I love this hat. I have 2 kids, boy and girl, both very fair, blong/freckles/dad's a ginger. And we live in South Florida. Sun protection is a must, but putting sunscreen on a baby is like putting sunscreen on an alligator. I made it a point to start the kids off early with protective clothing, sunglasses and hats in addition to daily sunscreen. This hat is perfect for everything, the backyard, the park, pretend safaris, the beach, the pool. It withstands packing, the brim stays stiff when wet, is soft enough to bend back in the car seat or stroller, the straps breakaway for safety, its easy to adjust even while the kid is in motion, and really, when are they not? I machine wash and dry when necessary. I try to at least rinse with clean water after pool and ocean exposure. My first one in navy is still kicking, had it four years. My second one is white, still bright and clean looking, and going on 2 years, but needs to be sized up so I am buying another. I will never buy another hat for a kid, this has it all.
