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.
- [Designed for Various Ages] The “Concert” 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
- ✅ The noise canceling headphones adopt soft PU and Slow Rebound sponge to bring a comfortable feeling to the ears. Due to compression during transportation, the soft PU and Slow Rebound sponge on the earcups may deform or dent. Please unfold the earphone and leave it in place for a period of time, and it will recover on shape.
- ✨ 2 Pack Noise Cancelling Headphones for Kids: Too high decibel noise will cause permanent damage to the child’s auditory system in the developing stage. 28dB safety protection ear muffs can not block all noise and do noise reduction to a safe level letting little angel enjoy all kinds activities, such as firework displays, monster trucks, concerts, sports events, or helping with housework.
- 🎁 Comfort and Durability Ear Protection: These earmuffs adopt premium materials and outstanding design to bring a comfortable experience for children of different ages. The 360° rotatable cups and ultra-soft ear cushions ensure complete wrapping of a child’s ear for a snug fit. The adjustable ergonomic arched wide headband brings all-around security, stability, and durability.
- 🏅Reliable Safety Certifications Hearing Protection: Our kids’ earmuffs were tested and proven to provide 28dB protection that meets the ANSI S3.19 and CE EN 352-1 standard to reduce harmful sounds and reduce loud noises to protect children hearing rather than altogether block any sound.
- 🔮Considerate Design for Sensitive Ears or Daily Demands: These adjustable noise reduction earmuffs are designed for children aged 3-16. Great for improving kids’ concentration during playing, reading, studying, and relaxing during rest. Ideal for creating a quiet environment and reducing noise caused by air shows, travel, and yard work, and provides the most reliable safety.
- 🎧 ENHANCED HEARING PROTECTION – Our earmuffs provide an impressive 26dB NRR, designed to effectively shield children from harmful noise and the risk of hearing loss. Especially crafted for kids, this product is ideal for children with sensory issues, including the 65% of those with autism who are oversensitive to sound.
- 🎧 Universal Fit – With an adjustable size and a 360° swivel ear cup design, these hearing protection earmuffs are suitable for children aged 2 to 18. The foldable design adds convenience for storage and travel, while the soft headband ensures comfort during extended wear.
- 🎧 Lightweight and Comfortable – Crafted with premium soft PU leather, our noise-canceling headphones provide a comfortable experience for kids during prolonged use. The adjustable and lightweight design makes them suitable for children of all ages, and the high-density soundproof sponge effectively blocks out grating sounds.
- 🎧 Certified and Guaranteed – Rigorously tested for safety, our noise-canceling headphones for kids meet ANSI S3.19 and CE EN 352.1 standards. We are committed to providing a premium and comfortable experience along with high-level hearing protection.
- 🎧 Versatile Usage: These high-quality kids earmuffs are perfect for a variety of situations. Whether your child is studying at school, attending sporting events, or enjoying entertainment like monster truck shows, our ear protection ensures their ears are shielded from harmful sounds. Additionally, wearing these earmuffs can enhance concentration and create a conducive learning environment in quieter settings.
- 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
- 【Package Content】 You‘ll receive 80pcs ear covers for shower to meet your daily needs, Which prevent water from entering children ears.
- 【Material】 Made of soft and breathable PU film, They are thin , soft, environmental, waterproof and skin friendly.
- 【Function】 Covered on babies’ ears, The oval design will match the shape of ears and nicely avoid water.
- 【Special Design】 Come with a cotton ball, Which can effectively prevent water from entering the ears. giving you double assurance.
- 🎧ProCase kids noise reduction headphones muffle noise to prevent hearing damage; It is a perfect gift for children who have sound sensitivity for airplane flight, 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 a NRR 22dB 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 take up less space
- Small Ears Protection & Improve Kids Focus & Concentration–Nice for kids and can also be used by adults with smaller ear canals. The high fidelity ear plugs significantly dampen loud noises and reduce the decibel levels of everyday noises(-23dB), making them great for protecting your kids’ hearing and shutting out external sounds when they’re trying to focus or relax. Ideal for concerts, festival, studying, airplane ear pressure/anxiety/tinnitus relief.
- Relieves Air Pressure Discomfort–Our noise reduction ear plugs help to equalize the pressure against your eardrum, alleviate the pain felt during air pressure changes, which makes them nice for flying. Available in 8 bright colors, with a lovely design in the shape of a cartoon bear, children will definitely love them and will not put them down. Empower your child with the soft waterproof earplugs, protect their hearing and create a safe and comfortable environment for them to grow.
- Portable & Secure–Each pair of safety ear plugs are independent and can be stored in a small box, convenient carrying and saving at anywhere, you can never worry about that your kid will lose them. Easy to take the ear plugs noise canceling out and put back. It comes with four sizes (L/M/S/XS) of ear tips, so you can find the most suitable earplugs for your kid’s ear type.
- Soft & Washable & Reusable–Made of Skin-friendly Material, which fits for kids’ ears, so that child will not feel any uncomfortable during wearing, and will not harm children’s skin. Unlike other’s ordinary foam earplugs, our earplugs for kids are reusable and washable, environmental and durable, not easy to deformation. You can wash them with warm water or warm soap water.
- What’s in the Box–2 pairs noise reduction earplugs for kids, 8 pairs ear tips(L/M/S/XS), 2 x carrying case, 2 x carabiner, 1 x user manual. 2 pairs of ear protection earplugs can be shared with your boys and girls or sent to your friends.
- 🌈【Protect Little Ears From Big Noises】With a Noise Reduction Rating of 25dB, children earplugs effectively reduce loud noises to a safe level, are your go-to solution for concerts, loud events, big family gatherings, playgrounds, birthday parties, planes/trains travel, fireworks and even study sessions that need a bit of quiet. 💕Very comfortable and can fit adults with Small Ear Canals.💕
- 🌈【Pressure Relief & Ear Pain Prevention】Say goodbye to the discomfort of air pressure changes during flights. Our airplane ear pressure relief earplugs are engineered to provide effective pressure relief, preventing ear pain and allowing Little cuties to enjoy a pain-free travel experience.
- 🌈【Gentle and Comfortable】Crafted from soft, kid-friendly materials, these silicone ear plugs provide a snug and comfy fit. No more complaints of discomfort – your child will barely notice they’re wearing them! For Music Lovers, Travel Explorers, Little Sleepers, Study Buddies(Minimize distractions during study time) and Party Animals(Celebrate without worries).
- 🌈【Increase Children’s Focus and Creativity】Softvox Children ear plugs help block out unwanted noise, creating a safe and comfortable environment for them to grow, Increasing their focus and concentration from home to school and adventures beyond.
- 🌈【Easy to Carry】Comes with a compact and convenient aluminum case, making it easy for your child to bring their ear plugs wherever they go. Great for school, trips, or family outings. Easy to Use: Simple for kids to put in and take out on their own. No fuss, no hassle – just plug and play!
- ✅ 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 flight, 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 a 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 take up less space
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.
- 【Preserve High Fidelity Audio】 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. You won’t experience any muffling with these plugs as you would foam-based ones and you will be able to hear different sound frequencies and talk to people without having to worry of muffling.
- 【20db Noise Reduction】 Comes with 2 sets of 20db ear plugs in different sizes (small & standard), cutting up an impressive 20db’s of sound volume which is a pretty good amount for a concert or band rehearsal, and 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. If you have small ear canals, the small size of ear plugs are your best choice, they are designed to have an ergonomic curved body with two flange tip that follows the shape of your ear canal, which provides a snag and comfortable fit.
- 【Discrete & Portable】Low-profile design with translucent or frosted plug shells which are inconspicuous and a less noticeable appearance on stage, at the concert, at the club or in the office. Include a soft silicone detachable cord and come in a durable aluminum case with carabiner which clips easily to belts and bags to carry wherever you go, this way, there’s no need to worry about losing your plugs.
- 【Warm tips】The earplugs will not block all the noise completely, but they will preserve the quality of the music and make the volume within a safer listening level. So they’re not recommended for sleeping, hunting, shooting, motorcycling etc.
- 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 𝟮𝟬 𝗱𝗕】The acoustic filter elements in the ear plug can reduce the volume by 20 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.
