We turned to the American Academy of Pediatrics for advice. AAP member Sophie J. Balk, MD, a pediatrician at the Children's Hospital at Montefiore in New York City and professor of pediatrics at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, says that babies should be shielded from loud noise as much as possible, and baby noise-cancelling headphones can play a part in that. Noise-canceling headphones aren't an essential accessory for babies, but they can be very useful in certain circumstances. If you frequently visit loud events and need to bring your baby with you, giving them some noise-canceling headphones helps deaden the harsh sounds. Unlike us, a baby's eardrums are very sensitive to loud noises, so noise-cancelation helps keep them comfortable and happy. If you intend to use the baby noise-canceling headphones on the go, be sure to take a look at the Snug Baby Earmuffs. They're designed to be taken out of the home, meaning you can protect your baby's hearing in loud environments.

Alpine Muffy Baby headphones is the leading hearing protection for babies and toddlers with CE and ANSI mark. This means the earmuffs meet all the legal requirements of the European Union and USA in the field of safety, health, and the environment. Muffy Baby is a very comfortable headset suitable for children from 1 year and capable of reducing sounds by 25 decibels. It is made up of two light, white cups and a soft elastic strap, which is very easy to adjust with Velcro. It is this second component which makes Muffy Baby ear defenders perfect for infants. From 0 to around 3 years, children’s skulls are still soft. To avoid any deformity, it is best to use suitable material as a normal headset would apply pressure. As an extra, a small storage and carrying case is provided with the Muffy Baby so you can take them everywhere with you. Characteristics:Baby Banz is also best if you like to dress up your baby. With such a vast range of colors, you can ensure your little one looks just as good as you do! Some colors even come with Bluetooth built-in. This feature lets you play soothing music or other audio to your child from any Bluetooth-enabled device. For many reasons, babies’ delicate ears and hearing are thought to be more sensitive to excessive noise compared to older children and adults," Dr, Balk says. "Babies also can’t remove themselves from uncomfortable – even painful – noisy situations so they must rely on adults to protect them." By using ear protection, you're not only keeping your baby from experiencing pain, you're working to prevent any permanent damage. "Hearing loss that occurs because of excessive noise can have long-term consequences, including their ability to learn," Dr. Balk says. Some families say it works exactly as promised for them, while others report that it's initially a little tough to get on their baby if they're a real wiggle-worm. If you’re always conscious of protecting your baby’s fontanelle, or soft spot, you’ll appreciate that the fit keeps these headphones away from that area (though you may be comforted by the fact that traditional headphones that cross the fontanelle are not considered dangerous). These headphones should stretch to fit up to age 3.

Unfortunately, there aren’t many ANC headphones out there that can reliably fit younger ears, so your options are few and far between. That’s why we recommend the Puro Sound Labs PuroQuiet: it performs decently enough at a price that won’t empty your bank account. Plus, it’ll get more usage over the years as your children grow up. What about the PuroPro ANC? This list was overseen by our Chief Technologist and Executive Technical Director Rachel Rothman, a mechanical engineer with more than 15 years of experience at the Institute. Rothman is also a parent with three kids ages 6 and younger. See her list of the best sensory and fidget toys for all ages.

Why is fit important?

Fit: Be sure you're buying headphones that will fit an infant. Look for an age grading that goes from birth or the infant months to age 2 or 3 years. Babies have delicate ears, that’s a fact. In the early years of their lives, children use their hearing to learn to speak and understand their surroundings. It is a sense that doesn’t develop before birth. Fuss with the fit at home, before you are in the loud situation. That gives you a chance to adjust the headphones to the proper width so that they slide right onto your baby when the music or event begins. If you want nothing less than professional-grade sound damping for your baby, try these Damaiu Baby Ear Protection Headphones. They use a professional-grade foam that offers noise reduction of up to 31dB, combined with a comfortable zero-pressure design to suit your sleeping babies better. If you have a set of child hearing protection, you like and use, be sure to submit it to our FAQ submission tool so we can take a look! More and more products are coming out every day, and some of the models tested above may get discontinued. It happens. In that light, be sure to poke around on your own and look for models that offer a high dB(A) noise reduction rating and the features you want.