Baby Hat Size Chart: Measurements by Month
Baby hat sizes change faster than any other measurement in the body. We chart them by month rather than by year for that reason.
Newborn hats fit about 13 to 14 inches, 0–3 months about 14 to 16, 3–6 months about 16 to 17, and 6–12 months about 17 to 18.5 inches. Head circumference grows roughly two inches in the first three months alone, which means a newborn hat fits for about six weeks and any gift should be ordered a band up.
- Newborn: 13–14 in / 33–36 cm. Fits about six weeks.
- 0–3 months: 14–16 in / 36–41 cm. Head circumference through the first three months.
- Growth is fastest here than at any later age. A hat that fits now may not in a month.
- Made in the USA, no minimums. One hat is a real order.
The Chart
| Age | Inches | Centimeters | Typical fit window |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preemie | 11–13 | 28–33 | Weeks |
| Newborn | 13–14 | 33–36 | About 6 weeks |
| 0–3 months | 14–16 | 36–41 | About 3 months |
| 3–6 months | 16–17 | 41–43 | About 3 months |
| 6–12 months | 17–18.5 | 43–47 | About 6 months |
| 12–24 months | 18.5–19.5 | 47–50 | About a year |
The fit window lengthens as growth slows. A newborn hat has the shortest life of any hat we make.
These are guides rather than specifications. Head size varies between babies of the same age, and premature babies follow a different curve entirely. Our note on the newborn hat size guide covers the smallest end.
For a gift, order one band above the baby's current age. A hat that fits on the day of a shower fits for a fortnight; one band up gets worn for a season.
Why Growth Is So Fast Here
Head circumference grows more in the first year than in the following decade. Roughly two inches between birth and three months, another inch or so by six months, then the rate falls sharply.
Two practical consequences follow.
Fit windows are short. A newborn hat is outgrown in about six weeks. That is normal rather than a sizing error, and it is worth telling gift buyers who otherwise assume they got the size wrong.
Stretch matters more than precision. A knit hat that stretches across a band effectively extends the fit window, which is why knits dominate infant headwear and woven caps are uncommon below six months.
Our guide to custom baby hats covers ordering, and custom infant beanies covers the knit side specifically.
Crown Depth Matters More Than Circumference
The variable that stretch cannot solve.
A knit stretches around the head and does not lengthen appreciably. So a newborn hat on a three-month-old may fit around the circumference and still sit above the ears — and since covering the ears is the main point of an infant hat, the band matters more than the stretch suggests.
When checking fit, look at where the hat sits rather than whether it goes on. It should cover the ears fully without pressing, and sit close to the brow without slipping down over the eyes.
Check where an infant hat sits rather than whether it fits around. A knit stretches in circumference and not in length, so a small band can fit the head and still leave the ears uncovered.
Head Shape Varies Too
Newborn heads are not uniformly round. Molding from birth, positional flattening and general variation all mean two babies with the same circumference can fit a hat differently.
That is another argument for knits, which conform to shape in a way a structured woven cap cannot. It is also why infant caps with any rigid component are uncommon — there is no reliable shape to build to.
For a hospital or gift program, a soft stretchy knit accommodates far more babies comfortably than a woven cap in the same nominal size.
Safety Rules at These Sizes
Non-negotiable on infant headwear and worth restating on any size chart.
- Stitched decoration only. No applied patches, since anything with an edge can lift.
- Nothing detachable. No snap-on poms, buttons, beads or pins.
- No ties on the smallest sizes. Where a tie exists it should be short with a breakaway release.
- Soft interior seams. The most common comfort issue and invisible in a photograph.
- Keep designs open. A dense embroidered area creates a stiff patch against a baby's head.
We do not use applied patches, hardware or detachable poms on infant sizes regardless of what a design calls for. Stitched embroidery is the only decoration method we run on these blanks.
- Ordering the exact current size as a gift. The fit window is weeks.
- Judging fit by circumference alone. Crown depth decides ear coverage.
- Applied patches on infant sizes. Anything with an edge can lift.
- Dense embroidery. It creates a stiff area against a baby's head.
Preemie and Hospital Sizing
The smallest band has its own considerations, and hospital programs order it more than anyone else.
Preemie hats cover roughly 11 to 13 inches, and the range extends further down for very early births. Growth follows the baby's corrected age rather than their birth date, so a preemie may stay in the smallest sizes considerably longer than a full-term newborn would.
Three specifications matter more here than anywhere. The knit must be genuinely soft and fine, since preemie skin is more delicate. The hat must be light, since weight matters at very low body mass. And decoration should be minimal — a small stitched mark at most, kept away from where the hat contacts the head.
For hospital programs, plain or very lightly marked hats in the smallest bands are the practical specification, with branded pieces reserved for the larger sizes that go home with families.
Fibers
- Combed cotton. The standard. Soft, breathable and it survives frequent washing.
- Cotton-bamboo blends. Softer again with good moisture handling. Common on gift lines.
- Fine merino. Warm without itch, naturally temperature regulating, premium.
- Organic cotton. Standard on gift and retail lines where the certification matters to the buyer.
What to avoid. Coarse acrylic, which is scratchy against infant skin, and any chunky or textured knit, which is both too heavy and too uneven a surface for a small stitched design.
What to Order for a Program
- Hospital and welcome programs. Newborn and 0–3 months. These are the shortest-lived sizes and the highest turnover.
- Gift and retail lines. 0–3 and 3–6 months, which get worn longest relative to when they are bought.
- Photography programs. Newborn, since the session happens in the first weeks.
Our comparison at the toddler hat size chart covers the next band, and how to read a hat size chart covers using any of these.
What We Tell Customers Who Ask
Infant blanks cost less than adult on material and the small stitched designs cost less to run. A personalized infant hat is among the least expensive custom pieces we produce.
Wash before first wear and expect frequent laundering. Combed cotton handles repeated washing better than merino, which matters for a hat that will genuinely be used.
Check the interior seam finish on any infant blank. A raw or bulky seam against the head is the most common comfort problem and it does not show in a product photograph.
For a hospital or gift program we would run a soft combed cotton knit in 0-3 months with a small stitched name or wordmark and no hardware of any kind, adding a newborn band for hospital handouts.
We size infant gifts a band up as standard, because a hat that fits on the day it is given has a very short life. Free digital proof, free artwork setup on twelve or more, no minimums.
The newborn hat size guide, the toddler hat size chart, custom baby hats.
Frequently Asked Questions
Core guides: custom hats near me guide, custom hats new port richey FL.
What size hat does a newborn wear?
About 13 to 14 inches of head circumference, or 33 to 36 centimeters. Preemie sizes run smaller at 11 to 13 inches.
What size hat for a 3 month old?
Roughly 14 to 16 inches, the 0 to 3 month band, moving into 16 to 17 inches around three to six months.
How long does a newborn hat fit?
About six weeks. Head circumference grows around two inches in the first three months, which is the fastest growth of any period.
What size should I order as a baby shower gift?
One band above the baby's expected size at birth — usually 0 to 3 months rather than newborn. A newborn hat is outgrown before most gifts are used.
Why does my baby's hat fit around but sit above the ears?
Crown depth rather than circumference. Knit stretches around the head and not in length, so a small band can fit the circumference and still leave the ears uncovered.
Can baby hats have patches or poms?
We do not use applied patches, hardware or detachable poms on infant sizes. Anything with an edge or an attachment can come off, so stitched embroidery is the only method we run.
Is there a minimum order?
No. One hat is a real order, which matters here since single personalized pieces are common.
Measure by month, then order a band up. Order custom baby hats — start on the quick order page — soft knits with stitched names and nothing that can come off. Free digital proof before production, free artwork setup on twelve or more, no minimums. Browse custom hats.
Popular pick: Flexfit 6511 Trucker.
Popular blank: Richardson 112 Snapback Trucker. Related blank: Richardson 112 Plus.
★★★★★ 4.9/5 · 23,000+ reviews · Made in the USA
Related guides: Richardson hat size chart, youth hat size chart, Yupoong hat size chart, New Era hat size chart, Flexfit hat size chart and youth large hat size, youth small hat size, hat size conversion chart, baseball cap size chart, fitted hat size chart.