Buying headphones for your kids sounds like a good idea — you won't have to listen to Baby Shark for the umpteenth time. But there's a more important reason.

Your child's ears are super sensitive when they are still developing. It's possible to damage them with sounds of over 85 decibels. Using adult headphones isn't the best idea. Not unless you can convince them to lower the volume. Which is pretty unlikely — they'll have it cranked back up the second you leave the room.

Instead, you're better off purchasing a pair of headphones designed specifically for children. Kids' headphones will fit better on little heads and usually have a volume limiter to keep the decibels down.

It depends on how much you want to spend, and whether you can recharge headphones on a regular basis. Many of the wireless headphones listed in this roundup have decent battery life, but they are typically more expensive than wired versions.

However, if your child is particularly young, wired headphones can be a risk, so always supervise them while they're using their headphones.

Generally, many auditory health organisations recommend that the ideal noise level for a child is about 70 decibels, and that volumes should never exceed 85 decibels. Most adult headphones peak at about 115 decibels, which is why it's important to use a dedicated solution for your child.

The limit is a limit too, not a guide, so always aim to play music a little quieter if you can.

In-ear buds are great for adults, but they're not recommended for children. Developing ears are more sensitive to noise damage because their nerve fibres are still growing. Also, due to having smaller external auditory canals, the eardrum is always closer to the sound source. Their little ears are just too delicate to put at risk.

Similarly to limiting screen time, it's sensible to restrict your child's use of headphones to a maximum of two hours a day. Any longer than that can damage your child's ears, even if they're using a volume limiter.

This is a difficult question to answer because there are so many options out there, but we've tried to give you a clear picture of the best headphones for your kids. We recommend checking out everything on this list, because there really is something for everyone and every budget right here.

These are the best headphones for kids in 2022.

All kids love cute things and the Kidrox Tiger-Ear Kids Headphones(opens in a new tab) are very cute indeed. 

The ear cups are softly cushioned and have a tiger face on their exterior so they look super playful and charming. Your little one will love showing these off. In terms of features, these headphones have a built-in volume restrictor of 85 decibels — the absolute maximum noise level recommended by authorities for children.

The only downside is that the connective cable is a little short, so your kiddo will need to be close to their music-playing device. 

Snug Play+(opens in a new tab) isn’t just a cool name, it’s entirely accurate — these fun headphones with fit snugly and comfortably. Aimed at kids from 2-10, they are made for a younger age bracket, with lots of colourful designs to grab their attention.

The volume is capped at 93 decibels — though it’s best to keep it lower than that — but what we really like about these is that they’re perfect for families or best pals.

Connect one pair to a device, then hook the headphones up to another pair at the same time, linking them in a daisy chain-like effect, so multiple kids can enjoy the same sounds all at once.

If your child hates wearing conventional headphones, no matter how cute the ear cups may look, the CozyPhones Kids Headphone Headband(opens in a new tab) is for them. 

It works like a regular headband but it contains ultra thin speakers for listening to music. Soft and stretchy, it's easy for your child to wear and just as easy for them to store safely afterwards. It's even washable. 

The volume limiter is set to a maximum of 90 decibels, which is a touch higher than recommended, so be sure to keep an eye on how loudly they're rocking those tunes.

The Biggerfive Kids Wireless Headphones(opens in a new tab) are more advanced than other options on this list. That means they cost a little more, but your kids will also get the benefit of added fun and features. First up, there’s a choice of seven LED light colours (not to mention different colours headband options). The lights even dance to the music.

They’re easy on the ears, too, with soft silicone ear cushions and a volume limiter that keeps the music at either 85 or 94 decibels.

They have a seriously impressive battery life of 50 hours, which means these are perfect for those long car journeys or family holidays.