What are ear defenders?
Shaped like a pair of headphones, ear defenders provide protection for babies and young children’s hearing by blocking out some of the noise when in loud environments. If a baby’s inner ear gets damaged due to prolonged exposure to loud noises it can lead to permanent hearing loss.
What ages are ear defenders for?
Some of the ear defenders in our roundup have been designed to be used from newborns. As young babies’ heads are softer than adults while their skulls are still developing, it’s not advised that newborns wear them for long periods of time. Make sure to look for ear defenders that are comfortable and don’t apply too much pressure to the fontanel, the space between the bones in your baby’s skull, as the gap doesn’t close until they are 18 months. Some ear defenders are adjustable and can last for years to come!
Why should I use ear defenders on my baby or toddler?
If you are heading to an event like a festival, concert, cinema or sporting event where it may be very noisy, a pair of ear defenders will help protect your baby or toddler’s hearing. According to the NHS, you may also want to use them when young children are exposed to noises in other instances, such as loud toys, television and fireworks. They can also be handyfor helping children sleep while in a noisy environment. Even white noise machines that are used to help a child’s sleep could be too loud, so make sure to test the output if you plan to use it through the night.
What to look for when buying ear defenders for babies and toddlers
Size
Look for ear defenders that are the right size and age suitability for your baby. You don’t want them too big or heavy on your baby’s small head. Look at how compact they are too so that they are easy to transport when you’re out and about with your baby. Make sure to check the company’s guidance on how long they should be worn for.
Comfort
Look for material that is comfortable for your baby to wear. Padded ears will be softer and more gentle on your baby’s ears. Look out for adjustable bands and non-metal designs for extra comfort.
Design
There are lots of different styles out there to pick from. Some come in different colours and patterns to make them fun to wear for young children.
Noise reduction
Look out for the sound attenuation number. This number is measured in decibels and shows how much the ear defenders reduce the noise level by. So if they have a sound attenuation number of 21dB and the noise level is going to be 80dB, they will hear the sound at 59dB.
How loud is too loud for babies and toddlers?
Ideally, you want to keep sounds around your child to around 60dB or less. This is because children's ear canals are smaller therefore the sound pressure that is generated is greater compared to adults. 70 dB is the loudest you should expose your child to over a prolonged period. Louder noises such as toys won’t damage their hearing unless they are exposed to them for long periods of time. For example, a normal conversation measures around 60dB, while some music events can reach up to over 100dB.
How do ear defenders help autistic children?
Children with autism and other special education needs can become overstimulated by noisy and busy environments, making them feel anxious. Ear defenders can help block out some of the noise and help them feel calmer in social situations.
How we chose our recommendations
Recommendations from real parents
Mumsnetters are great at recommending products that are good value for money so it’s always a great place to start when doing our research. Our forums have over 8 million users so we know that the ear defenders on our list have been tried and tested by numerous families and will cater to different budgets and needs.
Consumer reviews
We scrutinised consumer feedback from websites like Amazon as well as the suggestions of independent review sites before selecting the best ear defenders to buy in 2026 - taking into account both negative and positive feedback.
Celebrated best products
Finally, during our in-depth research, we always make sure to look out for products that have received awards. This, combined with real parent recommendations and reviews, helped us recommend a variety of ear defenders for protecting your baby and toddler’s ears.
About the author
Gemma Wilcock is a freelance writer and copywriter. At Mumsnet, she creates content providing useful parenting advice, information and top products to make life easier. As a mother of two children herself, Gemma knows how important it is to get the right advice.
Gemma loves writing about subjects that will be helpful to the reader – and herself! - including recommending top products on Mumsnet that help parents in their day-to-day life, such as writing reviews for strollers, double buggies and cots. With two children herself, she knows the importance of online reviews when it comes to making a purchase, so she always makes sure to thoroughly research every product so we are recommending the best ones on the market.
Why you should trust us
We work hard to provide unbiased, independent advice you can trust. We do sometimes earn revenue through affiliate (click-to-buy) links in our articles. This helps us fund more helpful articles like this one.