Kids get bored easily, hence why they get restless during long trips. Keep them engaged and entertained as you travel and you won't have to hear the dreaded question, “Are we there yet?” over and over again.
How do you keep toddlers busy when you need some rest? With music and visual entertainment, plain and simple (did you get a long range baby monitor for your trip?).
The best headphones for toddlers block out external noises, allowing your kid to focus on the entertainment. You'll probably also want them to be volume limiting, have more than a single hour battery life, perhaps wireless... how about comfortable?
Parents are often against headphones for children, but unfortunately they are exactly what you need if you want a painless trip when traveling as a family. Don't give your kids headphones for school (they really don't need them) but certainly grab a set for your travels.
These are the best headphones for kids in the market without overspending. If you want to overspend while buying a good set of headphones then grab a set of Puro Sound Labs PuroQuiet headphones, but if you want to spend your money wisely then continue reading.
The Best Headphones for Toddlers
Cozyphones
Sleek, comfortable and unassuming these headphones are perhaps one of your best bets. The headband makes sure they remain in place...and your kid will be comfortable too.
Nenos Children Headphones
Well built with a comfortable padding and volume limiting, these headphones for toddlers are a favorite among parents.
Riwbox WT-7S
Good sound quality with a unique colorful design make them a winner among toddlers.
Lilgadgets Untangled Pro
Superb quality, well designed, noise cancelling and comfortable these kids wireless headphones are an all around winner, though some find the design boring.
Elecder i37
Cheap, good quality sound, a cheerful design and comfortable cushioned muffs.
Mpow 059 Bluetooth
The Mpow 059 headphones are slightly more expensive, but also deliver the best sound quality and are extremely comfortable and well built. Are these perhaps better for you as an adult?
Are Headphones Safe for Toddlers?
As a parent, the well-being of your toddler is a top priority and as such you're probably wondering if using headphones is safe for your kids.
The answer is they are.... but only if they are used properly. Exposure to high pitch and loud sounds for long will cause induced hearing loss in your kid as your toddler's ear canals are underdeveloped.
Sound limiting headsets have a high volume setting that protects your child’s hearing. The volume limiter in noise cancelling headphones reduces the exposure to harmful noise levels and guarantees your child’s hearing health.
Stay away from earbuds. Older toddlers are playful in nature and can accidentally push the earbud into the ear. This can damage the ear canal, and is why you should only get your toddler a headphone that sits on the ear pinna rather than getting into the ear way.
The best kids volume limiting headphones are also more comfortable than kids earphones. They cause less irritation as well keeping your little one calm on long trips.
Important Features of Children's Headphones
To make sure you buy your kid the best toddler headphones that will not only keep him or her entertained but also safe and comfy make sure you consider these features.
1. Volume Limiting Headphones
This is one of the most important things you should insist on when looking for the best headphones for kids. It ensures that your bundle of joy is not exposed to harmful volume levels and protects him or her against hearing loss.
The NRR rating should not exceed 80db as higher amounts can cause hearing loss when used for an extended time period.
2. Noise Canceling Headphones
Noise cancellation is another important feature to should consider when buying children’s headphones. The purpose of getting noise cancelling headphones for toddlers is to make sure that they are completely immersed into what they are watching or playing without being disturbed by external noise.
3. Lightweight
The best kids headphones are lightweight. You don’t want your kids to be carrying too much weight on them as this will make them restless, and could even cause neck pain.
If you travel a lot, buy those that are compact as they are easy to pack. Remember however not to sacrifice other important features such as comfort in your quest to get the lightest headphones on the planet.
4. Proper Fit
The headphones that you buy for your kid should also fit properly. Get your child to try the set before buying and if you're buying them online make sure they're adjustable (most are anyhow).
Alternatively, you can buy children's headphones with a flexible headband. The best childrens headphones will fit your child easily and they also allow for re-fitting. They are great for growing children, saving you the expense of buying new headphones for your kids every now and then.
Should You Buy Wireless or Wired Headphones?
Wireless headphones for toddlers are recommended as kids have an active lifestyle, keeping them from tripping over cords or breaking your tablet.
Kids Bluetooth headphones can be used effectively in a car or a plane. The only issue with them is that the audio quality deteriorates when the headphone is far away from the audio source, and the also drain the battery faster.
Wired headphones have better audio quality but are accident prone (tangling, tripping).
Reviews of the Best Headphones for Toddlers
1. CozyPhones Kids Headphones
Children’s headphones should be comfortable and Cozyphones Kids headphones are just that: made of super soft fleece that's gentle on your young one’s skin and ears.
The headband design of this headset ensures that the kids headphones don’t fall even when the kids move, keeping your toddler immersed in whatever he or she is listening allowing you ample quiet time when traveling.
These kids noise cancelling headphones have been designed to be safe to use and will protect your young ones against hearing loss. Its volume limiting feature has been set at 90db which is a safe level for your toddler.
They are also durable and have been beautifully designed.
Cozyphones
High audio quality with a unique design
Pros
Cons
Conclusion:
A favorite among buyers Cozyphones deliver high quality sound, all the features you may want if you want the best headphones for your toddler and a unique, comfortable design that your toddler will love.
2. Nenos Children Headphones
Durability is one of the things that you should consider when shopping for headphones for toddlers and Nenos Children Headphones were designed with this in mind. These headphones have a sturdy build and a collapsible design that makes storing them easy.
The padding on the speakers is soft, and they are able to share audio from the same device- a handy feature if you have more than one kid.
These noise cancelling headphones for kids have also been volume limited ensuring your kid is not exposed to high pitch and loud sounds that can cause hearing loss, making them one of the best earphones for kids.
Nenos Children Headphones
Well built and cheerful, great for kids
Pros
Cons
Conclusion:
Durability comes at a price, and in this case it means a heavier gadget than competitors. It's versatile and easy to fit on toddlers and young kids, but sound quality is not the best. Then again, they are not the most expensive either.
3. Riwbox WT-7S Bluetooth Headphones
Riwbox WT-7S is an amazing Bluetooth Headphone available in different color schemes. The main objective of the manufacturer was to create fun and playful Bluetooth headphones for kids to enjoy wearing, and they certainly achieved this purpose .
It can be folded into a compact piece and you can pair it with different devices thanks to its Bluetooth pairing capabilities.
Controlling these kids noise cancelling headphones is easy as the control buttons are located on both ends of the headset.
Riwbox WT-7S
Funky and colorful for kids
Pros
Cons
Conclusion:
These headphones for toddlers are a solid buy. The colorful design will make them appealing to kids and the sound quality is good, although a short lasting battery may prove to be an issue when traveling.
4. LilGadgets Untangled PRO Kids Premium Wireless Bluetooth Headphones
This wireless headphone for kids is ideal for ages 3 and above. They are compatible with almost all Bluetooth devices and this makes it easy to keep your little one connected and entertained during those long family trips.
The headphones have a special SharePort that allows you to connect another headphone to it and this ensures that the device remains untethered to all the times.
The absence of cords reduces the chances of tripping making LilGadgets Untangled Headphones one of the safest headphones that you can get for your kid.
When fully charged, your kid can use the headphones for about 12 hours, certainly enough for those long car trips and flights.
LilGadgets Untangled Headphones
All the features you need and a long lasting battery
Pros
Cons
Conclusion:
Lilgadgets Headphones for toddlers have a long battery life, are comfortable and wireless, but the sound quality is not the best. Still, they are a sold buy as they have all the safety features you may want.
5. Elecder i37 Kids Headphones
Headphones for toddlers should deliver amazing sound quality for them to remain engaged and entertained for long and the Elecder i37 Kids Headphones deliver just that- at a very low price. This stereo bass headphone produces excellent sound effects that will enhance whatever your kids are watching or listening to.
Solidly built, they;ll be up to whatever your toddler can through at it (pretty much anyhow).
The support band is adjustable and this allows you to make the necessary adjustments so as to ensure that it fits on your kid’s head perfectly. They can also be folded and this makes it convenient to carry around when traveling with your family.
The best part? They are cheap.
Elecder i37
Sturdy and great sound quality
Pros
Cons
Conclusion:
The Elecder i37 headphones for toddlers are a fantastic choice. They are strongly built, have superb sound quality and are comfortable for young kids. The short cord might be an issue when traveling, but for the most part they are one of the best kids headphones with a low price tag.
6. Mpow 059 Bluetooth Headphones
The Mpow 059 deliver amazing sound quality without them being expensive. Its high quality stereo system and ear-cushions provide an immersed environment that will keep your kid- and yourself- glued to what he or she is watching.
It has a passive noise isolating capability to filter background noises for the best listening experience. It is one of the most comfortable headphones for kids that you can get on the market .
These kid friendly headphones have a stainless steel slider that allows you to adjust the headband for the perfect fit.
You can operate them in a wired and wireless mode depending on your access to power at that given time.
Besides all this they also have a battery that lasts 20 hours, making them a winner when flying long haul or have a long road trip.
Mpow 059
Superb sound quality, great battery...too good for kids?
Pros
Cons
Conclusion:
The Mpow 059 are a top of the line set of headphones without them being expensive. Comfortable, well built, and with over 20 hours of battery usage they are ideal for travel. These headphones were not designed for kids specifically, but why not buy a great set that both you and your toddler can use?
Conclusion- Buying the Best Headphones for Toddlers
When buying noise cancelling headphones for toddlers you need to make sure that you get the right model so as to guarantee their comfort and safety. The ear canal could get damaged and if your kids get to wear baby headphones that are not fit for them but this article will make sure that you don’t make that mistake.
Which are the best headphones for toddlers today without breaking the bank?
You'll get the best bang for your buck with the Mpow 059, hands down. They deliver superb sound quality, are well built, have many features and a 20 hour battery life can go a long way, specially when flying (did you get an airplane bassinet for your flight?).
However, they were not specifically designed for kids.
If you want to buy the best headphones for toddlers that only they will use, Cozyphones are definitely a great option as they are comfortable, have great sound quality and need little maintenance. The Lilgadgets Untangled Pro are a great option too if you want to buy a traditional headphone set.