Osteopathy and childhood: what are the benefits to support your child's development?
5 July 2026
The early years of life are an extraordinary period of discovery, learning and change.
With the arrival of summer, the baby hat becomes the essential accessory for all outings. The skin and eyes of infants and young children are much more sensitive to UV rays than those of adults — and the summer sun can cause sunburn in less than 10 minutes in a baby. How to choose the right hat and how to get baby to wear it? We explain everything. ☀️
Infants' skin contains less melanin (the natural protective pigment) than that of adults. Sunburn in a baby or young child is therefore not only painful but potentially dangerous: dehydration, hyperthermia, and according to paediatricians, sunburn in childhood significantly increases the risk of melanoma in adulthood.
The head is particularly exposed — it represents a large surface area in relation to body volume in infants, and babies' fine hair does not offer sufficient protection.
Maximum protection: the wide brim (at least 6-7 cm) protects the face, ears AND the back of the neck. Ideal for prolonged exposure to the sun — beach, picnic, garden. Make sure it sits securely on the head and does not slip down over the eyes.
Lightweight and well secured by the elastic or Velcro strap, it protects the face. The removable neck flap (often sold separately) is essential for complete protection. A popular format because it is easy to put on and hard for babies to take off.
The intermediate format — lighter than the wide-brimmed hat, more protective than the simple cap. The lightweight cotton bucket hat is perfect for daily outings in the pushchair or at the park.
Made from fabric with UPF 50+ certified UV protection (equivalent to SPF 50 sun cream). Blocks over 98% of UV rays. Essential for prolonged exposure — at the beach, on hikes, or during water sports. Can be used in combination with baby sun cream for maximum protection.
Measure baby's head circumference with a soft tape measure, just above the ears.
Choose models with an adjustable head circumference (elastic or velcro) — babies' heads grow quickly and a hat that is too small or too large will not stay in place.
The main difficulty: baby takes their hat off as soon as you put it on them. A few strategies that work:
The hat alone is not enough. Complete sun protection for babies relies on three elements:
And of course: avoid direct exposure between 11 am and 4 pm — even with full protection.
To dress baby in the best way possible this summer, also check out our complete guide on how to dress baby in summer and our selection of lightweight rompers for hot days.
From the very first outing in the sun — even just a few days old. Newborns are particularly vulnerable to UV rays. Before 6 months, avoid all direct contact with the sun, even with a hat.
No — it complements it. The hat effectively protects the head, face and back of the neck. Suncream is necessary for all other exposed areas: hands, arms, legs, feet.
Most cotton baby hats are machine washable at 30°C. Avoid tumble drying, which can shrink the cotton and alter the shape. Dry flat to preserve the brim.
Wide-brimmed hats, sun hats and lightweight caps made from certified cotton: PetitMaxou offers a selection of headwear suitable for all ages to protect your baby from the sun this summer. Free delivery throughout the EU.
→ View the full PetitMaxou range of baby clothes and accessories
The summer 2026 baby hat trends lean towards natural materials (raffia, organic cotton, linen) in terracotta, khaki, off-white and sky blue shades. The most popular shapes: the bucket hat with wavy brims and the straw hat with a detachable neck flap. For babies, the pique cotton bucket hat remains a safe bet — it doesn't lose its shape with sweat and washes easily. Hats with patterns (strawberries, watermelons, sea animals) are very popular for trips to the beach and summer picnics.
At the beach, a hat is even more important than in town — the sand and water reflect UV rays and amplify exposure. Choose a hat with UPF 50+ protection and a neck flap. Slightly dampen the hat in very hot weather — evaporation cools baby's head. Bring a spare hat if baby plays in the water — a hat that gets wet and dries in the sun can shrink.
To summarise this guide on Baby Summer Hats in a few key points:
PetitMaxou selects all its products according to these strict criteria. Our team is on hand to advise you if you’re unsure which model to choose. Free delivery throughout the European Union; returns accepted within 14 days.
Our blog is packed with practical guides to support you through the first few months with your baby. Here are a few articles related to this topic that you might find interesting:
The early years of life are an extraordinary period of discovery, learning and change.
Baby sunscreen is one of the summer essentials for young parents —