This article about the Best Baby Sun Hats was written by baby travel expert Celine Brewer and may contain affiliate links.
A baby sun hat is the best sun protection you can offer your baby when playing on the beach or even on a hike (in a hiking carrier). Of course, a baby beach tent, stroller sun shade or the canopy on a hike carrier will offer the most protection, but you baby won’t always be under cover. The next best thing is to cover your baby up!
As an outdoorsy mom, who has had her babies outside in the sun on the beach, while traveling and hiking, I know that it can be hard to keep your baby covered at all times. That’s why I recommend a baby sun hat for travel.
As SkinCancer.org explains, babies skin is so much more sensitive than ours and clothing is the best defense. They also include the recommendation of not using sunscreen on babies less than 6 months old. The top sun safety tips for infants from the FDA state that babies should wear a hat with a brim and neck covering.
Based on these recommendations, I always have a baby sun hat on my baby travel checklist and I never forget to pack it! Plus they are small enough to just toss in your baby diaper bag backpack and have with you all the time.
My Top Picks for the Best Baby Sun Hats:
I know you don’t always have time to read. You’re a busy new parent! So here are my top picks for the best sun hats for babies:
Best Overall:
i play. Baby Flap Sun Protection Swim Hat – This baby sun hat is hard to beat. It is highly reviewed and loved by parents. It provides excellent coverage, is adjustable and has a chin strap to make sure it stays on!
Most Adorable Sun Hat for Baby Girls:
SimpliKids Wide Brim Baby Sun Hat – This floppy sun hat comes in an array of colors while still offering the UV protection that parents are looking for. The adjustable head and chin straps ensure it’s a good fit for your baby.
Best Wide Brim with Neck Protection:
JAN & JUL Wide Brim Adjustable Newborn Sun-Hat – Adjustable to fit with a chin strap to keep it on, this wide brim hat with a long neck protector is the ideal baby sun hat. Plus it can easily be folded and packed in your bag!
What You’ll Find in This Article on the Best Baby Sun Hats for Travel:
Best Baby Sun Hats
Infant sun hats come in various styles, like wide-brimmed floppy hats and bucket hats, as well as in a range of sizes, from hats that fit newborns to toddlers up to the age of 4! If you are like me, you’ll probably go through several different baby sun hats until you find one that works best for your family! With any luck, it will be one that your baby is willing to leave on!
A baby sun hat is one of our top baby beach essentials (and don’t forget some of these adorable baby sunglasses)! The sun hats for babies in our list are great for travel with babies or even hiking with a baby!
With our comprehensive list of the best baby sun hats out there and tips on how to choose one, you will have no issues finding the best one for your little one!
i play. Baby Flap Sun Protection Swim Hat
Available in a range of bright summery colors that new parents love, this sun hat with neck flap and adjustable neck tie fits newborns and babies up to the age of 6 months.
It's made of a quick-dry UPF 50+ material with moisture-wicking capabilities and features an adjustable toggle for ensuring the most comfortable fit even as your baby continues to grow. This newborn baby sun hat the perfect companion for a day at the beach.
SimpliKids Wide Brim Baby Sun Hat
This floppy baby sun hat comes in a wide array of adorable prints and pastel colors. Highly likely to be the most adorable addition to your baby beach bag, it is made with UPF 50+ sun protection polyester fabric to keep your little one safe from harmful UV rays.
It's easy to wear, light, and foldable, making it perfect for quick summer getaways like a trip to Mexico with a baby. The adjustable chin and neck straps ensure that your baby doesn’t outgrow it too quickly, and the safety breakaway feature on the chin strap prevents choking.
Durio Baby Beach Hat
We hear bucket hats are back in style and aren't we glad! With four sizes to choose from, this charming baby sun hat with ties ensures the best fit for your little one. Pick from over 20 quirky, doodly, prints and pair them with any outfit or destination.
Whether it’s the beach, poolside, or hiking with a baby, you'll have a hat for every occasion when you shop this affordable baby sun hat by Durio.
The wide-brim design and UPF 50+ fabric protect your baby's head, eyes, face, and neck from strong sunlight, while its softness and breathability keep them cool and comfortable. An easy choice, if you ask us!
SwimZip Wide Brim Baby Sun Hat
Say goodbye to sunburns with the SwimZip's sun hat! Built-in UPF 50+ sun protection blocks 98% of all UVA and UVB cancer-causing rays. This means more time for enjoying the beach, lake, or pool, in your beach tent and less time worrying about the sun.
The adjustable head and chin straps ensure the best possible fit for your baby’s head. Additionally, the quick-dry hat also comes with side vents to keep your baby feeling cool and breezy. The real specialty of this baby sun hat with strap, however, is that it floats! Take it with you to the pool, a state park, or even on your holiday to Fiji with your baby, this hat is there to stay.
i play. Baby Sun Hat with Strap
This full-coverage wide-brim infant sun hat provides all-day UPF 50+ sun protection for the head, neck, and eyes by blocking 97-98% of the UV rays. It is made out of a soft, microfibre material with quick-dry capabilities from its wicking liner which all together make it an easy choice for your summer travels.
With an adjustable toggle and enough stiffness to ensure it holds up against the elements, you can rest assured that this sun hat will be sticking with you for a while to come.
Breatheasy Bucket Sun Protection Hat for Babies
This full-coverage wide-brim infant sun hat provides all-day UPF 50+ sun protection for the head, neck, and eyes by blocking 97-98% of the UV rays. It is made out of a soft, microfibre material with quick-dry capabilities from its wicking liner which all together make it an easy choice for your summer travels.
With an adjustable toggle and enough stiffness to ensure it holds up against the elements, you can rest assured that this sun hat will be sticking with you for a while to come.
Baby Sun Hat with Removable Neck Flap
This baby sun hat features a 2.5-inch wide brim and is made with a polyester fabric that ensures UPF 50+ protection and full coverage for your baby. With both a head strap and a detachable chin strap, it creates the best possible fit for your child. The lightweight breathable fabric and removable neck flap make it as comfortable and functional as can be.
And with super adorable prints and patterns as well as four sizes to choose from, this makes an excellent baby boy sun hat as well as a baby girl sun hat.
Baby Sun Hat with Smile Face
It's all smiles with this UPF 50+ sun protective bucket hat that comes with a smile logo at the front! Adorable and stylish, this soft, cuddly hat comes in a range of 6 classic colors that make it great for pairing with any outfit.
Choose between 4 sizes to ensure your little one gets the perfect fit. And if that's not enough, the adjustable toggle and chin strap will make certain that it grows right along with your baby.
Sierro Baby Girl Sun Hat
This elegant hat with a bow is just the perfect baby girl sun hat. Budget-friendly and with a wide brim, the UPF 50+ rated hat is made of breathable fabric and comes in a number of bright colors.
It features both a chin strap as well as an adjustable drawstring around the head, in addition to the four sizes that it is available in. This makes it easy to use it for any age baby, including as an infant sun hat, but be sure to measure your little one's head anyway.
JAN & JUL Adjustable Baby Sun-Hat with Strap
If you're looking to put together a retro outfit for your little one, check out Jan & Jul's GRO-with-Me baby floppy sun hat in cute summer plaid! Also available in a number of other colors and patterns, this 50+ UPF rated hat's UV blocking capability doesn’t come from harmful chemicals or dyes, but from the way its breathable cotton is woven.
The drawstrings of this super cute adjustable baby sun hat allow the hat to be sized up or down according to your convenience.
JAN & JUL Wide Brim Adjustable Newborn Sun-Hat
Got an awesome vacation planned and want your photos with your little one to be on theme? This collection of pretty baby sun hats by JAN & JUL might be the one for you.
With UPF 50+ rated material, a nice wide brim and additional neck flap, this baby sun hat provides great protection from the scorching sun. This had has both a head and chin adjustment so your baby can wear it for more than a season. Plus it easy folds up into your travel bag!
Simplicity Shark Baby and Infant Sun Hat
This stylish baby wide brim sun hat is available in 8 different colors and patterns, and comes in 4 different sizes, the largest even fitting kids as old as 4. With a UPF 50+ rating, it comes with an adjustable chin strap and head strap for keeping it in place as well as a safety buckle to prevent choking.
Additionally, the polyester hat's wicking liner makes it breathable, while its packability makes it perfect for traveling.
RuffleButts Baby Girl Sun Hat
Built of a lightweight polymer UPF 50+ fabric, this pretty sun hat does its job while keeping your little one feeling and looking cool. It comes in a range of 5 basic colors, features a large floppy rim, comfortable ties under the chin, and adorable details like a star at the end of the drawstring adjustment around the head! Its soft fabric and structure make it easy to roll up and carry during your travels.
It's important to keep in mind that the security this hat offers varies from baby to baby, as the top of the hat is constructed shallower than the average baby sun hat. So, if your baby's head is on the longer side, this may not be the right one for you.
Don't forget to get one these adorable baby swimsuits by RuffleButts!
Zando Baby Boy Sun Hat
With a number of funky prints and colors to choose from, this outdoor baby hat by Zando ensures your baby makes a fashion statement every time the sun shines. It's made of cotton and features an adjustable chin strap to ensure your baby feels comfortable all day, and the 50+ UPF rating makes it so that the sun stays out of their fun.
This easy-to-wear sun hat comes in a range of sizes too, from those that fit babies aged 0-6 months to even kids up to 8 years old. And you know what that means - matching beach hats for all the siblings! How cute is that?
Ami&Li Wide Brim Baby Sun Protection Hat
On the lookout for a skin-friendly sun hat for your little one that looks good and feels even better? The adjustable wide brim sun hat by Ami&Li is just what you need. This unique sun hat is made from 100% hand-picked cotton, with special weave craftsmanship, and no chemicals in its manufacturing, making it all-natural, safe for babies, and UPF 50+ rated at the same time!
The hat's extended brim and safety buckle-based chin strap for security make it reliable in more than just one way. What's more, aside from the already large array of aesthetic prints and colors available, you also have the option to customize your own! With everything that this charming sun hat packs, its slightly higher price point is certainly justified.
FURTALK Baby Sun Hat
No more chasing after your baby's sun hat in the wind or trying to stop it from flopping over their eyes! This all-covering, high-elastic sun hat is designed with a stiff brim and a chin strap to keep it perfectly in place atop your little one's head.
Lightweight and easy to wear, this chic baby sun protection hat is made of a natural mix of fabrics that makes it breathable and soft on your baby’s delicate skin. It also comes with an adjustable strap around the head circumference for an extra snug and comfortable fit.
What to Look for in a Baby Sun Hat
Everyone knows that long-term exposure to the sun damages the skin. That’s why it’s so important to use sunscreen after your baby turns 6 months old, follow sun safety tips for babies, and choose the right sun hat for them. Take into account the following 10 things to look for to find the best sun hat for baby.
1. Coverage
Coverage, when it comes to the best sun hats for baby, depends on two main factors: the width of the brim and the presence or absence of neck flaps. What you want to keep an eye out for is a hat that covers the ears, face, and neck.
A sun hat with an all-around 3-inch brim is what the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends. However, it’s also the case that many manufacturers online simply do not state the brim width in their product descriptions, which unfortunately leaves us guessing by the pictures.
Our suggestion? Measure and calculate your baby’s head diameter and subtract it from the total width of the sun hat. Then, divide that by 2 to arrive at the brim width. Yup, we did the math and came up with a formula for you – you’re welcome.
As far as neck flaps go, just look for a sun hat that has a long piece of fabric that extends down till your baby’s throat. Depending on the type of clothing your baby wears and how comfortable they are with an additional layer, you might find that this one might not be as necessary. But we certainly recommend it! We have sun hats with and without neck flaps on our list so that you can pick the one that is right for your baby.
If your baby needs some time out of the sun a stroller sun shade or one of these baby beach tents is a great way to keep your baby away from the sun’s harmful rays.
2. Sun Protection
Babies need adult supervision at all times, especially when they are out in the sun, to protect them from overheating and the effects of the harsh sunlight. A sun hat with a UPF50+ rating that blocks 98% of the sun’s rays does a good job of helping with that and reduces the risk of exposure dramatically.
3. Adjustable
Because all babies heads are different shapes and sizes, it is important to buy a hat that can be adjusted. This also helps keep it in rotation for longer as your child grows. Most of the brands out there come with either elasticized backs or adjustable toggles.
4. Under the Chin Straps to Stay on
The best sun hats have adjustable chin straps that keep them in place despite fidgety fingers and extra windy days. While this feature is basically essential when it comes to functionality, it can occasionally prove to be somewhat difficult to maneuver.
The issue arises with infants who haven’t yet developed the dexterity to loosen the ties if they really need to, and toddlers, on the other hand, who find nothing more entertaining than tugging on the dangling strings under their chins! To combat this issue, some brands feature chin straps that incorporate a breakaway “no choke” fastener for extra security and to avoid any mishaps from taking place. These are definitely worth keeping an eye out for!
5. Breathability
Look for sun hats with mesh vents or holes for ventilation to help keep your baby feeling cool, dry, and happy. Always keep a close watch on your little one to make sure they do not overheat as babies are not born with the ability to regulate their own temperature.
Use a stroller fan or handheld fan with a mister like this one to keep your baby cool!
6. Washability
Outdoor fun in the summer is a dusty and sweaty affair, especially if you are on the beach with a baby or out camping with your little one. That’s why a baby sun hat for travel should be easy to wash and quick to dry as well. Purchase a machine-washable one for maximum convenience.
7. Use for Swimming
An all-inclusive vacation with a baby means one thing for sure – plenty of time in the water! Whether it be at the pool or a beach, your baby will need their sun hat ready to use and comfortably dry. This means that apart from being breathable, the sun hat’s material should also be waterproof or at least water-resistant with quick-drying properties.
8. Packable
Traveling with an infant or a baby is challenging enough. We do not need bulky accessories that add to our luggage or unnecessarily stretch out our on-the-go bags. The good news is that most sun hats are designed in a way that allows them to either be folded flat or rolled up to fit perfectly into a diaper bag or under a stroller, eliminating this issue entirely.
9. Suitable Size
If an accessory doesn’t fit a baby just right, you better believe they’re going to kick up a fuss about it. Play it safe and measure your baby’s head circumference before making a purchase. Even if the product’s size chart goes by age, keep in mind that every baby grows differently so it’s best to rely on measurements above all else.
10. Style
What’s cuter than a baby? A baby in a sun hat! There are a variety of brands and products out there that offer different colors, quirky prints, elegant patterns, and unique styles. Whether it’s a baby straw sun hat, a baseball visor, or a floppy hat, all the products on this list will keep your baby safe from the sun, so you might as well choose the best baby sun hat that offers plenty of good photo ops!
Other Baby Travel Resources
Pin It For Later!
This post was written & edited by:
Celine Brewer is the owner of Baby Can Travel. Not only does she have years of experience traveling with babies & toddlers, but she's helped millions of new parents travel with their babies and toddlers for over a decade. In addition to writing on her baby travel blog, she has shared her expertise on traveling with a baby or toddler by contributing to articles about traveling with a baby with the Washington Post, USA Today, the Lonely Planet magazine and Pregnancy & Newborn magazine.
Celine also writes about family travel on the site FamilyCanTravel.com, which she co-owns with her husband. Being from the Canadian Rockies, she shares her passion about her home and travel to Banff National Park and area on their site TravelBanffCanada.com.