Baby Hearing Protection Buyer’s Guide

Why is Hearing Protection for Babies So Important?

You may be wondering why you need to be concerned about your child’s hearing. If you’re taking her for regular checkups and she’s responding readily to hearing her name being called and other low– to mid-level sounds, the likelihood is that she’s developing normally.

However, about 15% of people in the U.S. age 18 and over report that they have difficulty hearing in one or both ears. In fact, over the course of his or her lifetime, an American adult has a 16% chance of being diagnosed with some degree of hearing disability.

Most concerning of all, by the time hearing loss is detected, it’s possible that the issue has been developing for years, experts say. That means hearing loss may begin in childhood, when you think your child’s hearing is just fine.

The National Institutes of Health reported a slightly higher percentage of hearing loss in 2017 v. 2016, which is also concerning. The reason for the increase could be due to a number of factors, including very loud direct sound via earbuds, electronic sounds through devices such as tablets, and noisy sport or music events.

If you protect your baby’s hearing before there’s a detectable problem, you’re putting the odds in her favor and helping ensure healthy hearing in the future.

Which Children Will Benefit Most From Hearing Protection?

While all babies’ and toddlers’ ears should be protected in noisy environments, some children may be especially good candidates for wearing ear protection. These include but are not exclusive to:

• Children who naturally seem more sensitive to sound
• Children who cry/pull their ears/try to run away in the presence of sudden or loud sounds
• Children who have had recent surgeries or procedures in the middle or inner ear or ear drum
• Babies and toddlers who seem to become overstimulated from noises or activity
• Any child who will be near sounds above approximately 80 decibels ––  fireworks, loud car or other shows, loud music, power tools, etc. (even if the noise is only expected to last for a short period of time)
• Babies and toddlers who have already been diagnosed with some form of hearing damage

The above does not constitute medical advice; if you suspect hearing loss in your child, see her doctor.

Finding the Right Hearing Protection For Your Baby

Finding great baby ear protection that will work for your child can be a bit of a juggling act. Babies and toddlers often dislike having anything on their head, or anything at all that gets in the way of their freedom of movement.

That’s natural, but it means you need to find just the right ear protection gear for your little one. During our research we chose the highest-rated ear muffs for babies that are also parent-approved.

With that said, you may wish to shop around and decide which of these works for Baby. We’ve compiled the most important factors to keep in mind. We’ve based them on verified users’ experiences. Below are the most relevant questions you’ll want to ask yourself before making a purchase.

1. Check the NRR on Your Baby’s Ear Protection

We’ll explain the NRR in more detail below in this article. Briefly: NRR stands for “noise reduction rating.” The NRR is an EPA standard of measurement used for noise protection products.

Baby ear protection with a high NRR (up to about 31 or 32) tends to be a bit pricier than lower NRR ear muffs. Depending upon your child’s ear sensitivity, she may do fine with a lower NRR (about 18 and up).

If your child is a usually only sensitive to mid-decibel sounds ––  for example, while out at the store or the park –– start out with a standard rating. If your child is extremely sensitive or if you will be in an area with very high decibel noise, shop around for your best value with the highest NRR.

Very high NRR protection may also be a good choice if you want your bases covered anywhere you plan to take your child.

2. Make Sure the Headband is the Right Size

Most youth hearing protection comes in adjustable sizing. The headband adjusts up or down just as it does with adult headphones. But since babies grow dramatically between birth and age two, some manufacturers offer specific size ranges.

Believe it or not, a baby’s head at age 24 months is 90% of the size it will be when she’s an adult. Since head growth varies most during these first two years, specific sizes may be more important for a baby than for a preschooler, who will probably do fine with child’s standard adjustable earmuffs.

When in doubt, try before you buy. Your best bet if purchasing online is to make sure the supplier offers a returns or exchange policy. Also, be sure to read consumer reviews, as these will give you an idea of how the sizing has worked for different babies and toddlers.

3. Make Sure the Ear Protection is Lightweight

Most toddlers will fuss if they have to wear something heavy. (We’re sure that as a parent, you already know that!) So choose an option that’s lightweight for your child’s comfort.

This is another case where reading reviews comes in handy. Ear protection muffs do have to have some weight to them, but some are made of lighter materials than others. Please note that the choices we investigated above are all fairly lightweight.

4. Three Comfort Keys for Your Baby’s Ear Protection Device

Of course, your baby’s hearing protection is your goal. On the other hand, the highest NRR and best noise seal in the world won’t mean much if Baby refuses to wear the device. So look for these three important features:

• Padded headband: Ultra-soft padding is a huge bonus.
• Soft ear cuffs: The interior padding should be insulating against sound, but soft and comfortable.

• Secure but not-too-tight fit: While you don’t want the ear protection band to slip off your baby’s head, you don’t want it to squeeze. An adjustable set can help with this.

5. Leather v. Synthetic Material: Which is Your Best Bet?

There are pros and cons to either of these. Leather looks and feels high-quality and if it’s been correctly treated in the factory, can last a long time. Synthetics, such as vinyls (PVC, for example), may repel sweat better and tend to be easier to clean.

Leather costs more; if price is a consideration, you may have better luck with synthetics. Make sure your baby doesn’t have negative reactions to vinyl before making this decision. Most children are fine with synthetic ear protection. Your child’s experiences could vary.

6. Check out the Product’s Durability

It’s pretty much guaranteed that your toddler’s ear protection gear will be chewed on, spilled all over, and thrown into the baby bag at the last minute. Check reviews to see how a particular model holds up under standard handling.

The product should be easy to clean and water-stain resistant. It should also be sturdy enough not to break when handled by your youngster. Remember that as the parent, you may be subjecting the ear protection earmuffs to some rough times, too. You’ll be grabbing for the earmuffs, putting them on and taking them off Baby, and will probably be toting them from place to place.

Fold-up varieties are great; because the earphones are more compact, they’re less likely to get caught on things and break when you cart them around.

7. Looks Do Matter (to Some Children)

It may be easier to get your little one to wear her ear protection if it looks awesome. You’re in luck: today’s baby ear protection comes in super cool colors and patterns.

If your child is toddler-age or older, ask what her favorite color is. She’ll be much more likely to proudly wear her ear protection if she loves the color.

As for patterns, some child ear protection gear has these. Look for child-friendly animals, rain patterns, or other appealing visual features.

Of course, once they’re on her head, your child won’t be able to see the sound protective ear muffs anymore. The choices we found were primarily basic black or white, but also offered color options. This will be up to you and to your child’s tastes.

9. Make Sure There’s a Warranty and Exchange Policy

We know you’ve experienced this: you find what looks like the perfect item for your child...and she just can’t stand it. Sometimes she’ll tell you why; other times, you have to simply put it down to her own idiosyncrasies and delightfully unique personality.

Just in case that perfect baby ear protection isn’t so perfect to your toddler, make sure the gear you choose comes with a returns or exchange policy.

Warranties are also great. Usually these will protect against manufacturer’s defects. Check the warranty limitations carefully.

Some of the top Headphones are:

1. LilGadgets Untangled PRO Kids Premium Wireless Bluetooth Headphones with SharePort :

These headphones have 12 hours of battery life while listening to music or movies, and 180 hours on standby. They also have passive noise reduction. These headphones feature the integrated SharePort technology, where you can connect multiple headphones to one device. It’s like one big musical buddy system.

2. Ems for Kids Baby Earmuffs:

Founded by a couple of professional musicians looking to take their new baby to concerts EM’s was the first company in the world to design earmuffs specifically for babies.

Their baby muffs are lightweight and are certified by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) with an NRR rating of 22. Their stretchy headband fits around the head and is adjustable allowing parents to custom fit them to their own babies head size. They come in two colors and you can interchange headbands to fit your mood. Recommended for newborn to 18 months of age.

3.Ems for Kids Earmuffs:

Once your child has moved on to toddler these earmuffs from EMs will continue offering them protection for many more years. With an NRR rating of 21, they will keep ears protected at a variety of events.
They come in many different colors, telescope to fit their growing heads, and only weigh 6.5 ounces. What parents will love about them, besides the fact that they are protecting their kid’s ears, is the fact that they fold up small enough to fit in your palm — easy for packing along. Recommended for kids six months and older

4. ONANOFF BuddyPhones Explore Foldable - Kids Volume Limiting Headphones:

Not only do these noise-cancelling headphones look pretty dope, but they have a built-in audio limit of 85 decibels. They're great for kids ages three to ten. The attached three foot cable is flat, so there won't be any annoying tangles or knots.
These headphones are kid-friendly because they come with decorative stickers, and they fold up for easy travel. Plus, they’re hella comfortable.

5.Puro Sound Labs BT2200 Kids Volume-Limiting Over-Ear Wireless Headphones :

These noise-cancelling headphones have a volume limit of 85 decibels. They're lightweight, with comfortable ear cups and a cushioned headband. And they provide 82 percent ambient noise isolation.

Not only do these headphones have a pre-set volume limit, but they also work for 18 hours on a single charge. They have one-touch Bluetooth pairing with Apple and Android devices.