think of might cause rather hurtful comments on here, and I haven’t tried and WOULD NOT ADVISE, you know things like:

1. never let them outside (erm, I visualise getting comments like how terrible I am
2. for locking my daughter in, let’s just not do that people!!),
3. cover them in clothes (in hot hot weather…. Not advisable in the slightest),
4. walk around holding the hat on their head (I’m not superwoman, and this would require superwoman strength and stamina to withstand the hugest tantrums. No. Thank. You. Actually I did try this for a minute as H repeatedly tree her hat every time I put it on. I’m talking millisecond gaps between me putting it in and her removing it. I’m kidding, it was instant. Actually I’m not even sure it reached her head and she removed it. So really I was just flapping a hat around a toddler. Useless tactic in my book, and wayyyyyyyyy more energy than I had in the heat.
5. Cover the entire garden in a marquee. Doubtful in most cases and not the most practical…
6. An umbrella as a shade – ?I don’t know about you bug I don’t fancy the spikes of a brolly?being thrown at me. Oh those toddler swipes can be brutal on mummy, can’t they?
7. Slather her head in suncream…. Have you seen how much hair my daughter has??!! That’s SO not an option, but you’re welcome to try it if your little ones are on the lower range of the hairy monster scale!

Note: I’ve never tried these last suggestions or been tempted to!

Hope my first 7 tips helped – persistency is the key! Now good luck luck with catching every?hat throw … Those toddlers have an instinct to throw a hat?the second it’s?near them… But don’t worry you CAN do it, then yes, you can sit in a deck chair with a chilled glass of wine watching them play angelically??

If not there is wine at the end of the day ?

Have a fab summer!

Lynne x

PS. I have a few other summer and #heatwave related posts: Milk Delays with the Perfect Prep in hot weather, Heatwave essentials: a paddling pool?and keeping baby cool.