7 Best Baby Beach Hats Of 2024

If you’re like many new parents, you understand that keeping your child’s delicate skin safe from the glaring sun can be quite a challenge. With the warmer months right around the corner, your kids will soon be spending hours playing outdoors. A good beach hat can protect your baby’s head from potentially harmful rays while looking adorable at the same time.

The key to selecting a beach hat for your baby is to find one that’s comfortable and lightweight with breathable UV-shielding material. Of course, you can also find sun hats in vibrant colors and fun designs. If you aren’t sure where to start, we’ve compiled a list of the best baby beach hats of 2023 to keep your kids both well-protected—and stylish—while in the sun.

With practical information and useful tips, our baby sun hat reviews will help you discover the perfect beach hat for your child. We’ve also prepared a buyer’s guide where you can learn expert tips on how to pick the best beach hat for your baby and what you must know before shopping.

Whether you’re searching for a trendy hat with a wide and floppy brim or one specifically with water repellant, UPF 50+ fabric, we’ve got you covered.

(You might be interested in reading our article on Best Baby Hooded Beach Towels)

The Best Baby Beach Hat Reviews (Editor’s Picks)

We’ve searched far and wide for the best beach hats for babies, and while not ranked in any particular order, we’ve based our recommendations on factors like the material type, extent of sun protection, and design. Now without further ado, here are our top seven picks for baby beach hats of 2023 to protect your kids from the sun’s potentially harmful rays.

1. Sunday Afternoons Kids Play Hat

Sunday Afternoons Fun Bucket Hat, Baby, Royal

Floatable foam core
Moisture wicking
Lightweight-Packable-Stroller Friendly-Water repellent-Stain Resistant

This best-selling hat, made of UPF 50+ nylon with a floatable foam core, is ideal for getting splashed by the water next to the pool on summer days. This hat has a wide brim that provides additional support for the back of your baby’s neck, and it features strategic mesh ventilation panels for breathability.

This lightweight hat offers a comfortable fit with an adjustable chin and removable head straps, which is necessary if your baby is particularly fussy or in a windy place. As a bonus, the Sunday Afternoons Kids Play Hat offers the highest UPF protection available.

This hat comes in two sizes: the infant size for infants 0-6 months and the baby size for babies 6-24 months. This water repellent, stain-resistant hat is excellent for travel since it can be conveniently packed flat. Because you can buy this hat in over twenty colors, you can choose a style that both you and your baby will love.

Pros

UPF 50+
Adjustable chin strap with breakaway technology
Water repellant

Cons

Hand wash only
Limited sizes
Mesh vents aren’t UPF rated

(Read our article on Best Toddler Beach Hats for big size hats)

2. Outdoor Research Kids’ Rambler Sun Sombrero Hat

Outdoor Research Kid's Rambler Sombrero Hat (Medium, Khaki/Dark Grey)

Fabric Performance: Water-Resistant, Breathable, Lightweight, Wicking, Quick-Drying, TransAction Headband, UPF 50+
Design Features: Dark Fabric Under Brim, Floating Foam-Stiffened Brim, Varied Brim Width, Embroidered OR Logo
Functional Details: One-Handed Drawcord Adjustment, Breakaway Removable Chin Cord, Packable

If you and your child love exploring the great outdoors, this water-resistant bucket sun hat is lovely for hiking, camping trips, fishing, beach outings, and canoeing. Suppose your baby drops his hat while kayaking. Don’t worry! Because of its buoyant brim, the hat will even float in water.

With a UPF 50+ rating, this hat has a wide shade to protect your baby’s neck and face from the sun’s damaging rays. A lightweight hat weighing only 2.4 ounces, the Kids’ Rambler Sun Sombrero Hat features a drawstring adjustment and detachable breakaway chin cord that you can store separately.

Made of 100% Supplex nylon, the hat dries quickly after a day spent playing outdoors near water. This packable hat is excellent for traveling and can be easily cleaned. You can select between either an embroidered or logo design in a variety of fun colors.

Pros

UPF 50+
Breakaway removable chin cord
Floating brim

Cons

Limited colors
No ventilation panels
Fewer designs

3. SimpliKids Baby Sun Hat

SimpliKids UPF 50+ UV Sun Protection Wide Brim Baby Sun Hat,White2, 0-12 Months

UPF 50+ Sun Protection: Our UPF 50+ Baby hats made with UPF 50+ sun protection polyester fabric for the best sun protection coverage for babies, toddlers and kids from the sun's harmful rays
Wide Brim: Toddler sun hat designed with wide brim, wide floppy brim offers extra protection and will keep the kids stay cool under the sun/beach/outside
Adjustable: The baby hats adjustable head strap and chin-strap adjusts as your baby grows; adjustable chin strap has a safety breakaway feature to help prevent choking

A lightweight sun hat with a large neck flap that extends down to your child’s shoulders, this top-rated hat features a back drawstring that secures the hat snugly around your baby’s face. The wide, floppy brim protects your child’s skin, and the breathable material provides UPF 50+ protection, blocking 98% of potentially dangerous UV rays.

Made of 100% polyester, this adorable hat’s material dries quickly and will keep your child cool, even on hot summer days. A comfortable tie beneath the chin keeps this hat fixed in place, and with a compact design, it can be conveniently stored and packed for travel.

With an adjustable drawcord closure that grows with your child, this hat will ensure that you’ll never have to worry about finding the perfect fit. Not only does this hat offer excellent sun protection, but it’s also very stylish and sold in over ten colors and patterned materials. You can also purchase the hat in multiple sizes for babies aged 1-12 months to 2-4 years.

Pros

UPF 50+
Adjustable drawstring closure
Easily packable for travel

Cons

Not water resistant
No ventilation panels
No breakaway technology for chin strap

4. SwimZip Kid’s Sun Hat

SwimZip Wide Brim Sun Hat | UPF 50+ Protection for Baby, Toddler, and Kids Mint Green

BUILT-IN SUN PROTECTION - SwimZip's built-in sun protection blocks 98% of all UVA and UVB cancer causing rays. No more sunburns! Keep your child's delicate skin safe in the sun with SwimZip's built-in UPF 50+ sun protection so there’s more time for enjoying the beach, lake, or pool and less time worrying about harsh UV rays and reapplying sunscreen.
ADJUSTABLE HEAD AND CHIN STRAPS - Both the head strap and the chin strap are adjustable to easily create the best fit possible.
FULL OF FEATURES - Break away chin strap helps prevent choking. Side venting keeps heads cool. Wide brim for optimal protection. And IT FLOATS! Easily grab this hat if it ends up in the water. And the quick dry fabric will have it back and ready to use in a jiffy! (Corrosion resistant eyelets make this a great hat to take to the beach.)

We think this is the perfect beach hat for all children, young and old. With a wide brim that ensures coverage of the face, neck, and head, this hat will protect your baby from the sun’s harmful UV rays.

Swimpzip’s adorable hats have an adaptable tightener encircling the head for painless size alterations. The hat features an adjustable chin strap with a breakaway clip designed to prevent choking, ensuring that the hat stays in place on those windy summer days.

This hat, made with the top-ranked UPF 50+ fabric, blocks 98% of the sun’s damaging UVA and UVB rays that can cause cancer. Its chlorine-resistant material features side venting, so your child’s head stays cool and dry on hot summer days.

Pros

UPF 50+
Side ventilation
Adjustable chin strap with breakaway clip

Cons

Limited sizes
Few patterns
No ventilation panels

5. Tuga Reversible Bucket Hat

Tuga Girls Reversible Bucket Hats - UPF 50+ Sun Protection Sun Hats

SEE SIZING CHART UNDER PHOTOS FOR HELP: S (18-19 inch head circumference), M (19-20 inch head circum.), L (20.5-22 inch head circum.). Our Tuga kids floppy bucket swim hats provide excellent sun protection, versatility and unique prints. Great for toddlers and little to big girls. Designed in sunny San Diego, California.
EXCELLENT SUN PROTECTION: Fabrics are rated UPF 50+ and provide maximum UV sun protection by blocking 98% of UVA + UVB sun rays, wet or dry; similar rating as SPF for sunscreens. Covered areas don't need sunscreen.
SKIN SAFE. REEF SAFE: Tuga childrens water hats are made from fabrics that are great for kids with sensitive skin as well as the environment. Did you know that most sunscreens are not good for coral reefs? By wearing Tuga swimwear and reef-safe sunscreen on exposed areas, you’re helping to reduce your sunscreen footprint. We make skin safe and reef safe products!

What makes this hat unique is that it’s reversible, so essentially, you get two hats after buying one. With a 50+ UPF rating, this beach hat provides optimal UV sun protection by shielding your child from 98% of UVA and UVB rays with its wide brim. In other words, covered areas of your child’s head don’t require the application of sunscreen.

With plenty of unique prints, this versatile and lightweight bucket hat offers an adjustable chin strap that you can remove. Made of materials that do not contain sunscreen chemicals, this hat is an excellent choice if your child has sensitive or irritable skin. By wearing this hat, you can protect not only your child’s skin but also the planet by reducing your sunscreen footprint.

Pros

UPF 50+
Reversible
Adjustable, removable chin strap

Cons

Limited sizes
No ventilation panels
No breakaway strap

6. SunBusters UPF 50+ Flap Hat

SunBusters Boys Flap Hat (UPF 50+), Sapphire Manta Ray, Small

SEE SIZING CHART UNDER PHOTOS FOR HELP: S (18-19 inch head circumference), M (19-20 inch head circum.), L (20.5-22 inch head circum.). Lightweight, quick drying sun protective legionnaire baseball cap style hat with sturdy yet flexible bill. Perfect for infants, toddlers and big kids.
Optimal protection for face, neck and ears. Made of the same great fabrics as our swimsuits so they can be worn in and out of the water
SIZING: For optimal fit, wrap a soft measuring tape around head about 1" (inch) above eyebrows. If in between sizes, go up a size.

Because it’s made of swimwear fabrics, this hat dries quickly, and because babies can wear it comfortably in and out of the water, the SunBusters Flap Hat is a popular hit with kids who love going to the beach or pool.

This sturdy but lightweight hat features a fabric flap designed to cover your child’s back, neck, and ears. Rated UPF 50+, this flap hat offers the utmost sun protection and obstructs 98% of UVA and UVB rays, whether your child is dry or wet.

If your child wants to rock the trucker hat look, we suggest purchasing this baseball-style cap, which is as adorable as it is protective. This hat, which comes in three sizes, comes in various patterns and colors that your child will love.

Pros

UPF 50+
Made of swimwear fabric
Lightweight

Cons

No chin strap
No side ventilation
Doesn’t float

7. i play Brim Sun Protection Hat

i play. Baby Brim Sun Protection Hat, White, 0-6 Months

Special sun protective fabric and wider brim
Ties under chin
Lightweight and water resistant

If you’re looking for a wide-brimmed hat, this hat provides your child with lots of shade from the sun. With a stay-put chin strap with ties, the Brim Sun Protection Hat has an adjustable drawcord that allows you to alter the hat’s size to make it bigger as your baby grows or smaller for your next child (although your youngest might get unhappy about wearing hand-me-downs).

The lightweight hat, made of UPF 50+ material, features a breathable flap that protects your child’s eyes and head while providing additional neck coverage. The Brim Sun Protection Hat has a water-resistant foam brim, and because the 100% polyester material dries quickly, it’s perfect for playing in the water.

If you’re looking for a custom-fit, comfortable hat that is ideal for all-day outdoor activities, such as long days at the beach, this breathable hat is an excellent choice for your child.

Pros

UPF 50+
Breathable neck flap
Adjustable size

Cons

Limited colors and patterns
No breakaway strap
Doesn’t float

Best Baby Beach Hat Buyers Guide – Making The Best Purchase

We understand that making a new purchase for your child can be extremely stressful, which is why we want to help you become as informed as possible. Before buying a baby beach hat for your child, here’s what experts suggest you should know.

Using Your Baby Beach Hat The Right Way

If you’ve been shopping for the perfect beach hat for your child, you may have some questions about what you should know before making a purchase. Be sure to keep these guidelines in mind as you select a baby beach hat that is right for your child.

1. Find the Perfect Fit

Be sure that the hat fits snugly on your child’s head. If it’s not secure enough, it can get blown off if she is in a windy place. Keep in mind that the hat will end up off of your child’s head if she is unhappy about wearing one, regardless of whether or not there’s a strap holding the hat in place.

2. Select UPF Material

UPF, or ultraviolet protection factor, material will protect your baby’s skin from the sun’s harmful rays. While wearing sunscreen provides a certain level of sun protection, a hat created with UPF material can offer more safeguarding.

3. Look for Wide Brims

A beach hat made of UPF material doesn’t give the maximum level of protection. Take it a step further by choosing a sun hat with a wide brim or an extended back. While a few more inches of material might not seem significant, they can create shade to protect sensitive areas of your baby’s skin, including his ears, face, and neck.

Features

As you prepare your child to venture outdoors, you might believe that any beach hat will provide enough protection to keep your child’s head safe. While it’s true that wearing any hat is better than exposing a bare head, keep in mind that there are many different types and styles of beach hats with specific features to protect your baby’s sensitive skin from the sun. Here are five essential features to look for:

1. UPF Rating

The Sun Protection Factor (SPF), the standard used to rate the level of sunburn protection and effectiveness of most sunscreens, is very similar to the Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF).
The primary distinction is that while SPF measures the sunburn protection for lotions, UPF rates clothing items.
A UPF rating informs customers how effectively a clothing item or a hat can shield you from ultraviolet radiation.
If a beach hat has a UPF rating of 25, only four percent of the sun’s ultraviolet radiation will pass through the material onto your skin. The highest UPF rating is 50+.
If you buy a sun hat that doesn’t list a UPF rating, you may be getting less than optimal protection from the sun’s harmful rays. However, if your child gets exposed to the sun, we recommend opting for a standard hat without a UPF rating instead of keeping your child’s head bare.

2. Back Flaps

A beach hat with a back flap is a solid choice because it can protect the back of your baby’s neck from sun exposure.
If your child has short hair, a hat with a back flap can protect from sunburn and sun exposure. If your daughter has long hair, this is less of a concern because her hair can help shield her neck.
To protect your children’s ears, select a hat with a neck flap that extends past their ears to their neck’s side. Because for men, the ears are particularly susceptible to damage caused by sun exposure and a central area for skin cancer to develop, this hat is incredibly beneficial.

3. Wide Brims

Choose a hat with a wide brim because it will supply enough shade to cover your baby’s face completely. It will also provide extra sun protection for your child’s nose.
Bucket style hats provide an identical length of material around the entire brim.
With a wide front brim, a trucker style hat can also offer increased protection from sun exposure.

4. Chin Straps

If your child enjoys spending time in windy places, such as beaches or boat rides, we’d suggest opting for a beach hat with a chin strap.
If your toddler is like many babies, they might get fussy with a rigid chin strap pressed against their face. If this becomes an issue, select a hat with a drawstring cord, which will prevent it from flying off in windy areas.
To reduce the risk of choking or suffocation, choose a hat with a breakaway chin strap.

5. Moisture Wicking Barriers

During the warmer months, your children will spend many hours being active and playing outdoors. Because they’re kids, they’ll become a hot, sweaty mess before you know it.
Since they will become sweaty so fast, it is beneficial to purchase a hat with a built-in sweat-band or headband to absorb all of their forehead sweat rapidly.

Best Baby Beach Hat Comparison Chart

Product	Price	Material	Age/Gender	Unique Features
Sunday Afternoons Kids Play Hat	$	Polyester	Baby Girls	UPF50+, water repellant
Outdoor Research Kids' Rambler Sun Sombrero Hat	$	Cotton	Girls	Breakaway removable chin chord, floating brim
SimpliKids Baby Sun Hat	$	Cotton	Baby Girls	Adjustable drawstring closure, easily packable for travel
SwimZip Kid's Sun Hat	$	Cotton	Uni-sex Baby	Side ventilation, adjustable chin strap with breakaway clip
Tuga Reversible Bucket Hat	$	Nylon Taslan	Boys	Reversible, adjustable, removable chin strap
SunBusters UPF 50+ Flap Hat	$	Teslin, Nylon, Spandex	Girls	Made of swimwear fabric, lightweight
iPlay Brim Sun Protection Hat	$	Cotton	Baby Girls	Breathable neck flap, adjustable size

Wrap Up

We hope that we’ve provided you with enough useful information to purchase the best baby beach hat for your child. With plenty of colorful designs and practical features, all of the beach hats featured in this article will shield your baby’s sensitive skin from the sun.

So parents, don’t be nervous about keeping your child protected as the warm spring and blistering summer months rapidly approach. By picking one of these functional and cute baby beach hats, you can ensure that your child will have plenty of fun in the sun while playing outdoors.