
Getting Babies to Wear Hats
Getting your baby to wear anything on their head can be a huge challenge.
It is best to introduce your baby to hats/head helmets/protectors at an early age, as it will be more readily accepted. (The acceptance of a head helmets/protectors/hats will also help promote the wearing of a cycle helmet when that time comes.)
Ideally your little one should be used to wearing a sun hat before being introduced to a baby toddler head protectors.
Useful tips and tricks to overcome this challenge:
When first introducing your little adventurer to a baby toddler head protector, let them play with it first for a day or two, so they become familiar with the item. Once you see they are interacting with it by themselves; starting make funny gestures, like placing it on your own head, whilst laughing and joking around. This is a ‘monkey see, monkey do kind’ fun kind of technique.
The next step would be to gently, with perseverance and praise, place the hat/head helmets/protector on baby/toddler’s head for just a couple of minutes a day, followed by prolonged lengths of time as you see they become more and more comfortable with wearing it.
The process seems cumbersome; However, keep your eye on the goal and in the end it will help you save time, money and even possible trauma.
With toddlers on the other hand, there may be some resistance, as most children don’t like to wear hats at the best of times. It is easier to try putting on a head helmets/protector to your child when he is preoccupied with playing or just before leaving the house or going out to the garden, distraction is key. Sometimes if it’s all done fast with excitement, there is no time for the toddler to realize he has had the hat put on!
If it doesn’t work first time, don’t let it ruin your child’s fun. After all, it’s more important to develop emotional skills than motor skills. Try again another time with gentle perseverance and praise. It will work eventually.
I hope this information has provided some valuable tips and advice, should you wish to book a safety consultation to baby proof your home, kindly contact Michelle on 082 499 5858 or email: michelle@babyproof.co.za