The Best Baby Hats for Protecting Little Ones
There are so many responsibilities associated with being a parent, and it's up to you to ensure that your little bundle of joy is as happy and healthy as can be. When the sunny summer months come along, there are extra precautions parents should take to protect their babies.
As well as applying sunscreen and limiting your child’s exposure to the sun’s harmful UV rays, it’s also helpful to get them a good baby hat to wear. Baby hats are available in a wide range of cute and colorful styles, and they’re great for blocking the sun’s rays and preventing sunburns.
In fact, baby hats are one of the most important lines of defense a child can have against the sun, but they’re not all created equal. Some baby hats are much better than others. In this guide, we’ll take a look at the finest baby hats of 2024.
Buying Guide: Baby Hat
Baby hats are essential accessories for all infants and are perfect to wear on sunny days or cold winter afternoons. Read on to learn about the different types of baby hats, find out more about their pros and cons and choose the right one for your little one.
Why Does Your Baby Need a Baby Hat?
So, why should you invest in baby hats in the first place, and what are some of the benefits of buying and using baby hats for your newborn or toddler? Here are a few big advantages associated with baby hats.
Sun protection
One of the main reasons to invest in a baby hat is for sun protection. The sun’s UV rays are dangerous to everyone, including babies and toddlers. Too much sun exposure could not only cause burns and dehydration for your child but it may even raise the risk of skin cancer.
Warm and cozy
Baby hats aren’t only good for sunny summer days. They’re also helpful at other times of the year — like fall and winter — to provide warmth and coziness for your child. You can place a beanie on your baby’s head on a cool spring morning to warm them up.
Fashion and fun
There’s also the fashion factor for baby hats, too. A lot of parents like dressing up their children in cute clothes and adorable accessories. It’s possible to find some lovely baby hats in a wide range of colors and styles.
Common Types of Baby Hats
There are multiple types of baby hats to consider when buying a hat for your own child or as a gift to a child you know. Here are some of the most common types and some of the key advantages of each.
Wide-brim hats
Wide-brim hats are an ideal choice for babies. They stand out due to their wide brims, which run all the way around the hat and help provide shade and protection for the whole head, as well as the eyes, ears and neck. These baby hats are perfect for sunny days.
Baseball caps
It’s also possible to find mini baseball caps for babies. Baseball caps have a distinctive design with a firm center and a strong, flat brim that provides coverage and protection for the eyes. They’re good for summer and are stylish. Keep in mind that while these hats are cute, they don’t provide much protection to the back of the neck.
Beanies
If you’re looking for a baby hat that your little one will be able to wear in the winter, opt for a beanie. Beanies don’t have any brims. Instead, they’re soft and flexible, fitting to the shape of your baby’s head and providing warmth and comfort for cooler days or rainy mornings.
What Is/Are the Leading Baby Hats of 2024?
Durio Baby Hat – Best Overall
Kicking off our list, we have this fabulous baby hat from Durio. The first thing to note about this baby hat is its protective qualities. Offering UPF 50+ protection, this baby hat is super effective at shielding babies from the sun’s damaging UV rays. It features a wide brim design to cover your baby’s eyes and shield all around their head, right around to the back of the neck. Plus, it’s a comfortable baby hat to wear, with an easy-to-adjust chin strap that you can use to get the right fit for your infant. With its strong cotton construction and impressive sun-blocking qualities, this baby hat thoroughly deserves our best overall award.
Pros
- Ample and superior sun protection
- Shields the baby’s eyes and neck
- Strong cotton design
Cons
- Too small for older kids
Keepersheep – Best Cap
Next up, we have this classic baseball cap for babies from Keepersheep. Crafted from 100% cotton and available in a wide range of sizes and colors, this baby hat is ideal for newborns all the way up to 24 months old. It features a simple elastic closure to stretch and suit the shape and size of your child’s head and a sturdy brim at the front for shielding their eyes against the sun’s glare. Since it’s made out of cotton, this baby hat is super soft, smooth and comfortable to wear. Plus, it doesn’t include any unnecessary ingredients or itchy materials. Since babies tend to make a mess from time to time, this baby hat is machine-washable and super easy to clean for your convenience.
Pros
- Machine-washable and easy to clean
- Soft and comfortable construction
- A variety of colors and designs
Cons
- Doesn’t protect the neck
Geyoga – Cutest Hat
If you’re looking for an utterly adorable baby hat to place on your little one’s head or give as a gift to a newborn in your life, consider this set of six newborn baby hats from Geyoga. With little bear eyes sticking out on top, these baby hats are simply too cute. Plus, as well as being lovely to look at, they’re soft and comfortable for your baby to wear thanks to their gentle fabric construction and elastic closures. Every set comes with six unique colors, including teal, purple and magenta, offering a great value for the money.
Pros
- Cute, adorable design
- Comes in a multipack of six hats
- Soft and cozy construction
Cons
- Not the best sun protection
BABYLAB – Best Sun Protection
If you’re worried about your little one getting burnt in the sun, choose this baby hat from BABYLAB. Specially designed for sunny summer days, this baby hat has a wide brim to provide shade all around your child’s head, as well as mesh paneling around the outside to promote airflow and keep your baby cool and fresh. Each of these baby hats also comes with an adjustable chin strap, which is useful for securing the baby hat in position and adjusting it to the right size for each child. With its mixture of denim, mesh and durable fabric, this baby hat has impressive levels of durability.
Pros
- Breathable mesh keeps your baby cool
- Great protection against UV rays
- Easy to adjust
Cons
- Hand wash only
Copper Pearl – Most Comfortable
The final entry in our list of baby hats is this beanie from Copper Pearl. Super stretchy and elastic, this baby hat is ready to stretch and expand to suit your baby’s head as it grows. Made of a mixture of premium polyester and rayon for softness and comfort, this baby hat will keep your child cozy and happy. Thanks to highly breathable fabric, your child will be able to wear this baby hat on hot days without overheating or becoming irritated. It’s worth noting the cute, fashionable design of this hat, which is perfect for parents who like to dress their little ones up in the fanciest outfits and accessories.
Pros
- Soft polyester is comfortable to wear
- Elastic design expands to fit baby’s head
- Comes in a variety of sizes
Cons
- Not as protective as others
People Also Asked
A: It depends on the situation and time of year as each baby hat has its own pros and cons. Wide-brim baby hats are great for summer due to their high levels of sun protection while beanies are great for winter due to their soft, warm fabric.
A: Not necessarily. Some people recommend putting a hat on your baby at home to keep them warm, but as long as the house is warm and the baby is cozy, there’s no need for extra accessories like hats and gloves.
A: Definitely! There are many benefits and reasons to put hats on your baby. These range from protecting your little one against the sun’s harmful UV rays to keeping them cozy and toasty on frosty days. It’s definitely worth having a few baby hats around to keep your little one happy and healthy.
