It's the first question Australian parents ask, and it deserves a straight answer rather than a marketing one.
The short version
A hat designed for the job won't overheat your baby in normal conditions — but fabric and weight matter enormously and you should know what to look for.
What actually matters
Fibre. 100% cotton breathes; it lets heat and moisture move away from the skin. Synthetics and heavy blends trap it. The Nap Hat's body and eye panel are 100% cotton jersey — the same weight class as a quality baby tee, not a beanie.
Weight and weave. A lightweight jersey knit is a different garment to a winter knit, even in the same fibre. If a sleep hat looks cosy, it's a winter product. Daytime nap hats should look almost flimsy by comparison — that's the point.
Coverage. An eye shade covers a small panel of the face and never the nose or mouth. Compare that to the common alternative — a muslin or blanket draped over the entire pram — which creates a heat-trapping tent around the whole baby. Counterintuitively, a purpose-built hat is the cooler option than the hack it replaces.
How to use any baby headwear safely in warm weather
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Dress baby for the temperature first; the hat is not a warmth layer
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Shade and airflow beat any fabric — pram in shade, never a covered pram in the sun
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Check baby's chest or back of neck (not hands) — warm is fine, sweaty means strip a layer
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Supervised use only. You should always be able to see your baby — which, conveniently, is the entire design philosophy of an eye-shade hat versus a draped blanket
Always supervise your baby while using the Nap Hat. For daytime naps only.
