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The Best Sun Hats for Babies and Toddlers for Protection and Style
The Best Sun Hats for Babies and Toddlers for Protection and Style

The Best Sun Hats for Babies and Toddlers for Protection and Style

Keep their delicate, sensitive skin protected while they play, swim and enjoy being outside.

author-Latifah Miles
By Latifah Miles
Fact Checked by Shannon Vestal Robson
Published Mar 12, 2025|Updated On Mar 12, 2025
Published Mar 12, 2025Updated On Mar 12, 2025
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In This Article

Best Sun Hats for Newborns
Best Sun Hats With a Neck Flap
Best Bucket Sun Hats
Best Swim-Proof Sun Hats
Best Sun Hats With Chin Straps
Best Straw Sun Hats

When you’re hanging out in the sunshine, sun hats for babies and toddlers do the important job of helping to protect their sensitive skin from the sun’s damaging rays. In addition to wide brims, flaps for neck protection and straps to keep the hats in place, most baby sun hats are made of UPF 50+ rated material—meaning the fabric blocks 98 percent of the sun’s rays. 

Just like buying a hat for yourself, choosing one for your baby or toddler will depend on their head size, how much hair they have to stuff under the hat and what they're willing to tolerate (my toddler refuses to wear a baseball cap, but a bucket hat is fine). 

Whether on the beach or in your backyard (if you need help finding the best beach tent or outdoor toys for toddlers, we've got you covered there, too!), these hats are perfect for sunny spring and summer days.

Best Sun Hats for Newborns

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, babies under 6 months old should avoid direct sun exposure due to their brand-new and extra-delicate skin. Plus, the AAP also recommends against using sunscreen on babies under 6 months old. Don't worry though—that doesn’t mean you have to keep your baby locked away for the first six months. Along with umbrella shades on your stroller and tiny sunglasses for babies, a sun hat for newborns can protect their little faces on sunny days.

Best Sun Hats With a Neck Flap

Sun hats for babies and toddlers with a long flap on the back give your little one’s neck some extra sun protection (along with sunscreen for babies)—which can come in handy if you’re planning on spending a few hours in the sun. And for toddlers who are running and playing independently, the extra flap can provide them with full, 360-degree protection.

Best Bucket Sun Hats

Aside from being super stylish, bucket hats fit snuggly onto your baby or toddler’s head so it won’t budge while playing. The wide brim can be flipped up or down for more or less sun protection, too.

Best Swim-Proof Sun Hats

Water play and sunshine go together like peanut butter and jelly. Whether they’re running through the sprinklers at the splash pad or wading through the shallow end of the pool, swim-proof sun hats are a must-have. They’re made of quick-drying fabrics and if the hat slips off while they are in the water, most will float.

Best Sun Hats With Chin Straps

For babies and toddlers who aren’t used to wearing hats and are more likely to give in to the urge to rip them off, a break-away chin strap is a helpful feature. Hats with chin straps will keep your kid’s hat on their head, and with the break-away feature, if it happens to get snagged, it’ll come off easily.

Best Straw Sun Hats

Can you say beach vacay? Straw hats are synonymous with vacations, so if you have one planned, a straw hat for babies or toddlers will put the finishing touches on their waterfront look. A bonus—straw hats typically have an extra-large brim, giving your kiddo’s face even more shade, and the lightweight material dries quickly if it gets wet.

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