5 Best Preschool and Toddler Headphones, Tested by a Mom of Three

The iClever Kids Bluetooth Headphones BTH22 are a popular choice among parents, thanks to the safe volume limits, comfortable design and clear audio. And, with perfect 10 out of 10 scores in every testing category, these headphones stood out to me as the top choice for overall best toddler headphones.

In terms of setup, it was easy to connect the Bluetooth and we did not experience any issues with losing the connection once paired. Although these headphones were wireless, they also came with an audio cable for wired listening. At 4 feet, the audio cable was plenty long enough, and it allowed for enough slack without getting tangled or in the way. The three built-in buttons (ON/OFF, +, –) were easy for my 3-year-old to navigate, and by pressing the plus and minus buttons at the same time you can activate the volume limit—my favorite feature—which allows for the max volume to be set at a safe level of either 74 dBA or 85 dBA. Once the volume limit is set, it won't allow your child to increase it but they can still lower the volume if they want to.

At under $25, these headphones provide excellent value and I was pleasantly surprised by how well they performed despite the lower price point. They not only feel sturdy enough to handle some rough play—which seems inevitable with toddlers—but they are also comfortable and provide clear, crisp audio. The flexible headband and larger ear-pad size allowed both my 3-year-old and myself to wear these headphones for long periods of time without any discomfort and my toddler even said, “It feels like little pillows on my ears.” The cushioned ear pads also seemed to help block out some of the external noise, which was an added benefit.

Although these headphones don’t come with a carry-case for travel and lack some of the flashier features, such as active noise cancellation, I wouldn’t expect that at this low price point. The ear pads do however twist and fold inward, making them more compact for travel or storage. Plus, the audio quality was very clear and crisp.

Age rating: 3+ years | Volume output limit (dBA): 74/85 dBA | Battery life: 60 hours | Weight: 5.8 oz.

At $50, BuddyPhones Play+ are middle of the pack when it comes to price, but the headphones are packed with features that set them apart. First and foremost, these toddler headphones have three audio output settings that can be controlled by parents: a 75 dBA toddler mode, a 85 dBA kids mode and a 94 dBA travel mode. (It’s important to note that anything over 85 dBA is deemed unsafe for children.) I appreciate the lower limit of the toddler mode, as most headphones we tested only limit the volume to 85 dBA, which is far too loud for my toddler, but I wish it was possible to reduce the volume further. Aside from the three levels of parental control, these headphones feature a built-in microphone, a voice-enhancing study mode and BuddyLink, which is a daisy-chain system for audio sharing.

The microphone is great for distance learning as is the “StudyMode” feature. Although the audio in the standard setting was clear and would be great for a child, this setting produced more crisp vocals than the standard setting. However, I noticed that the headphones glitched and the music cut out for a couple of seconds, while in study mode. The headphones are wireless, but also come with a 51-inch audio cable for wired listening, as well as BuddyLink which allows two kids to listen to the same device by connecting their headphones with the audio cable. My 3-year-old and 6-year-old loved this feature and enjoyed playing on the tablet together while each wearing their own set of headphones. While the actual audio cable was long enough, the USB-A to USB-C charging cable was only 9 inches—one of the shortest charging cables I tested. Depending on the location of the outlet or charging device, it was too short at times, but since this is a standard charging cable size, we were able to use other charging cables instead.

The headphones also come with four sticker options to allow for your child to customize the outside of the ear piece. Although I didn't expect my 3-year-old to be particularly excited about the sticker options, he was thrilled to see his chosen stickers on the headphones. Overall, I felt like the design was child-friendly with regards to the included stickers for customization, the BuddyLink feature and the built-in volume controls. However, my toddler wasn’t able to control the settings using the built-in buttons as they rely on holding certain buttons for different amounts of time. Luckily, he could do nearly all actions from the tablet or device he was using instead, so this wasn't a deal breaker.

Age rating: 3+ years | Volume output limit (dBA): 75/85/94 dBA | Battery life: 20 hours | Weight:5.2 oz.

“Belkin Soundform Mini is a great option for noise-limiting headphones /[and] they are also very affordable,” says Neidleman Kennedy. But it’s not just the experts that love these toddler headphones—After my own testing, I can confirm that this pair were a top performer, earning 10 out of 10 scores for ease of use, volume and audio quality, durability, features and design and value for the money. But it was the fun stickers that really grabbed my 3-year-old’s attention. He was so excited to decorate the headphones on his own and has been much more likely to grab these headphones off the shelf since adding his own flair. This wasn’t a unique feature among the models we tested, but the SoundForm Mini comes with over 50 stickers that he was able to use to really make the design his own—far and away the most of any headphones we tested.

These headphones were simple to use and very toddler-friendly in every aspect, starting with the easy-to-connect Bluetooth which made pairing simple. There are also only three built-in buttons (ON/OFF, +, –) and they were easy for my toddler to understand their purpose and how to use them. The cushioned ear pads were comfortable and my toddler liked that they fit snugly and didn't slip during his testing, which consisted of jumping jacks and sprints through the house. I also found them to be one of the more comfortable pairs of headphones during my own testing.

For an affordable pair of headphones, I was shocked that they outperformed other tested products when it came to audio quality. The audio was extremely clear and crisp, and the ear pads seemed to help block out a lot of the external noise, despite not being noise canceling headphones. The sound output is capped at 85 dBA, and while I appreciate that it limits the volume within a safe range, it was still far too loud for my toddler. I would prefer lower volume limits, but overall I found these headphones to be extremely child (and parent) friendly—I love how simple and easy they are to use and my toddler loves that he got to decorate them on his own.

Age rating: 3+ years | Volume output limit (dBA): 85 dBA | Battery life: 30 hours | Weight: 4.8 oz.

Of course, Bluetooth headphones aren’t your only option. Under strict adult supervision, wired headphones for toddlers are safe to use. The KidRox Toddler Headphones have a very basic, yet kid-friendly design that my toddler found extremely easy to use since there are no built-in buttons and they don’t need to be charged—simply plug them in to a headphone jack and your tot will be ready for endless play-time.

My 3-year-old immediately picked these out of the seven headphones we tested because he loved the tiger design on the ear pads and he was excited any time he got to use them. Although they lack many of the features that other headphones provide, the simplicity actually made it much easier for my toddler to use them, which ultimately earned this pair a 10 out of 10 score for ease of use.

The headband was the most flexible of the tested products and we were able to bend and twist it without fear of it breaking—a feature that I’m sure will come in handy with a toddler. My child did need help adjusting them to fit his head, since the adjustable headband didn't expand as easily as some of the other pairs we tested. However, once they were set to his size, they stayed put and we didn't have to adjust them again. The headband was also rather small and although they fit my 3-year-old well with plenty of room to grow, they had to be extended to their maximum size when my 6-year-old tried them on.

A sound cap of 85 dBA ensures your child won’t veer into unsafe listening territory, but keep a close eye on the volume just in case—my toddler commented that it was too loud at the highest volume. Despite this issue, they are a great option for someone looking to purchase wired headphones for a toddler.

Age rating: 1 to 8 years | Volume output limit (dBA): 85 dBA | Battery life: N/A | Weight: 5.9 oz.

If you’re looking for compact, foldable headphones that can be adjusted to fit both toddlers and older children, this pair by JLAB checks all the boxes. Priced at only $20, these headphones were not only the most affordable, they were surprisingly the most comfortable, which earned them 10 out of 10 scores for comfort, fit and value for money.

The earcups fold inward to make them more compact, and although a carry-case would have been a welcome addition, we threw them in my toddler’s bag and didn’t have to worry about them taking up too much space or breaking.

The adjustable headband fit my 3-year-old perfectly at the smallest setting and they also fit me with a little room left, so I know my toddler will be able to use them for many years based on the wide size range. They felt comfortable yet snug, and the headband material kept them from sliding around during use, so my toddler didn't have to readjust them at all. The earcups were wide enough that they fit around the ear, as opposed to on top of it, and the foam ear pads provided cushion that made them comfortable for longer periods of use. The audio was extremely clear and although they weren't noise canceling headphones, the cushion on the ear pad does seem to block out some of the ambient noise.

Overall, these headphones were easy to use and my toddler was able to plug them in and begin listening to audio without help. He was also able to adjust them to fit comfortably on his own by sliding the headband up or down. However, they didn’t come with any instructions, which would have been useful to explain how to use the universal mic with volume/track controls. My toddler was able to easily control the volume using the tablet though, so this didn’t negatively affect our experience.

Age rating: 2+ years | Volume output limit (dBA): 85 dBA | Battery life: N/A | Weight:4.7 oz.