Knitted Hat: Why It's So Important for Newborn Babies

Why do you use a bow hat? How do I tie a bow hat? Is it safe? Can my baby sleep with a bow hat? Are they also suitable for summer? These are also the questions I had when I first came into contact with bow hats. Read everything you want to know about these special hats here.

What is a bow bonnet?

A bow hat is a hat with two long cords, with which you can attach the hat safely . The fit and the fine material of the bow hat ensure that your baby is well supported in keeping his or her body at the right temperature . In this way, all energy can be put into growing.

In the Netherlands, most newborn babies still wear a cotton or synthetic cap. This is a shame, because the bow cap has so much more to offer!

Why do you use a bow bonnet?

Because the head of a newborn baby is often quite large in relation to the rest of the body; babies still have open fontanelles ; and are usually also uncovered with hair; the body loses a lot of heat through the head. It is therefore wise to wear a hat so that this heat is not lost unnecessarily.

Material ensures optimum temperature

Bow hats are often made of wool and silk. Thanks to this combination, the bow hat is very suitable for all seasons . Silk has the property of retaining heat when it is cold, and it has a cooling effect when it is warm.

The wool ensures that your baby does not cool down too quickly and keeps the body at a nice temperature. In addition, both wool and silk can absorb max. 30% of their own weight in moisture without your baby feeling wet. This again prevents too much cooling due to perspiration.

Protection against too many stimuli

In addition to the warmth of wool that they offer, they also provide a wonderful envelope for external stimuli. Newborn babies still have open fontanelles and are therefore more vulnerable to environmental influences.

But older children who are easily overstimulated can also benefit greatly from using a wool silk bow hat. The silkworm protects itself from external influences, and in this way the silk also works protectively for us!

Excellent fit

The model of the bow cap is made in such a way that the entire head is well covered and a part of the forehead always remains free. It is important that a part of the forehead remains free, with this your child senses the ambient temperature . The bow cap is therefore also called a helmet cap or helmet model.

Stays in place well

Another great advantage of the bow hat is that the hat, thanks to the tying of the long cords, slides much less quickly than a cap hat or beanie. Cap hats slide off the head very quickly, which means you have to constantly put the hat back on.

This is particularly annoying at night because you don't always notice it, which results in your baby cooling down. This is not the case with a bow hat. If you tie the bow hat correctly, you can also use it safely at night.

Why is heat so important?

The thermoregulation of a newborn baby is still very vulnerable. Many children still have difficulty keeping their own body temperature.

It is therefore very important to ensure that your baby can maintain his or her body temperature in the first phase of life, so that all energy can be used for the growth and development of the brain and organs. In addition, warmth also gives a feeling of love and security .

Babies who are dressed too cold often become restless, cry constantly or suffer from stomach cramps. It usually helps to dress your baby in woolen clothes and wrap him in a woolen swaddling blanket.

Of course, always keep a close eye on your baby's temperature. Does your baby have marbled skin or a red head? Then he or she may be too warm. You can also feel between the shoulder blades in the neck to see if it feels clammy or warm.

Are you worried that your baby is too cold? Then feel the feet. They should be comfortably warm. Outside, it is normal for hands and cheeks to feel cool.

“Babies who are dressed too cold often become restless, cry or suffer from intestinal cramps”

Which material do I choose?

Bow bonnets are available in different materials:

• wool/silk
• side
• wool
• cotton
• wool/silk/cotton

As you have read before, the wool/silk bow hat is the most sold bow hat. But sometimes there are situations where another type of material is more suitable for your child.

For example, a silk hat is recommended if your child is allergic to sheep's wool or gets warm very quickly. But silk is also very beneficial for babies with eczema .

A woolen bow hat is especially handy in the winter . Protect your baby extra from the cold outside by using a woolen hat over the wool/silk bow hat.

Cotton is especially nice for the summer when you don't want to use a wool/silk hat. We don't prefer cotton for the other seasons. Cotton absorbs less sweat, which can cool your child down. In addition, cotton regulates heat much less well than wool does. We strongly advise against hats made of synthetic materials.

Synthetic material cannot absorb moisture and has the property of building up heat. Heat build-up is very dangerous for your baby.

How to tie a bow hat?

There are several ways to tie a bow hat. It is very important that you tie the hat safely so that the hat does not slide over your baby's face.

Method 1

Step 1: Place the hat on your child's head. Step 2: Cross the cords at the front of the chest.

Step 3: Bring the cords under the armpits to the back.

Step 4: Tie the cords at the back/side; or bring the cords to the front and tie at the stomach.

Method 2

Step 1: Place the hat on your child's head.

Step 2: Pull the cords straight down under the armpits to the back.

Step 3: Tie the cords at the back/side; or bring the cords to the front and tie at the stomach.

The last step depends on the remaining length of the cords. If you tie the cords on the side, your baby will not be bothered by the bow when sleeping on its back. Always remember that the straps are not too tight so that your baby has sufficient breathing opportunities.

Until what age?

The age at which you use a bonnet depends on the situation. All newborn babies benefit from a bonnet in the first weeks of life. Especially premature babies. After that, you will have to consider whether it is still useful for your child to wear a bonnet. You can ask yourself the following:

1. Does my baby have hair? If the head is covered with hair, your baby will be less likely to get cold.

2. Does your baby stay in cold rooms? Or is the (central) heating always on?

3. Does your baby naturally get cold quickly?

4. Is your child easily affected by external stimuli? Sometimes you want to continue using the silk materials to protect your child from stimuli. This can even be done until a later age.

In most cases, the hat is used indoors and at night for the first few weeks of life, and then outdoors and in cooler areas for the first year of life.

A bow hat also in summer?

Even in the summer you can continue to use the bow hat. Then use the silk or wool/silk variant. If the temperatures are very high or you are going to warm countries then you obviously do not need to use a hat anymore. But with the changing temperatures in the Netherlands the bow hat is also certainly useful in the summer.

In short, the bow hat is really a 'must' for the natural maternity list. View our best-selling bow hats below. Or knit a beautiful hat for your baby yourself, for example with this Lindbergh pattern.