The Savvy Five: Kids’ Summer Hats

We always tip our hat to the savvy moms who are ready with their summer stash—just in time for the first days of really warm weather. To help finish up your summer prep, we’ve got five favourite summer hats for kids in this month’s SavvyFive.

Red Thread Design Reversible Summer Hat
Good for: Adding a dash of fashion while staying sun-safe
Why It Made the List: Available in six stunning colour combos and in sizes newborn to age 10, this 100% cotton, machine-washable, classic, cloche-style hat is reversible, too (which, we think, makes it particularly savvy). With a floral print on one side and contrasting solids on the other, you’ll feel like you’re getting two hats for the price of one. If you need a special occasion outfit, coordinating dresses are also available. Mom-entrepreneur designed and ethically made in Canada, we’re also moved by the story of how the name Red Thread Designs was inspired by the adoption of Devorah Miller’s daughter. ($28, available at www.redthreaddesign.ca)

Luvali Reversible Summer Hats
Good for: Bringing a little fun to the job of sun protection
Why It Made the List: It can be hard convincing the littlest ones to keep their hat on, but not when they have a choice of two different animals to plop on their head. Available sizes from six months to 4T, you can choose from the Lonkey (lion/monkey), the Frear (frog/bear), Litten (lamb/kitten) or the Buppy (bunny/puppy). And if you’re jealous of this fashion flexibility, check out the Luvali Convertibles handbags, with their reversible slips that give you two bags in one, for yourself. ($22, available at www.luvali.ca)

Tail Wags Lycra Helmet Covers
Good for: Making sure those helmets are always on heads when biking, skateboarding or scootering (yes, even if it’s just going for a spin in the driveway)
Why It Made the List: Anything that can help us with the helmet battle is savvy in our book, so we were very excited to try out the latest addition to the Tail Wags collection of helmet covers, fashioned in lighter-weight Lycra and perfect for summer bike helmets. There are six new designs to choose from (we’re quite partial to the Goldfish), and little boys will love the Monster or the Monkey. ($45, available at tail-wags.com)

Twinklebelle Grow-with-Me Sun Hats Creations
Good for: Avoiding the annual ‘must get out and buy sun hats’ rush
Why It Made the List: It’s amazing how fast little heads grow (although the smaller the better at birth, we always say). These hats by Twinklebelle Designs have the solution because they are designed to grow. Made of breathable 100% cotton, and designed by some very savvy Vancouver moms, these easily-packable hats have an ingenious, fully-adjustable head strap so you can adjust it to the right size. Neck straps with an easy toggle adjustment also help keep the hat on when it’s windy, or when the kids are particularly active. You can find them in sizes newborn to age 12. ($14–16, available at twinklebelle.net)

MEC Bucket Hat
Good for: Stashing a few extra hats around
Why It Made the List: This reasonably-priced hat does the trick in terms of style and practicality, and also comes in three bright summer colours. You can stock up on a few, so you can make sure you always have a hat in the car, the swim bag or at Grandma’s. MEC has a few other kids’ hat styles we like, too. ($14, available at www.mec.ca)

So hats off to summer!

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