Every parent has been there: you order a beautiful bow, it arrives, and it’s either so tiny it disappears into your daughter’s hair or so large it looks like it’s wearing her. Bow sizing is one of those things nobody really talks about, but once you understand the basics, you’ll never get it wrong again.
Here’s everything you need to know, broken down by age.
Newborn to 3 Months
Recommended bow size: 5 -7 cm across
At this stage, your baby’s head is small and her hair is often almost invisible. The goal isn’t really styling, it’s something sweet for photos, a first Christmas outfit, or just marking the occasion of these early weeks.
Go small and go soft. Avoid anything with a stiff structure, a tight clip, or a heavy fabric. A lightweight fabric bow or a soft nylon headband with a small attached bow is ideal. She won’t keep it on for long, but the photos will last forever
What to avoid: large structured bows, stiff clips, anything that pulls or grips tightly.
3 to 9 Months
Recommended bow size: 7-10 cm across
Baby’s hair is starting to come in, though it may still be very fine and flat. This is the stage where bow headbands really come into their own, they don’t require any hair to clip into and stay on more reliably than clips at this age.
You can start experimenting with slightly more structured bows here, as long as the band itself is soft and stretchy. Look for elasticated headbands rather than rigid plastic ones.
What to avoid: alligator clips on very fine hair (they’ll slide straight out), heavy bows that pull the headband down over the eyes.
9 to 18 Months
Recommended bow size: 8–12 cm across
This is the golden age of hair bows. Most babies have enough hair for a small clip, they’re sitting up and moving around, and they’re still young enough to leave a bow in (mostly). Alligator clips with a soft lining start to work well here, especially if you position them near the crown where the hair is thickest.
A small half-up with a bow clip is very achievable at this stage and is one of the most photographed styles for good reason.
What to avoid: bows that are too heavy for fine hair, they’ll drag the clip down and fall out within minutes.
18 Months to 3 Years
Recommended bow size: 10-15 cm across
Toddlers have more hair, more personality, and let’s be honest, more opinions about what goes on their head. This is the stage where you can go a little bigger with the bow and start having real fun with colour, fabric, and seasonal styles.
A medium-to-large bow works beautifully for pigtails, half-ups, and ponytails. This is also the age where gift bows tied onto a wrapped present can be repurposed as a hair bow
What to avoid: bows so large they overwhelm a still-small face. A good rule: the bow should be no wider than the distance between your child’s eyes.
3 to 6 Years
Recommended bow size: 12-18 cm across
By now you have a child with a full head of hair and probably strong views on which bow she wants to wear today. This is where you can go big, oversized statement bows, bold Christmas plaids, layered fabric bows on a thick ponytail.
At this age, bows also start to become something she chooses herself. Keeping a small collection of her favourites in a bowl or basket she can reach is a lovely way to let her develop her own sense of style.
What to avoid: nothing, really. This is the most bow-friendly age of all.
A Quick Size Reference
| Age | Hair volume | Clip style | Bow width |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-3 months | Very little or none | Headband only | 5-7 cm |
| 3-9 months | Fine, growing | Soft headband | 7-10 cm |
| 9-18 months | Fine to medium | Soft alligator clip | 8-12 cm |
| 18m-3 years | Medium, thickening | Alligator clip or elastic | 10-15 cm |
| 3-6 years | Full | Any clip or elastic | 12-18 cm |
Learn how to measure your baby’s head correctly: https://www.rcpch.ac.uk/sites/default/files/Measuring_and_plotting_advice.pdf
One Final Tip
When in doubt, go one size smaller than you think. A bow that is slightly too small looks sweet and considered. A bow that is slightly too large looks like it belongs on a gift wrap which is exactly where our gift bow range comes in.
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