Quick answer

Choose a top knot hat when you want full head coverage plus an adjustable knot that fits a growing newborn, a knit baby bonnet when you want a bonnet's classic look with a chin or tie closure, and a baby bow when you want a dressy accessory that adds no warmth. Most families end up owning at least one of each, because they solve different problems on the same day.

What each headwear type actually does

A top knot hat is a close-fitting cap with a knot at the crown that you can tighten or loosen as your baby grows. That adjustable knot is the main reason it works for newborns, whose head circumference changes quickly in the first months. It sits flat against the head, so it stays put during sleep, stroller rides, and diaper changes.

A knit baby bonnet covers the head and often the ears, and it usually closes with ties under the chin or a strap. Because it frames the face instead of hugging the crown, it reads as more old-fashioned and photo-friendly. The trade-off is that a tie closure is one more thing to fasten, and a loose tie is a strangulation risk, so it should always be secured snugly and never left dangling.

A baby bow is an accessory, not insulation. It attaches with a stretchy band and adds style without covering the head, which makes it the right pick for a warm room, a special outfit, or a photo where a hat would hide the hair you just combed.

Baby hat sizing guide: measure once, then check weekly

Measure your baby's head circumference at the widest point, just above the ears and around the back of the head, and write the number down with the date. Newborns can gain roughly a centimeter of head circumference in a matter of weeks, so a hat that fit at birth may be snug by the next month.

Copper Pearl's top knot hats come in two sizes: 0-4 months and 5-18 months. The 0-4 month size uses an adjustable knot to fine-tune the fit from newborn up to about 4 months, and the 5-18 month size covers the older range. If your baby is near the boundary, size up only if the hat still sits above the eyebrows and does not slide over the eyes.

Baby bows in the catalog do not list a size option, so fit depends on the stretch of the nylon band rather than a numbered size. That is a real limitation if you are shopping for a very small or very large head: you cannot order a specific measurement, so check the band's stretch and return policy before committing to a set.

Coverage, warmth, and when to skip headwear

Use coverage as your first filter. A top knot hat covers the whole crown. A bonnet covers the crown and often the ears. A bow covers almost nothing. If the goal is warmth for a stroller walk or a cool room, choose a hat or bonnet; if the goal is a finished outfit indoors, choose a bow.

Never use headwear to keep a baby warm during sleep in a crib. Loose fabric near the face is a suffocation risk, and a hat can also cause a baby to overheat. Reserve hats and bonnets for supervised awake time, stroller rides, and photos, and keep the crib clear.

Watch for red marks behind the ears or across the forehead. A hat should leave a light impression at most, never a deep groove. If you see one, the hat is too small or the knot is too tight, and it is time to size up or loosen the knot.

How to build a small, useful headwear rotation

Start with one everyday hat in your baby's current size, then add one bow in a print you already own so it coordinates with outfits instead of competing with them. A second hat in the next size up is worth buying early, because the transition from 0-4 months to 5-18 months rarely happens on a convenient schedule.

Match fabric to season rather than to a calendar. Copper Pearl's top knot hats use an ultra-soft, breathable stretchy fabric, which makes them a reasonable choice for indoor and mild-weather wear. The bows use a high-quality nylon fabric blend with stretch in the band, which is designed to grow with baby and is better suited to accessorizing than to keeping anyone warm.

Keep the rotation small. Three pieces that fit and get worn beat ten that are the wrong size, and a hat that lives in the diaper bag is the one you will actually reach for.

Decision rules for baby headwear

  • If you need warmth: Choose a hat or bonnet that covers the crown, and check that it sits above the eyebrows without sliding over the eyes. Skip bows entirely for cold-weather outings.
  • If your baby is a newborn: Choose an adjustable top knot hat in the 0-4 month size and re-check the knot every week as the head grows. The adjustable knot is what buys you time before sizing up.
  • If you want a photo or holiday outfit: Choose a bow in a print that already matches the outfit, and add a bonnet or hat only if the room is cool. Match the print first, then the shape.
  • If you do not know the head size: Choose a bow with a stretchy nylon band, since bows in the catalog do not list a size option, or gift a hat in the larger 5-18 month size. Unlisted sizing is a real limitation, so check the return policy.
  • If you see red marks or a slipping hat: Loosen the knot or move up a size, and stop using the piece if it still leaves a deep groove. A hat that leaves marks is too small, no matter the label.

How these options differ in practice

  • Top Knot Hat - Sesame Street Varsity Friends: Made with ultra-soft, breathable stretchy fabric and an adjustable knot, available in 0-4 months and 5-18 months sizes. The adjustable knot lets you tighten or loosen the fit as your newborn grows, so one hat can cover the fast-changing first months instead of being outgrown in weeks.
  • Bowtie Baby Bow - Monet: A bowtie-shaped bow on a high-quality nylon fabric band designed to grow with baby, available in Copper Pearl prints. The stretchy band means no numbered sizing to get wrong, but it also means the bow adds style rather than warmth, so pair it with a hat when it is cold.
  • Ribbon Baby Bow - Bloom: A ribbon bow with a simple knot and a high-quality nylon fabric band with plenty of stretch for a universal fit. The universal-fit band suits gift-giving when you do not know the head size, though it will not stay put as securely as a fitted hat on a very active baby.
  • Classic Baby Bow - Cheery: A traditional schoolgirl-shaped classic bow on a high-quality nylon fabric band with stretch to grow with baby. The classic shape reads dressier than a ribbon or bowtie, making it the better pick for holidays, portraits, and outfits where you want a traditional finish.

Who each option fits

Best for

  • Newborns who need an adjustable fit during rapid head growth
  • Parents who want one hat that works for stroller walks and awake play
  • Families building a small rotation of everyday and dressy pieces

Not for

  • Crib sleep, where any headwear is a safety risk
  • Warm-weather babies who need no head coverage at all
  • Shoppers who need a specific measured size in a bow, since bows list no size option