The best kids' headphones in the UK 2024 (2024)

BabyCentre selects products based on the research of our editors and the wisdom of parents in the BabyCentre Community. All prices and details are accurate at the time of publication. We may earn a commission from shopping links.

Devices like tablets and gaming consoles are a regular part of most children’s day-to-day lives. Whether they’re used for learning, play or travel, these devices can be noisy so a good pair of headphones for kids can be a parent’s best friend - especially if your child is a fan of shows with catchy theme tunes!

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There is a huge choice of headphones available, and it’s important to make sure you are picking a pair that are specifically designed for use by a child. We’ve done the research for you and picked out the best headphones that are safe for your little one.

Best headphones for kids in the UK – at a glance

  • Best noise cancelling kids’ headphones: PowerLocus kids' headphones
  • Most robust kids’ headphones: Belkin SoundForm Mini kids' wireless headphones
  • Best headphones for toddlers: Kidrox toddler headphones
  • Best kids’ headphones for gaming: POGS kids' GECKO bluetooth headphones
  • Best wireless kids’ headphones: JLab JBuddies Studio kids' wireless headphones
  • Best headphones for younger kids: Snug Play+ kids' headphones
  • Kids’ headphones with the best battery life:
  • Best wired kids’ headphones: Philips SHK2000BL/00 over ear kids' headphones
  • Best in ear kids’ headphones: Belkin SOUNDFORM Nano wireless earbuds for kids
  • Best kids’ headphones with microphone: iClever HS23 kids' headphones with microphone


Find out more about why we love these kids’ headphones below.

What safety features are important in headphones for children?

Paul Shaw MSc, Director of Audiology at The Hearing Space,Opens a new window says: “Typically, children like colourful, lightweight, easy to use headphones. Alongside this, safety has to be the number one priority, followed by durability, and comfort.”

Paul suggests making sure the headphones have a volume limiter feature. "This prevents the child from listening at levels which could lead to damage to their hearing." He explains that this limit is usually set at 85 dBA but this is still a level that could be damaging. He says that despite the noise limit, this doesn’t mean that it is safe to listen at this maximum level for long periods of time.

"A maximum time of one hour is recommended at this level. While younger children will obviously need more careful supervision, there is no reason that toddlers cannot use headphones, if the above safety measures are in place.”

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Noise-cancellation is also a feature to look out for in children’s headphones. "It can help in reducing listening levels. Put simply, if a child is distracted by noise in the environment, they will often turn their headphones up, to overcome this external noise. Noise cancelling headphones will reduce the external level of sound, which allows the child to listen at a quieter level and reduce their overall sound exposure,” explains Paul.

Should you buy wired or wireless headphones for your child?

A key choice when buying headphones is whether they are wired or wireless, although some headphones have the option for both. Paul advises this can also be a factor in safety.

“Wireless headphones provide less risk of entanglement and are safer from that perspective. Furthermore, several studies have shown that the sound output from wireless headphones is easier to control and limit. The Bluetooth transmission which wireless headphones use, is also typically associated with volume-limiting headphones."

With Paul’s advice in mind, we have put together a list of the best headphones for kids, all of which have a volume limitation feature. We’ve picked the best wireless headphones, wired headphones and even an in-ear earbud option for older children.

PowerLocus kids' headphones

The best kids' headphones in the UK 2024 (1)

Amazon

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  • Price: from £29.00
  • Colours & designs: blue, Angry Birds (4 colours), blue & green, blue & orange, camo, pink, princess, purple & pink, rose gold, teal & purple, unicorn, white & purple
  • Wireless or wired: wireless (up to 10m) but can also be wired
  • Volume limit: 85dB
  • Battery life: 15 hours
  • Our pick for: Best noise cancelling kids’ headphones

These headphones are packed full of features including ear control buttons which allow your child to adjust volume and change tracks with the touch of a button, a microphone and easy bluetooth connectivity. And with very cool novelty flashing ears, these ‘on ear’ children's headphones will be a huge hit with your child.

Available in lots of colour options, they are foldable and come with their own hard case, perfect for travel and home use. With their padded headband and soft ear muffs they are comfortable for your child to wear. They charge using a standard USB charger and the battery lasts up to 15 hours. Plus, they have a two-year warranty.

BabyCentre parents love them because: “If you run out of battery you have the option to use them with the provided cable - plus my daughter loves the flashing ears!”

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Available from AmazonOpens a new window.

Belkin SoundForm Mini kids' wireless headphones

The best kids' headphones in the UK 2024 (2)

Amazon

  • Price: from £29.99
  • Colours & designs: black, blue, white, pink
  • Wireless or wired: wireless (up to 10m) but can also be wired
  • Volume limit: 85dB
  • Battery life: Up to 30 hours
  • Our pick for: Most robust kids’ headphones

Available in four colours, these wireless Belkin child-size headphones are made from durable ‘oops proof’ materials allowing for reliable everyday use. Made to withstand spills and accidents, they come with a two-year warranty. They feature easy to use ear controls, an inbuilt microphone, and have a long 30-hour battery life (charged via a Micro USB cable).

The Belkin SoundForm Mini wireless headphones are compatible with most popular devices and have a 10m range. They can also be used with the provided aux cable if the battery runs out. Plus they come with fun stickers so your child can customise them!

BabyCentre parents love them because: “They are a great size for smaller children and are quick to charge.”

Available from AmazonOpens a new window, BelkinOpens a new window and other major retailers

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Kidrox toddler headphones

The best kids' headphones in the UK 2024 (3)

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Amazon

  • Price: from £25.99
  • Colours & designs: black, orange, turquoise
  • Wireless or wired: wired
  • Volume limit: 85dB
  • Battery life: N/A
  • Our pick for: Best headphones for toddlers

These wired toddler headphones are flexible and durable. The Kidrox headphones are designed for smaller children aged two to seven and feature a fun tiger pattern. Available in grey, orange or turquoise, these headphones are compatible with any device that has a 3.5mm aux port. They also have comfortable ear pads and an adjustable headband to grow with your child. They come with a one-year warranty.

BabyCentre parents love them because: “They are easy to use, great colours and they have the sound restriction so he can never turn it too loud.”

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Available from AmazonOpens a new window.

POGS kids' GECKO bluetooth headphones

The best kids' headphones in the UK 2024 (4)

Amazon

  • Price: from £49.99
  • Colours & designs: blue, green, yellow, pink
  • Wireless or wired: wireless but can also be wired
  • Volume limit: 85dB
  • Battery life: 12 hours
  • Our pick for: Best kids’ headphones for gaming

These Dutch-designed fast-charging wireless headphones will give you 12 hours of use while being lightweight, super strong and durable. Available in four colours, they come with an aux cable for a wired option or you can link up to two pairs of headphones together so multiple children can enjoy one device.

They are also noise isolating, meaning external noise is limited when wearing them, feature a microphone and have an adjustable padded headband, suitable to fit children aged three to 12. They come with a two-year warranty.

The POGS kids' GECKO bluetooth headphones are also planet friendly and arrive packaged in 100% recycled packaging and made from non-toxic materials, and you can customise them with the included accessories.

BabyCentre parents love them because: “I love the option to be Bluetooth or have a cord. Battery life on Bluetooth is excellent”

Available from AmazonOpens a new window and POGSOpens a new window.

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JLab JBuddies Studio kids' wireless headphones

The best kids' headphones in the UK 2024 (5)

Amazon

  • Price: from £29.99
  • Colours & designs: grey & blue, gray & purple
  • Wireless or wired: wireless (up to 10m) but can also be wired
  • Volume limit: 85dB
  • Battery life: 24 hours
  • Our pick for: Best wireless kids’ headphones

With a choice of a purple or blue colour, these JLab foldable, wireless children’s headphones come with an impressive 24-hour battery life. They have a ‘shareport’ allowing you to connect the aux cable if you run out of battery, or want to connect two pairs of headphones together.

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The adjustable headband and ‘cloudfoam’ ear cushions make them comfortable to wear, and they have simple on ear controls to allow your child to change track or volume easily. They also come with a two-year warranty.

BabyCentre parents love them because: “They're comfortable, hold a charge that lasts a few days for him and I don't have to worry about his hearing getting damaged by playing things too loud.”

Available from AmazonOpens a new window, ArgosOpens a new window and other major retailers, including John LewisOpens a new window.

Snug Play+ kids' headphones

The best kids' headphones in the UK 2024 (6)

Amazon

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  • Price: from £15.99
  • Colours & designs: aqua, beach, black digi camo, blue, blue camo, cats, dinosaurs, fruits, green, grey, llamas, monster trucks, pineapples, pink, pink camo, princess, purple, red, robots, space, unicorns, vroom
  • Wireless or wired: wired
  • Volume limit: 85dB
  • Battery life: N/A
  • Our pick for: Best headphones for younger kids

Although more basic in their features than others in the list, these foldable wired toddler headphones are simple to use for smaller children. And with 15 different colours options, there’s sure to be a design your child will love.

They are built for durability comfort with a padded headband and ear muffs. You can also connect more than one pair of headphones together using the provided aux cable, meaning several children can enjoy one device. They are compatible with any device that has a 3.5mm port.

BabyCentre parents love them because: “They are easily adjustable and comfortable for small ears. I didn’t want the bother of having to charge wireless ones.”

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Available from AmazonOpens a new window.

Louise & Mann kids' bluetooth headphones

The best kids' headphones in the UK 2024 (7)

Amazon

  • Price: from £16.99
  • Colours & designs: ocean blue, pink
  • Wireless or wired: wireless (up to 13m) but can also be wired
  • Volume limit: 85dB
  • Battery life: up to 30 hours
  • Our pick for: Kids’ headphones with the best battery life

With memory foam ears muffs, an adjustable headband and the ability to fold, these Bluetooth headphones are a comfortable choice. They have a battery life of up to 30 hours and are compatible with most devices.

These Louise & Mann headphones also boast an impressive 13m range in wireless mode and they can also be connected via the aux cable too. Built with durability in mind they come with a two-year warranty.

Available from AmazonOpens a new window.

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Philips SHK2000BL/00 over ear kids' headphones

The best kids' headphones in the UK 2024 (8)

Amazon

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  • Price: from £16.99
  • Colours & designs: blue, pink
  • Wireless or wired: wired
  • Volume limit: 85dB
  • Battery life: N/A
  • Our pick for: Best wired on ear kids’ headphones

These ‘on ear’ kids headphones from Phillips have an ergonomic adjustable headband and come in a choice of pink and blue colour options. They have noise isolating ear cushions, and are lightweight, meaning they are comfortable for children to wear. They connect to any device that has a 3.5mm aux port.

BabyCentre parents love them because: “They are a comfortable design and have great sound - ideal for use with phones/tablets.”

Available from AmazonOpens a new window and other major retailers.

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Belkin SOUNDFORM Nano wireless earbuds for kids

The best kids' headphones in the UK 2024 (9)

Amazon

  • Price: from £29.99
  • Colours & designs: blue, white, pink
  • Wireless or wired: wireless
  • Volume limit: 85dB
  • Battery life: 5 hours nonstop and 19 hours extra charge with the case
  • Our pick for: Best in ear kids’ headphones

For kids who might prefer an ‘in ear’ option, these Belkin wireless ear buds have been designed with a volume limitation for children. They are suitable for children aged seven and over and come with a choice of five ear tips to get the right size to fit your child. They are compatible with any Bluetooth device, have an inbuilt microphone, and come in three colour options.

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These Belkin earbuds are also water resistant and easy to control, allowing the user to change volume, skip or pause with a tap on the ear bud. To charge them you just have to pop them in their case. 10 minutes of charge will give 60 minutes of playtime, but a full charge will give up to five hours.

BabyCentre parents love them because: “They fit well, good sound quality. Great battery life.”

Available from AmazonOpens a new windowand other major retailers.

iClever HS23 kids' headphones with microphone

The best kids' headphones in the UK 2024 (10)

Amazon

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  • Price: from £13.99
  • Colours & designs: blue, green, pink, rose
  • Wireless or wired: wired
  • Volume limit: 85dB with 94dB travel mode
  • Battery life: N/A
  • Our pick for: Best kids’ headphones with microphone

Coming in both pink and blue, these wired headphones from iClever, have a stretchable silicone headband, comfortable padded earmuff and a microphone. They are volume limited at 85dB but this can be adjusted to 94dB for travel or noisy situations.

You can connect multiple headsets to each other and they will work with any device that has a 3.5mm aux port. The cable also has controls allowing for easy track changes and volume adjustment. The iClever headphones are lightweight and they also feature with swivel ear cushions so they can be easily packed for travel.

BabyCentre parents love them because: "These headphones do the job of cancelling noise and the sound quality is good.”

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Available from AmazonOpens a new window.

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The best kids' headphones in the UK 2024 (2024)

FAQs

The best kids' headphones in the UK 2024? ›

The experts at the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommend 85dB as a safe maximum noise level for children for up to eight hours. That's around the level of heavy traffic. Some headphones can go up to 136dB when on max, which is ear-splitting – and damaging for kids.

What wireless headphones are best for kids? ›

Our Top 6 Picks
  • EarFun K2 Kids. Best Value. Jump To Details. ...
  • Happy Plugs Play. Most Grown-Up Design. Jump To Details. ...
  • Onanoff BuddyPhones PlayEars+ Best for Animal Lovers. ...
  • JLab JBuddies Pro Wireless. Best for Bass Response. ...
  • Onanoff BuddyPhones School+ Best Mic Quality. ...
  • Onanoff BuddyPhones Pop Fun. Best for Personalization.

Can a 9 year old use headphones? ›

The experts at the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommend 85dB as a safe maximum noise level for children for up to eight hours. That's around the level of heavy traffic. Some headphones can go up to 136dB when on max, which is ear-splitting – and damaging for kids.

Should 5 year olds wear headphones? ›

But the younger the child, the smaller the ear canals, which means the same sound level in a young child's ear will be louder than in a bigger kid's or an adult's ear. Hold off on headphones and earbuds at least until your child is old enough to tell you whether the volume is comfortable.

Do headphones help kids with ADHD? ›

Though ADHD varies from person to person, being easily distracted by noises could be a part of a person's symptom profile, Kendra Mathys, PsyD, a psychologist at Cleveland Clinic, told Health. “If external noises are a distraction, being able to minimize that with noise-canceling headphones could be helpful,” she said.

Should kids use earbuds or headphones? ›

The age of students is an important factor to consider when deciding between headphones and earbuds. For younger students, most earbuds don't fit comfortably in their ears, and their volume levels can be unsafe. It is recommended to choose over-ear or on-ear headphones for kids in third grade and below.

Is JBL headphones good for kids? ›

Safety is a top priority at JBL. The headphones are designed with JBL Safe Sound technology that limits the volume below 85dB, making it safe for kids.

What are the best headphones to block out screaming kids? ›

  • Best Overall: Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones at Amazon ($299) ...
  • Best Budget: Anker Soundcore Life P3 at Amazon ($50) ...
  • Best Sound, Earbuds: Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro at Amazon ($165) ...
  • Best Sound, Over-ear: ...
  • Most Comfortable, Over-ear: ...
  • Most Comfortable, Earbuds: ...
  • Best Splurge: ...
  • Best Battery Life:
Mar 6, 2024

Can 7 year olds use headphones? ›

The World Health Organization and the International Telecommunication Union recommend children listen to devices at no higher than 75 decibels for no longer than 40 hours a week. However, many products marketed as 'Kid Safe' do not limit the volume to 75 decibels.

Are Beats headphones ok for kids? ›

Note to parents: Beats Solo3 headphones do not have a built-in volume limiter. They soar over 100 decibels. If you don't think your teen is mature enough to follow safe hearing guidelines, consider another pair.

Can a 10 year old wear headphones? ›

It's generally advisable for children to use headphones cautiously and in moderation. Prolonged use of headphones, especially at high volumes, can potentially impact a child's hearing health.

What is the most bought headphone? ›

We asked U.S. consumers about "Most used headphones by brand" and found that "Apple" takes the top spot, while "Marshall" is at the other end of the ranking. Find this and more survey data on most used headphones by brand in our Consumer Insights tool.

What are the best sleep headphones UK? ›

The best sleep headphones for 2024 are:

Best sleep headphones overall – Kokoon nightbuds sleep headphones: £249, Kokoon.io. Best budget sleep headphones – Navly sleep headphones Bluetooth v5. 2: £19.99, Amazon.co.uk. Best sleep headphones to cancel out snoring – QuietOn 3.1 sleep earbuds: £249, Quieton.com.

What age should kids use headphones? ›

Age and Development: The age at which toddlers can safely use headphones depends on their individual development. Most experts suggest avoiding headphones for children under the age of two, as their ears are still developing.

Is on-ear or over-ear better for kids? ›

The majority of kids' headphones tend to be more compact on-ear models. On-ear headphones are typically not as comfortable as over-ear headphones (also called around-ear headphones), but on-ear headphones can be better for younger kids with smaller heads. Smaller headphones are also more travel friendly.

Is it OK for kids to wear headphones? ›

Woolford recommends that parents encourage their children to follow the “60/60 rule”: no more than 60 minutes of headphone use at a time at no more than 60 percent volume. Sekhar points out that limiting headphone use doesn't have to mean forgoing digital entertainment.

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