Hats & Bandanas

Keep heads covered and outfits finished with our collection of hats and bandanas for babies and kids: ethically made, soft on skin and big on personality. From retro bucket hats to sun-safe flaps, warm winter beanies to reversible cotton styles,... Read more

Frequently asked questions

Baby hats are generally sized by age bracket rather than a specific measurement, but head circumference varies enough between babies that it is worth checking the actual measurement on the size guide rather than buying purely by age. A hat that is too snug can leave marks or feel uncomfortable, while one that is too loose will not stay on through a walk or a nap in the pram.

If your baby is between sizes, sizing up slightly is usually the better call for baby hats specifically, since a soft, stretchy fabric hat with a bit of room is more comfortable than a tight one, and it buys extra months of wear as your baby grows.

Newborns in particular often do better in a hat with a slightly looser, adjustable fit, since head shape and size can change quickly in the first few months. A tie or toggle closure gives you more flexibility here than a fixed elastic band.

For older babies and toddlers, checking fit every few months matters more than it might seem, since a hat that no longer sits comfortably is one your toddler will pull off constantly, regardless of how much they liked it before.

Yes, and for babies under 6 months a baby sun hat matters more than sunscreen, since sunscreen is not generally recommended for very young babies and shade plus physical coverage becomes the main line of defence. A wide-brimmed sun hat protects the face, neck and ears, which are some of the most exposed and sensitive areas.

Health guidance for this age group generally recommends keeping babies out of direct sun altogether where possible, with a sun hat and light clothing as backup for the times you are outside, such as walks in the pram or short trips to the car.

A soft, breathable baby hats fabric matters here too, since younger babies cannot regulate their temperature as well as older children, so a hat that is too heavy or non-breathable can contribute to overheating just as much as no hat at all in the wrong conditions.

Even on overcast days, UV exposure in Australia can be significant, so a sun hat is worth keeping in the pram bag as a default for outings under 6 months, rather than something you only reach for on obviously sunny days.

Look for a UPF rating of 50 or 50+ where possible, which blocks around 98% of UV radiation and is the standard most parents and paediatric guidance in Australia recommend for direct sun exposure. A lower UPF rating still offers some protection but will let through noticeably more UV over the course of a longer outing.

UPF rating is different to visual coverage, so a wide brim alone does not guarantee strong UV protection if the fabric itself has a low rating. Checking both the brim size and the UPF number on the label gives you the fullest picture of how protective a specific baby sun hat actually is.

Darker, more tightly woven fabrics generally offer higher natural UPF than very light, loosely woven ones, even before any specific UPF treatment is applied, which is useful to know if you are choosing between two hats that look similar but are not both explicitly rated.

For the sunniest months and for babies who will be outside for longer stretches, a UPF 50+ hat paired with shade and protective clothing gives the most complete protection, rather than relying on the hat alone.

For most of the country, yes, a well-fitted beanie is enough for typical Australian winter conditions, especially when paired with the rest of a layered outfit like a long sleeve top and a jacket or cardigan. Babies lose a meaningful amount of body heat through the head, so a beanie is one of the more effective single pieces you can add for warmth.

A snug but not tight fit matters more for warmth than thickness alone, since a beanie that lets in drafts around the ears will not keep your baby as warm as a well-fitted, moderately thick one. Merino wool and wool-blend beanies tend to perform well here, offering warmth without excessive bulk.

For particularly cold mornings or colder parts of the country, layering a beanie with a hood on the jacket underneath gives extra protection for the ears and back of the neck, which is often where babies feel cold first.

As with sun hats, checking fit regularly matters, since a beanie that has become tight will be less comfortable and more likely to get pulled off, defeating the purpose exactly when it is needed most.

This is one of the most common frustrations with baby hats, and fit is usually the first thing to check. A hat that is slightly too big will always be easier to grab and pull off than one that fits snugly but comfortably, so sizing correctly solves a surprising amount of the problem before you try anything else.

A tie-under-chin style, common on many baby sun hat designs, is one of the more effective solutions for younger babies who are not yet coordinated enough to undo a tie themselves, though it is worth supervising use of any tie closure.

Distraction and timing also matter in practice. Putting a hat on right before a nap in the pram, or during a walk when your baby's hands are otherwise occupied, tends to result in less pulling than putting it on and expecting it to stay through open, unstructured time.

As babies get older and more determined, some hat-pulling is simply a phase that fit and habit will not fully solve, and many parents find it improves naturally once their toddler is a bit older and more used to wearing one regularly.

Generally yes, for full sun protection a bucket hat outperforms a cap because of coverage. A bucket hat's brim goes all the way around, protecting the ears and the back of the neck as well as the face, while a cap only shades the front and leaves the ears and neck exposed.

For babies and young toddlers especially, ear and neck protection matters because these areas burn easily and are often forgotten when applying sunscreen. A baby cap paired with a well-applied sunscreen on the ears and neck can still work, but it requires more careful application than a bucket hat does.

Caps do have an advantage in visibility and can feel less bulky for some toddlers, which occasionally means better compliance if your child fights every hat you put on. In that case, a cap that gets worn consistently may offer more real-world protection than a bucket hat that gets pulled off within minutes.

If your baby or toddler tolerates both, a bucket hat with a UPF 50+ rating is the stronger choice for genuine full-coverage sun protection, particularly for longer outings at the beach, park or pool.