These kids headphones shouldnt do that. Always remember that corded headphones pose a strangulation risk to young children, and as such most warn against under-threes wearing them unsupervised. A microphone is built-in. The headband is wide and seems robust. They are available in Red, Blue, Pink and Green. Control buttons are located at the bottom of the right ear cup to play music, answer/reject calls and volume up/down. They are comfortable, lightweight, adjustable and foldable, and come with a light store-away bag. Since toddlers can be more destructive with their accessories, we put these particular headphones through a torture test and had the kids stretch them, sit on them, throw them and even bring them to school. While aimed at workplace exposure rather than specifically at children, the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)s recommendations on noise exposure suggest people limit the amount of time they are in a loud setting according to just how loud that environment is. PuroBasic are wired headphones (with 3.5mm jack), so youll need an adapter if you want to use these with a phone or tablet without a headphone jack. If you can trust your child not to keep pushing volume up, then you shouldnt have any problems. The two things to look out for are overall levels and length of exposure. We werent worried about this as much as with other headphones as the sound is not right into the childs ear. Given this, they may be an acceptable choice for short term listening in loud travel situations, but they arent suited to everyday use. These wireless headphones include a hard travel case, daisy chain for sharing, 85dB volume limiting and offer 20 hours of battery life over Bluetooth. There are availableinPurple, Blue, Pink and Grey. Available in rather gender-basedBlue and Pink, PuroQuiet is at the higher end of the price scale but warranted for the build quality, which is excellent. Also, while theres comfortable plush padding around the earcups, theres no padding on the headband. The volume did sound a little higher than some of the other headphones not excessively so, but still noticeable. The kids found it easy to adjust as well as simple to attach and detach from the headphones and liked having the mic positioned in front of their face. We steer you to products you'll love and show you how to get the most out of them. Also because of their smaller external auditory canals, the eardrum is closer to the sound source. This included trying them all on for fit and comfort and then wearing them to school, around the house, in the car and on airplane trips while watching shows and listening to music. One downside is that while the volume, which is limited to the recommended 85 decibels, can be controlled from the headphones, there isnt a play/pause button like you might find on some others. Buying the Puro BT 2200 is a big step up from most of the cheaper headphones listed here. We had a child test this while sitting on the couch watching a show while their father was in the adjacent kitchen cooking dinner. Once your child hits elementary school, theres a good chance theyll need headphones for multiple in-school and at-home programs. He told us that it will help him find them easily in his school bag and ensure they dont get lost in the classroom or confused with other classmates. When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. Headphones for kids are essential tech kit for parents as none of us want to hear Spongebob for more than ten minutes or be subjected to either blam-blam action gaming or the high-pitched whine of Alvin the Chipmunk. Best headphones for toddlers and younger kids, Best budget wireless Bluetooth headphones for kids, conducted at the Harvard T.H. If the battery does run out theres a detachable cable included. The JLab JBuddies Studio on-ear headphones have a padded eco-leather cushioned ear cup and headband, which all of our testers agreed were comfortable on their ears and the tops of their heads, with one 6-year-old announcing that she never wanted to take them off. Another set of Bluetooth open-ear headphones that transmit sound via the cheekbones using bone-conduction technology is myFirsts BC Wireless Lite. They therefore allow outside sound (which might well be the parents voice or traffic noise) to be heard. The BuddyPhones Galaxy headphones are very similar to the BuddyPhones School+, with a detachable cord and boom mic, a buddy cable, decorative stickers and a play/pause button. You can save a little money by buying the That aside, these headphones werent well received by our testing group, who didnt like the squishy feel of the flat earpads. If youre shopping, you may be wondering how to strike a balance between hearing safety, fit and style. The speakers can be removed and the headband popped into the washing machine. The JR460NC also feature active noise cancellation which is easy to turn on and off but the children felt that the effect was less noticeable than on the other noise-canceling headphones they tried. While these headphones are cute, and aimed at younger kids, the earcups were too small for most of our testers even the 3-year old found them too small. There are volume buttons on the left cup, with the power on/off switch. While many kids headphones are quite plastic-y the Puro Sound Labs BT2200 headphones look more like a high-end adult audio product, and the cost reflects this, too. During the testing process, we set up two kids on a video call and we were told that while I could hear [her] without the microphone, I could hear even better with the microphone. The boom mic is only usable in wireless mode, as it shares a jack with the wired connection. When comparing the two, our almost 4-year old tester found this pair to fit much better. Discovery Company. A simple volume limiting feature keeps levels capped at 85 decibels there are no multiple modes as on the more complex Onanoff models. As with other such headphones, they do lack some bass but for kids use they work and sound just fine. At the less expensive end of the Puro Sound Labs wireless range are the JuniorJams. The children appreciated the light weight of the plastic-framed Puro Basics, and all of our testers reported that the earcups were extremely comfortable and that they liked the softness of the headband. During our testing, we found that most kids gravitated towards the on-ear style, with only a few preferring the over-the-ear style (many of the kids felt as though they were too big, even when they fit them properly). Although specified as a maximum of 85 decibels its at the quieter end of the audio spectrum in reality, which will please many parents keen to protect their kids hearing. These may make sense if youre looking for something very inexpensive for a very young and very easy going child. These headphones go further than just limiting the volume. Our 8-year-old tester commented that she especially liked that unlike many of the other headphones, the PuroQuiets had an actual on/off switch that let her see whether the device was on or off. We didnt point this out to the children, but they did mention it since they saw the feature on other headphones stating that they wish these ones also had that feature. There are volume buttons on the left cup, with the power on/off switch. The JLab JBuddies Play Gaming headphones are extremely similar to the JLab JBuddies Learnwith the same look, size and feel (and comfort issues, especially for our younger testers), but the addition of Bluetooth connectivity (they include a cable, with volume adjustments, which allows compatibility with gaming consoles or PCs that may not have wireless connections. With remote-learning and home-schooling, a decent set of kids headphones is even more important these days, and look out for pairs with a microphone for virtual-classroom interaction. For smaller children,the BuddyPhones School+ headphones is a great option with some thoughtful additions. Sound therefore bypasses the eardrum and relays sound directly to the inner ear. Try to stick to the lower levels if possible. Learn more. One solution is wireless headphones, although these cost more and require regular battery charging. The headphones are wireless and the Bluetooth connection was very easy to use and set. These headphones seem built to last compared to some of the cheaper plastic sets. Even our 9-year old who has a strong preference for over-the-ear headphones liked how these headphones fit. The 11-year old thought the buttons on the headphones were simple to use and appreciated that you can easily control the volume, play and pause the music right from the headphone. The trouble is that 70dB is very quiet and will likely not drown out ambient noise, so 85dB becomes the norm despite it being potentially damaging to a young persons hearing. During our testing, not one child complained about fit or comfort and the 11-year old claimed these to be her favorite headphones from a fit standpoint amongst all of the on-ear headphones. Sound quality is excellent possibly the best weve heard on a kids product, and these look and feel like quality products. A Study Mode isolates voices from other sounds, producing clearer vocals to help when studying during online learning. We have tested and reviewed here a couple of headphones that use bone-conduction technology that means there is no sound going into the ear at all. The faux leather covering the entire headband allowed our testers to wear the headphones for extended amounts of time; one of our 8-year-old testers even wore the headphones through a five-hour flight without complaints. Our 4 to 9 year old group told us repeatedly that these arent working and they keep on falling out.. The headphones might be set comfortably and safe for listening in the living room, but if the child goes on a noisy bus or is using headphones on an airplane, then the volume tends to go up to a higher, more dangerous level in order to be louder than the noisy bus or plane., He goes on to suggest that If the headphones have a noise cancellation feature, that should be turned on, because then the volume wont be cranked too high to compensate. A headphone without noise cancellation, Dr. Stiles says, should either not be used, or used for short periods in those environments., This all means that it can be okay to listen to music at louder levels, if its for a short time period. Beyond color and design options, along with our kid testers we looked at quality of construction, comfort, ease of setup and use (especially for headphones that offered Bluetooth connections or other active options), sound and call quality, range of sizing and suitability for wear by various age groups. They come in pink, blue, green and teal with a black or white faux-leather headband. If you want much-cheaper Puro headphones, look for the PuroBasic wired headphones. Many smartphones and tablets let you monitor your headphone volume. It also comes with a mic-less cable if you dont need the microphone. During our testing, the children told us how much they enjoyed this feature and that it allowed them to find the perfect volume. The wirelesspairing was simple. Theres a separate audio cable when you want to use them wired if the 24-hour battery runs out. The cord is 0.8m, which is about right for laptop/tablet/phone use but might require an extender for TV viewing. Hey, maybe itll teach them their left from their right! The kids enjoyed being able to share their shows and were able to set up sharing by themselves. The kids also loved the Connct+ daisy-chaining connector (a feature we saw on several of the headphones we tested), which let a friend watch simultaneously without requiring any extra splitters or special cables. Simon was Editor of Macworld from the dark days of 1995 to the triumphant return of Steve Jobs and the launch of the iPhone. Our testers were split on the fit of the LilGadgets Untangled Pro: some thought they were extremely comfortable, others thought the foam around the earcups were too tight. A matching USB-C cable is also included for charging. Intuitive controls meant that our older testers were able to connect wirelessly to their devices without help. Even the 8-year old noticed this right away when we had the volume fully turned up and mentioned that the volume had to be turned down significantly. While these are great headphones, especially for the price, the main downfall is that the volume is limited to 93dB, which is higher than the recommended 85dB for all-day use Since these are intended for younger kids (who might not be as careful controlling their own listening levels) parents will need to supervise any long-term listening. Audio quality is pretty good, maybe lacking some bass but nice and clear. The JVC Tiny Phones (HA-KD5) are well made, and feature comfortable soft padding, which also restricts noise leakage. You need to set up restrictions or rules, says Dr. Stiles, though he recognizes that It can be hard for parents to monitor [sound] because even if they are too loud, they might be tight enough to the kids ears that it doesnt leak out., An important thing to keep in mind is that noise exposure is not just cumulative over time, but additive. Our 12-year old tester was very excited to see that they came in its own travel case. While the audio qualityis hardly hi-fi, its fine for kids. Using Bluetooth means that these headphones need to be charged, and the up to 18 hours of battery life should be enough for most journeys. Other features include a 22-hour battery life and a daisy chain connector which allows you to link two headphones together to listen to the same music or show. These over-the-ear, noise canceling headphones have a lot to offer, and effectively suppressed outside sounds, letting our testers listen at lower levels. Another issue we found was that microphone clarity wasnt as good as with the other headphones we tested. 85dB) but offer active noise-cancelling (. If you worry about sticking earbuds into a childs ears or covering them with foam and so blocking outside noise, the Bluetooth imoo Ear-care kids wireless headphones cleverly keep the speaker away from the eardrum. The only difference is that the headphones are slightly bigger and are best for those 5-years old and up. Such headphones rely on sound being transmitted through vibrations on the bones of the head and jaw. Physical switches provide access to all of the important functions: power on/off, Bluetooth pairing and enabling/disabling the noise cancellation feature. Multiple volume limiting modes, an easy-to-use boom microphone, solid Bluetooth connectivity and solid, stylish construction make the Onanoff BuddyPhones School+ Wireless a great choice for remote or in-person learning. Our testers told us that the headphones feel comfortable and dont hurt my ears, and the 5-year old stated, I love all the stickers that come with the headphones; its going to be a hard decision to make mine special.. The over-ear headphones are comfortable and adjustable, and come with a bunch of stickers for customisation. Its up to you to talk to your kids about safe listening and to manage the time they spend listening to potentially damaging sounds. We also asked the older kids to try to set up Bluetooth connections on the headphones on their own without parent help. If you want to run the battery down a little quicker or just look the coolest kid at the party, then turn on the multicoloured LEDs on each earpiece. Each has customisable ear cups, and comes with pencils and blank cards. As such, you need to trust your child to not pump the volume up when youre not around, and definitely not for the very young. Similar to the PuroQuiets, the children thought that the headphones were extremely comfortable with the plush leather casing around the metal headband and on the earcups. First and foremost is comfort, and our testers told us they like the thick and soft headband and that the foam is cushy against our ears. The thick but lightweight construction also feels like it will be durable enough to stand up to school day use; after everyday use by our elementary school-age testers, the headphones still look brand new. This doesn't affect our editorial independence. The earcups have the same comfortable feel as those used on the Onanoff BuddyPhones Explore+ one of our top headphones. One of her testers picked these as her absolute favorite and told us I like how the shape fits my ear perfectly.. The children also enjoyed the numerous color options. The trouble is that airline-supplied headphones arent designed for small heads and so often slip off. And while these headphones offer bluetooth technology, the charge only lasts for 10 hours. And while these are on-ear headphones, they also sell a separate over-the-ear earcup option (which we didnt test). The sound is good for an inexpensive pair of headphones. and some earplugs and stickers. And maybe we can listen to something else while the kids are amused on the computer, tablet, phone or TV. And as any parent knows, kids have very strong preferences, so we received lots of feedback on colors and design. An 85-decibel KidsMode keeps things contained at the NIOSH-recommended level for an eight-hour days worth of listening, while a TravelMode allows for slightly louder levels up to 94 decibels for noisier environments (though youll want to limit time spent listening at this level more strictly). The Imoo headset is lightweight (30g) and is designed for children aged 4-15 years old. The headphones also come with a boom mic thats meant for remote classroom use; the boom mic is permanently attached to its own dedicated cable. Bluetooth is great as it removes any cord safety issues, although you must remember to keep them charged as they dont (unlike some others tested here) come with a detachable cable for wired listening. And the Google Play store has apps that limit volume, such as Volume Limiter. Most just detached it from the device immediately as they knew they wouldnt want to use it. They arent Bluetooth compatible and theres no daisy-chain connector to plug in another headphone to share music or a video. Although these headphones dont offer a wireless option, we found that many kids this young are still using devices that have physical headphone jacks, such as an Amazon Fire tablet or older iPad. We had no issues understanding, and our tester was able to answer calls over Bluetooth without problems, but we found the sound quality lacking by comparison. There are three safe-audio modes: Toddler Mode is set to an ear-protecting 75dB; Kids Mode goes up to 85db; and Travel Mode ups the volume to 94db to block out background noise. They come in a durable soft carrying bag, plus all the cables you need to connect and charge. DSP-based volume-limiting means that the electronics actively monitor volume levels, with the limiter kicking in only when the sound reaches 85dBA. Volume is limited not so much that you cant hear much (a common complaint) but enough that Id count these as fairly loud. You can attach an audio cable for those times when the battery runs out. By subscribing, you agree to our privacy policy. Six different colors and four kid-themed stickers let them add their own personality to the headphones, an essential for younger kids. iPhones and iPads do this in the Health app, under Hearing and Headphone Audio Levels. Limiting the volume on headphones you give to your kids is obviously a wise decision if you want to help protect their hearing, but some experts warn against children using any type of headphones. We were told that the headband at top didnt touch their heads so even though there was no soft cushioning like most of the other headphones offer they werent uncomfortable. Read more from CNN Underscoreds hands-on testing: Note: The prices above reflect the retailers' listed price at the time of publication. All of the wireless models we looked at offered a wired connectivity option, however, so a wireless model offers the most compatibility. Our testers preferred the School+ as it gave them the option to listen without a microphone suspended in front of their faces. The audio quality of these headphones is also noticeably higher, even using Bluetooth. Even some of the younger kids who we assumed would prefer headphones with a cartoon or other kid-specific design also liked the adult look. The headphones also feature three different volume limiting levels 75 decibels, 85 decibels and 94 decibels. These wireless, lightweight foldable on-ear headphones feature volume limiting (to the standard 85dB) are look as good as their pricier siblings, the BT2200 and PuroQuiet. The 75-decibel mode called ToddlerMode keeps volume limited to a level that should be safe for an entire school day. The headphones are volume regulated to 85dB, however, they have a hidden parent-only access switch in the earcups to toggle to 95dB. The JBuddies Learn also have an adjustable headband that the kids felt was easy to use, along with a volume regulator at a maximum 85dB. We also assessed the availability and usability of volume-limiting features, whether extra functions like boom mics, EQ modes and volume and playback controls were useful and easy to use. However, though they are advertised for kids 3 and older, they were too big for most of the kids we tested they are better suited for children 10 and up, although our 11-year old tester told us that the earcups were still too loose at the bottom of her ears. Childrens ears are more sensitive to noise damage, due to growth and development of nerve fibres and other cells. Using Bluetooth, the PuroQuiet do away with a cable, which also reduces risks. Headphones are essential parts of childrens lives nowadays, whether theyre required for school, a necessity for long car rides or airplane travel, or as an aid to family peace and quiet when you just dont want to talk about Bruno anymore. The headphones are also made out of cheap plastic, but to our surprise that didnt bother the kids. He liked that the boom mic was retractable and adjustable a helpful feature while playing games and thought that the sound was very clean. One thing we noticed ourselves (though this didnt affect anyone in our testing group) is that the fabric of the ear cup pads made a slight crinkling noise when adjusted; you might want to give them a try if youre purchasing for a child with sensory issues, as it could cause some frustration. Think about your childs audio health is they are a gamer this is vitally important as players can be listening to loud explosions and other ear killers for hours on end. If you can afford the extra you get your moneys worth. He told us they were comfortable and despite bending the headphones on multiple occasions, the headphones never broke or lost their shape. We had the purple/pink set in for the test and the stickers included hearts, wands, teddies and bunnies so Id hope the blue/yellow pair come with some less cutesy stickers! The headphones were easy to set up wirelessly, the buttons were easy to figure out when referring to the directions and theres a 20-hour battery life. It will even keep little ones ears warm, and they wont fall off or break as easily as normal headphones. The kid-safe volume-limiting (85dB) works a treat, and isnt either too loud or too quiet, and it features effective passive noise cancellation. The headphones include a boom mic, but the children found it very frustrating to use. The BuddyPhones Explore+ feature a jack that lets you daisy-chain up to four pairs so multiple kids can listen to content from a single device. As with several of the other LilGadgets products, these headphones are only limited to 93dB, so parental supervision is suggested. To help find the best headphones for kids, we asked 13 kids from the ages of 2 to 12 years old to test them under real-world conditions. After trying it, the children opted not to even use it. It is about twice the length of the other boom mics found on the other headphones and it kept falling down. The headphones arent wireless, so you may need an adapter for modern phones or tablets that dont come with a headphone jack. Conveniently, they fold into a small and robust shape to fit in the tough but colourful travel/storage case, although exactly how robust they are depends on your child, of course! The effect didnt have a significant impact and didnt make much of a difference in our testers ability to understand speech. See more on child headphone use below our list of our favourites. We liked the JVC HA-KD5 Tiny Phones. They are available in two vivid models (pink/purple and yellow/blue) with obvious girl/boy choices. You can turn them off again with the press of a button. The Cosmos+ are comfortable and suitable for all but the youngest heads. However, theres a special deal on the BT2200 until January 1, 2020; see pricing above. A recent study conducted at the Harvard T.H. Our testers told us the foam earcups were extremely comfortable. Its clear that protecting childrens hearing is essential, and while kid-safe headphones cant do the job on their own, given the centrality of devices in kids lives they are an important tool in preserving hearing health. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. They are available in two colours rather obviously aimed at boys (Blue) and girls (Pink). A bonus with the JVC kids headphones is customisability. This clever tech means you are not firing noise into your childs eardrum, and kids can listen to music while remaining more alert outside than with cans covering their ears. They also fold small and have a volume limiting regulator at 85dB. As long as your child is in a relatively quiet space, they wont have any problem hearing what theyre listening to. Offering easy-to-use Bluetooth connectivity, a comfortable fit and a range of kid-friendly features, including daisy chaining, make these a solid low-cost wireless pick for kids across a wide age range. Copyright 2022 IDG Communications, Inc. But the one feature every child enjoyed the most was the noise-canceling technology. There are even a few stickers to personalise the ear cans. We gave these headphones to the 12-year old in our testing pool, who is a gamer. We couldnt even get them in the toddlers ears, and once we did, they were pulled out right away. Also from Puro are the PuroQuiet kids headphones, which are a class apart from most of the cheaper headphones reviewed here. Content is created by CNN Underscoreds team of editors who work independently from the CNN newsroom. We gave these headphones to an 8-year old tester to set up, and with just a single button to press, she was able to set up a Bluetooth connection with ease. The toddlers also loved that the headphones came with colorful stickers green, blue, yellow or pink to attach on the side. The quality wireless Cosmos+ sound as good as weve heard for a set of kids headphones, and theyve got everything you need, including a detachable boom microphone for video calls. Many of the kids complained that the cable that connects the earcups to the headband made contact with their heads, making the headphones uncomfortable, especially when the headphones are adjusted to the smallest setting making it even more uncomfortable for smaller children. The comfortable, straightforward, wired-only Onanoff BuddyPhones Explore+ stood up to all of the abuse our younger testers could dish out, and they're perfect for children under 8 years old. Sound quality is great (with a tendency to bassiness) for a pair of headphones in this price range, and the volume is limited to 85dB, although this still sounded quite loud in our tests. The child can decorate the headphones using the supplied stickers that include letters and pictures. Blue and Pink, PuroQuiet is at the higher end of the price scale but warranted for the build quality, which is excellent. The sound quality was good, even through the fleece and a childs long hair. These preferences also align best with the safer options. TheJLab Audio JBuddies are well-made wireless kids headphones that limit volume to 85dB. There are colour options from Blue, Pink and Green to Yellow, and a carry bag is included. The ear cups and headband are made of durable aluminium, while the ear cushion and band cover are leather. That 85dB level is derived from occupational studies of noise exposure and hearing loss for adults, not children. She also liked that you can advance tracks from a dial right on the headphones. Even though these headphones are volume limited at 85dB, a remote on the cable also gives parents a way to change the volume level without touching the childs device. Given the range of features these provide at such a low price, we still recommend the headphones, but its something to be aware of. The School+ Wireless dont have active noise cancellation, but they do have a StudyMode meant to enhance speech and increase vocal clarity, making it easier for students to hear lectures or narration. The BuddyPhones Galaxy only include a single cable and the boom mic isnt detachable. They feel comfortable but if your child is used to over-ear headphones it might take a little getting used to.