Baby Headphones: Which Are the Best Noise-Cancelling Ones for Kids?
A child's first years are usually so crucial. Every parent certainly wants to do all that they can to ensure that their baby is fine.
Getting some noise-canceling headphones for your baby can prove beneficial for both their physical and mental health.
Areas that have high noise levels can prove dangerous to your baby as they could lead to noise-induced hearing loss.
At A Glance: Our Top Picks for Best Baby Headphones
Most parents do not even realize how the most common places such as the mall can be dangerous to your baby's hearing.
Rather than leave your kids at home, simply get a pair of noise-canceling headphones for them.
These headphones can also be very useful for children who have autism, ADHD, and other sensory issues.
Read on to find out some of the benefits of noise-canceling headphones and our top picks for the same.
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Benefits of Noise Cancelling Headphones For Kids
When it comes to your children, it is important that you protect their developing ears.
Of course, the best way to do this would be to soundproof the house. However, for different reasons, this may not be possible.
This is where the noise canceling headphones come in. So, what exactly are their benefits to your children?
1. Protecting their ears
Of course, this is the most important benefit of noise canceling ear muffs.
Although it is often said that you are protecting the developing ears, the ear is usually fully developed at birth.
What the noise canceling baby headphones will be doing is protect the full functioning of the ear.
This will protect your child from hearing loss and some abnormalities such as ringing in the ears when there is no sound.
It is important to note that children’s ears are quite sensitive. They are able to hear noises of frequencies of up to 20,000 Hz which is quite high on the decibel scale.
Because of this, it becomes a priority to protect your baby’s ears right from when they are born.
2. Helps to calm their nerves
Children can become extremely nervous. This will even get worse when they are visiting a new place with unfamiliar loud sounds.
Going to new places with your baby can, therefore, be a challenge. Most parents will assume that their child is simply acting nervous because of being in a new place.
However, the unfamiliar sounds may be the whole reason behind it.
Using noise-canceling headphones can help to soothe your child. You could also pair that up with some calming music for your little one.
This way, you can both enjoy visiting new places without worrying about your little one.
3. Increase their focus
Controlling the sound around your baby can play a big role in helping them to focus.
With noise-canceling headphones, your little one is able to pick out the most important sound in a background of noise.
This will help your child engage in more productive activities.
If your child has listening problems, this can be very beneficial. What’s more is that your child’s learning ability will increase with the use of these headphones.
4. Reduce stress
It is a well-known fact that noise can cause stress, even in adults.
However, the effect is intensified in children because they are more sensitive to noise.
Controlling the aural environment around your kid can help to reduce noise-related stress in your kids.
With noise-canceling headphones, your baby will be able to avoid unnecessary noise thereby reducing the chances of a public outburst.
5. Provide sensory breaks
Children’s ears will be damaged by consistent loudness rather than periodic noise surges.
Because their ears are more sensitive, children need to have sensory breaks more often.
Consistent noise is usually all around us all day long. Because they have become used to it, adults may not find the noises disturbing.
However, the same cannot be said for children.
With noise-canceling headphones, children are able to have some breaks. This way, their ears are able to maintain high sensory function.
What To Consider When Buying Baby Headphones
Safety
Seeing as your baby will be the one using the headphones, it is important that you ensure they are completely safe.
When looking for baby headphones, ensure that the pair does not have any small parts or chords.
Besides headphones, some parents also use earplugs and earbuds. These, however, are usually not a good option.
They can be too big for small ears and can easily get stuck in your baby’s ears.
Comfortable
Besides being safe, make sure the headphones you get are comfortable for your little one.
The headphones should work as they are advertised. The last thing you want is to have your baby showing signs of discomfort.
Affordable
Considering that you will not be using the baby headphones for a long time, you are much better off going for something more affordable.
Rather than spend so much money, get something that is a bit cheap and still gets the job done.
Noise Reduction Rating
The Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) is simply a way to let you know how much noise the headphones will be blocking out.
The NRR is usually indicated on the headphone’s packaging.
However, most parents do not understand how important it is and how to pick the best headphones depending on the NRR.
In order to understand the importance of the NRR, it is inevitable that we get into the technical details a bit.
General noise is measured in decibels. Say, for example, that the noise in an area is 80 dB.
If the NRR in your baby’s headphones is 20, then the amount of noise that will get to your baby is about 60 dB.
The NRR usually represents an average sound reduction. Most baby headphones will have a maximum NRR of 30.
Because for every 10 dB the intensity of sound doubles, an NRR of 30 is pretty good.
With baby headphones with an NRR of 30 or higher 20s, you can be sure that you will be protecting your little one from so much noise.
Now that you have all the necessary information with you, it is time to get into our top picks for baby headphones.
If you are looking for a pair for your little one, our picks below may give you an idea of where to start. So, let’s get right into it.
Best Baby Headphones
If you are looking for noise-reducing headphones for older kids, then this may be the best option for you. The LilGadgets headphones are designed for children aged 4 years and above.
The headphones are Bluetooth wireless and come in six different colors. They also come with a new feature called Share Port.
With this feature, one headphone can connect wirelessly and others can daisy-chain allowing all users to be untethered from the device.
The headphones have a 12-hours battery life. In addition to this, they come with a 180-hour standby.
Once you buy these headphones, they come with a USB cable that allows you to recharge it.
The package will also include a 3.5 mm cable. This will allow you to use the headphones the old fashioned way once you outlast the battery.
Besides wireless technology, I especially like how these headphones look. They have a pretty and cool design that makes them stand out.
I like that the durability of the product has been achieved without compromising on the style and comfort.
SoftTouch breathable mesh material has been used for the ear pads and headbands for increased comfort.
The manufacturers also use some nifty engineering to ensure that the ear pads do not fall off.
The headphones come with a microfiber travel bag. The bag will help you transport the headphones easily as well as ensure that they remain clean when not being used.
The downside to these headphones is the price.
Because of the wireless technology, these headphones are so much more expensive than others that do not have the same technology.
Even for adults, using headphones when traveling is usually not easy. Sometimes, they keep slipping away and makes it difficult to lean back in a car or plane.
If you have ever traveled with kids, then you know that this can get worse because they tend to move around too much. Getting the best headphones for travel can, therefore, be a challenge.
I was, however, glad when I discovered the Cozy Phones Kids Headphones. Their unique band design makes them a top option for travel headphones.
The headphones are designed like a band. This means that they are foldable and washable. The headband also comes with adjustable and removable speakers.
What really stood out for me was the comfort that these headphones offer usually, over the ear headphones will tend to be bulky while earbuds can be a choking hazard.
With this headband though, you get to protect your child's ears without compromising their comfort.
The headband is also quite cool and fun, especially for older children.
Most children like how they look and the fact that you are able to choose from a variety of colors makes it better.
Besides the comfort, these are the best headphones for travel because you can easily pull them over your eyes and use them as a sleep mask.
In that way, you get to sleep when traveling without any distracting noises or disturbing light.
The Cozy Phones Kids Headphones have been designed with your child's safety in mind. The speakers are preset to 90 dB which is the recommended safe level for young children's eardrums and inner ear.
This allows your child to listen to audio comfortably without damaging their still-developing eardrums.
Although there are some headphones that will allow you to use on any child despite their age, it is recommended to use age-specific ones.
The Snug Kids Earmuffs are specifically designed for children between the ages of two and six.
They are ideal for blocking noise in just about any area including sporting events, airports, large crowds, and any other distracting noise.
Because of the wide range of the children’s ages, it is especially important that the headphones are adjustable.
This feature allows you to keep adjusting them as your child grows and to set them at a comfortable position for your little one.
The headphones are also foldable, allowing you to fold them to the smallest size. This makes them convenient as you can easily pack them in a small bag.
Elite headphones in the market will have an NRR of around 21. With these headphones, you get something a bit higher.
The NRR on these is 25 meaning that your kid will get a bit more noise blocked out as compared to other products.
The manufacturers of these headphones are also quite confident about their product. The headphones come with a 5-year guarantee.
They are made of strong, high-quality materials that make them sturdy and robust.
If your child has autism, then this may be the brand for you, as it helps block out crowds and other triggers.
The best thing about these headphones is that they can be used by both children and adults.
So you can get to use them once in a while when you need some peace and quiet as well.
Just like the Monkey Business Headphones, these are designed for newborns. However, they are suitable for use by kids of up to 2 years.
If your child is especially sensitive to noise, then the Baby Banz Earmuffs may be the best solution for you. With an NRR of 31, they are pretty much the best headphones at noise reduction in the market.
Whether you will be going with your little one to a concert, a theme park, or even a fireworks display, you can be sure that they will be well protected from all the noise.
Besides being very good at noise reduction, the Baby Banz Earmuffs are also quite comfortable. They come with super soft padded and cushioned cups that make the headphones quite comfortable.
The headband is cushioned as well and is designed to fit snugly over your baby’s ear.
When worn, the earmuffs will be tight but not too much that it hurts your baby’s head.
For mothers who love variety, the Baby Banz Earmuffs will seem like a dream come true. The headphones come in an assortment of 12 different colors allowing you to choose whatever you like best.
Although these headphones offer the best noise reduction, they come with some downside qualities.
For one, they are not adjustable. The headphones are fixed and so you will not be able to adjust them to your kid’s comfort.
Some parents even argue that they are not suitable for their older children of over 6 years.
The second thing that most people may not like about these headphones is their basic design.
There is nothing out of the ordinary when it comes to these headphones. You simply get noise reduction headphones.
Parents who are looking for something cool and fancy may be thrown off by the plain design.
Lastly, they may not be the best option for people working on a tight budget.
As compared to other similar products, the Baby Banz Earmuffs are quite expensive. However, this is quite understandable given the value provided.
Choosing the best headphones especially for your newborn can be quite a task.
For babies aged 0-15 months, I would recommend going for the Monkey Business headphones.
The first thing I like about these headphones is the unique design.
They have a soft velcro band that allows the headphones to remain in place. They also come with detachable ear cups that are padded to increase comfort.
The band is quite a plus for these headphones as they allow you to fit them around your baby’s head without coming off.
It also makes it easier to put them on and take them off without causing so much discomfort to your little one.
I especially love the fact that they are really light. Considering that they are recommended for newborns, you wouldn't want to cause so much pressure on their head.
Because they are light and the ear cups are detachable, you are able to easily carry them around when the baby is not using them.
It is also great that the materials used are quite sturdy making the headphones quite durable. I also like that despite them being strong, the materials are quite soft to the touch.
This means that your baby will not feel uncomfortable even when having them on for a couple of hours.
The only thing I did not particularly like about these headphones was the fact that they only come in two colors. It would have been great to have a wide range to choose from.
Alternatives to Baby Headphones
Not many people are comfortable using baby headphones for their little ones. The good thing is that there are a couple of other options that you can go for.
Knowing the different ear protection options available can help you choose the best for your baby, depending on their needs.
So, what else can you use besides noise-canceling headphones?
- Baby ear defenders
The head is usually a very sensitive area for babies and parents should bear that in mind when deciding on ear protection.
Baby ear defenders like this are designed specifically for babies. It is recommended that babies under 12 months should only use this type of ear protection.
- Noise reducing earmuffs
Usually, these are earphones that do not produce any sound. They also do not connect to any sound devices.
If you are going to be with your child at a sporting event or a concert, this can be the best option. Noise reducing earmuffs allow you to control the amount of noise that gets to your child.
Choose Soundproofing as an Alternative
When all is said and done, overusing noise canceling headphones is not a good option for your baby. A better alternative would be to soundproof your house.
If you are especially getting the headphones so that your kid can have some quiet and productive time every day, then you may want to consider soundproofing.
While it may be more expensive, soundproofing is certainly more durable and provides more benefits.
Think of options such as acoustic panels and soundproofing curtains. You can even decide to soundproof the children's playroom entirely so that they can have some quiet time.
Another option would be to get a white noise machine. White noise machines usually produce a low background noise that masks any other noise.
They work for both adults and children and are especially a great option for when one wants to sleep.
On Baby Headphones
Buying some noise reduction headphones for your little ones is one of the best decisions that you can make for them.
Not only do they protect your child's ear functioning, but you can also use them at home for some quality time.
With noise reduction headphones, your baby can get to have some quiet time that allows them to concentrate on certain tasks. This boosts their brain development and creativity.
Noise reduction headphones can also be a great option for kids with autism and other developmental issues.
Without the noise, the children become so much less aggravated giving you and your family some relaxing time.
When it comes to baby headphones, there is a variety that you can choose from depending on a couple of factors.
We chose the Baby Banz Earmuffs as the best overall headphones because of the great noise reduction.
Ultimately, we are interested in reducing noise to a great deal so it is important to get headphones that do exactly that.
If you are looking for some baby headphones, you now have somewhere to start.
Ensure you know what you need and you are sure to get something that works both for you and your little one.