I remember taking our son on his first flight at nine months and wondering the best way to protect his ears. After doing some research it seemed headphones would do the trick but the question was, what were the best baby headphones for flying?
When traveling with kids there is a lot to consider. All the baby gear and supplies you need to keep your kid safe and secure. There are so many tips we get when we’re planning to fly with a baby like; nurse them at take-off and landing, let them suck on their pacifiers, or what gadgets to bring to keep them occupied. But rarely do you get advice on the best baby headphones for airplanes.
If you’ve been visiting for a while you know that I always say finding the right items for your little ones comes with some trial and error. And that’s ok our babies are all different. They like what they like and when they don’t they have the perfect way to voice their dislikes, right?
I have a few that I think you’ll love and an all-time favorite that we still use four years later!
There are a few things to consider when purchasing headphones for babies.
Here we go!
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Things to consider:
- Comfort! Comfort! You want your little one to actually keep them on. When choosing earmuffs for flying their comfort should be a priority. Is the headband soft for their little heads? Are the earmuffs cushioned and is there enough space so their ears won’t fit tightly and there’s room for growth?
- Adjustability. Can you adjust the headband to fit your child’s head size? If you want to pass them down to another child, you need them to be adjustable to fit any child’s head that falls within the recommended age range.
- Style. Do you want cool fun colors or solid ones? Ear protectors for babies come in a wide range of colors. Grab a pair that may fit their personalities.
- Usage. You will more than likely use these for quite some time. Having noise-canceling headphones for baby that can not only be used for flying but for concerts, fireworks or extremely loud noises around the house is priceless.
- Durability. They’re dropped and thrown around so pick a good durable pair.
- Noise Reduction Rating. The noise reduction rating shows the level of sound earplugs/earmuffs blocks out when used with additional nose-blocking objects. Earmuffs have a rating of 31. The higher the number the more sound the headphones will block.
- Safety. Don’t use earplugs for noise protection on babies. You don’t want to put anything in their ear canal at such an early age.
Tip: When the headphones arrive test out the comfort and noise cancelation ability on yourself.
Banz- The best baby noise-canceling headphones for flying are the ones that can help baby sleep on a flight. Banz is by far my number one choice of baby headphones for flying.
Our son used these for so much, flights, fireworks, and festivals, and at the age of 4, he still finds them useful for cutting the grass with dad.
Why do we love them and have used them for so many years? For starters they are comfortable. The adjustable headband is soft and the ear cups are even softer. I took my advice and tested them out on myself before using them on my little one. Sounds change dramatically!
They are specifically made for babies and kids. Banz are lightweight and durable and I can tell you ours have been through war but have lasted all this time.
- Recommended for ages 3 months – 2 years old.
- Weight- 5 ounces.
- NRR 26.8dB.
- Two sizes are available, Infants ages 0-2 years old and 3+ years.
There’s also a case to store your earmuffs. The downside with Banz is that they are pricier than most brands on the market.
Hands down Banz is the best ear protection for babies flying.
Snug Protectors- Snug protectors come in a variety of colors, foldable and adjustable. The best thing about these is they can be used for a wide range of ages which means you may have them for much longer.
Made with a padded headband and breathable ear pads to provide needed comfort for the little one. The Snug kid’s ear protectors are foldable which makes them the perfect portable pair.
There’s a 5-year guarantee attached to the Snug Protectors. You need a pair that can handle the destruction toddlers will put them through.
The 5-year guarantee is an added bonus in case you need a new pair.
- Recommended for ages 1 year old to adulthood.
- NRR 25dB
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Alpine Muffy Baby Ear Protection- Alpines are the perfect headphones for babies on planes up to 36 months. The soft stretchy band is great for babies’ sensitive heads. They place no pressure on the fontanelle.
Alpine earmuffs are made with multiple layers of noise-reducing foam. They’re anti-slip and adjustable for comfort. Also, they come with a carrying bag which makes them a great travel essential.
- Recommended for babies to 36 months.
- Weight- 3.5 ounces.
- NRR 23dB.
Mumba Headphones- The most noise on a plane is heard during take-off and landing and the back of the plane is pretty noisy as well.
Mumba noise canceling headphones for infants will help get your little one to sleep on the plane or at least keep them settled for take-off and landing.
- Recommended for ages 3 months to 3 years old.
- Weight – 3.63 ounces.
- NRR 31dB
They have the highest NRR for earmuffs at 31dB which means Mumba provides excellent ear protection.
BBTKCARE Baby Ear Protection- Another great option for baby headphones for flying is BBTKCARE baby headphones. They come in seven different colors but no bold prints to pick from.
Purchasing a pair with an adjustable band is best and these are also adjustable with soft padding so the earmuffs won’t apply any pressure when on.
It’s always nice to have ear protectors for the newest member in your family if you have other children that may have sporting events, fun outings, or even the whole family going to church on Sunday. These are perfect.
- Recommended age 3 months- 2 years old.
- Weight 6.4 ounces.
- NRR is not listed.
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Friday Ear Muffs- Friday earmuffs were designed specifically for newborns, infants and toddlers. Use these earmuffs for baby on a plane or as baby headphones for a concert, you choose.
For a more budget-friendly option, the Friday earmuff comes in at just under $20.
- Recommended for ages newborn to 2-year-olds.
- Weight 4.8 ounces.
- NRR is not listed.
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Toddler Headphones For Plane
Nenos Kids Headphones- If you’re looking for a pair of toddler headphones for the airplane consider the Nenos kids’ headphones. Children are able to easily share this set by plugging in another headphone cord to share audio.
They also have limited volume to protect children’s ears. The Nenos come in a variety of colors.
- Recommended for ages 3 to 8 years old.
- Weight is 7 ounces.
- Foldable and adjustable which makes them travel friendly.
Snug Play+ Kids Headphones- Snug Play+ kids headphones are a popular option for traveling families. The Snug Play+headphones are also volume limiting and have an audio sharing port, volume limited to 93dB.
Compatible headphones for iPad, Amazon Fire, laptops, desktops, and other devices.
Lightweight and foldable which makes them easy for kids to keep up with.
- Recommended for ages 3 to 8 years old.
Puro Sound Labs- Puro sound labs were made with kids in mind. From personal experience, the founder’s daughter was diagnosed with noise-induced hearing loss.
Because Puro are Bluetooth and volume limited at 85dB makes them one of the best toddler headphones for travel. Especially if you have concerns about headphones with cords for toddler use.
After this, Puro Sound Labs was born.
Cushioned on-ear headphones with adjustable headband.
- Recommended for ages 2 years old to tween.
- Bluetooth pairing with iPhone and Android.
- Built-in microphone.
- Sharing cable for two headphones to share one device.
- Comes with a travel case.
The downside is they are pricey.
PuroBasic- For a less pricy pair of Puro headphones, the PuroBasic is also a really good choice with some of the same prominent features.
- Recommended for ages 2 years old and up.
- Compatible with iPad, iPhone, and Android.
- Comes in four bold bright colors.
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iClever Kids Headphones- iClever headphones are for toddlers to have fun on a plane with colorful LED lights. The lights pulse to the rhythm of the music, so fun, right?
These are volume limited at 94dB with a built-in microphone with 2-way calling and Bluetooth for simple movement. As well as comfortably padded ears.
We have a pair of wired iClever headphones and they are a durable brand.
- Recommended for ages 3 years old and up.
- Foldable for travel.
Gorsun Bluetooth Kids Headphones- What makes the Gorsun kids’ headphones a solid option is parents can decide how their toddlers use them. Either wireless or wired. They include an audio cord with purchase. Once the Bluetooth power runs out, you can switch over to the cord to continue use.
- Volume-limited at 85dB.
- Foldable.
- Built-in microphone.
- Foldable for easy carrying and stowing.
- Adjustable headband.
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LilGadgets Connect+ Kids Headphones- If you are looking for a more budget-friendly option consider the LilGadgets. This pair is volume limited at 93dB with the ability to fold for easy carrying.
- Recommended for ages 3 to 7 years old.
- Microphone.
- Sharing port.
- Comes in 7 colors.
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Baby Headphones For Flying FAQs
Why do people put headphones on babies?
Headphones or earmuffs for babies are a really good option to provide ear protection when flying. You can also use them to help tamper down on very loud noises.
At what age can babies wear headphones?
Most headphones for babies can be worn starting at 3 months up to 2+ years old.
What are the best noise-canceling headphones for infants?
- Banz
- Friday
- Alpine
- Snug Kids’
- BBTKCARE
- Mumba
Do noise-canceling headphones for babies work?
From experience, a good quality pair will work as designed. I highly recommend testing them out on yourself first.
Do 2-year-olds need noise-canceling headphones?
You can’t go wrong with investing in a pair of noise-canceling headphones. Whether or not you’re traveling, their purpose is to protect your little ones’ ears from loud noises.
This could be concerts, festivals, fireworks or everyday loud noises.
Can kids sleep with noise-canceling headphones?
The major plus to noise-canceling headphones is that they can help get your baby off to sleep on an airplane or any other loud place.
Do babies need headphones for airplanes?
It’s important to protect your child’s ears as much as you possibly can just as it is important for your child to get the rest they need even while flying.
Bringing headphones for the airplane does both. They can help protect your child’s ears from the noise on a plane and help them get to sleep by blocking out the very loud noises.
How do I protect my baby’s ears when flying?
When traveling with our kids comes everyday challenges and protecting our kids while globetrotting is always of utmost importance. A few ways to do this is to bring along a pair of baby headphones for flying, nursing, drinking their bottle, or sucking on a pacifier during take-off and landing.
Where should I sit on a plane with a baby?
A window seat can help keep your baby occupied for a bit. They can see what’s going on during take-off and landing. They can also have a look at the clouds.
Try picking an area of the plane which provides the most space for comfort. While the back of the plane may be a good option, if you have an unsettled child it can also be a pretty noisy area.
How do I keep my 9-month-old busy on a plane?
Bring along their favorite toys including teething toys. Download a few apps and pack some books to read.
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