I have a confession to make – I would struggle to travel with kids without our not so secret weapon – the iPad! This device makes long flights, bus and train trips painless. The kids can happily play with these all day – something they are never allowed to do normally, but on a long journey, anything goes!

As they get older, they are also getting big enough to use seat back entertainment systems. Although we can sometimes get away with using the iPad without headphones, this is not the case for inflight or “in bus” entertainment systems. They need to use headphones or earphones and the ones supplied do not work with their little ears. I also worry that they are not safe.

For this reason, we went on a mission to find the best headphones for kids and the best earphones for toddlers – our results are below to hopefully help save you time to find the perfect solution for your kids.

Best kids headphones and best toddler headphones

Comparison Chart

We’ve prepared the following comparison chart of the kids headphones, toddler headphones and baby headphones we have researched and/or used to help you find the best one.

Are headphones safe for toddlers and kids?

Headphones for kids can be safe – if used correctly.

It is wise to invest in the best headphone for kids in regards to safety. This way they will not only keep your little one entertained, but ensure that minimal damage is done to your child’s ear with research showing that damage can occur easily due to their underdeveloped ear canals.

As for earphones for kids, these are not generally recommended. Kids earphones sit directly in the ear, and therefore can cause some damage if the sound is pushed up too high. Even the best earbuds for small ears and best kids earbuds can be an issue here.

The same goes for earphones for toddlers. The ear is vulnerable and sensitive at this age and, with the number of teenagers with damaged hearing increasing, you would be wise to steer clear of these while your child is young.

To make sure you have safe headphones for toddlers and kids, ensure first that you purchase toddler safe headphones, stay away from earphones that sit directly in the ear, ensure that you can not hear the noise from a meter away and follow the tips below.

What to look for in the best headphones for children

There are obviously a few things of importance when looking for the best headphones for kids.

The main of which I would suggest is the volume – for children, it is not recommended to have a high volume. The best headphone for kids will have a feature that allows you to set the volume at less than the maximum, which is an thing to look for.

Another thing I would recommend is to check the size of your child’s head. I have a child that is in the 95% percentile for head size, so not all headphones (or clothes) are suitable for him! In addition to this, it is important to ensure that the headphones are well adjustable. Some can even be adjusted for adults, and although it is nice to have this option it is not necessary when looking for kids unless you are sure you are going to use them too.

Wireless headphones can also be a great option as they take away the trouble that comes with tangled headphones – I have reviewed the best kids wireless headphones below. Something to remember with wireless headphones is that many of these require a full charge before use – and are limited by a battery life of around 9 hours. This can be enough for a day out, but for long flights and bus trips, it may not be enough.

Best kids headphone reviews

Kidz Gear Wired Headphones For Kids review

You may have already heard of the Kidz Gear headphones as they are one of the best sellers and prove to be very popular with parents and kids, and were excited to do a Kidz Gear headphones review.

Something that makes Kidz Gear wired headphones so great is that the headphones have a lifetime limited warranty. This has resulted in a really durable, high quality pair of headphones.

The Kidz Gear volume limit headphones feature is perfect as it allows you to limit the volume to 20 db below the maximum, changing the maximum volume set to 80-90 db. This reduces the likelihood of ear damage and makes using them so much safer. In addition to this, the sound quality is great and they are comfortable enough to be used for hours.

The Kidz headphones are suitable for children 2 years old and above, and come in a great range of colors for your kids to pick their favorite.

Although this pair does not fold flat, The Kidz Gear volume limit fold-flat travel headphones are another pricier option which you can see here.

The Kidz Gear headphones are not just one of the best small headphones, but also amazing value for money.

Click here to see more information and the latest prices.

LilGadgets Untangled Pro Children’s Wireless Bluetooth Headphones review

There are so many benefits of having a wireless pair of headphones and the LilGadgets Pro are the best wireless headphones for kids, and one of best headphones for toddlers.

Having a pair of wireless headphones for toddlers is beneficial while traveling as it saves you the time and frustration of having to untangle cords and allows for more leeway with listening distance. This pair of toddler headphones runs on bluetooth.

These headphones are generally suitable for children above 3 years old, but they have a very sleek design that could easily pass as adult headphones, so you can also use them when you need to. The sound quality is crisp and clear.

Headphones falling off can be bothersome and these headphones have a breathable mesh ear cushion to eliminate this. 
These toddler wireless headphones also come in 6 different colors. They also include a travel bag to keep them safe.

The battery life is 10 hours long and it can charged via a USB cable making them an easy option while traveling. These toddler safe headphones are my top wireless pick for kids.

Click here for the latest prices and more information.

Nabi Headphones review

If you are looking for a really great, quality pair of headphones for your little one then the Nabi Kids headphones could be it.

These headphones have a very high quality ‘DJ’ sound, which results in great pitch, clarity and richness of whatever your child may be listening to.

The important thing for me is the volume control and these headphones have two volume options, with one for limiting the sound to under 80 db for use for your child, and one for when parents are using them.

The headphones are made with a high quality ear cushion which does a great job of blocking out noise in the environment. Just be prepared to be screamed at when your kid talks to you with these on!

The Nabi headphones for kids are recommended for older kids, 4 and over, but are adjustable and versatile enough to even be worn by adults in the one size. So while these are child size headphones, you can steal them too when you need them.

If you want a pair of quality headphones that both you and your child can enjoy, these may be it.

Click here to see the latest prices.

JLab JBuddies Kids Volume Limiting Headphones review

Another popular headphone with parents is the JLab Kids Headphones. These headphones can be limited to 90db which is at the recommended limit, with this being automatically built into the headphones. This could also make them the best headphones for toddlers on planes, as they have a tendency to turn the volume right up.

These headphones are suitable from ages 2 and up, and are small enough to fit comfortably on your child’s head. They also have hypoallergenic ear cushions for a comfortable experience. These headphones can be used on all of the most common equipment including cell phones, tablets and Leapfrog products.

For less than $1 more you can also purchase these headphones with a folding option which I recommend whilst traveling. They will be so much easier to pack in your carry baggage and, conveniently, these headphones also include a travel bag.

The JLab headphones come in different colors including pink, purple, blue and black and include 8 different stickers for your child to choose to place on the ear piece making these little kid headphones complete.

Click here to see the latest prices.

Califone 2810-PA Listening First Kids Stereo Headphones review

Headphones for babies can be difficult to find but the Califone 2810-PA may be your solution. These can be used from 1 year old for most babies, and may be the perfect pair of headphones for your child’s first wear.

Although the main things parents look for in headphones aren’t how cute they are, it is worth mentioning that these are cute! This particular design has ear cups that are shaped as Pandas.

The design is also strong and sturdy which is important when kids will be handling them.

The sound quality is pretty clear for such a low cost pair of headphones, however there are better headphones for kids with better sound quality at higher prices. At this price though, I’m not complaining.

The headphones do a good job of canceling out noise, and are small and comfortable on your child’s head. They also adjust a fair bit and can even be suitable for teenagers.

These headphones use slain on the jack that helps keep the cord attached and safe from accidentally pulling it out, which can happen all too frequently with jerky kids.

Unfortunately these headphones do not have a volume canceling feature, and the maximum volume is 110 db. They are still popular with parents, hence the reason I have listed them here.

If you need a cheap pair of headphones for travel and can trust your kid not to turn the volume up as high as it goes, these may be the best baby headphones for your baby.

Click here for more information and the latest prices.

What headphones do you recommend for kids?

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