Try These Best Volume-Limiting Headphones to Protect Your Kids’ Little Ears

Many young students are required to bring headphones to school these days, and even more use them at home or on the road when they’re enjoying playtime on their various devices. To prevent noise-induced hearing loss, it’s essential that you choose a pair that’s designed to protect their little ears. Are you ready to skip the novelty headphones and go with something that is not only safer, but is also more durable and comfortable? We’ve spent the last few months testing out various headphones for kids, and we’re going to highlight the features of our favorites for you.

Puro Junior Jams

Bluetooth wireless
Volume limited to 85db
Puro Balanced Response equally balances bass, vocals and highs, delivering clear vocal reproduction
87% noise isolation to reduce ambient sound
Adjustable
Foldable
Automatic power off
Built-in audio splitter to allow two headphones to connect to the same device
Hard carry case
3.5mm audio cable for non-wireless use
USB charging cable
22 hr battery life
MSRP $49.99

JuniorJams comes with safe-volume control, never-compromising vocal quality, and long-lasting comfort. Of all the headphones I’ve tried, I’d say these have the best sound, and that’s more important than you might initially think. What do you do when you can’t hear something clearly? You turn up the volume. Combine the high quality sound with the 87% noise isolation, and your child won’t need to crank the volume to the max and risk damaging his/her hearing over time. Built-in controls let you pause, play, skip, and adjust the volume right from the headset. The hard carry case is a very nice bonus that helps protect your investment. (My own fancy headphones didn’t even come with one of those.) Twenty-two hour battery life is quite impressive, and while I don’t think we’ve ever needed to go that long without recharging, it’s nice to know we can. Find them on PuroSound.com or at Amazon.

LilGadgets Connect+ Pro

Wired
Volume limited to 93db
Passive noise reduction reduces outside noise by 13db
Adjustable
Foldable
SharePort feature allows you to connect multiple headphones to one device
Microfiber travel bag
3.5mm tangle-free audio cable with inline mic
MSRP $27

The LilGadgets Connect+ Pro features a flexible padded headband and cushion-ey earpads that makes it super comfortable to wear, and with 5 fun colors to choose from, they look cute too. SharePort technology means you can connect multiple pairs of headphones to the same device without the need to bother with splitters or adapters. The sound was clear even at low volumes, and noise reduction on these was excellent. I tested it myself by having my son make lots of noise while I was listening to music, and I was unable to hear him even though I didn’t have the volume very loud. You’ll notice that these headphones allow for volume higher than the commonly seen 85db. The idea here is that ambient noise levels often exceed 85db, making it difficult to hear over your surroundings. Limiting the volume to a slightly higher 93db still offers protection while allowing your little one to hear what’s being played through the headphones–even when in noisy environments. As with any headphones, it’s important to limit the amount of time using them and to not listen at the maximum volume unless necessary. Find them at LilGadgets.com ($27 with free shipping) or on Amazon.com ($26.95 and prime).

BuddyPhones PLAY

Wireless
Four volume modes: Toddler, Kids, Travel, and Study
Adjustable
Foldable
BuddyCables feature a built-in audio splitter called the BuddyJack that allows up to four cables to connect to the same device
Soft travel bag
3.5mm tangle-free audio cable with inline mic for wired listening
USB charging cable
Fun stickers let your child customize the headphones
MSRP $59.99

BuddyPhones PLAY is another set of headphones that gives you the flexibility to be wired or go wireless depending on your needs, which is important to me. Sometimes, it’s just more convenient to be wireless, but I honestly prefer to be wired when possible. Like the others, these headphones deliver rich sound and let you connect multiple headphones to one device, but what makes this pair unique is its four volume modes. If you hold the two volume buttons down at the same time, you can select the desired mode based on your child’s age and the setting you’re in. Toddler Mode is volume limited to 75db, Kids Mode to 85db, Travel Mode to 94db, and Study Mode is limited to 94db and features enhanced vocals to help kids stay focused when studying. They are adaptable to your situation, and I just love how convenient that is. My son loves that he can decorate them with the included stickers! Get them through their website at OnanOff.com or on Amazon.com ($49.99 and prime!).

KidzGear Wired

Optional KidzControl Volume Limit Cable limits volume to 80-90db
Adjustable
Soft Carry Bag
3.5mm audio cable
MSRP $19.99

These are the headphones that my kids keep at school. They don’t have quite as many features as the others, but they sound great and are more than adequate for their needs. Plus, you can’t beat the price for a pair of quality kids’ headphones that feature volume limit technology. The volume limiting is done through a separate cable, so you can simply detach it when you’re in a noisy environment and want more volume. KidzGear Headphones are made using same high quality components as those used in adult headphones, and they come with a lifetime warranty. Both of my children have been using them at school for two years now, and they’re still loving them. Find them on Amazon (currently $19.97 & prime) or get them for just $17.99 with free shipping at KidzGear.com.

I’ve done my best to keep things simple here so you can easily see all of the important features of each pair of headphones and choose the pair that works best for you. Whether you’re on the hunt for kids’ headphones for school, upcoming travel, or as a holiday gift, I hope you’ve found my little guide helpful!