The Best Noise Cancelling Headphones for Kids
Because the world is noisy and kids' ears are delicate.
As with most of their other parts, infants, toddlers, and young children have particularly delicate eardrums. They can easily be damaged by repeated exposure to loud sounds (anything louder than 70 decibels, which is about as loud as a standard vacuum cleaner), and that injury may lead to hearing problems later in childhood and as an adult. It’s no surprise then, that noise-canceling headphones for kids come highly recommended, and even ear muffs for kids younger than two are also something to consider.
The best noise-cancelling headphones for toddlers and older kids are simply those that are comfortable and restrict the volume from jumping out of a certain healthy range. These can sometimes be adjusted based on the age of your child. The best baby noise canceling headphones, however, are protective devices that look like large contractor-style earmuffs. These are easy to put on, and simple for parents to use, as they are passive, which translates as “battery-free.” “They make all of the sounds softer and can offer vital protection to ears that are still developing,” says Dr. Hanna Page, a doctor of audiology in private practice in Colorado.
The most important thing to look for when shopping for a pair is that they have a noise reduction rating (NRR) of 20 or better. They’re ideal to use for when you take a child to a loud location and are worried about their sensitive ears. The higher the rating, the more protection children get. With kids’ noise-canceling headphones, you ideally want a pair that allows you to limit the volume to 85 decibels, a level that’s considered “safer” by the World Health Organization. As an added bonus, many noise-canceling headphones allow you to isolate your child with the Frozen 2 on repeat, providing you with a much-needed rest. Regardless of the age of your child, here are some of our favorites.
The Best Noise-Cancelling Headphones For Babies
The Best Noise-Cancelling Headphones For Toddlers
The Best Kids’ Noise-Cancelling Headphones
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