5 Best Noise-Cancelling Headphones for Babies and Kids, Tested by Kids

Audiologist Neidleman Kennedy recommends headphones with a noise reduction rating (NRR) of around 30 decibels (dB). The Mumba Baby Earmuffs meets and even exceeds this recommended rating; this pair has the highest NRR possible (31 dB), offering optimal ear protection for your baby. Plus, having tested these baby earmuffs with my own child, I can vouch that the headphones are durable, affordable and fit my baby better than any of the other options I tested.

Due to the high NNR rating, it’s no surprise that these headphones earned a 10 out of 10 score for noise reduction. My family used them in a variety of settings, including a restaurant with 70-decibel music playing and at a sporting event. We also ran a little experiment at home, where I put the headphones on my daughter and clapped beside her. She didn’t react to the clapping sound, which reassured me that the headphones were working to reduce ambient noise.

Based on my baby’s experience—who slept through a professional basketball game and remained content at a Super Bowl watch party—the headphones are as comfortable and well-fitting as they look. My daughter used them for roughly two hours and was happy throughout, and after removing the earmuffs, I didn’t notice any red marks on her head. Korin M., who also tested the Mumba Baby Earmuffs with the help of her one-year-old, agreed that the headphones seemed comfortable. “My daughter even smiled while wearing them, which was rare during testing,” says Korin.

The headphones, which are designed for kids aged 3 months to 2 years, have soft ear cups and puffy fabric pillows on the underside. This extra padding allows for a comfortable fit, although the fabric is a bit harder to clean than other headphones with soft leather undersides. They don’t feel too tight once in place, yet have just enough clamp force not to slip and slide around (even on my 6-month-old whose head size is in the fourth percentile!). The band is relatively easy to adjust, although it takes a little force. With this in mind, I recommend making any adjustments before putting them on your child’s head. The good news? Once properly adjusted and positioned, they fit securely. My baby never attempted to remove the earmuffs, but even if she had, they fit snugly enough that she wouldn’t have been able to.

Mumba’s infant headphones don’t come with a carry case, but they still earned top marks for durability. To test for this, I placed the earmuffs in a diaper bag and tossed the bag down the stairs. Afterward, I carefully examined the headphones and they didn’t have a single scratch or dent. Given their comfort, effectiveness and ability to last from baby to toddler years, I would recommend these noise-cancelling headphones to friends and family.

Age rating: 3 months to 2 years | NRR: 31 dB | Material: Foam, plastic metal | Weight: 114 grams

Alpine Muffy ear protection is a favorite among parents of newborns as they’re suitable from birth and feature a stretchy headband that goes across the forehead to prevent any pressure being placed on the fontanelles—aka the soft spot on baby’s head. Shawna C. tested the headphones with her 7-week-old son and gave them a 10 out of 10 score for fit, noise reduction, durability and more.

“These headphones fit my baby’s head great,” says Shawna, adding that they were incredibly easy to adjust. The headband has a large Velcro fastener on the front and back, making size adjustments easy and intuitive. Before using them for the first time, Shawna adjusted the size of the strap to fit her son’s head correctly, but she also made some adjustments to the size and fit while they were positioned on her child’s head. “Both options were easy, but since my baby was moving, I would say it was easier to adjust the headphones before putting them on,” concludes Shawna. Once positioned, the fit was snug and Shawna “didn’t notice them slipping off at all.”

In terms of comfort, this pair has large ear cups with super-soft padding. While she felt they offered a comfortable fit, it took a little while for Shawna’s son to grow accustomed to wearing headphones. “The first few times I put them on he cried instantly—I think he was a little nervous or scared,” explains Shawna. However, “after a few attempts he did let me keep them on and didn’t cry. I definitely think he would be able to take a nap if I had left them on.”

The Alpine Muffy Baby headphones have a lower NRR rating of 23 dB but still offered highly effective noise reduction. Shawna’s baby wore them for 45 minutes straight while she tested their effectiveness—turning up the TV, playing loud music and talking to him. “He did look around a few times,” she says, “probably wondering why it was so quiet all of a sudden!” Based on her observations, Shawna felt the headphones worked well and “would be great in loud situations for your baby.” Another nice perk of these headphones is the included carrying case. It’s roomy enough for the headphones, along with a binky or two.

On a personal note, we’ve used infant ear protection since my baby was 2-weeks-old. They were lifesavers for surviving the first few outings with baby, but hard headband-style headphones kept slipping off and needed constant readjusting. I wish I had discovered Alpine Muffy Baby headphones sooner as they definitely solve that problem thanks to the soft, stretchy, anti-slip headband that secures across the forehead and back of the head.

Age rating: 0 months to 4 years | NRR: 24 dB | Material:Plastic, polyester | Weight: 190 grams

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While the ProCase Baby Ear Protection headphones have slightly less features than the competition, they’re proof that it’s possible to get a decent pair of noise-canceling baby headphones for under $20. Both Korin and I were impressed by the durability and recommend these headphones as a solid budget-friendly option. “These are much cheaper than the competition,” says Korin, who tested the headphones with her one-year-old.

The ProCase offers a NRR of 22 dB, which is the lowest of all the headphones we tested. This means they muffle ambient sound, but may not be effective enough for really noisy events like a concert, fireworks display or sports game. For me, these headphones come in handy as we near the witching hour. If our house is bustling when our little one should be winding down, I slip them on her. While they might not block out every household noise—whether it’s barking dogs, screaming toddlers or clanking in the kitchen—they soften the background sounds just enough to keep her from becoming overstimulated. I also started keeping them in my diaper bag, and they were super-useful whenever we walked into a restaurant with unexpectedly loud music.

Despite their budget price, these headphones are surprisingly sturdy. They held up well in my diaper bag and even survived being flung across the room by Korin’s one-year-old. As an additional durability test, I placed them in a diaper bag and tossed it down the stairs. I’m happy to report that there were no signs of damage or functional issues. And, although the headphones aren’t foldable, the flexible plastic headband allows for significant bending without breaking.

The headband has soft, puffy pillows on the underside that feel like faux leather, providing plenty of cushioning for my little one and ensuring a comfortable fit. I didn’t observe any discomfort, and there were no marks left on my baby’s head after wearing them. However, Korin felt that the padding was a little too firm on the ear cups. These headphones are also easy to adjust and fit my 5-month-old well. The sliding adjuster had some resistance—but less resistance than Mumba and Banz—so I was able to tweak the fit while they were on my daughter's head.

Age rating: 0 months to 3 years | NRR: 22 dB| Material:Sponge, plastic | Weight: 150 grams

Baby Banz is a big name in the infant ear protection world—and it’s easy to see why. With an NRR rating of 31 dB, they offer a high level of noise protection and are comfortable enough to wear during naps on the go—a fact that I can attest to as my baby slept soundly through a wedding reception, dozing off right on the dance floor, thanks to these noise-canceling headphones.

In a side-by-side comparison with the Mumba Baby Earmuffs, the Baby Banz Baby Earmuffs have slightly less clamp strength, which can make them slide around a bit more. We started using them when my daughter was a newborn—they’re technically made for babies 3 months and up—and had to readjust them often. But even at 6 months old, our baby is small and needs occasional adjustments when wearing them. Still, they offer a secure and comfortable fit for most little ones. Korin's children found them comfy and said they helped muffle loud music. While the fit isn’t as snug as some other options, these were still one of my favorite infant noise-canceling headphones because my baby kept falling asleep in them at the most unexpected moments—on a plane, in noisy restaurants and in the middle of the dance floor.

If you intend to use them for travel, you can purchase a carry case separately. But they’ve held up well after months of being tossed in my diaper bag without one—we even traveled with them on a plane with no issues. “These headphones are sturdy. They survived being thrown across the room and onto hardwood flooring several times with no problem,” confirms Korin.

Age rating: 3 months to 2 years | NRR: 31 dB | Material: Neoprene, plastic | Weight: 192 grams

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Unlike many baby products that are quickly outgrown, the JLab JBuddies Protect Earmuffs offer hearing protection for kids of all ages. Korin’s one-year-old and 10-year-old both wore them comfortably and, to her surprise, they fit her too! With ear cups that slide up and down, these headphones adapt as your child grows. They’re durable enough to withstand daily use (and our drop test), but just in case, they come with a lifetime warranty. They also fold for travel, earning a solid 10 out of 10 for features, ease of use and durability.

As mentioned above, the sliding ear cups adjust easily, so you can get the right fit while they're on your kid's head. That said, one online reviewer mentioned the clamping force was so strong the headphones flew out of their hands while they were adjusting them. I tested this with a looser grip and—sure enough—I accidentally whacked myself in the face. So, little ones may need a helping hand when putting them on.

The snug fit definitely helps to reduce noise, though the clamp strength might be too tight for younger infants. My 6-month-old daughter had trouble tolerating the JLab headphones for extended periods, perhaps because the fit was too tight. At the smallest setting, the headband didn’t touch the top of her head, yet when they slid forward on her face, her cheeks smooshed. With that said, Korin’s kids said they were the comfiest headphones they tried. “The ear cups are soft and cushiony and the headphones don't feel tight when they're on,” says Korin, adding that her one-year-old seemed pretty happy to wear them.

With an NRR of 23 dB, our junior testers said they could still hear some noise, but it was much softer. I put them on my daughter and clapped my hands and she did not immediately react to the sound. As a secondary test, I wore the headphones myself and played a loud buzzing sound at 65 decibels. They did a good job at dampening the sound, so I’m confident that this pair offers effective noise protection for babies, toddlers and kids.

Bonus: Use code BUMP15 to get 15 percent off all products on the JLab website.

Age rating: 3+ months | NRR: 23 dB | Material:Foam, plastic metal | Weight: 173 grams