Children's Hats, Mittens and Scarves: A Sizing and Practical Guide by Age

A good coat does most of the work of keeping a child warm. The rest happens at the edges: the head, the hands and the neck, wherever skin is left uncovered between the collar and the cuffs.

These are small pieces, and they are easy to buy in a hurry. They are also the pieces most likely to be the wrong size, lost at nursery, or pulled off within five minutes because they itch. This guide covers how to size them, what suits each age, and what to look for when buying pre-loved.

Why the small pieces matter more for little ones

Babies and toddlers have proportionally larger heads than adults, so an uncovered head accounts for a bigger share of the warmth they lose. They also can't tell you their hands are cold, and they are slower to warm up again once they are chilled. A well-fitting hat and mittens make a real difference to how long a young child is comfortable outside.

 

Hats

How to measure

Wrap a soft tape measure around the widest part of the head: across the forehead just above the eyebrows, above the ears, and round the back. That number, in centimetres, is the head circumference. Many hats, especially French ones, are labelled by it.

Typical head sizes by age

These are averages, and head size varies more between children than height does. Measure rather than relying on age, and check the listing: a hat labelled 6–12 months might be cut anywhere from 44 to 47 cm depending on the brand. If you are between sizes, a knitted hat can go up by one size. It will stretch a little and can be worn with the brim folded.

How a hat should fit

• Snug, but no red mark on the forehead when it comes off.
• Covers the ears fully. Ears are where children feel the cold first.
• Stays put when they shake their head. A hat that slides off at the first run around the playground will spend the day in a pocket.

What suits each age

Babies. Close-fitting knitted hats and bonnets with short ties under the chin. Ties should be short enough that they can't loop around the neck. A baby should not wear a hat to sleep indoors, since babies regulate their temperature partly through their heads. Take it off once you are back inside, even if they have dozed off in the pram.

Toddlers. A beanie that pulls down over the ears, ideally fleece-lined. Toddlers are quick to reject anything that itches, and a lining is often the difference between a hat that stays on and one that doesn't. A balaclava or cagoule, a hat and neck warmer in one, is popular in France for good reason: it can't be pulled off as easily, and it sits neatly under a coat hood.

School age. Children have opinions by now. Let them choose within reason, and look for a hat that covers the ears and fits in a coat pocket.

 

Mittens and gloves

Mittens first

Mittens are warmer than gloves because the fingers share their warmth. They are also far easier to get onto small hands. For babies and toddlers, mittens are the only practical choice.

• Babies: thumbless mittens, often attached to a snowsuit or pram suit.
• Toddlers: mittens with a thumb, so they can hold on to a scooter or a climbing frame.
• From around four or five: gloves become possible, once a child can find each finger without help. Many children keep mittens for properly cold days well beyond this.

Fit

A thumb that reaches the end of the thumb space, and fingers that don't press against the top, means the size is right. The cuff matters as much as the hand. A long cuff that tucks under or over the coat sleeve keeps the gap at the wrist closed, and that gap is where snow and cold air get in.

Keeping them together

Mittens get lost. Clips that attach each mitten to its own coat cuff are the simplest solution. Avoid strings or cords that run around the neck or through both sleeves, which can catch on play equipment. Buying a spare pair, so there is always a dry one, solves the rest.

Waterproof or knitted?

Knitted mittens are fine for cold, dry days and walks. For snow, wet playgrounds and outdoor nursery play, waterproof mittens with a fleece lining stay warm much longer, because wet wool loses most of its warmth.

Scarves and snoods

For younger children, a snood, a closed loop that goes over the head, or a neck warmer is safer than a scarf. A scarf's loose ends can catch on slides, climbing frames and car seat buckles. Many nurseries and schools ask for snoods instead for exactly that reason.

A traditional scarf suits older children who will keep it tucked into their coat. Look for one long enough to wrap once and tuck in, but not so long that it trails.

A balaclava does the job of hat and snood together, which makes it a sensible choice for toddlers who pull off everything else.

Fabric

What to check on pre-loved accessories

Hats and scarves are among the least-worn pieces in a child's wardrobe. They are worn for a few months a year and outgrown slowly, so they often come through in very good condition. A few places are still worth a look:

• The brim of a knitted hat. It should spring back, not stay stretched.
• Pilling across the crown and wherever the hat rubs against a coat collar.
• The pom-pom. Give it a gentle tug. It should be firmly attached.
• The lining. If there is one, it should be intact and still attached at the seams.
• Mitten thumbs and fingertips. Holes appear here first.
• Elastic at the wrist. It should still grip.

To keep knitted pieces soft through another winter, our knitwear care guide covers washing wool, cashmere and cotton, and the same rules apply to hats and scarves. Dry them flat and reshape them while damp.

How many to have

• Hats: two. One will be in the wash, in the car or at nursery.
• Mittens: two pairs, ideally one waterproof. Wet mittens take a long time to dry on a radiator.
• Snood or scarf: one is usually enough.

For the coats, jumpers and layers that go with them, winter essentials brings everything into one place, and our winter coats are worth browsing alongside.