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Whether you’re introducing your little ones to your favorite artists or trying to keep them occupied on the plane, there’s an increasing number of reasons as to why it’s worth buying headphones for your kids.
While most adults use headphones for listening to music or for taking calls at work, the latest children’s headphones often do double duty, as a way for kids to tune into entertainment, but often also working to protect their hearing. Unlike regular headphones, which allow users to turn up the bass — or beats — on full blast, most children’s headphones are tuned at or below 85 decibels, which is considered to be a safe threshold for hearing protection. Even if you’re not playing music through them, the ear muffs themselves can also be used to protect your child’s ears say, if you’re bringing them to a music festival or loud concert.
Children’s headphones are also specifically designed to fit their smaller head shapes and cover their smaller ears, ensuring a more comfortable and secure experience over trying to tighten and adjust a pair of adult headphones on those pint-sized noggins.
Perhaps most importantly, the best kids headphones are designed with durability in mind, so they can take those accidental dings and drops without affecting functionality. Note: we’ve rounded up both wired and wireless headphones for kids, the latter of which eliminate the hassle and potential danger of getting tied up in cords and cables. All you need is a Bluetooth connection to begin pairing these headphones to your phone, tablet, computer or TV screen.
BEST OVERALL
Belkin SoundForm Mini Kids Wireless Headphones w/Built-in Microphone
Recommended age: 10-15
I’ve personally used and tested a number of pairs of Belkin headphones over the years, so when I spotted these kids headphones from the audio brand, I knew I had to pick them up.
While I don’t have kids, I bought them for my 10-year-old cousin, who now loves using these “mini” headphones for school and watching videos online. The kids headphones feature the same audio tech that Belkin has put into its grown-up products, including crisp sound (with volume limited to 85dB), easy pairing via the Bluetooth 5.3 standard, and up to 30 hours of playback time on a single charge. In a rush? A quick ten-minute charge gets you up to three hours of battery life.
Aside from listening to music and watching content, a built-in microphone lets your kids use these headphones to take video calls with family, or play video games together with friends online.
This set includes the headphones (in your choice of six colors), charging cables, hard-shell travel case and a sheet of fun and colorful stickers. This is one of the best-reviewed headphones for kids online, with more than 81% of shoppers giving the Belkin SoundForm Mini a full five-star review.
EDITOR’S CHOICE
BuddyPhone PopTime Bluetooth Headphones
Recommended ages: 8-15
These children’s headphones were created exclusively for Amazon and come in a bright blue or purple color with a set of decorative stickers that kids can use to personalize the cups.
The headphones come with two listening settings: a Safe Mode (at 85dB) and a POP Mode (at 94dB), the latter of which is better for tweens and teens, per the manufacturer.
The Bluetooth headphones get up to 19 hours of playtime on a single charge — more than enough for a long flight or road trip. What we like: the cushy earpads are removable and washable, while the durable casing and headband wipe down easily with a damp cloth. The headphones are super lightweight and fold down for easy packing.
This set comes with the PopTime Headphones, USB C charging cable, a cable for wired audio (if you want to plug in), a travel bag and a sheet of stickers.
EASY TO USE
Nenos Kids Headphones
Recommended ages: 3-8
These wired headphones plug in easily to a laptop or tablet to keep your little ones occupied while traveling or if they’re starting to do their homework online.
A number of our Billboard staffers’ kids use these headphones too, with one editor praising them for being “super cheap and functional.” Amazon has the headphones for under $20 and available in six different colors. In addition to the memory foam-style earpads, the headband is also lightweight and adjustable, ensuring a comfortable fit. Manufacturer Nenos says these are “volume-limited” headphones too, though they don’t specify what decibel level the volume is capped at.
Still, these are an easy pickup, especially when traveling. “I definitely need wired [headphones] since we use them exclusively for airplane seat-back screens,” Billboard editor Katie Atkinson shares. “We’ve had no issues with them so far.”
The Nenos children’s headphones have a 4.5-star rating (out of five) from more than 11,000 verified reviewers online.
CUTE DESIGN
FosPower Kids Headphones with LED Cat Ears
Recommended age: 4-12
Atkinson’s daughter loves these headphones, which feature a light-up cat ear design in your choice of nine fun and funky colorways.
The headphones offer both wired and wireless connection options and audio is capped at a kid-safe volume of 85dB. There are thick earpads and a padded headband for extra comfort, while reviewers say the laced cable design ensures “fewer tangles.”
Of course what your kids will like most about these headphones are the fun LED lights, which can be set to stay on or flash with your music.
BEST AUDIO
Puro Sound Labs JuniorJam Plus Wireless Bluetooth Headphones for Kids
Recommended age: 10-16
Let’s face it: not all kids will want the cheap and colorful headphones, especially if they’re starting to head into junior high and high school. That’s why we like these grown-up looking cans from Puro Sound Labs.
Made with real leather earpads and a stainless steel-style band, the JuniorJam headphones offer easy wireless connectivity and up to 22 hours of listening time per charge. And while the kids headphones limit the volume to under 85 decibels, it doesn’t take away from the pristine sound quality, which lets you hear every note, drum beat and whistle in crystal clear form. A bonus: Puro Sound Labs says the earpads help to isolate up to 87% of ambient noise, so kids can immerse themselves in the music — or wear these when they want to tune out and chill out.
This set includes the luxe-looking headphones (available in six colors), drawstring storage bag, charging cables and a “Daisy Chain” sharing cable that lets you pair two headphones to the same device.
FUN & FUNCTIONAL
AILIHEN C8 Headphones
Recommended for all ages
For an overall reliable and affordable pair of children’s headphones, Amazon has this AILIHEN C8 model, which comes in more than a dozen fun color combinations and designs. Amazon says more than 3,000 shoppers have purchased these cups in the last month alone, making them one of the bestselling pairs of kids headphones online.
The headphones have cushy, breathable earpads and a super flexible headband that’s adjustable to fit head sizes as they grow. Reviewers also praise the durability of these headphones, noting that they are easy to clean and hold up to hours of use without getting too hot or sweaty. These are wired, over-ear headphones that can be used for school, travel or just enjoying music and movies at home. The braided cable has a built-in remote control that you can use to adjust volume, switch tracks and more.
These children’s headphones have a 4.4-star rating (out of five) from a whopping 34,000 reviewers online. See more details at Amazon.com.
BEST FOR HEARING PROTECTION
ZOHAN Kids Noise Cancelling Headphones (Two-Pack)
Recommended for all ages
If you’re just looking for kids earphones to protect their hearing, Amazon has this two-pack of noise cancelling earmuffs, that can help block out loud sounds from fireworks, cars or live music, while also acting as a way to help kids zone out on planes and long car rides.
Manufacturer ZOHAN says the headphones have a noise reduction rating (NRR) of 25 decibels, which should be fine for everyday situations (for reference: gun ranges recommend a NRR of 30dB or higher).
Note that these headphones aren’t for playing music but rather to protect hearing. They won’t completely block out noise of course, so kids should still be able to hear their environment and hear music playing around them, only at a safer level for their ears.
