5 Best Baby Headphones for Noise Protection
Life is especially loud for babies and their delicate ears. Proper hearing protection keeps them safe in noisy situations.
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There are many occasions when you want to protect your baby's ears from high decibels — festivals, concerts, parades, fireworks, plane rides or even family celebrations (weddings and birthday parties are loud!). Maybe the neighbors are doing construction, or you're having home renovations, or sirens are roaring nearby. Having a baby or toddler near a sustained 100+-decibel din can lead to noise-induced hearing loss, and yet it's not always possible to leave your little one out of a happening. Luckily, noise-canceling headphones for babies are a thing.
At the Good Housekeeping Institute we rate and review adult noise-canceling headphones for people who want to game, listen to music or enjoy entertainment without distracting background noise. But sound-dampening baby ear muffs are different; they dim surrounding noise without piping any sound in. They are called noise-canceling but are actually sound-reducing, and all of them are wireless. No baby headphones encase a child in silence. Your baby will still be able to hear some sounds come through, just at a safer level.
We consulted experts and parents to find the best headphones for babies that have a Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) of 20 dB or more. We evaluated 25 pairs and whittled the choices down to five. Though many are suitable from birth we recommend them for 3 months and up. Talk to your pediatrician, but most prefer that parents do whatever they have to do to keep a newborn younger than 3 months from loud (usually crowded) events until they receive their month two immunizations.
Pros
- High NRR rating
- Padding for comfort
- Lots of colors and patterns
Cons
- Priciest and heaviest on our list (but not by much)
Banz earmuffs are well-padded for extra comfort around the ears and across the top of the head. Available in an array of colors and patterns for cuteness, they've shown up on the ears of celebrity kids including Prince George (at an air show) and DJ Khaled's son Asahd (at the BET Awards).
On a more relatable level, we've had testers put these on their babies for events like weddings. GH Institute staffer Stefani Sassos uses them on her daughter for loud family events when there's music playing. "At one, I had 'loud noise environment' notifications going off on my Apple Watch and when we left, my own ears were ringing — all of which reaffirmed that these were necessary for my daughter," Sassos says. "She was nine months old at the time, and comfortable in them."
Though these are the heaviest and priciest on our list it's not by a lot, and we still think they're a bargain. Banz has a high NRR rating and over 13,000 five-star Amazon reviews, with 83 percent of the Amazon purchasers giving them that highest rating.
NRR rating: 31 dB | Ages: 3 months to 3 years | Weight: 6.7 oz
Pros
- Affordable
- Extra lightweight
- Brand trusted for ear protection
Cons
- Slightly lower NRR rating than others
With an NRR rating on the lower side, these don't cut out quite as much sound as some other choices, but they are the lightest headphones for babies on our list and a value pick from a trusted brand that also makes protective headphones for adults. If you think your toddler is more likely to wear headphones if you're wearing them too, you could grab your own pair of ProCase adult headphones and twin.
The ProCase Kids Ear Protection headphones, age-graded from 1 to 16, are a little more expensive but also a little more protective, and they come in more colors. They're something to consider if you're shopping for a preschooler or big kid. They're also recommended for kids with sensory issues who benefit from some quiet time.
NRR rating: 22 dB | Ages: 3 months to 3 years | Weight: 4.6 oz
Alpine Muffy Baby
Pros
- Elastic headband may be a better bet for staying on
- Comes with a carry bag for travel
- More than 17,000 five-star Amazon reviews
Cons
- Takes a minute to get these on a wiggly baby
If you struggle to keep headphones on your baby's head, you may have some luck with this Dutch brand that uses an elastic headband for a snug fit and firm hold. They can be especially useful on plane trips where you might need your baby to keep them on for a few hours.
In online reviews, some families say it works exactly as promised while others report that it's initially a little tough to get on their baby if they're a real wiggle-worm. All told, though, they have more than 17,000 five-star Amazon reviews. These should stretch to fit up to age 3 and are available in five colors. Muffy Baby headphones come with a carry bag that makes it easy to keep them clean and separated from everything else in your diaper bag.
NRR rating: 23 dB | Ages: 3 months to 3 years | Weight: 5.8 oz
Pros
- Matches our best overall pick's NRR rating
- Durable headband
- Easy slide adjustment
Cons
- Won't fit to age 3 like some others
Mumba Baby Earmuffs match our best overall pick's high NRR rating, cutting down noise about as much as possible. As with all baby-specific noise-canceling headphones, your child will still hear loud sounds, but they'll be muffled. Online reviewers praise the durability of the foam headband which can take a good bit of stretching and twisting.
Push down on the logo-printed button to slide the headband through and adjust the fit. Though you can expect these to fit past your baby's second birthday, they are likely going to be too small by age 3. There are more than a dozen colors and patterns to pick from.
NRR rating: 31 dB | Ages: 3 months to 2+ years | Weight: 5.9 oz
Pros
- Lets a baby or toddler feel like a big kid
- Color choices to match an older sib or adult
- Many users say their baby wears this comfortably
Cons
- Headband is not as durable as some others
It can sometimes be easier to get a baby to wear headphones if they can look like a big kid. So even though these only dampen sound and your baby won't be listening to tunes or games like an older sib, your baby might chose to keep these on, especially if one of the 10 available colors matches the older kid's pair. (See more tips for getting babies to wear their ear protection in the box below.)
We also like that so many online reviewers say their baby wears these comfortably. The headband is a bit more cheaply made than that on our best overall pick but that's reflected in this having a slightly lower price.
NRR rating: 23 dB | Ages: 3 months to 3 years | Weight: 6.4 oz
How we choose the best baby noise-canceling headphones
We reviewed 25 pairs of noise-canceling headphones designed specially for babies, focusing on pairs with a Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) compliant with ANSI/ASA S12.6-2016 as required by the American National Standards Institute. According to that organization, the highest NRR a consumer can expect is 30 or 31, and two of our choices, including our best overall pick, meet that high threshold. You might also see companies list an SNR number, which is the European standard; NRR is the US standard.
We checked our final choices with the experts at Quiet Mark, a partner of the Good Housekeeping Institute. Quiet Mark has not certified any noise-canceling headphones made for babies. Though the staff had no red flags with our picks, they noted that a professional audiologist or pediatrician is the best person to provide advice about appropriate use. Finally, we received feedback from parent testers regarding fit, comfort and ease of use.
What to look for when shopping for baby noise-canceling headphones
Heading somewhere loud with your baby in tow and want to protect their ears? Be mindful of:
✔️ Fit: Be sure you're buying headphones sized for a baby. Look for an age grading that goes from birth or the infant months to age 2 or 3 years.
✔️ Ear muff style: The big ear muffs are the sound-reducing kind. Headphones with smaller cups are usually the ones you plug into a device so your child can listen to music or shows. Noise-reducing headphones for a baby will be wireless.
✔️ NRR rating: As described above, the Noise Reduction Rating gives you a gauge of how well the headphones block sound. The highest rating for baby headphones is 31. Most baby noise-canceling headphones have a rating somewhere in the 20s; we would not recommend buying headphones with an NRR rating below that, and we left brands off the list that didn't provide any NRR rating (such as Friday 7Care).
✔️ Realistic expectations: Don't expect headphones to deliver silence. Though they may be called "noise canceling," there is no pair of headphones that can silence everything. "Decreasing the sound reaching your baby's ears is the goal," said American Academy of Pediatrics member Sophie J. Balk, M.D., a pediatrician at the Children's Hospital at Montefiore in New York City and professor of pediatrics at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine.
When wearing headphones, your baby might not hear the conversation going on at a late-night family barbecue and could even drift off to sleep, but they might open their eyes when fireworks start. The noise won't be as loud as it would be without headphones, but your baby will still hear the muffled bangs.
When to use noise-canceling headphones for babies
Dr. Balk told us that babies should be shielded from loud noise as much as possible, and baby noise-canceling headphones can play a part in that. "For many reasons, babies’ delicate ears and hearing are thought to be more sensitive to excessive noise compared to older children and adults," Dr. Balk says. "Babies can’t remove themselves from uncomfortable — even painful — noisy situations so they must rely on adults to protect them."
Using headphones will be left to your judgement but plenty of parents use them at home when they're vacuuming or when they're out at noisy festivals or ballgames— there are hundreds of possible scenarios when your child might be more comfortable with ear protection. You're not only keeping your baby from pain, you're working to prevent any permanent damage. "Hearing loss that occurs because of excessive noise can have long-term consequences, including their ability to learn," Dr. Balk said.
A rule of thumb: If a place seems loud to you, it's probably too loud for your baby. "Noisy restaurants, parties, sports events, dance events, life events — all can be fun for people but also may get extremely loud," Dr. Balk says. "If you decide to stay at the event, put protective headphones on your baby to keep them as safe as possible."
Tips for getting your baby to wear noise-canceling headphones
The one universal con of all baby ear muffs is that your baby might try to pull them off. Here, some advice from parents who have been there.
• Fuss with the fit at home, before you are in the loud situation. That gives you a chance to adjust the headphones to the proper width so that they slide right onto your baby when the music or event begins.
• Be ready with a distraction when you first put the headphones on your child. When you place a hat, headband or anything else on a baby, often their first inclination is to yank it off. But if you're prepared with a favorite toy, sippy cup or anything they can hold in their hands, you can likely distract them long enough that they'll forget something went on their noggin.
• Look convincing. If you appear worried that your baby is going to reject the headphones, they'll probably read your skepticism and be nervous themselves. Prepare to look delighted and excited about your baby wearing headphones and they're more likely to keep them on.
• If needed, pretend that YOU want them. If your baby is really having none of it, put the headphones on yourself and show your baby how glad you are to have them. They always want what you've got! Another tactic: Use peer pressure to your advantage and have an older sibling or friend wear headphones.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
The scientists, researchers and journalists of the Good Housekeeping Institute regularly review home safety products such as the best air purifiers for allergies and baby gear such as the best bassinets and best swaddles for safe sleep in infancy. If you're interested in finding some peace and quiet for yourself, check out our roundup of sound machines for sleep.
Contributing writer Jessica Hartshorn, most recently a senior editor at Parents magazine, researched and wrote up this list. She's a mom of two and has covered subjects such as the best baby carriers.
Jessica (she/her) is a freelance writer with several decades of experience writing lifestyle content and evaluating home and parenting products. A mom of two teens and two cats, her previous work can be seen in American Baby and Parents.
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