How to Keep Winter Hat on 17 Month Old?

Cold weather clothes are so cumbersome! I went through it last year with my then 14 month old twins, and now that they are almost 2 it isn't any easier. Here is what we have done with success:
wear a hooded sweatshirt under the coat and use the hood to cover the head.
wear a winter hat and pull a hood on top of it.
wear ear warmer band under a hood.
Hope this helps, just remember to be consistent and cover his head each time you go out in the cold so he gets used to the new clothing!

Hi J. The suggestions below sound pretty good. I am writing about your sons cough. This may sound a little off beat but when I was with my youngest granddaughter last January who lives several thousand miles away we played a game. My angel had a horrible cough so I told her if she would let me put vicks salve on her feet and put her socks back on just before bedtime she would wake up and feel much better. At first she said no and then I said well if you let me I will let you put the vicks on my feet too. She did and when she woke up the next morning she hardly coughed at all and her runny nose was all but gone. Good Luck sorry I couldn't help on the hat but everyone gave you good advice for that.

Hi J....maybe try a hat with a favorite charactor on it, and try the no velcro, my lil boy would wear a hat, but he hated the ski mask. GL :)

Couple things,

What if, instead of a winter hat you got him a jacket with a hood. Zip, button and your are done.

What if you got him a hat with a character on it or in the shape of an animal or dinosaur or something. Then he wouldn't be wearing a hat, he would be playing puppy.

Before you go out tell him he has to wear the hat or he can't go out. Then if he takes it off say ok, but we have to go in. Then take him in. He'll learn quickly and no he's not too young to understand.

Just be consistent and put it on everytime he goes outside. Or ry a jacket with a hood. Or try a different hat - my kids >hate< the ones that wrap around the face and velcro or tie under the chin. Maybe it's scratchy. Maybe he has no idea what it is and wants to take it off to look at it - give him opportunity to play with it in the house so he can investigate it. Maybe he wasn't as cold as you were... my kids always tend to wear fewer layers than I do when we're outside in winter because they are running around sweating up a storm.

Or maybe just try to decide if it's a batttle worth fighting. Contrary to an old wives tale, children do not get colds just because they are cold or aren't wearing a hat. So what if he takes it off. Eventually he'll learn that he's warmer with it on. Remember the 10 year rule for picking battles -- if it won't matter in 10 years (not wearing a hat in 50-60 degree weather) then don't worry about it. :-)

And it hasn't been >that< cold around here (not compared to winter anyways). My daughter refused to wear her coat to preschool today... no big deal... I insisted on taking it along. Good money says she'll wear it when they play outside when she gets cold. Kids do learn if you let them experience natural consequences (no coat/hat = being cold). Heck... my son is still wearing shorts to school (with a sweatshirt or jacket) because he says he's not cold when he's outside (too busy running around nonstop). When he starts to get cold, he'll start wearing jeans.

Hi, J.!

I went through that with my son at that age. I finally just took him inside every time he took off his hat. It was a long and frustrating hour for both of us, but it paid off. He resigned himself to wearing a hat. :)

Now he's 10, and still doesn't like hats. But now I just let him wear the ear warmers - you know, thoes bands that go around the head and cover the ears - 'cause he's old enough to know whether or not wants a hat.

Good luck!
J.