Beat the Heat: the Cutest Toddler and Baby Sun Hats

Mad hatters? Not with these adorable baby sun hats and toddler sun hats! With summer—and trips to the beach!—just around the corner, you’re going to need a good baby sun hat, which is why The Bump rounded up the cutest ones on the market.

But these toddler sun hats aren’t just cute. With long, wide and floppy brims, almost all of the baby sun hats on this list are designed to protect against the sun’s glorious, but potentially harmful rays.

Of course, even with the cutest baby and toddler sun hats around, your little love still needs SPF—a sun block featuring at least 50 is best. (Here’s TheBump.com guide to the best sunscreen for babies and kids.) But a hat offers extra protection, especially for those hairless heads!

Scroll to find the best baby sun hat or toddler sun hat for your little beachgoer!

What You Need to Know About Toddler Sun Hats

Here’s what you need to know before you pick up a new toddler sun hat for your little one!

• Make sure it fits right! If your toddler sun hat is loose, it could fly off in the wind. But if it’s too tight, it could also aggravate your toddler, which means that the hat’s coming off.
• Look for UPF material. UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) material is made to block the sun’s rays. Alongside sunscreen, it’s an extra layer of protection.
• The wider the better! Just because your toddler sun hat is made from UPF material doesn’t mean that you can’t go one step further and look for a wide-brim baby sun hat! (Or a long hat, in the case of a baby legionnaire sun hat.) Those extra few inches will create shade, protecting a toddler’s face, ears and neck.
• There’s a hat for every style. Don’t think your kid will care? Tell that to the little girl who demands to pick out her ensemble every morning! The good news is that there are plenty of toddler sun hats out there that protect while also being stylish. Truly—just check out the 10 picks below!

Best Toddler Girl Sun Hats

Trust us: Every toddler girl sun hat is about as cute as can be. What’s more, they’re very stylish. We found a toddler straw sun hat, an embellished toddler sun hat, a toddler sun hat you can wear in the pool, a toddler sun hat that blocks out 95 percent of UVA/UVB rays and one Disney toddler sun hat we just couldn’t resist.

The little diva in your life needs this wide-brimmed OshKosh toddler straw sun hat, embellished with an aqua ribbon and the word of the season: poolside.

OshKosh “Poolside” Toddler Floppy Sun Hat, $8, Target.com

No kid can resist the allure of a toddler straw sun hat—especially not one with pom-poms, as seen on this J.Crew beauty.

J.Crew Girls’ Floppy Sun Hat With Pom-Poms, $30, Jcrew.com

Cute and functional, Hanna Andersson’s reversible toddler sun hat, available in three charming styles, blocks out 95 percent of harmful UVA/UVB rays. (FYI: In case you weren’t sure, Ultraviolet A, or UVA, rays make skin tan; ultraviolet B, or UVB, rays are what make skin burn.)

Hanna Andersson Kids Reversible Bucket Hat, $20, Hannaandersson.com

This fast-drying swim cap with built in UPF protection lets kids swim while keeping hair out of the way. (Especially useful if you’re taking swim classes!) And, thanks to the four colorful print options and its lidded design, this toddler sun hat is both practical and fun!

Garnet Hill Swimlids UPF 50+ Swim Cap, $18, Garnethill.com

This toddler floppy sun hat, Frozen-themed and complete with UPF 50+, shows you’re the mom in the know. Because let’s face it: With the sequel on the way, your kid’s Frozen obsession isn’t going anywhere soon.

Disney Anna and Elsa Swim Hat, $8, Disneystore.com

Best Toddler Boy Sun Hats

While we hyped up the girl sun hats for toddlers, toddler sun hats for boys are also quite cute. And it’s worth noting: Plenty of these styles are unisex! So if you have brothers and sisters close in age (or twins!), you can choose a toddler sun hat (or two) that they can share. From a French-inspired toddler sun hat to a Jaws-themed toddler sun hat, this mix has something for every little boy.

There’s only one thing we can say to this French-themed Petit Bateau bucket toddler sun hat, floppy enough to shield your kid’s ears and neck: “Oui!”

Petit Bateau Boys’ Sun Hat in Reversible Twill, $42, Petit-bateau.us

Don’t go in the water—your little toddler shark is out to play! Gap’s shark-finned toddler floppy sun hat is not only fierce, it’s crafted from cotton, so no matter how hot it gets, the material will still breathe.

Gap Shark Face Bucket Toddler Sun Hat, $20, Gap.com

Let your favorite little surfer ride those waves with this ocean-print, bucket-style Cat & Jack toddler sun hat. The yellow piping adds a sunny touch, while the flip-up brim makes it easy to see once inside.

Cat & Jack Toddler Boys’ Wave Print Bucket Hat, $8, Target.com

The coolest cat in the room deserves the swaggiest toddler sun hat: a straw fedora. This one also features a dimpled crown, just like an adult fedora, not to mention chambray trim. Slay on, little man!

Gap Chambray Fedora Hat, $14, Gap.com

Cool as a cucumber? Try cool as a pineapple! That’s the sunglasses-wearing mascot of this reversible swim hat. It has UPF 50+, blocking out 95 percent of rays, and you can take it in the pool.

Hanna Andersson Kids Reversible Swim Hats With UPF 50+, $17, Hannaandersson.com

What You Need to Know About Baby Sun Hats

Baby sun hats and toddler sun hats have plenty in common—namely, that they are designed to protect children from the sun while also looking pretty darn cute. But because babies and their delicate skin are even more vulnerable to UV rays, baby sun hats must be even more protective. And remember, many babies do not want to be wearing hats. The solution? A chin strap, which many of our baby sun hat options below include.

Best Baby Girl Sun Hats

The best baby sun hats for girls are made for safe fun in the sun. And the designs? So whimsical! A baby girl sun hat could be embellished with pretty flowers, nautical stripes, beloved children’s book characters or, our personal favorite, ears. (Ears!!!) No matter how a baby girl sun hat is accented, it’s sure to be a sweet treat on your little girl’s head.

H&M’s butterfly-print baby sun hat boasts a large, old-school bonnet brim, offering plenty of shade. The breezy cotton topper also has an adorable bow in the back and ties under the chin, making sure it stays put.

H&M Sun Hat, $6, HM.com

This floppy Hanna Andersson baby sun hat is made from a fast-drying nylon that blocks out 99 percent of UVA and UVB rays. Plus, with a rainbow-striped print piped in bubblegum, this baby sun hat complements nearly every baby bathing suit.

Hanna Andersson Baby Swimmy Sun Hat in Deep Blue Sea, $17, Hannaandersson.com

For the ultimate in sun protection, choose a baby legionnaire sun hat, like this mint-striped piece by Boden. It not only shields baby’s face, it also completely covers her neck. (And if you want even more coverage, this one comes with a matching long-sleeved surf suit!)

Boden Stripy Surf Hat, $19, Bodenusa.com

This baby girl sun hat is the cat’s meow—literally—complete with ears! While the striped floppy baby sun hat from Cat & Jack offers smart sun coverage, the ear-like accents make it completely irresistible.

Cat & Jack Toddler Girls’ Striped Bucket Hat With Ears, $5, Target.com

Minnie Mouse is the star of this stylish baby baseball swim cap, which provides UPF 50+ protection. The iconic red color and 3D bow on this sun hat are sure to make baby pop!

Disney Minnie Mouse Baseball Swim Cap for Baby, $5, Disneystore.com

Best Baby Boy Sun Hats

And finally, we have baby sun hats for boys. Just like the baby girl sun hats on this list, these baby boy sun hats offer protection from the sun—and in the sweetest of ways. There’s a baby boy legionnaire’s cap, a baby boy sun hat-slash-baseball cap and one baby boy sun hat with ears. (We can’t be tamed!) Find your favorite baby boy sun hat (or collect them all!) below.

A baby-blue bear bonnet that covers baby’s whole head from the sun? Is crafted from soft breathable cotton? And has ears? Sign us up!

Little Sun Hat Blue Bear Bonnet, $32, Etsy.com

This reversible floppy baby sun hat for boys (or girls!) features a groovy Hawaiian print on one side and solid green on the other. It’s also made from UPF 50+ material, and it has chin straps to make sure it stays put on a windy day!

Sun Smarties Aloha Adjustable and Reversible Baby Boy Sun Hat, $13, Walmart.com

Who’s a cute little beachcomber-in-training? Your boy, in this cotton chambray baby sun hat, complete with a palm tree appliqué. And with its handy-dandy chin ties, it’s on the list of sun hats for babies that stay on.

H&M Cotton Chambray Sun Hat, $6, HM.com

Sleek in blue and white stripes, this Boden baby sun hat with neck flap provides extra coverage, plus UPF 40+ protection, so you know baby will be safe (and stylish!) at the beach.

Boden Baby Hotchpotch Surf Hat, $19, Bodenusa.com

H&M’s baseball cap-shaped baby boy sun hat is a sporty choice—and a sassy one, too. Look at Bugs go! It’s also elasticized at the back for a snug fit.

H&M Cotton Cap With Motif in Gray/Looney Tunes, $10, HM.com