With the increasing popularity of smartphones and several other such mobile devices, digital accessories like headphones are becoming a vital part of every child’s day-to-day lifestyle. These days young children spend more hours on the Internet while being in contact with digital devices than ever before in history while using them not only for entertainment but also for schooling and educational work. In the post-pandemic world, life without digital education is unthinkable. But prolonged usage of digital devices comes with health complications. It is no wonder then that parents look so far and wide to reward their children’s growing abilities with the best possible tools, keeping physical and mental setbacks far away. Any first device that you buy for your child will be remembered by them throughout their life. Moreover, this device will undergo the roughest usage ever possible and will pave how your child interacts with subsequent devices in the later years.

What to look for while buying your child’s first headphones?

There is a lot that you need to remember before buying your child their first headphones. These points will help you make the best choice while making sure your child’s physical, mental, emotional, and social health is judicially maintained and improved through the usage of their devices.

✅ Volume limitation

Volume limitation is a feature that allows parents to control and manipulate the volume of their child’s headphones over which the child will not be able to go. This makes sure in times of extreme excitement they are not neglecting their health and safety. Different models provide different levels of volume limitation and different ways in which they connect with their devices in doing so. Read the product pre-specifications before you invest in the right kind of volume-limiting headphones. Volume limiting headphones are great for children in the age group of 3 to 10 years.

✅ Nontoxic build

An essential feature for headphones that are to be used by the younger dynamic, nontoxicity essentially means that your headphones will not impact your health – especially your digestive system in any negative way. The youngest age dynamic among children might find themselves chewing on their headphones and putting them in their mouth, in which a toxic paint job or toxic build can harm their health heavily. Some cheap products also emanate toxic fumes which must be kept far away from the reach of young children. Good quality paint job and speakers as well as child-safe wiring and build are essential for a child’s headphones.

✅ Colourful aesthetic

A good aesthetic has a great impact on a child’s mind. Headphones that are bought for your children must match their aesthetic style and encourage them to discover more. A colourful aesthetic will also make your child use their headphones more cautiously and repeatedly clean and maintain their optimal condition. Children are at an age where their style sense is still being developed. This is why they will rely heavily on their parents to fulfill their dreams of experimental and trendy shopping adventures.

✅Balanced impedance

The balanced sound quality in all forms and ways is an absolute necessity for children’s headphones. As adult individuals, we might have a preference for metal or bass, but children require a balanced sound quality both for health as well as educational reasons. On top of that, the sound should be distributed equally through both speakers and children should never be allowed to use headphones that only work on one end. Balanced impedance is great for their auditory health and well-being. It also has them pay closer attention to various factors of the music world. They learn and understand better when their brain is at peace with symmetry.

✅Ultimate comfort

Young children require even more comfort than we do in the usage of headphones. We must ensure the headphones are fitted correctly in neither too tight nor too loose fashion. Great comfort also means great build and possibly a soft cushioning near the speakers and the headband. Some children also really like headphones which are covered with a plushie-like covering. Children vary in what kind of comfort they crave from their devices, so as a parent one must make sure to pay close attention to their needs before making a purchase.

✅Durability

Of course, the usage of a child’s headphones will be very different from that of an adult individual. Headphones made for children are usually designed in such a way that they can withstand pressure or abrupt actions on the owner’s part. On top of that, they must also have similar durability on their cushioning, covering, and paint situation as these two might face a hard life depending on your child’s adventurous spirit. Mostly headphones built for children are easy to clean and can even be repented or repaired without much change in their overall functioning or capabilities.

✅Warranty

Even with all these great qualities, a certain piece might not provide the best service at first buy. Children can grow very attached to their possessions naturally and will wish to maintain the relationship with their favorite pair of headphones and continue to use them for a long time to come. Knowing this it is important to purchase good quality headphones with a long-term warranty system, as this not only saves you money but also keeps your child happy and content. 

Auditory conditions that define your child and their usage of headphones: Age-Wise

Children of different age groups require different types and levels of care in different aspects of life. The same goes for their auditory health and related issues. Let us look at the age-wise guidelines for children and their usage of headphones to access audio-visual media.

? 1 year to 3 year old

There are many headphones on the market in today’s date which advertise themselves as being safe for the usage of toddlers, and even babies as low as age one. While it is possible and safe for one-year-old babies to use headphones, special care should be taken when letting them do so. As young the child is, the smaller their ear canals make them more sensitive to a similar intensity of sound than an adult individual would be. This makes them very sensitive to loud noises and letting them place a search on their headphones is a big no-no. Their headphones themselves should be low in sound intensity and have a clear balance between the lower and higher frequency sound waves. They should not be allowed to use headphones for more than 20 minutes at a time.

? 3 to 5-year-olds

The 3-year to 5-year-old duration is the most versatile and dynamic of age groups that an individual goes through in their life. This is the time when children are very active and are just beginning to respond to and understand the final cues of the environment around them. This is why using headphones beyond educational purposes is discouraged, as too much usage can interfere with their special and auditory understanding of the word on a basic level. Toddlers should be allowed to use headphones for up to 3 to 4 hours a day with the maximum sound energy being 85 decibels. Usage of ear plugs should be avoided.

? 6 to 10-year-olds

In today’s date, 6 to 10-year-old children will require a lot of exposure to devices as well as headphones to do their everyday tasks. Going to school, attending tutorials, and solving homework all require the aid of visual media. 6 to 10-year-olds are relatively safer within the periphery of headphones and can use them up to 8 hours a day. For them as well headphones should be up to 85 decibels in sound energy and volumes should be monitored by the parent. They should be clear sound quality and low and high-frequency sound waves should be balanced. This is the age where personal preferences in music and entertainment should be encouraged.

? Teenage years

From 11 years of age to the middle teenagers, a child should be allowed to buy headphones. They are relatively safer around headphones and can even use ear plugs. By this time they would have developed a clear preference for certain sounds and these preferences should be used as a guide to buying headphones specially designed to capture and enhance that genre of music. Teenagers can use headphones safely for up to 85 decimals for 8 hours a day. They will be using them to attend classes, coaching, audio, and video calls, etc. Hence the headphones should also be occupied with a good mic system and noise cancellation features.

How to monitor your child’s usage of headphones?

There are several ways in which you can monitor your child’s usage of headphones to make sure they are safe and can enjoy themselves to the fullest.

?? Allow your child to independently enjoy the devices while monitoring their volume through parental toggles. This means ensuring that your child is listening to music that does not go beyond our previously decided safe volume levels. Always go for volume-limiting headphones.

?? At the same time, it is also necessary to monitor the duration through which your child has their headphones on. Long duration wearing of headphones can cause issues in the ear canal and temples of a child. This happens with others as well. On the other side doing this will also ensure that your child is not getting too addicted or obsessed over a certain hobby.

?? Encourage them to use headphones for productive purposes. There is nothing wrong with your child enjoying themselves by watching their favorite show or listening to their favorite playlist but diversifying their mental image of what headphones mean to them by encouraging them to use these headphones for classes, during exercise, or by watching coaching videos on certain interesting topics.

✨ 7 best kids headphones in 2022

It is now time to announce our 7 best picks when it comes to headphones for kids. Keeping in mind the newest launches as well as the time-tested classics, here we furnish our ultimate list of top picks.

? Buddyphones Explore+?

These foldable headphones for kids come with a built-in audio sharing cable and can be connected with almost every device. They come in 6 colour variations including blue pink yellow black grey and white. The audio-sharing cable is detachable and the over-ear features keep children’s years protected from direct exposure to harsh sounds. These headphones are specially designed for the ages of 3 to 10 with the safe audio volume control protection present.

?? Pros

• Volume limiting feature
• Maximum sound intensity at 85 decibels
• Stackable audio jack
• Known for durability

?? Cons

• Sound quality can be better
• There have been shipping issues reported by a few customers

Price

$29

Verdict

These headphones are best for homes that have multiple children in a similar age group.

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? Kidrox Toddler Headphones?

These headphones are specially built for 2 to 7-year-old children. Their greatest aesthetic built and good cushioning near the years as well as headband plus durable structure makes them a favourite. They come in three colour variations: orange, black, and neon turquoise. The basic aesthetic is modelled after a cartoon tiger. They are a great nontoxic headphone option with a wired system. They follow the 85-decibel rule.

?? Pros

• 1-year warranty
• Tear-resistant durability of the wire
• BPA-free non-toxic construction
• Volume limiting features

?? Cons

• Nondetachable cable system
• Their foldable nature makes them easy to break

Price

$26.19

Verdict

Aesthetically and because of their great production quality, these headphones are the best for your young toddlers, especially those from one to three years of age.

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? Sony MDR-22KD ?

For this one of our picks, we are pretty sure the brand name itself has got your attention. These foldable headphones are built in such a way that they are unbreakable virtually despite being quite easy to fold and carry. These are children’s headphones with a good range of adjustability features that are connected to the devices using wires. These headphones are modelled for children over the age of 8. They are quite lightweight and quotient all around the ear region.

?? Pros

• 5 mm drivers with neodymium magnet
• Extremely durable can last up to a decade
• Affordable for premium brands

?? Cons

• Boring design
• Noise cancellation quality could be better

Price

$48.99

Verdict

These headphones for children are famous for being not just for children. They are very durable and can last for more than half a decade on daily use.

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? i clever BTH12 wireless ?

These are hands down one of the best wireless headphones out there for children. Their wonderful aesthetic design comes in four colour variations, these being black blue, purple, and yellow. They have a 5.0 Bluetooth system with 40 hours of playtime and a built-in microphone as well. They have an LED lighting feature as a part of their design. They are known for great sound quality even when they are children’s headphones. The company offers constant customer service with issue resolution within 24 hours.

?? Pros

• Volume limiting feature
• Extremely durable build
• 10 minutes charging time with a BTH12 battery.
• 4 light modes with the built-in LED lighting system.

?? Cons

• Sound intensity can go up to 94 decibels
• Foldable structure makes them easy to break

Price

$25.89

Verdict

Hands down the best Bluetooth headphone for kids. LED lights make this model very attractive.

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? Snug Play+ ?

The build of these headphones will equally delight you and your child. They have a solid questioning on the headband region and the years, along with a study body and a very colourful and attractive outer print. The colour variations come in a surprising 25 different versions, with the connectivity being wired and the body being very durable despite its foldable quality. They are made using high-quality materials and advertised to which stand rough play.

?? Pros

• Study tear-resistant wiring
• Sound range of 20-hertz frequency to 20kHz frequency.
• Available with a 90-day return window on Amazon
• Great comfort build

?? Cons

• Manual volume limiting is opted out in place of automatic volume limiting
• Headphones have been reported to not be that long-lasting.

Price

$21.99

Verdict

They are the most comfortable headphones you will find in this price range. Also great for air travel.

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?Puro Sound Labs BT2200 ?

Another great volume-limiting Bluetooth headphones for children along with professional-grade audio quality and noise isolation features makes this company the best when it comes to manufacturing headphones for children. The simple and sturdy build of this headphone along with a lack of folding features makes it long-lasting in the hands of children. They provide complete cushioning over the years and all around the headband. Therefore, protecting not only the top of the child’s head but also the temples and the sides. These headphones have manual button systems built on them.

?? Pros

• Both Bluetooth and wired connectivity are available
• Great aesthetic build along with nine colour features including sapphire blue and lime green.
• The balanced audio quality is advertised to be studio-grade with 85-decibel safety maintained.

?? Cons

• 82% noise isolation feature
• Quite expensive for a children’s headphone

Price

$99

Verdict

These headphones are one of a kind and specially designed for those children who require premium quality sound systems for most times of the day.

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? Noot products k11 ? 

Another adjustable and foldable headphone specially designed for children does not lack any durability issues that come along with its foldable facility, these headphones can easily be attached to every device a child uses including tablets and kindles. They come in 5 colour options including black, mint, Navy, Skyline blue, and soft pink. They are wired adjustable headphones designed for children aged 3 and up.

??  Pros

• 5 feet long nylon braided cable
• 2-year warranty and complete customer service
• Complete padding all over the earphone body

?? Cons

• No microphone or remote available
• No volume control feature

Price

$16.99

Verdict

These budget-friendly headphones are great for older children, which is further proven through their extremely sophisticated aesthetics.

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Conclusion

Headphones for children are a great way to keep them engaged in educational and motivational activities while you can get some rest or time for yourself. It is also a great way for siblings to bond together and friends to make time for each other in doing the same activity while being in each other’s company.