Frequently Asked Questions
Products
Our year-round Basics are restocked regularly; this includes select colors and styles of both our classic woven bonnets and our knit Bébé collection. Select seasonal styles may be restocked throughout the season, although some seasonal offerings are limited and will not be restocked.
If an item you love is out of stock, we recommend signing up for a restock notification (found on the product page) to be notified when it is available again. To learn about new products, collections, and restocks, sign up for our newsletter, and follow us on Instagram and Facebook!
Want to know all the details? (And we really mean all!) Join The Briar Society group on Facebook for sneak peeks, early access, and more!
Briar bonnets should ideally fit close to your baby's head, with their ears covered and minimal gapping around the face.
Our bonnets generally fit true to age size, though we recommend measuring your little one’s head circumference to find the best fit. They also tend to fit best toward the end of the age range for that size, as they are intended to fit a child up to the age listed. For example, a 3-6 month bonnet is intended to fit a child up to six months, and will usually fit best toward the six month mark.
For more information on fit, including measurements, please refer to our Sizing Guide.
All Briar bonnets are made from the highest-quality materials, including cotton, linen, and wool. We line each bonnet with 100% cotton, 100% silk charmeuse (for textured hair), or ultra-soft organic cotton sherpa; all of these options offer a soft feel on baby’s delicate head. For the materials used on a specific bonnet, please refer to the item’s product page.
All of our bonnets are made with preshrunk fabrics for minimal shrinkage when washing. Please note that some products may still experience minimal shrinkage when washed, especially in warm or hot water. We recommend following our laundering instructions or dry cleaning for minimal shrinkage.
Yes! Our linen and cotton bonnets (featuring cotton or silk lining) are appropriate year-round in most climates, including the warmer months. Our brimmed options are especially functional, as they can protect baby's sensitive eyes from the harsh sun in warmer weather, and provide a gentle shield from the rain in the wet months.
For cooler months, our wool bonnets and sherpa-lined options are perfect keeping your little one cozy.
For maximum protection from the cold, we recommend our Sherpa Sherpa line, which features two layers of ultra-cozy organic cotton sherpa and is perfect for layering under a hood; or our sherpa-lined wool bonnets, which are available as limited edition items in the winter months.
Our Bébé line is made from unlined knit material, and can be worn comfortably year-round.
The American Academy of Pediatrics' Sun Safety guide recommends that babies and children wear a hat with an all-around 3-inch brim to shield the face, ears, and back of the neck when exposed to the sun.
Our Sunbonnets meet the criteria outlined by the AAP, and do offer some measure of protection from the sun, just as any other article of clothing would. However, as our product is not UPF rated, we're not able to advise on the specific level of sun protection it may provide.
For more information on protecting your little one from sun exposure, we recommend reading the American Academy of Pediatrics' Sun Safety guide.
Care instructions are included with each bonnet, and we recommend caring for your bonnet according to its specific instructions. For most linen and cotton bonnets, we recommend hand washing gently using cold water, and tumble dry on low or lay flat to dry. They may be machine washed on delicate at your discretion; we recommend a mesh laundry bag for extra protection in the machine. Do not use bleach or oxidizing agents.
For silk-lined bonnets, we recommend hand washing in cool water, using a detergent intended for silk (we like the Delicate Wash from The Laundress). Lay flat or hang to dry immediately; do not dry.
For wool bonnets or poms, dry cleaning is always recommended. Iron on lowest temperature setting.
Wool and some specialty bonnets (such as those embellished with beading or embroidery) are recommended for dry cleaning or spot cleaning only.
Iron with a bit of steam as needed to release wrinkles and reshape your bonnet. We recommend pressing the underside of the brim on brimmed bonnets to release any creases from shipping or storing.
Our ultra soft and breathable cotton lining is perfect for babes with straight hair, silky hair, and/or non-textured curls. The silk-lined bonnets are made specially for babes with textured curls, most commonly Black babies’ beautiful natural hair, since cotton lining can damage textured hair by absorbing moisture that the curls need.
Putting a silk-lined bonnet on a babe with non-textured hair may cause the bonnet to slip around and even slide back entirely off their head, so we recommend cotton lining for non-textured hair.
For more information on our silk-lined bonnets, check out our blog post!
Bonnets are intended to be worn under direct supervision only. Do not leave baby unattended, sleeping or awake, with their bonnets.
Ordering, Shipping & Returns
We strive to ship orders as quickly as possible, and orders are usually shipped within two business days via USPS. Please allow up to five additional business days for your order to ship during high-volume times.
We do prioritize orders placed with Priority Shipping and Priority Express Shipping for an additional cost. If you need your order sooner, please select Priority Shipping or Priority Express Shipping at checkout, or contact hello@briarbaby.com prior to placing your order for assistance. Priority orders placed after 12:00pm (noon) Pacific Time will be shipped the following business day.
While USPS is our standard shipping provider, we are able to ship via FedEx or UPS in some circumstances. Please contact hello@briarbaby.com prior to placing your order for assistance.
We offer USPS Priority Shipping (2-3 business days) and USPS Priority Express Shipping (1-2 business days).
Please note that orders placed with Priority shipping are prioritized, but that we only guarantee that orders placed before 12:00pm (noon) Pacific Time will be shipped the same business day. Orders placed after 12:00pm Pacific Time will be shipped the following business day.
Sending a gift to someone special? We’d be happy to include a personalized message for you! Simply leave your gift note in the notes section when placing your order, and we will include a handwritten note. If you’ve already placed your order but would like to include a note, please send a message as soon as possible to hello@briarbaby.com and we’ll do our best to include it in your package.
All orders are thoughtfully wrapped in tissue paper, and shipped in a cardboard box; a packing slip that may be used as a gift receipt is included in each shipment, and does not include any payment details. At this time, we are unable to provide gift wrapping.
Happily! International shipping begins with a $15.00 flat-rate for a single bonnet. We offer free international shipping on orders over $200 (large items are not included in this offer). All prices and shipping costs are listed in USD. Please note that the buyer is responsible for any import or customs fees that may apply at the point of checkout, or upon delivery/receipt of order. Return shipping is the responsibility of the customer; original shipping charges may not be refunded.
We are able to offer expedited international shipping through UPS or FedEx for an additional cost. To expedite your package, please contact hello@briarbaby.com within one hour of placing your order to ensure we are able to accommodate your request before processing begins.
Yes! We offer Afterpay on all orders $35+.
Please note that with the use of Afterpay, the time to process payment may take a few minutes, and there is a chance that the item will have sold out by the time payment has been completely processed. Therefore, we advise you to use caution when using Afterpay during limited and exclusive launches, as it is possible to complete payment on an item that is no longer available. Please note that in instances where an item was oversold due to a payment processing delay on an Afterpay order, the Afterpay order may be cancelled, as it was technically completed after the item was already sold out.
For more information on using Afterpay, please visit their website.
Changed your mind, or need a different size? We don’t currently offer exchanges, however we’re happy to accept returns for store credit on unwashed/unworn bonnets with their original tags within 30 days after the item has been delivered. Some exceptions apply, such as gift cards, Sample Sale bonnets, and other items marked as Final Sale.
Masks are final sale, and returns will not be accepted for sanitary reasons.
Return shipping is the responsibility of the customer; original shipping charges may not be refunded. Once we’ve received your returned item, you will be issued a store credit for the original purchase amount.
You are welcome to purchase a replacement item at any time; on popular items, we recommend placing a replacement order as soon as possible to ensure the item you want does not sell out. If you purchase a replacement item before we’ve received your return, please contact us and we will gladly refund your original order in lieu of a store credit. Please note that we are not able to reserve inventory for pending or in-transit returns.
To initiate a return, please send an email with your name, order number, and reason for return to hello@briarbaby.com.
In the event you need to cancel or change an order, please contact us immediately at hello@briarbaby.com. Once an order begins processing, it can no longer be adjusted or cancelled.
Please note that refunds for cancelled orders may take up to five business days to post to your account, and payments made via Paypal e-check cannot be refunded until payments are released, sometimes taking up to five business days.
For silk-lined bonnets, we recommend hand washing in cool water, using a detergent intended for silk (we like the Delicate Wash from The Laundress). Lay flat or hang to dry immediately; do not dry.
For wool bonnets or poms, dry cleaning is always recommended. Iron on lowest temperature setting.
Wool and some specialty bonnets (such as those embellished with beading or embroidery) are recommended for dry cleaning or spot cleaning only.
Iron with a bit of steam as needed to release wrinkles and reshape your bonnet. We recommend pressing the underside of the brim on brimmed bonnets to release any creases from shipping or storing.
Discount codes must be applied at the time the order is placed and may not be applied retroactively. Please be aware that certain products and collections (such as Sample Sales) do not allow the use of discount codes and only one discount code can be applied to an order at a time.
Sale pricing or discount codes will be honored on size exchanges (purchase of the same item in a different size) for 30 days from delivery of the original item. Please contact hello@briarbaby.comfor assistance with your return.
We do our best to ensure every bonnet that leaves our studio is of the highest quality, and free from defects. However, occasionally mistakes do happen!
If you believe you have received a defective item, please send a message to hello@briarbaby.com within 30 days of your item being delivered. We'd be happy to help! Please also include a photo of the defect, as this will help expedite your claim.
Briar’s bonnets are made using high quality (and sometimes hand-loomed) natural textiles. Please note that due to the nature of these materials, some variations in the fabric may occur. Variations in color, weave, texture, and natural markings should not be considered defects.
If you believe your package has been lost or stolen, please contact your local USPS office or carrier, as they are often able to locate the package for you. Please note that Briar Baby is not responsible for lost or stolen packages once they have been picked up by the carrier.
We do offer Route shipping insurance as an option at checkout, and we recommend it as an inexpensive way to protect your package from loss, theft, and/or damage. If you purchased Route insurance for your order and it is lost or stolen, you may file a claim here. For more information about Route, please visit their website.