9 of the best baby ear defenders and protectors in 2024
Protect your baby's ears from loud, noisy environments with a pair of ear defenders designed specifically for babies and toddlers. Here's our pick of the best available in the UK
There are so many situations where loud noises can bother, disturb or even hurt little ones – whether it's at a family event, concert, festival, fireworks display, or cinema trip.
We also know some children with autism or other special needs may become overwhelmed by lots of noise in busy places and crowds.
Best baby ear defenders at a glance
- Best non-metal earmuffs: Alpine Muffy Baby Earmuffs, £25.95
- Best ear defenders for comfort: Banz Baby Ear Defenders, £16.99
- Best ear defenders for longevity: Edz Kidz Ear Defenders, £13.59
- Best budget ear defenders: Hilka Children's Ear Defenders, £12
- Best ear defenders for newborns: Ems For Kids Baby Ear Defenders, £24
- Best ear defenders with colourful designs: Snug Safe n Sound Kids Ear Defenders, £17.99
- Best compact ear defender: Sensory Direct Ear Defenders, £13.99
- Best for older kids: 3M Peltor™ Kid Earmuff, £18.95
- Best ear plugs for kids aged 6+: Loop Engage Kids Earplugs, £29.95
If any of that sounds familiar, you may want to invest in a pair of baby ear defenders. Designed to block out harmful loud noises and music, some ear defenders or muffs can also be used to prevent overstimulation and help stop a sleeping baby from being disturbed. However, it's worth remembering that they aren't designed to be worn for long periods of time, and each brand has their own instructions to follow and guidance on when it is appropriate to use them.
As we head into the autumn/winter season, noise will be everywhere from firework displays to Christmas markets. Ear defenders are a great way to ensure your child can enjoy the festivities without damaging their hearing or making them overwhelmed.
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We've selected some of the best here, most of which are suitable for very young babies to 3 years of age and beyond.
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Here's our pick of the best ear defenders for babies...
1. Alpine Muffy Baby Earmuffs, £25.95
— Best non-metal earmuffs
Age: 3 months – 3 years
These protective muffs are super-comfy thanks to a wraparound elastic headband, which is available in either pink, blue or black. The set comes with 2 bands, plus a carry bag.
These ear defenders don't contain any metal, which means you can also use them for things like MRI scans, not just festivals and trips away. The unique design, which bears the European safety standard CE mark, has been created to ensure there's no pressure on the fontanelle at the front of the head, which can still be soft on babies under 18 months.
Available from: Alpine Hearing Protection and Amazon
2. Banz Baby Ear Defenders, £16.99
— Best for comfort
Age: 0 – 2 years. They are suitable from birth, though children under 3 months shouldn't wear these for a long period time, as per Banz's recommendation.
These Aussie protectors have foam-filled cushions around the ears, and a leather-covered headband for comfort. They are pretty lightweight (weighing under 0.2kg) and make a comfortable fit after a good stretch.
The design is available in a range of colours and prints including sports (rainbow, pictured above), blue, pink and silver.
Available from: Amazon
3. Edz Kidz Ear Defenders, £13.59
— Best for longevity
Age: 6 months+
These lightweight ear defenders contain 2 layers of sound-deadening foam, and come in plenty of colours and outer casing designs, so you're sure to find a pair to please even the fussiest little customers.
They're suitable from 6 months, but the adjustable riser means they'll grow with your baby, and could last them until they're much older. Suitable right up to the teen years, these are great for older kids in the family, too.
Available from: Amazon
4. Hilka Children's Ear Defenders, £12
— Best budget buy
Age: 3 – 7 years
Lightweight and adjustable, the Hilka Kids ear defenders are designed specifically to suit your child comfortably from ages 3 to 7.
The ear cushions have a wide profile so cover more of your child's ear to block out noise, and are also foam-filled and cleverly tilt and bevel to maximise comfort.
They come in pink and blue and offer really good protection at a great price.
Available from: Argos
5. Ems For Kids Baby Ear Defenders, £24
— Best for newborns
Age: 0 – 18 months
Ems For Kids exclusively designed these defenders to be newborn-safe, offering industrial grade hearing protection from birth. As with any ear defenders, you should try to limit the amount of time they are used on very young babes.
The adjustable velcro head strap comes in a variety of fun prints and designs, and the headphones themselves come in either black or white.
Available from: Audilo
6. Snug Safe n Sound Kids Ear Defenders, £17.99
— Best ear defenders with colourful designs
Age: 6 months+
We love the colourful design on these ear defenders, which come in a whole host of prints including a unicorn and camo print.
The foldable design has a low profile, designed to be as comfortable and wearable as possible for kids. They have a compact size, handy for using when you're out and about.
Available from: Amazon
7. Sensory Direct Ear Defenders, £13.99
— Best compact ear defender
Age: 12 months+
Suitable from 1 year all the way up to adulthood, these adjustable ear defenders from Sensory Direct are a great option if you're looking for a pair that will grow with your child.
They're incredibly lightweight at 0.2kg and fold away into a nice, compact size that will fit into your bag or pocket, so are perfect for taking with you on the go. The padded headband helps with comfort and they come in a range of 6 colours with a nice, high gloss finish.
Available from: Sensory Direct
Best ear defenders for older children
8. 3M Peltor™ Kid Earmuff, £18.95
— Best for older kids
Age: 5+
With soft, wide cushions to reduce pressure and heat build up, as well as a lightweight and low-pressure fit, these ear defenders from 3M are a great option for children aged 5 and above.
Not only are they comfortable and effective at reducing the noise level by up to 27 decibels, they are also easy to keep clean with easy-to-use replaceable cushions and inserts.
Available from: Amazon
9. Loop Engage Kids Earplugs, £29.95
- Best for earplugs for kids aged 6+
Age: 6-12
Loop Earplugs are having a bit of a moment online right now and its easy to see why. They're well made out of hypoallergenic, non-toxic silicone, they block out up to 16dB of noise and they come in a variety of fun colours.
They should only be used for maximum of 3 90 minute sessions per day. The combination of a reasonable price and a range of tip sizes make them a great overall option for older children.
“Having a choice of tip sizes helped my daughter feel more in control, and therefore more comfortable, using these. She loves the bright colours, and finds the plugs help muffle the noise from her siblings when she’s trying to concentrate on her homework," said MadeForMums Head of Consumer Content Christy, who tested the Loop Earplugs with her 8 year old daughter Audrey (pictured).
"They’re also handy if your child experiences sensory overwhelm in noisy situations, such as large family parties. I also tested the Loop Switch Earplugs for adults, with multiple settings, and find these are great when the kids are in boisterous mode – I can still hear everything they say, but additional background noise is muted making it easier to focus.”
Available from: Loop Earplugs
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