6 Best Baby Winter Hats to Keep Your Little One Warm on Chilly Walks

checked mark Fact-Checked by Leah Rocketto  | December 19, 2023
best baby hats

Quick Summary

The best baby winter hat is The North Face Baby Bear Suave Oso Beanie because of its soft fleece material that is warm yet lightweight.

Best Baby Hats

With chilly weather officially here, a baby winter hat is an essential seasonal item to have on hand — and not just because your little one will look positively adorable in it. Whether you get a lot of snow where you live or the temperature only dips slightly, it’s important to put a hat on your baby when heading outdoors during this time of year.

“Babies can lose a significant amount of their heat through their heads so, in cold weather, using a hat is a good way to help retain it,” says Whitney Casares, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.A.P., a board-certified pediatrician and the creator of Modern Mommy Doc.

Of course, like any category of baby products, there’s no shortage of baby hats available on the market today — in all shapes, sizes, colors and fabrics. To help you keep your tot warm this winter, we’ve found the best winter hats for babies for a variety of climates. (And, while you’re at it, make sure you have a baby snowsuit, winter jacket and mittens for the season.)

How we chose the best baby winter hats

In order to narrow down a list of winter hats that are warm and comfortable for your baby, we used recommendations from parents in the What to Expect Community who have tried a variety of different baby hats on their children. We also spoke to two pediatricians to make sure that we are only considering hats that are safe for children.

Based on advice from parents in the What to Expect community and experts we spoke to, these are the most important things to consider when shopping for a winter baby hat:

  • Size and fit: Your baby’s hat should have a secure fit that isn’t too tight or too loose. Many hats are adjustable and come with Velcro straps so you can customize the fit.
  • Material: Look for soft materials that will keep your baby warm and feel comfortable on their head. Many of the hats we’ve included are made of fleece, which is both gentle against baby’s skin and insulating to keep their heads warm. We also prioritized hats with layers for added warmth.
  • Safety: Gary Kirkilas, D.O., a pediatrician at Phoenix Children’s Hospital and spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics, recommends shopping for hats that feature a break-away chin strap to minimize choking hazards where possible. And, make sure that the chin strap never covers baby’s mouth.

Why Trust Us?

What to Expect is the world’s most trusted pregnancy and parenting brand for a reason. Our product recommendations are based on expert parent insight, advice from medical professionals and feedback from the millions of parents and parents-to-be in our community. Our editors adhere to the highest research and reporting standards and our team of vetted OB/GYNs, pediatricians and other health professionals ensure our recommended products are safe and effective for you and your baby.

Best Overall Baby Winter Hat

The North Face Baby Bear Suave Oso Beanie

Best Baby Winter Hat - The North Face Baby Bear Suave Oso Beanie
Buying Option
Pros
  • Very soft fleece
  • Lightweight
  • Cute bear ears
Cons
  • Some say it runs small
  • Velcro could scratch baby’s chin

Material: 100% recycled polyester raschel fleece

Sizes: 0-6M, 6-24M

Why We Love It

The North Face Baby Bear Oso Beanie has everything you could want out of a baby winter hat: It’s made of soft, cozy fleece, it stays on with a chin strap, and it has ear flaps to keep their ears warm. But the best part might just be how adorable it is, complete with tiny bear ears that complement the fuzzy design. Made of fleece, the hat will keep baby warm, but parents say that it’s light enough that their child won’t sweat. A few people mention that it runs small, so it might be smart to buy the bigger size.

Best Fleece Baby Hat

Columbia Baby Tiny Animal Beanie

Best Baby Winter Hat - Columbia Animal Beanie
Buying Option
Pros
  • Slip-through chin strap
  • Cute fox ears
  • 10 color options
Cons
  • Some say it runs small

Material: 100% polyester

Sizes: Infant or Toddler

Why We Love it
Community Reviews
Why We Love It

Made of super-soft fleece and double-lined, this Columbia beanie features two adorable fox ears and a unique slip-through chin strap that won’t scratch baby like Velcro straps. The long, fuzzy straps keep baby’s face warm while they go for a walk or play outside, but are loose enough that baby will be comfortable and safe. Several parents say that their kids like the look and feel of it so much, they want to wear it indoors, too!

Community Reviews
  • “We have this one for my son! It works really well and nice and warm. He tried once to take it off but now just leaves it.”

Best Baby Beanie

GAP Baby Sherpa-Lined Bear Beanie

Best Baby Winter Hat - GAP Baby Sherpa-Lined Bear Beanie
Buying Option
Pros
  • Ear flaps
  • Hoop and loop chin strap
  • Soft sherpa lining
Cons
  • Limited color choices

Material: 80% cotton, 20% polyester

Sizes: 0-3M to 18-24M

Why We Love It

Although beanies are cute on your little one, most of them offer less warmth than other hats. This GAP baby beanie, however, maximizes a standard beanie by adding ear flaps and chin straps, to keep your baby cozy and help the hat stay in place. Plus, the little animal ears on the top add to the serious cuteness factor! Parents say that this hat is super soft, thanks to the sherpa lining, and that it kept their baby warm while outdoors. Many also say it runs true to size, unless your child’s head is bigger than average. 

Best Baby Pom Pom Hat

FURTALK Kids Winter Hat Toddler Knitted Pom Beanie Hat

Best Baby Winter Hat - FURTALK Kids Winter Hat Toddler Knitted Pom Beanie Hat
Buying Option
Pros
  • Over 20 colors
  • Puff on top is removable
  • Double-lined
Cons
  • Only one size for babies

Material: Acrylic, cotton, faux fur

Size range: 3-24M, 2-8 years, 8-12 years

Why We Love It

Your baby will make a statement with this cute oversized pom pom hat. It features a classic knitted design that’s double-lined with a soft cotton interior. Unlike many hats in this style, the faux fur pom on top is removable, so you can customize baby’s look. And, if you like how it looks, you can buy the same hat in kids’ sizes as your child grows.

Best Baby Trapper Hat

Zutano Cozie Fleece Trapper Hat

Best Baby Winter Hat - Zutano Trapper Baby Hat
Buying Option
Pros
  • Fleece-lined
  • Machine washable
  • Extra warm ear flaps
Cons
  • Runs small

Material: Fleece: 70% cotton, 30% polyester; Lining: 100% polyester

Sizes: 6M to 4T

Why We Love it
Community Reviews
Why We Love It

Your little one may not be trekking to the North Pole, but, this adorable trapper-style hat makes them look like they’re ready for a winter adventure — all while keeping them nice and toasty. The ultra-soft fleece Zutano trapper hat comes complete with an extra-soft faux-fur lining and ear flaps that double as a Velcro-fastened chin strap to keep baby’s hat secure on his head. Bonus: It can be cleaned in the washing machine.

Community Reviews
  • I have a zutano fleece hat. They sell on amazon and other places. Only thing is I think it’s too big for newborn (I have to dig it out but my daughter wore it when she was a tiny bit bigger).

Best Baby Hat and Mittens Set

Simple Joys by Carter's Hat and Mitten Set

Best Baby Winter Hat - Carters Hat and Mittens Set
Buying Option
Pros
  • Lined with soft jersey material
  • Affordable
Cons
  • Limited color options
  • Thin

Material: 100% polyester

Sizes: 0-9M

Why We Love It

You can’t go wrong with a set of matching hat and mittens for the winter. This set from Simple Joys by Carter’s features a fuzzy hat with bear ears and matching mittens, both of which are lined with soft jersey material for baby’s delicate skin. Parents like the Velcro strap that keeps the hat on, while the elastic bands in the mittens also prevent baby from pulling them off. Keep in mind, though, that some parents found that the Velcro came apart easily.

Our Research

We spoke with two pediatricians to learn more about how to keep babies warm in the winter:

We also referenced advice from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) to understand more about how to dress baby appropriately for the cold.

Finally, we used feedback from parents in the What to Expect Community to learn which winter hats were preferred for keeping baby warm and comfortable.