Do Children Need Ear Protection at Concerts?
People of all ages love listening to music and experiencing it in person. Children can enjoy concerts and see their favorite artists on stage with their friends. However, there are some essential things to consider when preparing a child to go to a show. One of these leads us to our question: do children need ear protection at concerts?
Ear protection is strongly recommended for children at concerts because they are prone to hearing loss. Children are still developing their hearing and are more sensitive to noise than adults. Ear protection can help children enjoy concerts without feeling overwhelmed.
Ear protection is an excellent idea for children attending concerts, so parents must know what is necessary. They should consider what doctors recommend for their children, what types of ear protection are available, how to convince a child to wear ear protection, and some recommendations based on price and reviews.
What Doctors Recommend
The National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders recommends some guidelines for children. One of their most significant suggestions is to remember that hearing loss happens over time. They suggest that parents try to teach their children about the potential dangers of hearing loss and to have hearing protection available.
Even if hearing loss isn’t a concern, there are additional reasons why doctors might recommend ear protection. One of the biggest ones is that noise can be overly stimulating for a child.
Loud noise can cause some children to feel anxious and overwhelmed. When a child is overstimulated, they often struggle to regulate their emotions and express pain. Sensory overload is not a fun experience for a child or a guardian, so doctors will recommend ear protection when sensory overload is a possibility.
Doctors recommend picking the type of ear protection a specific child likes to promote consistent use.
What Types of Ear Protection are Available for Children
Luckily, many ear protection options are available for children with differing levels of noise reduction. Ear protection comes in two basic categories: earplugs and earmuffs. Within these two categories, there are many more styles and options.
Earplugs
Earplugs are the most common type of ear protection. This type of ear protection involves having something physically inside the ear canal. There are a variety of styles of earplugs that vary from basic to high-end.
You can find basic earplugs in most grocery stores, drug stores, and even hardware stores. Many stores sell foam earplugs meant to shape the user’s ear. Foam earplugs expand to fill the ear canal. Other stores offer non-foam earplugs shaped to fit an ear canal.
You might also get a unique kind of earplug: a canal plug. These are not common but are incredibly helpful for active children. They have earplugs attached to a headband that keeps the earplugs in the ear canal.
Earmuffs
Earmuffs are ear protection types with two cup-like muffs attached to a headband. They come in many different sizes and are the easiest ear protection type. Muffs are one of the most comfortable options as well.
This type of ear protection can be expensive due to its materials and size. They come in many colors and materials, so children are often drawn to them because they are fun!
How to Convince a Child to Wear Ear Protection
A parent can convince a child to wear ear protection in various ways. The best option is to explain in an age-appropriate manner why ear protection is essential. Children appreciate when they get a legitimate reason for being asked to do something.
Another reason is to allow them to choose which type of ear protection they get. Children are more likely to wear something that they choose to wear. Children also are more likely to use ear protection if their parents use it, and for the full duration of a concert.
Product Recommendations
There are a variety of ear protection options that a parent can choose for their child. Some are more cost-effective, and others are well-known for being top-of-the-line ear protection.
Best Budget Picks
Ear protection can be expensive, and children are not known for being the best at keeping track of items. Thus, it is understandable that parents would not want to buy a $30 headset for their child who might lose it, break it, or only use it once.
- 👍【Excellent Noise Canceling Perfromance】Kids Noise canceling headphones have an ultra-high rated SNR 28dB.The kids ear muffs which are designed for children with autism and hearing sensitivity, reduce noise to a safe level. The child ear protectors provide the most reliable safety by perfectly blocking out noise from monster truck shows, concerts, fireworks, traveling, sporting events, yard work, and more.
- 👍【Durable & Comfort】Noise cancelling headphones for kids with upholstered design will keep safety while do hearing protection. Kids ear protection noise cancelling headphones with widely padded headband and soft ear pads make sure kids’ ear protection. The 360° rotatable cups design gives a more snug fit.
- 👍【Tested and Certified】Our noise-canceling earmuffs for children’s hearing protection are fully tested and certified, with an acoustic attenuation of up to 28 dB, effectively reducing noise and protecting children’s hearing. Noise-canceling earmuffs for children are certified to ANSI S3.19 and CE EN 352-1 standards.
- 👍【Multi-age protection】Ear muffs for kids is suitable for children aged 3-16. Toddlers, children, and teens wear it for reading, playing, learning, etc., and train your child’s attention during these processes.
- 👍【Foldable & Easy To Carry Design】Noise-canceling earmuffs fold up nicely for easy carrying and fit into a backpack or travel bag, taking up very little space. It is the first choice for children when traveling or playing. Our earmuffs can effectively protect your hearing, you can buy with confidence.
- Multi-functional: these ear muffs prevent water from getting into baby’s ears or umbilical cord for an enjoyable bathing experience!
- EXCELLENT DESIGN: The ear patches feature a cotton ball liner and clear film that covers the entire ear, providing double protection and keeping water away from baby’s ears.
- FITTING SHAPE:The ear patches are designed to fit the baby’s ears in an oval shape that matches the contours of the ear, preventing water from getting into the ear and causing discomfort.
- EASY TO CARRY: These swimming earmuffs are compact and travel-friendly and can be placed in your luggage so your baby can enjoy time at the beach or pool without worrying.
- 🦊【Outstanding Noise Cancelling Performance】The Kids Noise Cancelling Sensory Headphones boast an exceptional SNR (Signal-to-Noise Ratio) rating of 28dB. Specifically designed for children with autism and heightened auditory sensitivity, these ear protectors effectively reduce noise to a safe level. They provide reliable safety by completely blocking out noise from events like monster truck shows, concerts, fireworks, travel, sporting events, yard work, and more.
- 🦊【Unique Design】The PinkFox noise cancelling headphones（safety earmuffs） for kids feature a distinctive appearance inspired by the smart, agile, and adaptable fox. With charming ear decorations, they are incredibly cute. These headphones not only protect children’s ears but also bring them joy, making them an excellent gift for children.
- 🦊【Durability & Comfort】The noise cancelling headphones for kids are designed with durability and comfort in mind. They feature an upholstered design that ensures safety while providing hearing protection. The widely padded headband and soft ear pads of these kids’ ear protection headphones guarantee a comfortable fit. Additionally, the 360° rotatable cups design offers an even snugger fit.
- 🦊【Tested and Certified】Our noise-cancelling earmuffs for children’s hearing protection undergo thorough testing and certification. They have been verified to have an acoustic attenuation of up to 28dB, effectively reducing noise and safeguarding children’s hearing. These noise-cancelling earmuffs for children are certified to meet ANSI S3.19 and CE EN 352 standards.
- 🦊【Multi-Age Protection】These ear muffs for kids are suitable for children aged 3-16. Toddlers, children, and teenagers can wear them during activities such as reading, playing, and learning to enhance their focus and attention.
- [PROTECT LITTLE ONES’ EARS FROM BIG NOISES]: Kids ear protection ear plugs are your go-to solution for concerts, loud events, big family gatherings, playgrounds, birthday parties, attending movies, auto races, planes/trains travel, fireworks and even study sessions that need a bit of quiet. 26dB noise reducing
- [SENSITIVE HEARING]: Kids ear buds are engineered to provide effective pressure relief, reduce anxiety, creating a safe comfortable environment to grow, Increasing their focus concentration from home to school and adventures beyond
- [CUSTOMIZED FIT]: Comes with 4 silicone ear tip sizes options(KXS, KS, KM,KL) – Extra Small; Small; Medium; and Large for snug fit every time.These noise reduction earplugs will grow with your kids. COMFY-FIT FOR KIDS AND SMALL EAR ADULTS
- [ULTRA-COMFY]: Crafted from soft silicone provide a snug and comfy fit. No more complaints of discomfort – child will barely notice they’re wearing hearing protection device! Made for music, raves and live events, designed to stay put no matter how much you run, dance and move freely
- [REUSABLE & EASY TO CARRY]: Comes in a sturdy zippered case, making it easy for your child to bring their small ear plugs wherever they go. Just a quick wash with mild soap & set out to dry after use, and they’re ready for the next adventure. Easy to Use: Simple for kids to put in and take out on their own, For school, trips, or family outings
- Effective Hearing Protection: The toddler noise reduction headphones muffle noise to prevent hearing damage; It is a perfect gift for children who have sound sensitivities for airplane flights, monster jam, sports events, Disneyland, concerts, movie theaters, fireworks, etc
- Authorized Certification: Constructed by solid ABS-shell and thickened noise-dampening foam, the ear muffs offer an NRR 24dB rating and block out noise by a great amount, ANSI S3.19 (US) & CE EN352-1(EU) certified
- One Size Fits All: Retractable stainless steel and 360 rotatable ear cups with comfortable foam can be adjusted to fit any child’s head of various ages; Effortlessly keep the earmuffs for your child’s lifetime
- Ultra Soft and Comfort: Padded headband reduces the pressure on your kid’s head for superior comfort while soft ear cushions ensure a snug fit; Ergonomic design helps your beloved little ones to feel confident and secure
- Compact Folding Design: Easily tuck the earpieces back into the headband for compact storage and convenient portability; the ear protection headphones fold up nicely to fit in a backpack without adding bulk while taking up less space
- Ideal for blocking noise caused Ideal for blocking noise caused by large crowds, airports, sporting events, garden and household tools, or any other troublesome noise or sound
- Perfect for kids on the autism spectrum for blocking out crowds and other triggers
- Low profile clam design keeps the muffs safe and secure on little ears and offers a stylish look. Strong high quality parts make them sturdy and robust, so much so we give them a 5 YEAR GUARANTEE!
- Lightweight and comfortable to suit little ones. Padded ear cushions offer superior comfort and a snug fit
- Foldable for easy storage and portability. Adjustable (just slide the cups up and down the wire frame to adjust), so they fit children as young as six months and as old as grandpa
- [Designed for Various Ages] The “Pink Unicorn” noise cancelling headphones earmuffs are designed to fit children aged 3 to 12 years old. With vibrant and flamboyant colors that will captivate your kids’ attention, they’ll love wearing these fun and stylish earmuffs. The meticulous craftsmanship ensures that the high visibility colors remain bright and fade-resistant over time, keeping your children safe and noticeable in any environment and weather condition
- [Supreme Comfort & Durability] Crafted with premium, skin-friendly materials, our 360° rotatable cups and ultra-soft ear cushions fully encompass your child’s ears, providing long-lasting comfort. The fully padded headband offers maximum comfort, stability, and durability, reinforcing internal construction and ensuring a safe and cozy fit for kids’ heads
- [Sound Awareness & Certified Safety Protection] Ensure your child’s safety in loud environments with our kids’ earmuffs. Compliant with ANSI S3.19-1974 and CE EN 352-1 standards, they provide an NRR of 25dB, effectively reducing harmful noise without blocking out all sounds. This design allows your child to retain the ability to hear crucial sounds in noisy situations, minimizing potential safety hazards. Ideal for monster truck shows, sports events, autism, airplane rides, concerts, and more
- [Compact & Travel-Friendly] Say goodbye to meltdowns. The adjustable headband and 360° rotatable cups allow you to fold the earmuffs into a compact size, fitting even the smallest spaces. A travel drawstring bag is included for your convenience
- [PROHEAR Support] For over 15 years, our focus has been solely on hearing protection and optimization. We stand by the quality of our products, effective and reliable protection for your child’s sensitive ears. If you encounter any issues, please feel free to contact us. Our support team is available 24/7 to provide assistance
- SENSITIVE HEARING | A child’s hearing is particularly sensitive during their developmental phase and needs to be protected.
- SMALLER SIZE, GREATER COMFORT | Pluggies are perfect for children and can also be used by adults with smaller ear canals. The patented AlpineThermoShape material molds itself to your ear canal for the best fit over time!
- EAR PROTECTION FOR KIDS | Pluggies provide the ideal hearing protection for kids in any situation, such as flying, swimming, busy events and fireworks.
- TESTED AND CERTIFIED: Thoroughly tested and proven to reach noise reduction at 25 dB SNR in accordance with US & EU Regulations. The patented AlpineThermoShape material is hypoallergenic, sustainable and silicone-free!
- AWARD-WINNING DUTCH DESIGN | Alpine is an innovator and leader in quality hearing protection with 25 years R&D experience. All products are designed and produced in The Netherlands. A wide variety of earplugs ensure that you can do what you love to do without risking ear damage!
For parents on a tight budget, there are plenty of good choices under $20. Some of these choices include getting ear protection from a cheaper store like Walmart or Target. Walgreens even sells some silicon children’s earplugs for less than $5! You can even find earmuffs at secondhand stores for children if a parent is willing to sanitize them.
If all else fails, you can use earphones that I would use for listening to music to help block out noise, so the child isn’t overwhelmed. This method can replace overstimulating situations with controlled music. You can avoid paying for two different things if you already have headphones.
Best Overall Picks
My favorite brand of ear protection is called Loops. Loops are earplugs made out of comfortable silicon that comes in various colors and sizes. The best part about Loops is that they are made to help reduce noise but not completely block it out.
- NOISE REDUCTION – Loop Experience Plus are high-fidelity, noise reducing earplugs that filter more or less noise on demand, thanks to a silicone filter (Loop Mute). They have a noise reduction rating (SNR) of 18 or 23 decibels, NRR of 7 and come in 4 stylish colors.
- STYLISH COMFORT – These high-fidelity earplugs come in 4 different sizes, so you can always find the perfect fit. The iconic round shape of Loop Experience Plus sits perfectly in your ears, making it a fashionable accessory that protects your hearing. On top of that, the additional Mute filter (-5 dB) is available in 2 colors, black and white, to further personalize your earplugs.
- MULTI-PURPOSE – Loop Experience Plus are high-fidelity earplugs that preserve sound quality but avoid noise pollution. They protect your hearing during concerts, festivals or while making music. They are loved by audiophiles and extremely suitable for people who are easily triggered by noise (noise sensitivity, musicians, parents and more).
- EASY TO USE – These earplugs are easy to insert and when you wear them correctly, they don’t stick out of your ears. They come in 4 sizes (XS – L), if your ears hurt, it is best to take a smaller size. If the earplugs do not reduce sound sufficiently or fall out, it is best to try on a size larger.
- IN THE BOX – In our eco-friendly packaging, there is 1 set of Loop Experience Plus earplugs, 4 sizes of soft silicone ear tips (XS-L), 3 sizes of foam ear tips (S-L), 2 sets of Loop Mute filters and 1 handy carry case. Not only do our earplugs have a stylish metal look, they are also durable and long lasting.
You can find different models with live events, conversations, and noise reduction in mind. They have a loop on the outer end that allows the user to place them in the ear safely and easily. They cost between $25-$45, depending on the model.
Other good options include high-fidelity earplugs. High-fidelity earplugs are earplugs that reduce the volume of the noise and do not muffle it. These are perfect for concerts and other live events.
- High Fidelity: Hearprotek Music ear plugs do an effective job of bringing down the overall volume, blocking background noises at a comfortable level while preserving the sound clarity and sharpness and you will be able to hear different sound frequencies
- 20 db Noise Reduction: Comes with 2 sets of 20 db ear plugs in different sizes (small & standard), cutting up an impressive 20 db’s of sound volume. You can always have your spare plug in case any plugs are fallen out unfortunately or missing
- Designed For Comfort: Made of high quality silicone material that provides comfort from prolonged usage. They are designed to have an ergonomic curved body that follows the shape of your ear canal, which provides a snag and comfortable fit
- Discrete & Portable: Low-profile design with translucent or frosted shells for a discreet look on stage, at concerts, clubs, or the office. Includes a soft silicone detachable cord and comes in a long-lasting aluminum case with a carabiner, making it easy to clip to belts or bags and keep your plugs secure
- Warm Tips: While these earplugs do not block all noise completely, they maintain music quality and keep the volume at a safer level. Not recommended for activities which need high noise reduction level like sleeping, hunting, or shooting
- FIRST CLASS HEARING PROTECTION – Our High Fidelity Earplugs protect your ears from harmful noise levels while still allowing you to clearly hear your surroundings. Get up to 21 dB of noise reduction (NRR 16 dB) so that you can do more of what you love while minimizing the risk of noise induced hearing loss, tinnitus, and anxiety.
- PRISTINE SOUND QUALITY – Our innovative attenuation filters allow you to hear the world around you, just at a lower volume. Reduces noise evenly to maintain the full spectrum of sound while protecting hearing. Great for toning down noise levels in loud environments to reduce anxiety and for safely listening to live music with clarity.
- USE EARGASM ANYWHERE – Fantastic ear plugs for concerts, noise sensitivity, tinnitus relief, motorcycles, musicians, drummers, noise cancelling, noise reduction, sporting events, sleeping and so many other uses!
- PERFECT FIT GUARANTEE – Two pairs of different sized earplug shells made from hypoallergenic silicone are included with every unit. Fits most normal to large ear sizes. Individuals with smaller ear canals may want to consider our Smaller Ears Earplugs model. Contact Eargasm support with any fit issues and we’ll be sure to make things right!
- WATERPROOF ALUMINUM CASE – Never be without your earplugs again by using the included sturdy metal case with a waterproof rubber seal. Our compact case allows for safe and easy storage on your keychain, carabiner, backpack, or in your pocket.
- HIGH FIDELITY EAR PLUGS – You may experience muffling when you wear foam-based ones. But those days are gone. You will be able to hear different sound frequencies and talk to people with these HIFI earplugs since they reduce noise evenly and maintain the full frequency.
- ECO-FRIENDLY DESIGN – These hypoallergenic silicone earplugs are washable and reusable, so if you keep them right, they will stay with you for years. In contrast, the Polyurethane foam takes up to 5 years to degrade in nature. So it’s cool to have personalized and exclusive silicone earplugs!
- NOISE REDUCTION 23dB – The acoustic filter elements in the ear plug can reduce the volume by 23 dB, which is an ideal value for concerts or band rehearsals. So you can do more of what you love while minimizing the risk of noise-induced hearing loss, tinnitus, and anxiety.
- REURE CAN PROTECT YOU ANYWHERE – The compact aluminum case with rubber seal is waterproof and dustproof. You can carabiner it on your key chain, jeans, or backpack and it can follow you anywhere. Ideal for concerts, noise sensitivity, tinnitus relief, motorcycles, musicians, sports events, flying, sleeping noise cancelling, etc.
- PERFECT FIT GUARANTEE – Every order comes with two pairs of different-sized ear plugs so that you can have the most comfortable experience. If you have any problems when you are using it, please get in touch with our support team to get the best after-sales service 🙂
Earmuffs are also a smart option because they are easy for children to use and harder for them to lose. The Alpine Muffy Noise Cancelling headphones are highly rated and come in various colors.
Children with ear protection at concerts are more likely to enjoy the experience than those without.
