As parents, all we want to do is keep our babies safe, but one element of personal safety we sometimes aren’t quite as hot on as we should be, is ensuring our babies are not around unsafe levels of sound.
Babies have incredibly sensitive ears - their ear canals are physically smaller than an adults, and therefore the pressure that is created by sound is even greater - this means that if a sound is loud to us as adults, it’s even louder for babies and young children.
Whilst we may use ear defenders to muffle out sound to help a baby or child sleep more soundly in a slightly louder environment, or perhaps for children who find sounds overwhelming or are susceptible to auditory sensory overload, there is of course an element of safety to consider in that this exposure to loud noises can be extremely harmful and dangerous - both for children and adults alike.
What is noise induced hearing loss?
Noise induced hearing loss (NIHL) is a type of hearing loss caused by exposure to excessively loud sounds that damages the sensitive structures in the inner ear. Noise induced hearing loss cannot be medically or surgically corrected, so therefore prevention is key.
Everyday we hear a range of sounds at a range of volumes and frequencies, most of which are at a safe level and won’t have any affect on hearing. Some sounds, however, can be dangerous or harmful if we are exposed to them for a long amount of time or repeatedly over time, and may cause hearing to gradually deteriorate or cause permanent hearing loss. Acoustic trauma can also occur after singular exposure to an extremely intense sound (like an explosion), which can lead to immediate hearing loss.
Safe levels of sound
Sound is measured in decibels (dB). The hum of a fridge is around 45dB and normal conversation is around 60dB. These are all considered safe levels of everyday sound - so there’s no need to worry about your baby’s hearing when going about the hub-bub of your everyday life.
Long or repeated exposure to sound over 85dB may cause noise induced hearing loss over time. Some examples of louder household noises, in which you may want to use ear defenders for your baby, remove them from the noise and/or limit the length of time they are around the noise, include noisy vacuum cleaners (some vacuums can reach up to 90dB) and hairdryers (also around 90dB), and perhaps even some lawnmowers and DIY building equipment. Of course, don’t forget to turn down your music and TV, too - keep them at a comfortable level when baby is around and save the louder surround sound action movies for when they’re tucked away safely in bed upstairs!
In extremely loud sounds and environments you would definitely want to consider ear defenders to protect your baby’s hearing, not to mention your own. Settings like concerts, festivals, if there’s building work closeby and fireworks displays (which can measure over 150dB!)
When you’re a parent, it can be difficult not to worry about your child’s growth and development, let alone having to worry about all of these extra things. Try not to panic - use reasonable parental judgement to gauge whether your surroundings might be a little too loud, and if you’ve not got your ear defenders on you, you can move your baby further away from the sound or even place a blanket or muslin gently over their ears (keep an eye on their temperature and never cover your baby’s face) to offer a very basic level of protection.
If you’re not sure whether your baby’s hearing is considered normal, the NHS has a handy checklist which acts as a guide of things you can check as your baby grows to see if they can hear. If you have any concerns about your baby’s hearing then make a GP appointment to discuss this - they will be able to make referrals to hearing specialists if they think it is needed.
Earpieces and headband ear defenders vs Over head defenders
There are two different designs of ear defenders for babies - those with a headband and separate earpieces or cups, and those that are an over the head style - similar to traditional audio headphones.
There are a few key differences between the two designs, for example how they are worn and adjusted, but ultimately it comes down to preference. Whatever style you choose, remember a baby’s head is very delicate and their skull is still forming. Be sure that the ear defenders are not tight or causing pressure anywhere on their head, and avoid the headband sitting on their fontanelles - the soft sunken spots on their head where the skull has not yet fully fused together.
The protection levels of ear defenders can be measured using their single number rating (SNR), which is an estimate of the level of noise reduction the ear defender can provide, and allows an easy reference to compare between products. Generally speaking, the higher the SNR, the higher the level of protection.
Best baby ear defenders at a glance
- Best for overall performance: EciPeci Ear Defenders - £27.50, Amazon
- Best for a safe, sturdy, and ultra-comfy design: Banz Hear No Blare Baby Earmuffs - £17, Kidly
- Best for a stylish option for mini fashionistas: Reer SilentGuard Baby Capsule Ear Protectors - £19.99, Amazon
- Best for a perfect fit: Alpine Muffy Baby Ear Defenders - £27.95, Amazon
- Best for a foldable, portable design: Edz Kidz Ear Defenders - £14.45, Amazon
- Best for guarenteed satisfaction: BBTKCARE Kids Ear Defenders - £16.99, Amazon
- Best for babies as young as one month old: Iwinna Baby Ear Defenders - £16.98, Amazon
- Best for children up to the age of seven: 3M Peltor Kids Noise Cancelling Ear Defenders - £29.99, Decathlon
- Best for a wallet friendly price: Hilka Children’s Ear Defenders - £12, Argos
- Best for newborns: Ems for Kids BABY Ear Defenders - £26.96, Amazon
We’ve rounded up the best styles below - shop now
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EciPeci Ear Defenders
Best for: overall performance
EciPeci is a family business that launched its ear defenders for babies back in 2016.
Designed for use from as young as six months all the way up to around 8 years of age, these lightweight ear defenders reduce noise significantly whilst being comfortable and delicate. With an interchangeable, soft cotton Oeko-Tex® Standard 100 headband and an abundance of patterns and colours, they’re customisable to best suit your child’s interests or the event you’re attending. Think plain black, grey or pink to fun football, unicorn and - my son’s favourite - dinosaurs; there’s plenty to choose.
The soundproofing ear defender comprises a hard outer shell which the soft cotton band clips into, making for quick and easy adjustability to fit your child’s head perfectly. The large strip of Velcro to secure the band means you can get the tension just right so that it’s not too tight around a young growing skull. The cotton band can be extended to fit a much older child’s head - in fact, these ear defenders fit my own head, so despite being advertised for children up to 8 years old, I actually think these ear defenders would be suitable for all ages - older teens and adults included.
The earpieces are soft when secured to the head, with a fairly large hole to fit even the largest of little ears comfortably inside. With a single number rating (SNR) of 24 decibels, you can rest easily knowing the EciPeci ear defenders are bringing the noise down to a much safer level for your little one.
Buy now £27.50, Amazon
Banz Hear No Blare Baby Earmuffs
Best for: a safe, sturdy, and ultra-comfy design
The Banz Hear No Blare Earmuffs are over the head style ear defenders for babies and children aged up to three years with a single number rating (SNR) of 21 decibels.
They’re extremely comfortable whilst being incredibly lightweight - the cushioned leather-like cover over the low tension headband ensures all over comfort without being too tight, whilst still retaining a snug fit around your little one’s head to support the cups and keep them in place. They’re easy to adjust (albeit a little stiff at times), and will grow with your infant for the first few years of their life - the smallest setting is perfect for young babies while the larger will fit comfortably on a toddler. While they don’t fold up any smaller, they’re still fairly compact.
We love how safe and sturdy these ear defenders are compared to others - there’s no metal clips or protruding parts - the design is sleek and minimal. With a range of colourful designs, your baby is bound to look the part whilst wearing these ear defenders - their bright, funky designs would be perfect for both summer music festivals and winter fireworks alike.
Buy now £17.00, KIDLY
Reer SilentGuard Baby Capsule Ear Protectors
Best for: a stylish option for mini fashionistas
Suitable from three months to three years of age, the Reer SilentGuard Baby Capsule Ear Protectors are another excellent choice of ear defenders for babies.
The separate earpieces and headband helps to evenly distribute weight so that there’s no pressure on your baby’s head, and the comfortable, lightweight design means your baby will likely forget they’re wearing them. Easy to put on and adjust the headband to fit, they even sport a great single number rating (SNR) of 25 decibels.
The Reer SilentGuard Baby Capsule Ear Protectors are available in pink or blue styles - they’re unique in that it is not just the headband that is coloured, but the actual earpieces themselves, too! The pale pink colour way has a white polka dot headband and is a fun choice for mini fashionistas.
Buy now £24.95, Amazon
Alpine Muffy Baby Ear Defenders
Best for: a perfect fit
Alpine is a leader in hearing protection, committed to creating hearing loss awareness, and all of their products are made and designed in The Netherlands.
Alpine’s Muffy Baby Ear Defenders also have separate earpieces and headband similar to other brands, but they have a very unique design feature in that there are holes in the earpieces that line up with the lines on the headband, guiding you to place the headband inside the earpieces at the perfect angle. It really does make placement and wearing the ear defenders absolutely foolproof, so a great option if you’re a little nervous about your young baby wearing ear defenders.
The headband is an elastic, meaning it can stretch to be the perfect fit - although it doesn’t seem quite as soft and gentle on little foreheads as a cotton band. On some styles, such as the black colour way, there is even an anti slip tape on the headband so that the ear defenders stay put in place - perfect for older toddlers and sweaty foreheads!
Recommended for babies aged as young as three months up to the age of around three years, these ear defenders for babies will reduce sound by up to 23 decibels and come with an extra strap and a pouch for storage and travel.
Buy now £27.95, Amazon
Edz Kidz Ear Defenders
Best for: a foldable, portable design
The Edz Kidz ear defenders are another option of over the head style ear defenders for babies and children. With metal adjustable risers on the cups, they can be altered to get a perfect fit, and the padded headband is comfortable overhead. They can also be folded up, making them smaller for both storage and travelling, making these a great option for taking out and about with you everyday in case you need them.
Available in a range of colours including blue, black, pink and red, the Edz Kidz ear defenders also come in at a slightly lower price point compared to other ear defenders for babies, making these a great choice for those on a slightly lower budget.
Value for money is enhanced by the age range of the Edz Kidz ear defenders - they can be worn from around six months of age all the way up to teenage years due to the adjustable risers, and you can also buy a hygiene kit with replacement foam and cushion pads to further extend the life of the ear defenders.
Buy now £14.45, Amazon
BBTKCARE Kids Ear Defenders
Best for: guarenteed satisfaction
Available in a sleek all black colour way, the BBTKCARE is another great option of over the head ear defenders for babies. Recommended from three months old to around two years old, they’re easily adjustable by pulling the cups further down on the headband.
The padded cups and headband ensure maximum comfort, and they even have a 90 day money back guarantee to ensure you and your baby are 100 per cent satisfied with your new ear defenders.
If you prefer a bit of colour, these ear defenders are also available in blue, pink, turquoise, green and purple.
Buy now £20.99, Amazon
Iwinna Baby Ear Defenders
Best for: babies as young as one month old
The Iwinna Baby Ear Defenders are recommended to be used for babies from one month old up to around two years of age. Easily adjustable by pulling the cups down on the headband, they should comfortably fit a growing head.
The padded, low tension headband ensures maximum comfort with minimal pressure on your baby’s delicate head, and they even claim to have a single number rating (SNR) of 31 decibels.
The area inside of the cushioned cups is fairly wide in comparison to some other similar ear defenders, making these a great choice for those with slightly larger ears.
The Iwinna baby ear defenders are available in pink or blue with a black headband.
Buy now £15.98, Amazon
3M Peltor Kids Noise Cancelling Ear Defenders
Best for: children up to the age of seven
Designed for children up to the age of seven years old, these over the head ear defenders have a single number rating (SNR) of 27 decibels to keep sound at a safer level for little ears.
They’re easily adjustable to ensure a perfect fit by sliding the metal risers up or down - this is much easier to do once the earpieces have been placed overhead and in position over the ears. The headband is padded, but only slightly; making these a less bulky option compared to many others.
The bright green earpieces are not only fun but also provide a great safety element - your child is sure to stand out in a busy crowd! The cushions and foam inserts are easily replaceable with hygiene kits also available to buy.
Buy now £29.99, Decathlon
Hilka Children’s Ear Defenders
Best for: a wallet friendly price
Another great choice for those on a budget, these ear defenders for babies and children up to seven years old are of great quality despite the lower price point. With a thick padded headband cover to ensure maximum comfort, these over the head style ear defenders are lightweight and adjustable.
They bevel and tilt to aid perfect fit upon heads both little and large, and even better yet; the earpieces fold up inside the headband to make them more compact - perfect for both travelling about your day to day life and packing away into storage.
With a single number rating (SNR) of 27 decibels and a wider profile to cover more of the ear to ensure maximum protection, what’s not to love?
Buy now £11.00, Argos
Ems for Kids BABY Ear Defenders
Best for: newborns
Ems for Kids, a proudly Australian brand, considers itself ‘world-first’ in the product design of ear defenders specifically for babies. The brand has been around since 2009, when founder, Daniel Gibney, designed and patented their original earmuff to help protect his own daughter’s ears from his drumming and music obsession.
The pressure-reducing headband is available in a multitude of colours and has been designed to be safe even for newborns. The Velcro fastening is cleverly designed for maximum security so the cups stay in place once adjusted to fit your baby’s head, and the ear defenders will grow with your baby until they reach around 18 months old. The PU leather cups, with the outer shell available in both black and white feel softer than others, and the Ems for Kids logo displayed on the hard outer shell is fun and colourful.
Wanting to protect little ears in any environment, Ems for Kids also suggest using the cups singularly if needed, as you can easily remove the earpiece from the band and simply place over an exposed ear - perfect if you’re feeding or cuddling your little one.
As well as being perfect to reduce noise for typical loud events such as fireworks and live music, the Ems for Kids ear defenders also claim to be MRI safe. With a noise reduction rating of 27 decibels and their average noise reduction sitting at 24 decibels, you can have fun without worrying about the noise.
They also have a hard zip up carry case available to store and transport the ear defenders in - perfect for travelling and keeping on hand everyday.
Buy now £26.96, Amazon
Verdict
The standout ear defenders for babies have to be the EciPeci Ear Defenders - whilst similar in design to many others with separate earpieces and headbands, the softness and longer length of the headband, as well as the multitude of designs available, puts it a cut above the rest. The cotton is stretchy and comfortably fitting without being a tight or scratchy elastic, and they’re very reasonably priced for an item of personal safety.
If you prefer an over the head style of ear defenders for babies then the Banz Hear No Blare Baby Earmuffs is a winner - their quality and funky designs are unparalleled.
