The 13 Best Baby and Toddler Sun Hats

Pediatric health experts everywhere tout the importance of protecting babies and toddlers from harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays, especially because the majority of sun damage occurs in childhood. The American Academy of Pediatrics stresses the significance of sun protection for babies in particular, since their skin is more delicate and more likely to burn. 

It’s best to keep babies and toddlers in the shade when possible, and to cover up with breathable clothing and a protective sun hat when outside. If you’re wondering which sun hat will be best for your youngster, we’ve rounded up this year’s best baby and toddler sun hats — all tested from personal experience!

The Winning Lineup: Our Favorite Sun Hats

Along with their approximate costs, here are the top 13 list of our most mom-loved sun hats for little ones, in a range of prices and sizes:

• Best all-around: Green Sprouts Baby & Toddler Breathable Flap Hat ($15)
• Best high-end: Patagonia Baby Block-the-Sun UPF Hat ($39)
• Best mid-priced: L&P Apparel Baby Street Hat ($19)
• Best budget-friendly: Carter’s Toddler Baseball Cap ($7)
• Best for baby girls: RuffleButts Swim Hat ($13 to $20) 
• Best for baby boys: RuggedButts Kids Sun Protective Hat ($18)
• Best for toddler girls: Carter’s Recycled Twill Swim Hat ($17)
• Best for toddler boys: Carter’s Just One You Boys’ Bucket Hat ($10)
• Best with matching ensemble: Little Me Safari Bucket Hat ($9 to $14)
• Best colors: The North Face Kids’ Class V Reversible Bucket Hat ($35)
• Best for brisk weather: Furtalk Baby Sun Hat ($15)
• Most durable: Fox Youth Snapback ($30)
• Best classic baseball cap: Legacy Relaxed Twill Toddler Hat ($25)

Detailed Buying Guide

Before ordering up all the hats this season, read on for need-to-know details for these lids, and what we love most about each one: 

Best all-around: Green Sprouts Baby & Toddler Breathable Flap Hat

• Approximate price: $15
• Sizing options: Newborn, 0-6 months, 9-18 months, 2T, 2T-4T
• UV protection: UPF 50+
• Materials: Polyester
• Chin strap?: Yes
• Adjustable head size?: Yes
• Care instructions: Machine wash

This lightweight Green Sprouts hat, made from quick-dry fabric, has a drawstring with an adjustable toggle, so its size can grow with your baby. A tie under the chin keeps the hat secure during long dips in the pool and breezy days at the beach. It fits a wide range of head sizes and includes an embedded breathable liner for comfort. We love the sturdy brim in the front and flap in the back that create full sun protection for the eyes, face, ears, head, and neck.

Green Sprouts products are organic and bio-based, so parents can feel good about their purchase. Coordinating swimsuits, swim diapers, and rash guards are also available.

Best high-end: Patagonia Baby Block-the-Sun UPF Hat

• Approximate price: $39
• Sizing options: 0-3 months, 3-6 months, 6-12 months, 12-24 months, 2T-5T
• UV protection: UPF 40+
• Materials: Recycled nylon
• Chin strap?: Yes
• Adjustable head size?: No
• Care instructions: Machine wash 

Patagonia’s adorable safari-style hat, currently available in purple or navy blue, has a full wraparound brim with extra material in the rear to protect the back of your child’s neck. An internal headband keeps it comfortable and secure, and elastic around the hat’s circumference means it can expand to fit a range of sizes. An adjustable chin strap makes sure it doesn’t fly away with the wind, and water-repellant fabric makes it perfect for lazy pool days.

Best mid-priced: L&P Apparel Baby Street Hat

• Approximate price: $19
• Sizing options: 0-3 months, 3-6 months, 6-12 months, 12-24 months
• UV protection: UPF 50+
• Materials: Polyester 
• Chin strap?: Yes
• Adjustable head size?: No
• Care instructions: Hand wash 

This quick-dry L&P bucket hat’s anti-UV treatment will keep your baby’s noggin protected from the sun all day long. This hat is constructed from thick, durable, water-resistant fabric that stays in good condition through repeated regular use. A large brim helps to protect against bright rays, and an inner support band and under-the-chin tie keep the hat secure without pinching.

L&P, a Canadian apparel brand known for its fashionable headwear, makes similar styles in kids’ and junior sizes, meaning that parents can equip the whole family in coordinating looks.

For an extra dose of cooling on the hottest days, the manufacturer recommends soaking the hat in cold water before wearing.

Best budget-friendly: Carter’s Toddler Baseball Cap

• Approximate price: $7
• Sizing options: 2T-4T
• UV protection: Not specified
• Materials: Cotton
• Chin strap?: No
• Adjustable head size?: Yes
• Care instructions: Machine wash

Carter’s makes this cap in a variety of colors, including tie dye and dinosaur print. Other styles, such as the eyelet pattern pictured above, are available in kids’ sizes as well. 

The classic baseball cap has a velcro strap in the back to adjust to a range of fits. An interior sweatband helps to wick away moisture in warmer weather. Although this hat doesn’t stay on as well as some others on our list — especially for younger babies — it’s a great, simple style for older toddlers at an unbeatable price.

Best for baby girls: RuffleButts Swim Hat

• Approximate price: $13 to $20
• Sizing options: 0-12 months, 12 months to 2T, 3T-5, 6-10
• UV protection: UPF 50+
• Materials: Nylon and spandex
• Chin strap?: Yes
• Adjustable head size?: No
• Care instructions: Hand wash 

This cute baby girls’ sun hat comes in 16 feminine colors and patterns for parents to choose from. It has a thick, buoyant wraparound brim that keeps the face, ears, and back of the neck shielded from the sun. 

An adjustable tie can be worn under the chin. It can also be threaded back through the brim and tied in an eye-catching bow in the back. Moms and dads can choose from a wide range of coordinating clothing and swimsuit options from RuffleButts to complete the look.

Best for baby boys: RuggedButts Kids Sun Protective Hat

• Approximate price: $18
• Sizing options: 0-6 months, 6-12 months, 12-24 months, 2T-4T
• UV protection: UPF 50+
• Materials: Polyester
• Chin strap?: Yes
• Adjustable head size?: Yes
• Care instructions: Hand wash

RuggedButts, the boy-themed spinoff of RuffleButts, makes this lightweight sun hat. It gas a large, wraparound brim and comes in four bright colors in addition to white.

Parents can set the adjustable drawstring and toggle around the back of the head to fit snugly and tie the caps’ soft strap under the chin to keep it in place through a whole day of play. This RuggedButt’s hat is made from soft, durable fabric that holds up well even after multiple seasons of use and passing down to younger siblings.

Best for toddler girls: Carter’s Recycled Twill Swim Hat

• Approximate price: $17
• Sizing options: 0-3 months, 3-9 months, 12-24 months
• UV protection: UPF 50+
• Materials: Recycled polyester
• Chin strap?: Yes
• Adjustable head size?: No
• Care instructions: Machine wash

Carter’s twill sim hat comes in an attractive style with a large brim around its entire circumference. It comes in soft blue or ivory colors with a bow, as well as the white eyelet style pictured above (which is currently on sale for just $8!). 

The soft twill fabric is water resistant and constructed from sustainable materials. Parents can fasten the under-the-chin velcro strap to their desired tightness, keeping the hat on top of baby girl’s head through all the running, jumping, and swimming she’s bound to do on any warm day. 

Best for toddler boys: Carter’s Just One You Boys’ Bucket Hat

• Approximate price: $10
• Sizing options: 6-12 months, 12-18 months
• UV protection: UPF 50+
• Materials: Cotton
• Chin strap?: Yes
• Adjustable head size?: No
• Care instructions: Machine wash

For only $10, parents can purchase this soft and simple bucket-style hat for their growing toddler son. A velcro chin strap keeps the hat secure while making it easy to take off when your toddler needs a break from the sun. Boys love this hat’s multiple styles and colors, including the navy with red stripe or gray shark options. 

Best with matching ensemble: Little Me Safari Bucket Hat

• Approximate price: $9 to $14
• Sizing options: 12-24 months
• UV protection: UPF 40+
• Materials: Cotton
• Chin strap?: No
• Adjustable head size?: No
• Care instructions: Machine wash

This incredible soft and simple bucket hat provides protection for baby’s head and ears, with a small bucket-style brim offering some shade to the face and back of the neck. Little Me’s cotton hat is floppy and flexible, without any ties that get in the way of your little one’s face. For $34 total, the brand sells the hat as part of a full ensemble with a coordinating romper in sizes 6 or 9 months.

Best colors: The North Face Kids’ Class V Reversible Bucket Hat 

• Approximate price: $35
• Sizing options: 2T-4T, 5-10 years, 10+ years
• UV protection: Not specified 
• Materials: Polyester (58% recycled)
• Chin strap?: No
• Adjustable head size?: No
• Care instructions: Machine wash

We love all five bright pattern and vivid color versions of this bucket hat (a similar one is pictured above). Its reversible style gives kids two fashions to alternate throughout their day or week, and customers love its light weight. Its full wrap-around brim offers that crucial back-of-the-neck sun protection parents are always looking for. 

The Class V is a simple bucket-style lid without any straps or ties to hang or tangle, although North Face offers a similar style in baby sizing with a chin strap.

Best for brisk weather: Furtalk Baby Sun Hat

• Approximate price: $15
• Sizing options: 0-6 months, 6-24 months, 2T-4T
• UV protection: UPF 50+
• Materials: Cotton
• Chin strap?: Yes
• Adjustable head size?: Yes
• Care instructions: Machine wash 

The Furtalk, pictured above in gray, comes in seven colors, including neutrals and brights. It covers the head, ears, and neck with a long flap down the back and a sturdy visor in the front. It boasts extremely soft and breathable material, with just the right amount of stretch for comfort. This hat is a bit thicker than the others on our list, and with its ample coverage, its great for those brisker transitional days in spring and fall. 

An adjustable toggle and drawstring under the chin — as well as a tie strap behind the head — let parents tailor the fit to their growing child. If between sizes, the manufacturer recommends sizing up.

Most durable: Fox Youth Snapback 

• Approximate price: $30
• Sizing options: Youth (one size)
• UV protection: Not specified 
• Materials: 98% cotton, 2% spandex woven twill
• Chin strap?: No 
• Adjustable head size?: Yes
• Care instructions: Hand wash

Between the cool look of this hat and the way we can adjust the snap to fit perfectly, our son lives in his Fox snapback. Best of all, his cap matches his dad’s, and our son loves when they wear them at the same time. We can testify firsthand that this thick and sturdy hat holds up well through significant wear and tear.

This cap is similar to classic snapbacks from other brands, with an inner sweat-wicking headband, a curved bill in the front, and an adjustable snap closure in the back. A snapback hat is an excellent choice for older toddlers who aren’t happy with a tie under the chin. This specific style sports front 3-D embroidery, and it comes in a variety of Fox-themed colors and styles. 

Best classic baseball cap: Legacy Relaxed Twill Toddler Hat

• Approximate price: $25
• Sizing options: 6 months to 2 years (one size)
• UV protection: Not specified 
• Materials: Cotton twill 
• Chin strap?: No
• Adjustable head size?: No
• Care instructions: Hand wash

We love the Legacy toddler hat for youngsters who want to wear a classic baseball cap just like Mom or Dad. It has a timeless, worn-in look with faded fabric and a stretchy spandex closure in the back that adjusts to a range of head circumferences. 

This cap features an unstructured crown with a curved visor in the front, and it comes in 14 solid colors, including neutrals and vivid hues. You’ll also find logo-clad versions of this popular hat when perusing merchandise at your favorite restaurant or gear for your local sports team. 

The Upshot: Finding the Best Baby and Toddler Sun Hat

We hope our guide helped you on your search for the right sun hat for your baby or toddler this season. If you’re traveling to sunny destinations with your family, don’t forget to bring sunglasses, swimsuits, and some broad-spectrum sunscreen.

For more tips on adventuring with kids, read our post on the top 50 toddler beach essentials, or our guide on keeping kids healthy while traveling.