There’s a reason your child covers their ears every time you walk past a construction site. Little ears are sensitive—and they’re especially vulnerable in the presence of fireworks, race cars, and screaming Taylor Swift fans. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, prolonged exposure to noise above 85 decibels (dB)—the typical volume of a hair dryer—can cause permanent hearing damage, even for adults. Now imagine your child at a Fourth of July firework festival, where pyrotechnics displays can top 150 dB, and you understand why packing ear protection is just as crucial as sunscreen and snacks.
“Our ears are always on,” says Dr. Brian J. Fligor, a pediatric audiologist, author of Understanding Childhood Hearing Loss, and president of Tobias & Battite Hearing Wellness in Boston. “Hearing is crucial for our language development and navigation of the world. That’s why we must protect children’s hearing from birth.”
The good news? Today’s earmuffs—over-the-ear headsets that help block noise—are lightweight, comfortable, and stylish enough that most kids won’t put up a fight over wearing them. They’re also designed to lower the decibel level without muffling or distorting sound entirely. (The goal is volume reduction, not total silence.)
Dr. Fligor advises using protection any time an event is loud enough to startle a child or requires shouting in order to be heard. He also recommends it when riding ATVs, snowmobiles, or other powersport vehicles where engines are not particularly well-muffled. And while hearing protection is not necessary on commercial flights, he absolutely recommends muffs for smaller bush and prop planes, or when attending a jet flyover show. If you’re not sure how to gauge the noise risk in any given situation, there’s an app for that: Decibel X sound meter for iOS and Android offers a real-time frequency analyzer for spot checks.
We asked Dr. Fligor, a father of four, along with other travel-savvy parents about the muffs that work best for their kids and why. Below, the best kid-approved picks for the ultimate ear protection.
FAQ:
What should I look for to find the best ear protection for kids?
Aim for a minimum noise reduction rating (NRR) of 22 to 27 dB for general use, says Dr. Fligor. For especially loud environments—like fireworks shows or racing events—higher is better.
What ages need ear protection?
Exposure to loud noise—anything over 85 dB—can cause permanent hearing damage in children and adults alike, which is why it’s so essential to protect our hearing from birth onward. Proactive protection for kids is especially important because they are less likely to self-regulate and move away from noise if it gets too loud.
Which type of ear protection is better for kids: earplugs or earmuffs?
For babies, toddlers, and grade schoolers, over-the-ear muffs are the safest and easiest option. They’re more comfortable, stay in place better, and don’t pose a choking hazard the way earplugs might. Dr. Fligor advises against using earplugs for children until they are old enough to report accurately on their comfort and effectiveness, typically around age seven or older. For tweens and teens, high-fidelity earplugs like Loop or Etymotic work well because they dampen volume without distorting sound (ideal for concerts).
How can I tell if the ear protection fits correctly?
“Earmuffs should form a snug but gentle seal around the ears without any gapping,” says Dr. Fligor. That means the cups are large enough to fit around the entire ear— including the flap of cartilage around the edge, called the pinna—and sit along the jaw. If they slip forward or the ears poke out, it’s not tight enough. If they leave indentations or the child complains about pressure, it’s too tight. To double check the fit, ask your child to shake their head while wearing them: If the earmuffs shift easily or slide off, they’re too loose.
Puro Sound Labs
PuroCalm earmuffs
Designed for ages 3 to 16, these earmuffs offer an NRR of 27 dB. They only come in one color (Halloween orange), but the craftsmanship is top notch. My son has flung them across the room in several fits of iPad-all-done rage, and they still function like new. We’ve also begun experimenting with Puro’s JuniorJams, kid-scaled headphones that limit harmful volumes above 85 dB. The built-in mic is helpful for online learning and the headphones last up 22 hours before needing a USB-C charge.
Dr. Fligor is a fan of kid muffs made with the same high-quality materials as adult muffs, particularly for activities where firearms are heard. Peltor has been around for ages and it’s his go-to brand for his own children. “Comfort is king,” says Dr. Fligor. “If it’s not comfortable, it’s not going to be used.” These cushioned muffs are designed for kids ages five and up and feature low-profile cups, a soft wire headband, and protection up to 27 dB.
Alpine
Muffy baby ear protection
Maria de la Guardia, the Bangkok-based principal director of The Big Picture Bureau LLC, has been using these muffs on her two-and-a-half-year-old daughter, Sophia, since she was six weeks old. The ultra-comfy style is specifically designed for children up to 48 months, with a safe attenuation of 24 dB and an adjustable, non-slip headband that does not put pressure on the fontanelle (the soft spot on a baby’s skull). The muffs come in a lovely selection of pastel colors as well as basic black. De la Guardia says Sophia has worn the muffs on numerous flights, during an outdoor concert in Abu Dhabi, and while watching a fireworks display in Malaysia. As an “independent, headstrong toddler,” she even tries to put them on herself. Alpine also makes a Muffy Kids version for ages 5 to 16 with an NRR of 25 dB and an even broader range of colors.
Sari Bellmer, an herbalist and founder of Heilbron Herbs in Asheville, North Carolina, has owned Banz muffs since her two-and-a-half-year-old daughter, Ursa, was a newborn. “We were actively remodeling our house when I went into labor—and she still wears them and loves them,” says Bellmer. They came in handy, too, after Hurricane Helene stormed through her region last year and the family was “running chainsaws nonstop” in the aftermath. The Banz models have a foam-cushioned adjustable headband designed specifically for little ones up to two, offer a NRR of 26 dB, and come in more than a dozen colors. Banz also makes kids’ earmuffs for ages 5 to 10 in a variety of prints, including stars and stripes, graffiti doodles, and butterflies.
Brian Bavido, a Michigan-based audio engineer for Ringo Starr, spends a lot of time at concerts, and these child-sized earmuffs with a soft padded headband and NRR of 25 dB are his top choice for protecting his seven-year-old daughter, Stella. “They’re from Vic Firth, a drumstick and accessory company, so they’re designed to really block out harmful high sound pressure but also be comfortable for extended wear,” he says. Stella, who has worn them to many Ringo shows, as well as Bruce Springsteen and Garbage concerts, loves them as much as her dad. Though she owns other brands, she always comes back to Vic, he says.