Kids love their tunes, audiobooks, and educational apps, but with delicate ears and active lifestyles, finding the best headphones for your child can feel like navigating a minefield. This guide will help you pick the perfect pair, whether you're seeking safe sound levels, wireless freedom, or school-friendly features.
We've explored crucial factors like volume limitations, durability, comfort, and features that cater to young ears and active lifestyles.
So, let's explore the best kid headphones that fit your child's unique needs!
Top 5 best kids headphones – our shortlist
- Puro Sound Labs BT2200 Plus – volume-limiting technology for safe listening
- Puro Sound Labs PuroQuiet – active noise-cancellation for an immersive experience
- JLab JBuddies Play – customizable volume control for varied environments
- Onanoff BuddyPhones Explore – sharing port for group listening experiences
- EarFun K2 Kids – IPX7 waterproof rating for outdoor durability
What to look for in headphones for kids?
Selecting the ideal headphones for your kid is not an easy task. As a parent you want to ensure that listening is secure, cozy, and enlightening. With that many options available, deciphering which features truly matter can feel like solving a puzzle.
This guide will break down the essential elements, empowering you to pick the perfect headphones for your child's needs.
- Volume limiting. Young ears can suffer harm from prolonged exposure to loud noises. Seek out headphones made especially for children, with integrated volume limiters that cap the highest decibel level, usually about 85 dB. Remember, even headphones without a limiter might not offer sufficient protection, so prioritize this feature for safe listening.
- Comfort. Select headphones with padded, adjustable ear cups and adjustable headbands so your ears won't be pinched or compressed. Take the weight into consideration, especially for younger children, since bulky headphones can be uncomfortable and exhausting.
- Durability. Children require their headphones to keep up with their quick changes of direction. Select models designed to survive falls, bumps, and the odd tug-of-war. If you choose wired, look for flexible headbands, robust fabrics, and wires that are free of tangles. Remember, durability doesn't have to compromise style – explore options with fun, kid-proof designs.
- Wireless vs. wired. Wireless headphones offer tangle-free convenience, perfect for active kids or those who easily misplace cables. However, battery life and potential charging needs become factors. Conversely, wired headphones are less expensive and constantly ready to use, but they might restrict movement and be prone to tangles. To determine the best fit, consider your child's preferences and behaviors.
- Design. Explore headphones with vibrant colors, fun characters, or themes that match your child's interests. Remember, design shouldn't compromise functionality – ensure chosen features (like volume limiting and comfort) are present before solely focusing on aesthetics.
- Price. Kids' headphones range in price, catering to various budgets. While premium options might offer advanced features, remember, core functionalities like volume limiting and comfort should be present even in budget-friendly choices. Prioritize essential features and set a realistic budget to find the sweet spot between affordability and quality.
10 best headphones for kids – our detailed list
Now that we've got key features to consider, let's delve into our curated list of the top 10 best headphones for kids! While creating this list we meticulously combed through the market, conducting in-depth research and rigorous feature tests. We prioritized safety, comfort, durability, functionality, and kid-friendly appeal.
Here is our winner list:
1. Puro Sound Labs BT2200 Plus – volume-limiting technology for safe listening
Sound quality: | Excellent |
Volume limiting: | Excellent |
Battery life: | 20h |
Durability: | Great |
The Puro Sound Labs BT2200 Plus headphones strike a harmonious chord between superior sound quality, ultimate safety, and kid-approved design, making them a top contender for the best overall kids' headphones.
Volume limiting. Your child's hearing is safeguarded with a built-in volume limiter that caps the audio at 80 decibels, adhering to World Health Organization recommendations. The BT2200 Plus headphones adequately block up to 80% ambient noise, enabling your child to concentrate on their audio without dividing his attention.
Comfort. Providing a soft, padded ear cup that could be adjusted together with the headband allows listening sessions, especially long ones, without feeling tired or hurt.
Design and durability. These are very durable and passed all of our tests of bending and flexing, however when it comes to design, these are more favored by adult testers rather than kids, as they do look pretty conservative.
2. Puro Sound Labs PuroQuiet – active noise-cancellation for immersive experience
Sound quality: | Very good |
Volume limiting: | Great |
Battery life: | 25-30h |
Durability: | Good |
Puro Sound Labs PuroQuiet headphones with in-house active noise cancellation are for kids who need to concentrate in noisy places and as well as who simply crave a distraction-free listening experience.
Volume limiting. These headphones effectively block out ambient noise, allowing your child to focus on audiobooks, online learning, or homework without distractions. 78% noise isolation further enhances passive noise reduction, creating a serene soundscape even in bustling environments.
Comfort. Made with comfort in mind, these headphones are built with soft plush cushions, providing a relaxed feeling of earwear for hours. It is designed with an adjustable headband to make it more flexible and personalized for kids of all ages.
Design and durability. Puro Sound Labs PuroQuiet has been tested and built to cope with everything an active lifestyle throws. They are so rugged that they do not break with accidental drops, knocks, and rough handling. The long-lasting materials can withstand wear and tear, which is why they are an irreplaceable factor in durability.
3. JLab JBuddies Play – customizable volume control for varied environments
Sound quality: | Very good |
Volume limiting: | Great |
Battery life: | 22h |
Durability: | Good |
The JBuddies Play headphones from JLab are built with the particular purpose of accommodating adjustable volume control. This offers parents the ability to select the volume level that suits the various environments while ensuring their children's safety during listening.
Volume limiting. JBuddies Play provided by JLab has settings for volume control to which parents may set the audio volume levels corresponding to the ever-changing environments of their children. Thus, parents can be sure that their children are safe from the harmful effects of music at all times, be it in their homes, cars, or public places.
Comfort. These headphones come with a fabric headband that is cushy and comfortable on the head when being worn over an extended period. Thanks to its adjustable features, the headphones offer a perfect fit tailored for all of the kids regardless of age, providing safe and comfortable periods of listening.
Design and durability. Just like the other JLab headphones, JBuddies Play is constructed for daily use and also be able to survive if it happens to fall accidentally or you drop it. Thanks to the durable materials used, they are built to last, offering good quality for active kids.
4. Onanoff BuddyPhones Explore – sharing port for group listening experiences
Sound quality: | Mediocre |
Volume limiting: | Great |
Battery life: | 20h |
Durability: | Excellent |
Young learners and developing audiophiles will find the Onanoff BuddyPhones Explore to be the perfect blend of kid-centric features and affordable noise canceling.
Volume limiting. These headphones are equipped with volume-limiting technology that restricts the maximum volume to 85 decibels, the level recommended by audiologists to prevent hearing damage.
Comfort. The earcups of those headphones are covered with a soft fabric and are comfortable for kids who are prone to sensory overstimulation.
Design and durability. Kids can utilize the stickers that are included with the headphones to add a unique and imaginative touch to the device. These headphones are made of sturdy materials and fit comfortably, making them ideal for active kids and long-term use.
5. EarFun K2 Kids – IPX7 waterproof rating for outdoor durability
Sound quality: | Good |
Volume limiting: | Great |
Battery life: | 40h |
Durability: | Good |
The EarFun K2 Kids headphones prioritize wireless convenience and are a comfortable fit for young children with smaller heads. These EarFun K2 Kids earphones come with built-in Bluetooth 5.0 technology that allows you to connect wirelessly with smartphones, tablets, and other devices with Bluetooth.
Volume limiting. The headphones have been designed to include two volume limiting modes (85dB and 94dB) in which the rest volume will not exceed the recommended levels for children's hearing safety.
Comfort. Weighing only 1.4 ounces, these headphones rest comfortably on small heads without causing fatigue. Memory foam padding ensures a snug and comfortable fit for extended listening sessions. Headphones accommodate growing heads, offering a long-lasting solution.
Design and durability. The K2 Kids headphones from EarFun earn a top mark for their IPX7 waterproofing status, according to which it is possible to submerge the headphones in water up to 1 meter deep for 30 minutes and not be concerned about headphones getting harmed. This allows kids to stay out during outdoor activities like swimming, camping, or playing in the rain.
6. JLab JBuddies Pro Wireless – sweatproof beats for active kids
Sound quality: | Great |
Volume limiting: | Good |
Battery life: | 35h |
Durability: | Average |
Developed for active kids, the JLab JBuddies Pro Wireless headphones break free from the conventional and offer durability for sweat and wireless freedom for their energetic lives.
Volume limiting. Designed to protect young listeners, the volume-limiting JBuddies Pro Wireless headphones offered by JLab safety professionals only let sound up to 85 decibels, which the audiologists suggest is not harmful to our ears. Choose between three different sound profiles named JLab Signature, Bass Boost, and Balanced for optimal audio experience alignment with your child’s favorites.
Comfort. These headphones come with simple controls built directly onto the ear-cups that let kids manipulate the music volume level, skip tracks, or handle phone calls using just a button.
Design and durability. The JLab JBuddies Pro Wireless has an over-ear design. This design can reduce surrounding noise passively, providing a better listening experience for the child. The build quality could be better among the options, but it is sturdy enough for a child.
7. Onanoff BuddyPhones School – educational headphones with boom microphone
Sound quality: | Good |
Volume limiting: | Great |
Battery life: | Wired (no charging required) |
Durability: | Good |
The Onanoff BuddyPhones School headphones go beyond music, serving as a learning aid with features designed to enhance focus and support collaborative learning.
Volume limiting. These headphones safeguard young ears with built-in volume limiting, adhering to recommended safe listening levels. Also, the ambient noise reduction minimizes distractions from background noise, helping children focus better on audiobooks, online lessons, or lectures.
Comfort. These headphones fold up neat and small, slipping easily into any bag. Plus, the flexible arms won't crack under pressure, and the flat, detachable cable means no more tangled messes in your child's backpack.
Design and durability. They connect two pairs of BuddyPhones School via a detachable cable, allowing children to listen to the same audio simultaneously, fostering collaborative learning or group projects.
8. JBuddies Studio – studio-inspired sound quality for music enthusiasts
Sound quality: | Average |
Volume limiting: | Great |
Battery life: | 13h (wireless) |
Durability: | Good |
The JLab JBuddies Studio is creatively engineered headphones for children who love listening to melodies.
Volume limiting. With the built-in noise isolation technology, these headphones can block out external noises and surrounding distractors so that children can focus on their music without interference from any audible sound.
Comfort. These headphones feature soft/delicate ear cups with added comfort padding for extended wear. The composition of the material is soft, enabling it to cover the curve of the ears; this provides an effective fit that is comfortable and allows children to listen to music for long hours without discomfort.
Design and durability. Choose between wired or wireless connectivity to suit your child's preferences and needs. The wired option eliminates battery concerns, while wireless offers freedom of movement. The tangle-free cable provides hassle-free use, allowing kids to plug in and enjoy their favorite music anytime, anywhere.
9. iClever BTH12 Kids Bluetooth Headphones – safe listening technology with volume control
Sound quality: | Great |
Volume limiting: | Excellent |
Battery life: | 55h (wireless) |
Durability: | Great |
The iClever BTH12 Kids Bluetooth Headphones are a perfect blend of bright, vibrant colors and patterns, custom stylish designs, and essential safety features to suit the taste of trendy, music-loving kids.
Volume limiting. The main highlight of the headphones is the safe listening technology, which includes a volume control button that plays a crucial role in preventing excessive loudness that may lead to damage to the ear. They have three volume settings - the standard 85dB, a 74dB setting named 'Toddler', and a 94dB 'Travel' volume setting.Comfort. These headphones are equipped with an adjustable headband and are light and comfortable.
Design and durability. These LED headphones are cordless and multicolored so that the kids will have fun and enjoy music with their blazing lights.
10. Belkin SoundForm Adapt – adaptive sound adjusts to ambient noise levels
Sound quality: | Great |
Volume limiting: | Good |
Battery life: | 45h (wireless) |
Durability: | Good |
The Belkin SoundForm Adapt headphones seamlessly blend versatile functionality with comfortable design, making them a compelling choice for kids who enjoy music, movies, and even online learning.
Volume limiting. Environmental Noise Cancellation (ENC) feature minimizes distractions from background noise, enhancing focus during online lessons, homework sessions, or movie marathons. The 40mm Drivers of the headphones deliver a captivating sound, making each listening experience feel immersive and enjoyable.
Comfort. These headphones have an ergonomic over-ear design. This design ensures comfort for kids, allowing them to wear the headphones for extended periods without discomfort. This is especially beneficial for long journeys or online learning sessions.
Design and durability. These headphones are best suited for kids who are opting for a more mature look, as these look pretty conservative.
Comparison of kids' headphones
Here are the top three headphones for kids compared.
Model: | Puro Sound Labs BT2200 Plus | Puro Sound Labs PuroQuiet | JLab JBuddies Play |
Sound quality: | Excellent | Very good | Very good |
Volume limiting: | Excellent | Great | Great |
Battery life: | 20h | 25-30h | 22h |
Durability: | Great | Good | Good |
Additional information: |
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How we selected these headphones for kids?
Picking the right headphones for your child can be like searching for the perfect harmony – a delicate balance between safety, quality, and features that ignite their sonic senses. To guide you on this audio adventure, we tested the products based on 5 key criteria:
- Hearing safety first. Every headphone on our list prioritizes young ears, featuring built-in volume limiting that adheres to recommended safe listening levels. We believe protecting their precious hearing is the most important note to hit.
- Sound quality. Listening to a clear crisp, and deep bass, we executed the means of checking these headphones' capacity to provide a wide range of sound. At the end of it all, you are the judge. Great music is made to be heard in stereophonic quality – great for even our young music lovers.
- Comfort. Conforming to our specifications, the chosen headphones have embraced the design that provides comfort while fitting relatively well, thus preventing ears from becoming exhausted or sore. Whether your child is going on a fantastic journey of his creation or tackling homework, comfort is the one thing that ensures that they will not be distracted by the audio coming from the headphones.
- Features that fit their world. From wireless freedom for active adventures to noise cancellation for focused learning, we considered various features that cater to different needs and preferences. The goal? Matching the perfect headphones to your child's unique listening style.
- Durability. Young and energetic children are natural explorers who require headphones that will also travel the world with them! We offered products that could go the entire distance, taking blows, drops, and every tiny mileage, and still the sound would keep playing on.
Also read:
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How to choose age-appropriate headphones?
Headphones for kids should be selected in light of children’s specific needs and safety. Here are some guidelines for selecting the right headphones for different age groups:
- Toddlers and preschoolers. It's essential to select headphones with volume limiters to maintain the sound level under 85dB, which protects the little and sensitive ears from over-exposure. First of all, choose headphones without wires and with paddings that can be adjusted easily so that these are not uncomfortable.
- School-age children. Considering headphones to be used by school-age children, you should get priority for those with a sound level limiter and a good, breathable design. Wireless headphones are great, and they help you avoid cord-related accidents. Moreover, microphones built into the headphones are useful in classrooms when you’re using a virtual environment and are a part of the community.
- Teens. For teens, emphasis on headphones with a volume capping and a high sound quality is recommended. Bluetooth options give you freedom of movement, and the ear cup design cuts down much of the noise. Furthermore, think of well-designed headphones with features they can play with to create something unique.
Are noise-canceling headphones good for kids?
Noice-canceling headphones can have both positive and negative effects on children. When using these headphones to study, a kid can achieve total immersion and be away from external distractions as they block sounds out. This makes them perfect for kids in a noisy environment, where they can concentrate on their studies without interruption.
In addition, they can also keep hearing children safe by having the volume set to just around 85DB.
Nevertheless, long-term use of noise-canceling headphones can result in deprivation of knowledge about the environment, which could be dangerous in certain instances, especially in overcrowded or dangerous surroundings.
Before making a decision, parents will need to consider their child's age and level of maturity, together with purposes of use and other similar factors, before they can decide if wearing noise-canceling headphones is good for their children.
Why volume limiting feature is important for kids' headphones?
The sound-limiting in the earphones for the kids is vital for their defense against irreversible damage to their hearing. Children are more prone to hearing loss due to noise exposure, so reducing their exposure to unwanted noises is necessary. Using the volume limiting feature, the headphones are equipped with no more than two-thirds of the maximum volume output released at safe levels, usually no more than 85 decibels.
Final Words
After a thorough evaluation, our top choice is the Puro Sound Labs BT2200 Plus headphones for children. With superior volume-limiting technology, comfortable fit, and sound quality – all combined in the ideal sound for young ears – the headphones provide the perfect balance between safety, comfort, and performance. Consequently, BT2200 Plus from Puro Sound Labs tops our chart for the most excellent headphones for parents seeking the same.
FAQ
Are headphones bad for children’s hearing?
Not necessarily, if used responsibly. However, prolonged exposure to loud volumes can damage their developing ears. Choose headphones with built-in volume limits at 85dB or lower to ensure safe listening.
How loud should kids' headphones be?
Experts advise keeping headphones at no more than 85dB in volume for safe long-term listening. Seek for headphones with adjustable limitations or visible indicators of the volume level.
Should children wear over-ear headphones, earbuds, or AirPods?
Over-ear headphones are considered less harmful and give the best noise cancellation effect than earbuds, AirPods, or in-ear headphones, thus being a safer adaptation for children. To protect the children's hearing from the loud sounds, parents should purchase the in-ear choices, however, check if the size is right and what features are included that ease the sound volume.
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