6 Best Headphones for Babies and Children, Tested by Little Ears

The Mumba Baby Earmuffs regularly receive high marks from parents thanks to their high noise reduction rating (NRR) rating of 31 decibels and lightweight feel. But to me, these stood out from the pack for a very important reason: my anti-headphone one-year-old actually liked them!

The headphones, which are designed for kids aged 3 months to 2+ years, have soft ear cups, and don’t feel tight once they’re in place. The headband has built-in padding as well to prevent friction on baby’s head. They also have a wide range of color combinations to make them appealing for little ones—my daughter even smiled while wearing them, which was a rarity during testing. Mumba’s baby ear muffs performed well during noise testing as well: As I blasted music, my 4-year-old complained that she couldn’t hear it.

These headphones are relatively easy to adjust, although it takes a little force. I recommend making the adjustment before putting them on your child’s head. They also are not difficult to put on—just put them over your child’s ears, headband-style, and move on. The fit is snug once they’re on, making it tough for kids without good hand-eye coordination to remove. Mumba’s headphones don’t come with a carrying case, but they’re durable. During testing, they made it through being thrown across the room and landing on hard flooring with no scratches or dents.

Material: Leather, plastic | Cleaning instructions: Wipe clean

The reality of baby headphones is that there is often a learning curve to get your child to wear them. Still, anything you can do to get them on and keep them in place is a win. The Alpine Muffy Baby headphones have several layers in place to help keep them on baby’s head, including a stretchy, soft anti-slip headband. The headphones require a little assembly on your part when they arrive, but that was easier than I anticipated. Just thread the headband through an opening in the cup and secure a special flap on top. The process is the same when you need to adjust the positioning of the ear cups, which I would recommend doing when they’re not on your child’s head.

My 1-year-old was not impressed with the feeling of the elastic headband, but my friend’s 5-month-old tolerated them just fine. My older kids also reported that the Muffy Baby headphones were comfortable to wear. The Alpine Muffy Baby headphones have a lower NRR rating of 23 dB, but my 4-year-old had trouble hearing loud music when they were in place. Another nice perk of these headphones is the included carrying case. It’s roomy enough for the headphones, along with a binky or two—perfect for travel.

Material: Plastic, polyester | Cleaning instructions: Wipe clean

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 baby headphones for $10. These headphones are easy to adjust and have padding around the ear cups and band. That padding felt a little more firm and slid around more than counterparts on more expensive models, but it still got the job done.

ProCase’s headphones have a lower NRR rating of 22 dB, but our kid testers say they still noticeably reduced noise. Despite their low price tag, the headphones are sturdy and survived being thrown across the room by a one-year-old. These headphones come in blue, pink, and sky blue, giving parents options to choose from. At almost a third of a pound, these felt slightly heavier than similar styles we tried, but it was nothing that was obvious to our kid testers.

Material: Sponge, plastic | Cleaning instructions: Wipe clean with neutral detergent or warm water

At nearly $30, the Muted Kids Noise Canceling Ear Muffs are on the higher price end of baby headphones. But my choosy one-year-old liked them—and willingly wore them the longest out of all the headphones we tested, making the price tag worth it to me. Once a child hits the toddler years, and is reliably able to grasp and pull things off their head, you need their cooperation to keep headphones on their noggins. Muted headphones come in a series of fun patterns that kids are drawn to, which could make it more likely that your child, like mine, will want to wear them.

The headphones feature an NRR rating of 27 dB and feature soft ear cups that create a tight but comfortable fit. They don’t slip once they’re in place, and did a good job blocking out loud music, according to our older kid testers. Muted’s headphones have a durable structure that survived landing on a hardwood floor. And, while they didn’t come with an included carrying case, they’re strong enough to toss in a backpack or bag and tote around.

Material: Plastic | Cleaning instructions: Wipe clean

Many products for babies will only last so long, but the JLab JBuddies Protect Earmuffs have an impressive lifespan that’s designed to guard your child’s hearing through the teenage years. Both my one-year-old and my 10-year-old could wear these—and I was surprised to find they fit on me, too!

Our kid testers reported that these were the most comfortable headphones we tried. The JLab JBuddies headphones are easy to adjust, with ear cups that go up and down as needed. The headphones have a lower NRR rating of 23 dB; our kid testers shared that they still could hear some noise when the headphones were in place, but it was softer than normal. While the headphones are durable and survived the throw test, they also have a lifetime warranty for the just in case. The only potential issue is the hinges around the ear cups. They’re sturdy-feeling, but they do seem to be more vulnerable than the rest of the headphones. These headphones are foldable, making for a nice space-saving feature.

Plus: take 15% off when you buy direct from JLab with the discount code BUMP15

Material: Foam, plastic metal | Cleaning instructions: Wipe clean

Baby Banz is a big name in the baby headphones world—they’ve shown up on a slew of famous kids, including Prince George. And while they might be fit for royalty, they’re also notable for being extremely durable. Our kid testers threw these headphones across the room and onto hard flooring with no visible damage or scratching.

Baby Banz are simple to use, with the ability to make fine adjustments before placing these headphones on your child. Our kid testers reported that these headphones were comfortable, and that they softened noise when loud music was on. With an NRR rating of 31 dB, the Baby Banz earmuffs were one of the most protective pairs we tested. The headphones don’t come with a carrying case but, given their durability, I would feel confident tossing these in a backpack and carrying them along with other loose stuff. At just 6.7 ounces, Baby Banz are lightweight, too. You can choose from 10 different colors and patterns to find one that suits your little one.

Material: Neoprene, plastic | Cleaning instructions: Wipe clean