The following are our top picks for ear muffs for babies and children:
In choosing an ear muff to recommend for use with children, and especially with babies, we look for smaller ear cups, cushy padding, no sharp edges, padding on the headband, durable construction, a well-operating adjustment mechanism, appropriate NRR rating, and a reasonable price. Ultra Light weight and the ability to fold are plusses that we also recommend, though these are "nice to have" rather than critical features.
No earmuffs were made specifically for babies, however, we have sold thousands of earmuffs to families with children of all ages. The youngest we know of to use earmuffs was 3 weeks old! The smallest ear cups of the choices we recommend are the Peltor family of ear muffs (Item 1. below.) The other three are about 10% larger and so, although we do not explicitly recommend them for babies, in your judgment as a parent you may find the other products listed here will work for your child. Just be sure, whatever ear muffs you choose, that you look carefully to see that the sealing ring makes contact with your child's head all the way around. Even a small gap will potentially allow a dangerous amount of noise to reach your child's ear.
Finally, we do not recommend that you rely on any type of ear muffs or ear plugs to protect your child's hearing when the noise levels are dangerously high. However, when you are trying to make your child more comfortable in a noisy place by reducing the noise level he or she hears, we highly recommend all of the following products.
- The Peltor family of kid-friendly earmuffs (NRR 21-22). All of
these are identical in form and function. The only differences are in the
color and markings on the ear cups. Otherwise, these are all identical:
Peltor
Kid (Pink or Blue with "Peltor Kid" on the ear cups), Peltor/AO Safety Junior
Muffs (Black with "Junior" on the earcups),
AO Safety Select (Powder Blue with
"AO Safety Select" on the ear cups), and
Peltor Optime 95 (Cream Colored muffs
with "Peltor Optime 95" on the ear cups). All of these are the exact same
earmuff, but for the colors and markings. These earmuffs are well made and
they feature a padded vinyl covered adjustable headband, and soft earpads.
This family of earmuffs are rated at 21 or 22, with the difference resulting
from slightly different test results in the lab over time. Despite the slight
difference in NRR, these are all identical in form and function. The ear cups
are sized to fit babies through small adults.
-
Pro-Ears Ultra 26 (NRR 26). These are
expensive, but they are the best ear muffs sized small enough for young
children that money can buy today. They feature a
luxuriously padded, adjustable headband, very soft and smooth pro-form leather ear pads, an excellent NRR of 26 (the highest
available in an ear muff that will fit a young child) and they will fold to about 3/4 their unfolded size
(Note: these will not fit into an earmuff bag.) As a plus, these earmuffs are also MRI
safe, and in fact they are the only earmuffs we recommend for babies or children that are MRI
safe. Pro-Ears Ultra 26 ear muffs are available in Pink, Pink Camo, Green Camo,
MAX4 HD Camo, Safety Orange, Military green, or Black, with "Pro-Ears Ultra 26"
printed on
the ear cups. The ear cups are sized to fit children of about 3 through small adults.
-
Bilsom Leightning L0F (NRR 23). These earmuffs feature a lightly
padded, cloth-covered adjustable headband with a nice smooth kid-friendly
liner, the slimest ear cups in their category, and they fold to a very compact
1/2 their unfolded size. This product also has an excellent NRR of 23. The
Leightning LOF earmuffs will also fit neatly into the Bilsom Folding Ear Muff
Belt Bag for the maximum in handy convenience. Available in black only with "Leightning
LOF" imprinted on the ear cups. The ear cups are sized to fit children of
about 3 through small
adults. Will fit into the
Bilsom
Ear Muff Belt Bag.
- AO Safety Shotgunner (NRR 21). These earmuffs feature a non-padded, but very smooth vinyl covered adjustable headband and the ability to fold neatly to fit into the Bilsom Folding Ear Muff Belt Bag. These are the least expensive folding earmuffs we recommend for young children. Available in Red, Black and Military Green, the ear cups are sized to fit children of about 3 through small adults. Will fit into the Bilsom Ear Muff Belt Bag.