Sunny days and outdoor adventures with young kids can be great fun, and parents understandably breathe a sigh of relief when the family can spend most of their time outside. However, the summer sun’s harsh rays can be damaging, especially to a toddler’s delicate skin and eyes.
That’s why finding the perfect sun hat is essential for your child’s sun safety. In this guide, I’ll explore the best options for toddler sun hats, featuring wide brims, UPF ratings, neck flaps, and more, to ensure maximum protection and peace of mind during those sunny summer months.
Please remember, the sun’s rays can be damaging even on cloudy days, particularly if you’re high up in the mountains, and also if you’re in and out of a swimming pool or paddling pool throughout the day. I got horrendously burned on holiday in France recently when I went for a short swimming session in an outdoor pool under thick cloud cover. There had just been a huge storm so I thought it would be fine. It really wasn’t fine.
Lesson learned. If in doubt, slather your kids in sun cream and put a hat on your kid even if it doesn’t feel particularly hot. This is especially true for babies and toddlers whose skin will be even more sensitive and at risk than that of older children. On scorching hot days, it’s really best to keep very young children indoors during the hottest part of the day.
1. Wide-Brimmed Hats for Full Coverage
Wide-brimmed hats are your child’s best bet for maximum sun protection. These hats offer full coverage not only for their little heads but also for the sensitive skin on their neck and the back of their neck. A wide brim helps shield their face and eyes from the sun’s harmful UV rays, providing extra protection during hot and windy days.
This one from Muddy Puddles is for kids aged 3-5 and has a really wide brim as well as a handy chin strap:
https://www.littlesurfers.co.uk/muddy-puddles-uv-protection-kids-sun-hat-red-earth
2. UPF Rating for UV Protection
When shopping for the best toddler sun hats for your child to wear in really strong sun, keep an eye out for the UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) rating. Look for hats with a high UPF rating, ideally 50+ to ensure your child’s safety from UVB and UVA radiation. UPF-rated hats act as a barrier against the sun’s harsh rays, offering peace of mind as your toddler plays outdoors on those scorching hot days.
These cute hats from Fruugo come in two different sizes, have built-in UPF 50+ and are really soft so they roll up easily to travel with. The fabric is also fade-resistant so these hats will stay looking colourful for longer:
https://www.fruugo.co.uk/toddler-sun-hat-with-upf-50-sun-protection/p-104816803-221085888
3. Neck Flap for Added Protection
Some of the best toddler sun hats come with a neck flap. This feature provides extra protection to your child’s neck, an area that is often overlooked when it comes to sun exposure. A neck flap ensures that all of your child’s delicate skin remains shielded from the sun’s harmful rays.
This cool whale print hat from Jojo Manan Bébé comes in a range of different sizes, has built-in UPF 50+ and is also made of recycled plastics so it’s a little kinder to the planet:
4. Adjustable Chin Strap and Toggle for a Snug Fit
A snug fit is essential to keep the hat in place on your child’s head, especially during outdoor adventures. Look for sun hats with adjustable chin straps and toggles to achieve the perfect fit. These features ensure that the hat stays put, even on a windy day.
These hats from Masocio are inexpensive, come in a range of prints and colours for 3 to 6-year-olds and have an adjustable chin strap which will hopefully help kids to keep it on their head! If your kid is prone to losing hats, these are so cheap you buy a couple of them so you have a spare when the inevitable happens.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/MASOCIO-Toddler-Protection-Adjustable-Drawstring/dp/B091XY4M2S
5. Breathable and Lightweight Material
Comfort is key for little kids, and hats made from breathable and lightweight materials are a great option for hot summer days. Cotton hats are a popular choice as they provide excellent sun protection while keeping your child’s head cool.
This lovely lightweight hat from Polarn O. Pyret comes in white or navy and is made sustainably from 100% organic cotton. Made with UV-protective fabric, this sunhat can be adjusted and tied to fit perfectly and keep the hat in place. One reviewer commented that the coverage offered by this hat is excellent.
6. Variety of Sizes and Bright Colors
Sun hats come in a variety of sizes to accommodate your child’s head comfortably. Additionally, choosing hats in bright colours not only adds a fun element to their outfit but also helps you spot your little one easily in a crowd or during outdoor play. Believe me, this is something I wish I had considered more when choosing clothes and accessories for my children when they were really young!
This brilliantly bright spiral tie-dye bucket hat from Boardies Apparel is sure to go down well with even the most reluctant children when it comes to being made to wear a hat. It comes in lots of different sizes too:
https://boardiesapparel.co.uk/products/spiral-tie-dye-bucket-hat
For a less expensive alternative, you could buy a plain white cotton hat such as this one from Kidsbiz and let them do the tie-tye part themselves! They could even make tie-dye t-shirts and shorts to match:
https://kidsbiz.co.uk/product/childs-cotton-bucket-style-sun-hat-white-2-sizes/
7. Machine Washable for Easy Cleaning
Toddlers can get messy, and their hats are no exception. Opt for sun hats that are machine washable for easy cleaning and maintenance. This ensures that the hat stays fresh and ready for the next sunny adventure.
8. Breakaway Chin Strap for Safety
For extra safety, consider a hat with a breakable/breakaway chin strap that immediately releases if it gets caught on something, preventing accidents and providing peace of mind during outdoor excursions.
This hat from Jan and Jul comes in a range of fun colours and prints and features an adjustable breakaway safety strap:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/JAN-JUL-Cotton-Sun-Hats-Toddler/dp/B09STBZ59F
9. Adjustable Headband and Tie Straps
Adjustable headbands and tie straps are additional features that contribute to the perfect fit for your child’s head. They allow you to customize the hat’s fit, ensuring it stays comfortably in place. Adjustable hats will also last your child longer and so are less expensive in the long run.
The above-mentioned hat from Jan and Jul is also adjustable so it really is a good option to consider.
10. Straw Hats
As they get older and are less likely to need a chin strap to keep it on their head, your child might prefer the idea of wearing a straw hat. Straw hats not only provide excellent sun protection but also look really stylish. They can be a great addition to a young child’s summer wedding outfit or other special occasion wear.
This lovely colourful, striped straw hat from Next comes in a range of sizes and is a real bargain at £4 – £4.50:
11. Hats That are Suitable For Swimming
Hats that can be worn in paddling pools and swimming pools are great for foreign holidays, and also for water-based play in the garden on sunny days. And of course, just because they’re designed to get wet, it doesn’t mean they can’t be worn on outdoor adventures that don’t involve water as well.
This cool striped swim hat from JoJo Maman Bébé comes in a range of sizes, has built-in UPF 50+, is made from recycled plastic and has a huge flap at the back to protect all areas of the skin. A real winner!
Conclusion
In conclusion, when it comes to choosing the best sun hat for your toddler, prioritise maximum sun protection, comfort, and safety. Look for wide-brimmed hats with high UPF ratings, neck flaps, adjustable chin straps, and breathable materials. With a range of sizes and bright colours available, finding the perfect hat for your little kid’s outdoor adventures is easier than ever. It’s worth investing in a good-quality sun hat to shield your child from the sun’s harmful rays and ensure they enjoy their summer sun safely. It’s best not to let your young child wear a cap instead of a wide-brimmed hat, as caps don’t provide any coverage to the back of the neck.
Children grow fast and second-hand accessories such as sun hats are always being put up for sale, so do check out your local second-hand selling groups and pre-loved apps such as eBay and Vinted to get hold of a good-quality hat at a bargain price. It’s great to be mindful of the fact that buying second-hand whenever possible is also much kinder to the planet, and helps reduce your family’s carbon footprint.
Further links and resources
https://www.skincarenetwork.co.uk/dermatology/children/sun-safety