9 of the best baby ear defenders and protectors in 2025

If you're starting to prepare for summer adventures, ear defenders are a great way to ensure your child can enjoy loud environments like festivals or sports events without damaging their hearing or making them feel overwhelmed. However, it's worth remembering that they aren't designed to be worn for long periods of time, and each brand has their own instructions to follow and guidance on when it is appropriate to use them.

Best baby ear defenders at a glance

• Best non-metal earmuffs: Alpine Muffy Baby, £29.95 at Amazon
• Best kids ear defenders for comfort: Banz Baby Ear Defenders, £21.99 £15.81 at Amazon (Save £6.18 or 28%)
• Best compact kids ear defenders: Edz Kidz Ear Defenders, £14.99 at Amazon
• Best budget kids ear defenders: Hilka Children's Ear Defenders, £12 at Argos
• Best ear defenders for newborns: Ems For Kids Baby Ear Defenders, £21.99 at Ems for Kids
• Best ear defenders with colourful designs: Snug Safe n Sound Kids Ear Defenders, £24.99 £16.99 at Amazon (Save £8 or 32%)
• Best kids ear defenders for longevity: Sensory Direct Ear Defenders, from £14.50 at Sensory Direct
• Best for older kids: 3M Peltor™ Kid Earmuff, £20.39 at Amazon
• Best ear plugs for kids aged 6+: Loop Engage Kids 2 Earplugs, £29.95 at Loop Earplugs

Here's our pick of the best ear defenders for babies for 2025:

1. Alpine Muffy Baby, £29.95

— Best non-metal ear defenders

Age: 6 months – 4 years | Weight: 116g

These protective muffs are super-comfy thanks to a wraparound elastic headband, which is available in either sky blue, sage green, dawn purple, dusk black or rose pink. The set comes with a handy travel bag too.

The earmuffs are secured by a soft and adjustable non-slip headband that grows with your child — up to 4 years. The headband has also been created to ensure there's no pressure on the fontanelle at the front of the head. They're also super comfortable so suitable for extended wear for your baby.

The unique design, which bears the European safety standard CE mark, also offers a proven noise reduction of 24 dB (SNR).

We first used them on my son at 6 months and they still fit at 18 months. Very comfortable and easily adjustable.

Available from: Alpine Hearing Protection and Amazon

2. Banz Baby Ear Defenders, £21.99

— Best baby ear defenders for comfort

Age: 0 – 3 years | Weight: 190g

These Aussie protectors have foam-filled cushions around the ears which means that they don't squeeze uncomfortably on your child's ears, and a leather-covered headband for comfort. They are pretty lightweight (weighing under 0.2kg) and adjust so they grow with your child as they grow older (up to 3 years). Banz also say that the ear defenders have been safety tested for newborns aged 0-3 months, so these are a great choice if you're looking for ear defenders for younger babies.

We also love that there are a range of child-friendly bright colours and bold prints available to choose from, including Butterfly, Graffiti, Sports and Transport.

Baby Banz have fitted my girls well. My youngest wore them at 5 months old and they still fit my older child at nearly 4 years old.

Available from: Amazon, Kidly

3. Edz Kidz Ear Defenders, £14.99

— Best compact baby ear defenders

Age: 1 month - 2 years | Weight: 151g

These lightweight ear defenders contain 2 layers of sound-deadening foam, and come in a range of bright colours, so you're sure to find a pair to please even the fussiest little customers.

Although lightweight, they're also durable and the adjustable riser means they'll grow with your baby and should last until they're 2. They fold up quite compactly so are perfect for packing in your bag when travelling.

Available from: Amazon

4. Hilka Children's Ear Defenders, £12

— Best budget buy

Age: 3 – 7 years | Weight: 230g

Relatively lightweight and adjustable, the Hilka Kids ear defenders are designed specifically to suit your child comfortably from ages 3 to 7.

The ear cushions have a wide profile so cover more of your child's ear to block out noise, and are also foam-filled and cleverly tilt and bevel to maximise comfort. They come in pink and blue and offer really good protection at a great price.

Available from: Argos, Amazon

5. Ems for Kids Baby Ear Defenders, £21.99

— Best ear defenders for newborns

Age: 0 – 18 months | Weight: 120g

Ems For Kids exclusively designed these defenders to be newborn-safe, offering industrial grade hearing protection from birth (they have a 27 Decibel (dB) Noise Reduction Rating). As with any ear defenders, you should try to limit the amount of time they are used on very young babies.

The adjustable velcro head strap comes in a variety of fun prints and designs, and the headphones themselves come in either black or white. The headband is interchangeable and easy to wash too.

Available from: Audilo, Amazon, Ems for Kids

6. Snug Safe n Sound Kids Ear Defenders, £24.99

— Best baby ear defenders for colourful designs

Age: 12 months+ | Weight: 180g

We love the colourful design on these ear defenders, which come in a whole host of prints including a unicorn and camo print (both pictured above). They're appealing but also incredibly effective too, with a 25dB Noise Reduction Rating.

The foldable design has a low profile, designed to be as comfortable and wearable as possible for kids. They have a compact size, so they're extra handy for using when you're out and about or travelling. They're also durable and adjustable so should last your child well as they grow older.

Available from: Amazon

7. Sensory Direct Ear Defenders, from £14.50

— Best kids ear defenders for longevity

Age: 12 months+ | Weight: 200g

Suitable from 1 year all the way up to adulthood, these adjustable ear defenders from Sensory Direct are a great option if you're looking for a pair that will grow with your child.

They're incredibly lightweight at 0.2kg and fold away into a nice, compact size that will fit into your bag or pocket, so are perfect for taking with you on the go. When folded, they measure just 10cm x 12cm. The padded headband helps with comfort and they come in a range of 6 colours with a nice, high gloss finish.

My daughter is 4 and slender for her age and they really do fit her, her dad and me...

Available from: Sensory Direct, Amazon

Best ear defenders for older children

8. 3M Peltor™ Kid Earmuff, £20.39

— Best ear defenders for older kids

Age: 5+ | Weight: 151g

With soft, wide cushions to reduce pressure and heat build up, as well as a lightweight and low-pressure fit, these ear defenders from 3M are a great option for children aged 5 and above.

Not only are they comfortable and effective at reducing the noise level by up to 27 decibels, they are also easy to keep clean with easy-to-use replaceable cushions and inserts. We love the bright neon green or pink colourways too, which will make them easy to spot on your child's head if in a crowded environment.

Available from: Amazon, Robert Dyas

9. Loop Engage Kids 2 Earplugs, £29.95

— Best noise reduction earplugs for kids aged 6+

Age: 6-12

Loop Earplugs are having a bit of a moment online right now and its easy to see why. They're well made out of hypoallergenic, non-toxic silicone, they block out up to 16dB of noise and they come in a variety of fun colours.

They should only be used for maximum of 3 90 minute sessions per day. The combination of a reasonable price and a range of tip sizes make them a great overall option for older children.

Having a choice of tip sizes helped my daughter feel more in control, and therefore more comfortable, using these. She loves the bright colours, and finds the plugs help muffle the noise from her siblings when she’s trying to concentrate on her homework. They’re also handy if your child experiences sensory overwhelm in noisy situations, such as large family parties.

Available from: Loop Earplugs, Amazon

Read more:

• How to keep your child safe at a fireworks display
• How to keep your children safe using sparklers?
• How to have an autism-friendly bonfire night?