Teaching children to wear hats can be a trying time for parents. Bedhead makes this life skill easier to learn. With hats small enough to fit newborns from the day they leave hospital, it is never too early to start. Familiarising a baby with the sensation of wearing a hat, especially with a brim is the key to raising a toddler that searches for their hat to wear before going outdoors.
Australia has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world. Around half of all people who spend their life here develop some form of skin cancer. Most skin cancers are caused by ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. Young children and babies have sensitive skin, which places them at particular risk of sunburn and skin damage. In fact, exposure during the first 15 years of life can greatly increase the risk of developing skin cancer later in life. Most skin cancers can be prevented by reducing exposure to UV radiation.
SunSmart Program Guidelines for Childcare Service Providers, The Cancer Council NSW
All children are required to wear hats that protect their face, neck and ears, i.e. legionnaire, broad-brimmed or bucket hats when in childcare. Because a baseball cap does not offer enough protection, a child wearing a baseball cap will have the same consequences as a child not wearing a hat. The bedhead Bucket & Legionnaire styles (paperboy excluded) comply with the SunSmart Guidelines for Childcare Service providers. Hats for children over the age of one are specified to meet the following requirements:
- Broad-brimmed hats with a brim size of at least 6cm
- Bucket-style hats with a brim size of at least 5cm with a deep crown
- Legionnaire hats
