Sun hats are essential for babies and children to wear in the summer months to keep them protected from the sun’s rays. However, finding the right sun hat that will both shade your child and that they’ll be happy to wear, can be a challenge.
From our experience of selling kids' sun hats for more than a decade, we’ll give you our top tips and recommendations to help you find the best sun hat for your child.
Below I have put together a list of things to consider when buying sun hats for children and some recommendations based on the feedback we've received from our customers.
Best for babies
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The Patagonia Baby Block Sun Hat
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Best for Toddlers
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Sunday Afternoons Play Hat
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Best for older kids
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Sunday Afternoons Play Hat
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Read more |
💡 Our top tip...make sure it fits!
The trick to finding the best sun hat for your child is to firstly get the right fit. You don’t want your child’s sun hat to either be sliding off their head or to uncomfortably tight. The aim is to find a sun hat that your child will forget they are wearing and therefore they won’t be trying to pull it off all the time!
The Patagonia Baby Block Sun Hat
- Wide brim for maximum coverage
- 40+ UPF Sun Protection
- 100% recycles nylon
- Easy to wash and doesn't fade in the sun
What our customers say:
“Excellent design and quality”
The Patagonia Baby Block Sun Hat does what is says on the tin! The brim is soft and the back of the hat has a neck cape, which gives great coverage when a baby is sitting up playing. This style of hat will also stay in place when your baby is sleeping or feeding.
It's 100% recycled nylon and has 40+ UPF sun protection to keep your little one's skin safe. If you are a fan of Patagonia clothing have a look here at the full range of Patagonia Kids Sun Hats.
It comes in a good range of sizes so you can pick the perfect fit for your baby's head. Baby sun hats tend not to have adjustable size settings, as this adds too much bulk to a small hat and isn't comfortable for your baby when lying down. The best baby sun hats will have a good range of sizes, for example, 0-3 months, 3-6 months, 6-12 months 12-24 months. The sizes will be based on head circumference, if your baby has a large head, buy a hat to fit their head size, not their age. Also, if you're a fan of Patagonia clothing have a look at the full range of Patagonia Kids Sun Hats.
Sunday Afternoons Play Hat
- Wide Brim protects the face and neck
- UPF 50+ Rating
- Chin Strap to hold in place
- Adjustable Sizing Band
- Water-Resistant
- Stain-Resistant
What our customers say: “Bought this for my 2 year old granddaughter, best sun hat ever, it shades all of her face and is light weight and comfortable”
Getting a sun hat on a toddler can be tricky and keeping that sun hat on their head can be a real challenge! The trick is to get a hat that they like the look of, but most importantly, the hat must be comfy so they very quickly forget they are wearing it.
This hat from Sunday Afternoon ticks all those boxes and we think it is one of the best sun hats for toddler; it's definitely a firm favourite with our customers;
"Stays on. Can also wear in pool. Provides great sun protection."
The hat boasts a wide brim and a UPF 50+ rating, ensuring excellent sun shield for delicate skin. Additionally, it includes smart design elements like a breakaway chin strap for safety and an adjustable sizing band, making it both secure and grow-with-me versatile. It’s lightweight and water-resistant too, perfect for all sorts of play dates, from beach days to park explorations. This blend of safety, comfort, and durability makes it an ideal choice for active toddlers.
Sunday Afternoons Clear Creek Hat
- Reversible Design
- UPF 50+ Protection .
- Crushable Material makes it easy to pack
- Includes a cinch at the crown for a customizable fit
- Removable Chinstrap
- Breathable to keep you cool on hot days.
- Water-Resistant
By the time your child is at school, they'll hopefully understand why it's a good idea to wear a sun hat. So, while you'll have fewer tantrums to contend with, you'll still want a hat that's comfortable to wear and looks good.
A booney-style sun hat is a good choice for older children, and this one from Sunday Afternoon has received great feedback from kids and parents alike!
Its reversible design means you get two looks in one, making it versatile for both nature trails and casual outings. The hat is designed with high-performance fabrics that are comfortable and stylish. It's also crushable, making it easy to pack without worrying about losing its shape. The adjustable sizing and removable chinstrap allow for a custom fit and convenience. With a UPF rating of 50+, it provides excellent protection from the sun, making it a reliable choice for hiking, camping, and other outdoor adventures.
Columbia Kids Bora Bora Booney
- Great shade from wide brim
- Structured foldable brim
- Lightweight fabric
- Adjustable chinstrap
- Large sections of mesh on both side of hat for ventilation
- Available in two sizes (2 - 5 years and 6 - 10 years)
Another great kids sun hat, the Columbia Bora Bora is a based on a classic design with a really wide brim which provides excellent shade. It's ideal to wear when hiking, fishing, playing on the beach and chilling by the pool.
I love these hats! I ordered for both my boys. I like that the fabric is breathable and light.
If you're heading outside somewhere where it's likely that midges might appear (West Coast of Scotland)... then this style of kids sun hat works really. You can pop a midge head net over the top of the Bora Bora and it will protect you right down to the base of your neck, the brim really helps to hold the net away from your face and keep the midges at bay!
Reima Moomin Kids and Baby Sun Hats
- Super cute!
- Moomin pattern
- Reversible
- Lightweight fabric
- 100% recycled fabric
- Available as baby hat and kids sun bucket
Full range of Moomin sun hats here
As well as being functional these Moomin sun hats from Reima are so cute! If your a fan of the Moomins then you'll love this range of hats. But, rest assured it's not fashion over function. As with all clothing from Reima; the Finnish kids's outdoor clothing specialists, these hat's are brilliantly designed to fit well and give great protection form the sun.
Wrapping Up
I hope this helps you to narrow down the best sun hat option for your children. It your looking for different tips to help keep hats on your little ones then checkout our blog post: How to keep a sun hat on a toddler.
Author: Rebecca McCalla
Founder of Little Adventure Shop, Rebecca is passionate about the outdoors. She has raised her children with a love of being outside, having adventures, whatever the weather.
