A light earflap hat is a thin knitted hat with two flaps that come down over your baby's ears. A short braided tie hangs from each flap, so you can tie the hat under the chin. Shops often call it a pilot hat.
Wear it on the same days as a light knit hat: walks on chilly days, when the feels-like temperature is 8–11°C (46–52°F). You only need one if a beanie keeps riding up off your baby's ears, or keeps getting pulled off. The flaps stay over the ears, and the ties hold the hat on.
It is a light hat, not a winter hat.
- For ages0–3years
- You'll need1–2light hats
- Wear it at8–15°C46–59°F
What are hats with ear flaps called?
Any hat with flaps over the ears is an earflap hat. It comes in three shapes, each with its own name: two light ones for chilly days, and one for winter.
Pilot hat
Shaped like an old flying helmet, and also sold as a pilot cap or aviator hat. It fits close around the face and covers the back of the head, so it suits a baby who pulls hats off.
Earflap beanie
A beanie with two flaps added below the band, often with braids and a pom-pom. Shops also call it a chullo or Peruvian hat, after the knitted hats of the Andes. It pulls on like a beanie and suits a baby who is happy to keep a hat on.
Trapper hat
A warm winter hat with a thick fleece or fur lining and deep flaps that fasten under the chin. The Russian fur kind is called an ushanka.
How to choose an earflap hat
1. Flaps that cover the ears
The flaps only help if they land on the ears, and that depends on the size. Buy by head size, not age (how to measure a head). Then try it on your baby.
- Good: Whole ear under the flap
- Good: Front edge above the eyebrows
- Not good: Front edge slips over the eyes
2. Two short ties
Short braids tie a small bow that is quick to undo. Long cords can catch, or pull into a tight knot under the chin. Skip a strap sewn to both flaps, because it makes a fixed loop under the chin that can catch.
- Good: One short braid on each flap
- Good: Just long enough for a bow
- Not good: Strap sewn to both flaps
3. One thin layer
Fold back a flap and look inside before you buy. A light earflap hat is one layer of cotton or fine merino knit. A fleece or fur lining makes it a winter hat.
- Good: Same knit inside and out
- Good: Cotton or merino on the label
- Not good: Fleece or fur inside the flaps
How to put it on
Pull the hat down until each flap covers an ear. Then tie the braids in a loose bow under the chin, so one pull undoes it. If the hat stays put without tying, leave the braids untied.
Untie it and take it off as soon as you come indoors or get into the car, even if your baby fell asleep on the walk. A hat in a warm room or car can make your baby too hot.
Questions parents ask
Is an earflap hat warm enough for winter?
This one is not. Below 8°C (46°F), your baby needs a lined warm winter hat, and many of those have ear flaps too.
Are hats with ties safe for babies?
Two short ties are the safer kind. A one-piece chin strap can catch on play equipment, and knit baby hats with one have been recalled in the US. If you have one, cut the strap into two ties. Before your baby sleeps in a crib or bed, untie the hat and take it off.
Do cold ears cause ear infections?
No. Ear infections come from germs, usually after a cold or flu. Wind on bare ears cannot cause one, because the infection sits behind the eardrum. The flaps are there for comfort.
Can a pilot cap keep hearing aids on?
Yes, and a thin pilot cap is the one people usually suggest. It holds the aids in place without dulling the sound, because an ordinary thin cap doesn't muffle what reaches the aids. Your baby's audiologist (hearing specialist) can tell you which one suits.
Can a newborn wear an earflap hat?
Yes, in a newborn size. Babies under 3 months wear one layer more than older babies, so the hat goes on at warmer temperatures: this one at 12–15°C (54–59°F), and a lined warm hat below 12°C (54°F).
