Best kids' headphones
Devices like tablets and gaming consoles are a regular part of most children’s day to day lives. Whether they are used for learning, play or travel, these devices can be noisy so a good pair of headphones for kids can be a parent’s best friend - especially if your child is a fan of shows with catchy theme tunes! There is a huge choice of headphones available, and it’s important to make sure you are picking a pair that are specifically designed for use by a child. We’ve done the research for you and picked out the best headphones that are safe for your little one.
What safety features are important in headphones for children?
Paul Shaw MSc, Director of Audiology at The Hearing SpaceOpens a new window, says: “Typically, children like colourful, lightweight, easy to use headphones. Alongside this, safety has to be the number one priority, followed by durability, and comfort.”
Paul suggests making sure the headphones have a volume limiter feature. "This prevents the child from listening at levels which could lead to damage to their hearing." He explains that this limit is usually set at 85 dBA but this is still a level that could be damaging. He says that despite the noise limit, this doesn’t mean that it is safe to listen at this maximum level for long periods of time. "A maximum time of one hour is recommended at this level. While younger children will obviously need more careful supervision, there is no reason that toddlers cannot use headphones, if the above safety measures are in place.”
Noise-cancellation is also a feature to look out for in children’s headphones. "It can help in reducing listening levels. Put simply, if a child is distracted by noise in the environment, they will often turn their headphones up, to overcome this external noise. Noise cancelling headphones will reduce the external level of sound, which allows the child to listen at a quieter level and reduce their overall sound exposure,” explains Paul.
Should you buy wired or wireless headphones for your child?
A key choice when buying headphones is whether they are wired or wireless, although some headphones have the option for both. Paul advises this can also be a factor in safety. “Wireless headphones provide less risk of entanglement and are safer from that perspective. Furthermore, several studies have shown that the sound output from wireless headphones is easier to control and limit. The Bluetooth transmission which wireless headphones use, is also typically associated with volume-limiting headphones."
Best headphones for kids
BabyCenter selects products based on the research of our editors and the wisdom of parents in the BabyCenter Community. We may earn a commission from shopping links.
- PowerLocus kids' headphones
- Belkin SoundForm Mini kids' wireless headphones
- Kidrox toddler headphones
- JLab JBuddies Studio kids' wireless headphones
- Snug Play+ kids' headphones
- Louise & Mann kids' bluetooth headphones
- Philips SHK2000BL/00 over ear kids' headphones
- Belkin SOUNDFORM Nano wireless earbuds for kids
- iClever HS23 kids' headphones with microphone
PowerLocus kids' headphones
These headphones are packed full of features including ear control buttons which allow your child to adjust volume and change tracks with the touch of a button, a microphone and easy bluetooth connectivity. And with very cool novelty flashing ears, these ‘on ear’ children's headphones will be a huge hit with your child. Available in lots of colour options, they are foldable and come with their own hard case, perfect for travel and home use. With their padded headband and soft ear muffs they are comfortable for your child to wear. They charge using a standard USB charger and the battery lasts up to 15 hours. Plus, they have a two-year warranty.
Wireless or wired: wireless (up to 10m) but can also be wired
Volume limit: 85dB
Battery life: 15 hours
Available from AmazonOpens a new window.
Belkin SoundForm Mini kids' wireless headphones
Available in three colours, these wireless Belkin child-size headphones are made from durable ‘oops proof’ materials allowing for reliable everyday use. Made to withstand spills and accidents, they come with a two-year warranty. They feature easy to use ear controls, an inbuilt microphone, and have a long 30-hour battery life (charged via a Micro USB cable). The Belkin SoundForm Mini wireless headphones are compatible with most popular devices and have a 10m range. They can also be used with the provided aux cable if the battery runs out. Plus, they come with fun stickers so your child can customise them!
Volume limit: 85dB
Battery life: Up to 30 hours
Parents love them because… “They are a great size for smaller children and are quick to charge.”
Available from AmazonOpens a new window, LenovoOpens a new window and other major retailers.
Kidrox toddler headphones
These wired toddler headphones are flexible and durable. The Kidrox headphones are designed for smaller children aged two to seven and feature a fun tiger pattern. Available in grey, orange or turquoise, these headphones are compatible with any device that has a 3.5mm aux port. They also have comfortable ear pads and an adjustable headband to grow with your child. They come with a one-year warranty.
Wireless or wired: wired
Volume limit: 85dB
Battery life: N/A
Parents love them because…“They are easy to use, great colours and they have the sound restriction so he can never turn it too loud.”
Available from AmazonOpens a new window, WalmartOpens a new window and other major retailers.
JLab JBuddies Studio kids' wireless headphones
With a choice of a purple or blue colour, these JLab foldable, wireless children’s headphones come with an impressive 24-hour battery life. They have a ‘shareport’ allowing you to connect the aux cable if you run out of battery, or want to connect two pairs of headphones together. The adjustable headband and ‘cloudfoam’ ear cushions make them comfortable to wear, and they have simple on ear controls to allow your child to change track or volume easily. They also come with a two-year warranty.
Wireless or wired: wireless (up to 10m) but can also be wired
Volume limit: 85dB
Battery life: 24 hours
Parents love them because… “They're comfortable, hold a charge that lasts a few days for him and I don't have to worry about his hearing getting damaged by playing things too loud.”
Available from AmazonOpens a new window, WalmartOpens a new window and other major retailers, including StaplesOpens a new window.
Snug Play+ kids' headphones
Although more basic in their features than others in the list, these foldable wired toddler headphones are simple to use for smaller children. They are built for durability comfort with a padded headband and ear muffs. You can also connect more than one pair of headphones together using the provided aux cable, meaning several children can enjoy one device. They are compatible with any device that has a 3.5mm port.
Wireless or wired: wired
Volume limit: 93dB
Battery life: N/A
Parents love them because… “They are easily adjustable and comfortable for small ears. I didn’t want the bother of having to charge wireless ones.”
Louise & Mann kids' bluetooth headphones
With memory foam ears muffs, an adjustable headband and the ability to fold, these Bluetooth headphones are a comfortable choice. They have a battery life of up to 30 hours and are compatible with most devices. These Louise & Mann headphones also boast an impressive 13m range in wireless mode and they can also be connected via the aux cable too. Built with durability in mind they come with a two-year warranty.
Wireless or wired: wireless (up to 13m) but can also be wired
Volume limit: 85dB
Battery life: Up to 30 hours
Philips SHK2000BL/00 over ear kids' headphones
These ‘on ear’ kids’ headphones from Phillips have an ergonomic adjustable headband and come in a choice of pink and blue colour options. They have noise isolating ear cushions, and are lightweight, meaning they are comfortable for children to wear. They connect to any device that has a 3.5mm aux port.
Wireless or wired: wired
Volume limit: 85dB
Battery life: N/A
Available from AmazonOpens a new window.
Belkin SOUNDFORM Nano wireless earbuds for kids
For kids who might prefer an ‘in ear’ option, these Belkin wireless ear buds have been designed with a volume limitation for children. They are suitable for children aged seven and over and come with a choice of five ear tips to get the right size to fit your child. They are compatible with any Bluetooth device, have an inbuilt microphone, and come in three colour options. These Belkin earbuds are also water resistant and easy to control, allowing the user to change volume, skip or pause with a tap on the ear bud. To charge them you just have to pop them in their case. 10 minutes of charge will give 60 minutes of playtime, but a full charge will give up to five hours.
Volume limit: 85dB
Battery life: 5 hours nonstop and 19 hours extra charge with the case
Parents love them because: “They fit well, good sound quality. Great battery life.”
Available from AmazonOpens a new window, Best BuyOpens a new window and other major retailers.
iClever HS23 kids' headphones with microphone
Coming in both pink and blue, these wired headphones form iClever have a stretchable silicone headband, comfortable padded earmuff and a microphone. They are volume limited at 85dB but this can be adjusted to 94dB for travel or noisy situations. You can connect multiple headsets to each other and they will work with any device that has a 3.5mm aux port. The cable also has controls allowing for easy track changes and volume adjustment. The iClever headphones are lightweight and they also feature with swivel ear cushions so they can be easily packed for travel.
Wireless or wired: wired
Volume limit: 85dB with 94 dB travel mode
Battery life: N/A
Parents love them because…"These headphones do the job of cancelling noise and the sound quality is good.”
Available from AmazonOpens a new window.
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