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The Best Infant Ear Protection for Your Child’s Ears
As a parent, it's up to you to keep your child safe. Many moms and dads work tirelessly to protect their little one, investing in the safest car seats and feeding their child the healthiest foods. But there's one area you might overlook: your baby’s hearing.
The auditory system, including the ears, allows us to hear and is very fragile, especially in babies and toddlers. Very young children are more sensitive to loud sounds than most adults. If they’re exposed to sounds that are too loud and unsafe for their delicate ears, it can result in hearing damage that may be permanent.
This is where infant ear protection comes in. Infant ear protection products, like headphones, ear muffs and earplugs, are perfect for protecting your baby or toddler against loud noises. If you plan to take your baby to a loud event, infant ear protection is a must-have. In this guide, we’ll look at the top-rated infant ear protection products of 2023 so you can keep your baby safe and sound.
Buying Guide: Infant Ear Protection
Infant ear protection products like earmuffs and headphones are vital for protecting the delicate ears of babies and toddlers. Read on to learn more about why it’s so important to use infant ear protection and some examples of situations where these products may prove useful in your child’s life.
Why Do Infants Need Infant Ear Protection?
So, why do very young children need infant ear protection in the first place? Well, doctors and scientists have discovered that young children have much more sensitive auditory systems than adults. In other words, the ears and auditory canals of babies are very delicate.
Because of this, young children are more likely to experience pain and discomfort when exposed to loud sounds. A lot of babies and toddlers may cry at loud events because the noise causes them pain.
If young children are exposed to too many loud sounds or excessively noisy environments, they’re at risk of suffering from serious hearing damage and even potentially short or long-term hearing loss.
The Uses of Infant Ear Protection
Now that you know the reasons for infant ear protection, you might still wonder about when babies and toddlers need to wear these products. Here are a few examples of situations where infant ear protection makes a big difference.
Nap time
A lot of parents like to use infant ear protection muffs and headphones on their children when it’s time for a nap or long rest. Young children tend to find it a lot easier to drift off into a peaceful sleep when they aren’t bothered by any outside noises or ambient sounds.
Big family events
If you’re planning a fun family gathering like a wedding, a backyard BBQ or a birthday party, it’s normal to bring your child along to have fun and see the family. All the noise of chatter and laughter, however, can be too much for small ears. Putting a pair of headphones on your baby allows them to enjoy the gathering without suffering from needless hearing damage.
Concerts and games
Depending on your lifestyle, you might also like to take your toddler or baby along to special events, like musical concerts or big sporting events at your favorite stadium. The noise of these events is often too much for young children, but infant ear protection helps to solve the problem.
On the move
Another situation where infant ear protection is really useful is while traveling. Trains, buses, cars and airplanes make lots of noise that may bother or irritate your child. Using infant ear protection should help your baby rest more easily and have a pleasant ride.
The Best Infant Ear Protection Models of 2023 in Detail
Alpine – Best Overall
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Starting off our list, we have these ear protection earmuffs from Alpine Hearing Protection. These earmuffs are suitable for children up to 36 months old, and they’re among the most effective forms of infant ear protection on the market today. Crafted from a mixture of strong, quality materials — like ABS, PVC and polyester — these infant ear protection muffs prevent hearing damage and help your baby stay safe in areas or environments where loud sounds may be present. Unlike many other muffs on the market, these ear muffs for your baby are really comfortable to wear due to their soft and cozy lining, so they shouldn’t cause any discomfort or irritation. Thanks to their comfort levels and protection potential, these infant ear protection muffs earn our best overall award.
Pros
- Comfortable, soft and cozy to wear
- Impressive levels of protection
- Suitable for babies up to 34 months
Cons
- Fall off easily if baby wiggles around
BBTKCARE – Best for Sleep
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A lot of babies struggle to sleep due to loud sounds or noisy environments, and little ones often become grouchy and upset if they don’t get enough rest. If this is an issue for your newborn, these infant ear protection headphones from BBTKCARE could be just what you need. These headphones feature noise canceling technology, which is designed to block out ambient noises in places like airplanes, train stations or even loud outdoor gatherings, giving your baby the comfort and quiet they need to get some rest. Ideal for naps and sleepy moments on-the-go, these infant ear protection headphones are compact, portable and well-made with a mixture of durable plastic and soft leather for maximum comfort.
Pros
- Come in a variety of festive colors
- Cancels out loud ambient sounds
- Compact and portable design
Cons
- Packaging isn’t great
Friday 7Care – Best for Travel
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If you do a lot of traveling with your child, it’s very important to invest in good quality infant ear protection as the sounds of trains, planes and automobiles can cause a lot of discomfort for young ears. These comfortable, fully adjustable noise canceling baby ear muffs by Friday 7Care are specially designed for those noisy on-the-go situations like airplane and train rides. They also work well for fireworks shows, concerts and other events. Featuring smart technology that blocks out exterior sounds, these infant ear protection headphones give your baby some much-needed peace and quiet. Highly flexible but strong and sturdy, these headphones are built to last for years of use and feature plenty of internal space to work well on both young babies and toddlers up to the age of two.
Pros
- Large enough for toddlers
- Effective noise canceling technology
- Puts zero pressure on baby’s ears
Cons
- Not ideal for large heads
Mumba – Best Fit
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One of the problems with a lot of infant ear protection headphones and earmuffs is that they’re hard to fit snugly and securely on your baby’s head. Fortunately, that shouldn’t be a problem with these noise canceling headphones from Mumba. Designed for babies and toddlers up to two years of age, these infant ear protection headphones have a great shape that fits snugly around different sizes and shapes of heads without falling off or feeling loose. They’re fully adjustable to precisely fit on your child’s head without any discomfort or excess pressure. Plus, since they’re crafted from strong ABS material, these noise canceling headphones shouldn’t break or crack, even if your child falls while wearing them or drops them on the ground.
Pros
- Available in three bright colors
- Adjustable, form-fitting design
- Strong and sturdy construction
Cons
- Noise canceling is minimal
Snug – Most Comfortable
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Some babies are a little picky or fussy when it comes to headphones and headsets. They might not feel comfortable or cozy in some of the infant ear protection products on the market. If comfort is what you care about the most, these headphones from Snug should be on your list of considerations. Aimed at toddlers and infants alike, these earmuffs are super comfortable, with cozy padded muffs and a cushioned headband to help your baby enjoy peace and quiet without any discomfort whatsoever. Not only are these earmuffs comfortable, but they’re also effective at blocking out sounds of trains, fireworks and sporting events. Super lightweight, these muffs are ideal for bringing along on vacations and road trips.
Pros
- Lightweight design is great for travel
- Padded muffs are comfortable to wear
- Pass USA and European safety tests
Cons
- Not as durable as others
People Also Asked
Q: When should my baby wear ear protection?
A: Babies should wear infant ear protection products up to the age of two in any situations where very loud sounds are present, like concerts or big family parties.
Q: How loud is too loud for a newborn?
A: Experts agree that anything over 85 decibels is quite loud for a child and may cause pain and distress. Over 100 decibels is dangerous to your child's auditory health.
Q: Can babies go deaf from loud noises?
A: It is possible for babies and children to suffer serious hearing damage and long-term hearing loss if they’re exposed to very loud sounds on a recurring basis. This is why many experts recommend the use of infant ear protection.
