As a parent, I completely understand the desire to keep noise levels to a minimum for your baby. Not only to protect their ears against potentially damaging noises, but no parent wants their sleeping baby woken up. This couldn’t be more true than when flying with a baby! The best way to protect your baby’s delicate eardrums is with a pair of baby noise cancelling headphones.
Imagine you’ve just gotten your baby to sleep on the airplane, only to have them woken by a loud passenger or a crying baby. This happened to me on a flight home from our trip to Paris with a baby. We were seated right next to the toilets and the slamming bathroom door constantly woke our baby! I was so incredibly frustrated, I’ve never wished for different airplane seats or noise cancelling headphones for my baby more!
This post contains compensated links.
Best Baby Ear Protection For Airplanes, Concerts, and Fireworks
Aside from flying, the other very practical reason to get headphones for babies is for taking your baby to events (like sporting events). You want to make sure your baby’s ears are protected.
Babies have very tender ears with ear canals that are smaller than our own, which is why ear specialists recommend that babies not be exposed to sounds and noises above 60 decibels. To see what noises are greater than 60 decibels, check out this diagram of decibel levels of everyday noises by the Hearing Health Foundation.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services warns that repeated and prolonged exposure to loud noises above the recommended threshold can lead to ear damage. So, how do you protect your baby’s hearing?
One way is to invest in a good pair of baby noise-cancelling headphones when traveling with a baby. Here are the best options for noise-cancelling headphones for babies:
5 Effective noise cancelling headphones for babies
CE and ANSI certified earmuffs designed for babies with a soft, adjustable headband that avoids pressure on the fontanel. A parent-friendly pick for flights, concerts, and fireworks when you need baby ear protection with dependable comfort.
- Headband avoids pressure on soft spots
- Fits newborns through toddler stage
- Certified to CE and ANSI standards
- Lightweight and comfortable for naps
- Headband style is different than classic muffs
Lightweight baby earmuffs with soft cups and an adjustable headband that fit tiny heads well. A proven choice for baby headphones for airplane, sports, and parades when you want simple ear protection that packs easily.
- Lightweight with soft cushioned cups
- Adjustable headband fits fast-growing babies
- Wide range of colors and prints
- Established baby-first brand
- Classic headband can touch the crown
- NRR varies by listing and color
An affordable set many parents buy for flights and events. Sized for about 3–24 months with cushioned cups and compact fold, making them a good value baby noise cancelling headphones option for travel days.
- Friendly price for first-time buyers
- Compact and easy to pack
- Fits many babies and young toddlers
- Not designed for true newborn fit
- Specs vary across different models
Lightweight earmuffs marketed for 0–24 months that parents use at weddings, games, and fireworks. A good budget alternative when you want baby ear protection for occasional events.
- Very lightweight for small heads
- Often priced below premium models
- Simple adjustment for a quick fit
- Multiple colors for easy matching
- Narrower size window than others
A low-cost set with NRR 22 protection. Useful as a spare pair for the diaper bag and for families seeking ear protection for babies on a budget.
- Budget price point with broad availability
- Lightweight and foldable for travel
- Fits babies up to 24 months
- Lower listed NRR than premium picks
Should Babies Wear Noise Cancelling Headphones on a Plane?
You may be wondering about flying with a baby and if you should invest in a pair of baby headphones for flying.
According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, takeoff and landing will be the loudest times on the airplane. During the flight the noise level will be lower. Keep in mind that it will be louder at the rear of the cabin and near the engines. Based on the NIOSH findings, it’s not necessary for babies to wear ear protection headphones for planes.
The biggest consideration in purchasing baby ear protection for flying is if you think it will help your baby sleep. While some parents find that the humming white noise from the airplane can help their baby to sleep, others find the noise of announcements, passengers or toilet doors will wake up their baby. In this instance, noise cancelling headphones for flying might help baby sleep. I sure wish I had them on my flight home from Paris!
If you purchase baby ear protection for flying, ensure that they fit properly and will be comfortable for your baby to sleep on the airplane.
What to Look for When Buying Baby Ear Protection Headphones
Here are some factors to be kept in mind when you are purchasing headphones for baby ear protection.
NRR Rating (Noise Reduction Rating)
NRR values say a lot about a pair of baby noise cancelling headphones. NRR, short for Noise Reduction Rating, is a means to measure the ability of a pair of headphones to cancel out noise. The higher the NRR value, the better the noise-cancellation.
If you are looking for baby headphones to just drown out some noise, baby noise blocking headphones with lower ratings can work fine. But, if you think you will ever have your baby with you at a concert or a fireworks show, it’s wise to invest in a pair of baby soundproof headphones with a higher rating.
Size & Weight of Baby Noise Canceling Headphones
Another thing to remember while looking for baby headphones for flying or concerts is to pick a pair that is neither too big nor too heavy on their little heads.
It’s a good idea to check the description of the pair of infant noise cancelling headphones that you’re eyeing for its dimensions, size, and weight in order to avoid ordering something that is simply too bulky for your little one.
Age of Your Baby
If you want to get the best value for money, then consider the age of your baby when buying headphones for them. Not only will this help you pick one that suits your baby, but most importantly, will help you choose one that will sit sturdily on top of their little heads and ears.
Baby noise reduction headphones that can be adjusted at the headband are always the best choice as this allows them to grow right alongside your child as they get bigger. And we all know how fast that can be!
Comfort
As parents, we know that after safety, comfort is a top priority when it comes to choosing baby travel essentials.
It’s a good idea to pick baby ear protection for flying, concerts, sporting events, etc. that are softly padded and have a comfortable covering.
Furthermore, ensuring that baby headphones fit as your child grows is one thing, but also making sure that they fit well is another. And the only thing that can guarantee that is adjustable baby sound proof headphones.
Packable Baby Headphones
Baby headphones for flying should be compact and fold easily. When folded, some noise canceling baby headphones can even fit into the pocket of a diaper bag or stroller bag.
Read More
Do you have an older child? Check out my recommended toddler headphones for plane travel.
Come Join Us!
We love answering questions in our Baby Can Travel Facebook group. Come ask all your baby travel related questions and share advice with other traveling parents!
Found this post useful? Share it with your friends!
This post was written & edited by:
Celine Brewer is the owner of Baby Can Travel. Not only does she have years of experience traveling with babies & toddlers, but she's helped millions of new parents travel with their babies and toddlers for over a decade. In addition to writing on her baby travel blog, she has shared her expertise on traveling with a baby or toddler by contributing to articles about traveling with a baby with the Washington Post, USA Today, the Lonely Planet magazine and Pregnancy & Newborn magazine.
Celine also writes about family travel on the site FamilyCanTravel.com, which she co-owns with her husband. Being from the Canadian Rockies, she shares her passion about her home and travel to Banff National Park and area on their site TravelBanffCanada.com.