A baby sun hat is an essential part of your sun protection strategy for your baby. Of course, a baby beach tent, stroller sun shade or the canopy on a hiking carrier will offer the most sun protection, but your baby won’t always be under cover. The next best thing is to cover your baby up with one of these top baby sun hats!
I’m an outdoorsy mom, who loves to spend time with her babies outside in the sun on the beach, while traveling or hiking. With all this time outdoors with my kids, I’ve learned that it can be hard to keep your baby’s delicate skin covered at all times. That’s why I highly recommend parents use a baby sun hat for travel.
As SkinCancer.org explains, a baby’s skin is so much more sensitive than ours and clothing is the best defense. They also recommend not using sunscreen on babies less than 6 months old. In addition, the top sun safety tips for infants from the FDA states 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.
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I always bring a baby sun hat on our family trips, especially to sunny destinations. See what else I pack in my downloadable baby travel checklist.
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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 child! With any luck, it will be one that your baby is willing to leave on!
A baby sun hat is one of my top baby beach essentials (and don’t forget some adorable baby sunglasses)! The sun hats for babies on my list are great for travel with babies or even hiking with a baby!
Based on my personal experiences, I have curated a list of the best baby sun hats out there. Keep reading after my sun hat recommendations for my tips on how to choose one, and you’ll have no issues finding the best sun hat for your little one!
I like hats that actually stay on and grow with your baby. Jan & Jul’s Gro-With-Me design adjusts at the head and the chin for a secure fit from stroller naps to beach play, with UPF 50+ fabric and wide coverage that parents look for in infant beach hats.
The soft brim gives shade without flopping into eyes, and sizes run from baby through toddler which makes it easy to buy once and use longer. For travel, it packs flat in a diaper bag and dries quickly after splash time.
- UPF 50+ fabric with wide coverage
- Fits for longer thanks to head and chin adjusters
- Lightweight and packable for travel days
- Not the cheapest option
For when you are around pools or at the beach, reach for a quick-dry hat with solid shade. SwimZip’s wide-brim hat uses UPF 50+ fabric with an adjustable head strap plus a chin strap, and it dries fast after a dunk which makes it ideal for travel days with lots of water time.
Venting helps keep little heads cool, and the wide color range makes it easy to spot your kid at a busy pool.
- UPF 50+ with wide brim and venting
- Adjustable head and chin straps for fit
- Quick-dry materials are great for pools and beaches
- Multiple sizes for infants and toddlers
- Brim can catch wind on boats
- Sells out in popular colors mid-summer
This is the updated version of the classic i play flap hat many parents already know. I like the long neck coverage for midday sun and the elastic back that helps it stay put as babies move.
The UPF 50+ fabric is lightweight with a moisture-wicking liner, and the adjustable tie keeps the fit secure without digging. It packs easily for trips and works well for stroller naps since the back panel is soft.
- UPF 50+ with full neck coverage
- Elastic back plus tie for a secure fit
- Lightweight and quick drying for travel
- Well supported by a long-running baby brand
- Fabric can hold sand if not rinsed well
- Sizing can feel snug on the largest end of a range
I didn't discover Sunday Afternoons sun hats until my kids were toddlers, but when I did, I loved them and my kids wore them for years!
I like that the Infant SunSprout has a soft 2 in brim and a 4¼ in neck cape for shade, UPF 50+ fabric, and a quick-release chin strap. It's lightweight, bluesign-certified in the main body fabric, and packs flat in a diaper bag. The lack of a back brim makes it stroller-friendly, which is helpful on longer travel days.
- UPF 50+ with brim and neck cape
- Quick-release chin strap for safety
- Stroller-friendly design without a back brim
- Very lightweight and packable
- Infant sizing only
- Fewer colorways than other brands
If you want a simple, affordable baby sun hat with good shade, SimpliKids continues to be a solid budget pick. It uses UPF 50+ fabric, has both head and chin adjustments, and many listings include a breakaway feature on the chin strap. It folds down small for a carry-on and comes in a wide range of prints and sizes for infants and toddlers.
- UPF 50+ fabric at a budget price
- Head and chin adjustments help fit small babies
- Lightweight and packable for trips
- Huge color and print selection
- Fabric and stitching feel less premium than brand leaders
- Breakaway clip not present on every variant
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Getting a good sun hat for your baby is only part of your overall sun protection strategy. Learn more in my post on sun safety tips for babies.
What to Look for in a Baby Sun Hat
Everyone knows that long-term sun exposure 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 in a sun hat for your baby.
1. Coverage
Coverage, when it comes to the best sun hats for babies, 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 approximate 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 your baby’s neck. 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 a baby beach tent is a great way to keep your baby away from the sun’s harmful rays.
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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.
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3. Adjustable
Because all babies heads are different shapes and sizes, it is important to buy a sun 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 baby 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.
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.
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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.
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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!
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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.