The 9 best baby ear defenders and protectors

​The Alpine Muffy baby ear defenders are designed to avoid putting any pressure on the sensitive part of baby's head. They have a Velcro strap that is easy to readjust to fit your baby comfortably and to make sure that the ear part stays firmly in place. Our Mother and baby Senior Writer Samantha found the overall design of the ear defenders to be really good, and she liked that they didn't look too chunky or uncomfortable on her daughter's head. She said the shells were a little bit tricky to adjust but found that it was actually reassuring to know that the shells were not going to move around on the headband and fall out of place.

The ear defenders are made without any metal or hard parts too, making them extremely soft to use and comfortable for your baby wear. Samantha said: "My daughter is 18 months old and doesn't like anything on her head, but surprisingly, she actually keeps these on". They took the ear defenders with them when travelling in noisy cities because they saw their daughter covering her ears previously, and she was a lot happier when wearing them. Samantha says her daughter even wore them to the Formula One and wasn't bothered about the noises in the slightest. She says, "She actually loved wearing them too." Another thing Samantha loved was the soft shells. "They cupped my daughter's ears so they fit inside the shell, rather than them squishing them and it hurting," she says.

They're described as anti-slip, but some parents found they didn't always stay in place. Samantha found that one issue initially was that the band rubbed her daughter's hair underneath, sometimes irritating her. They easily solved this, however, by making sure her hair was pushed back and tucked out of the way. After finding what worked, their daughter was happy to wear the ear defenders again. We like that the product also comes with a handy spare headband, plus a matching carry bag to keep them safe and clean while storing or travelling.

These ear defenders are useful for using during scans, as they don't contain metal, as well as noisy environments such as firework displays and festivals.

Read our full Alpine Muffy Baby Ear Protection review

Perfect for any noisy environment, including the shops, the Snug Kids ear defenders will keep your little one's ears protected - and they won't mind wearing them either. With so many cool and colourful designs that feed into your child's passions, they can proudly wear these muffs when needed.

Our Senior Writer, Samantha, took these for her son when they went to watch the Formula One. She found them easy to fold and store away, although her son did struggle to open it up himself. She found that he was happy to wear them and didn't complain about the noise once he was wearing them.

These ear defenders have an adjustable headband to fit most from six months and over; they're lightweight, foldable, and padded for maximum comfort.

Read our full Snug Kids Ear Defender review here.

Coming in two brightly coloured designs, the 3M Peltor ear defenders are durable and well-made, with low-profile ear cups and no protruding parts. The ear muffs are thin so that they don't feel too heavy on little ears, and you can also replace the cushions and inserts of the ear muffs, so if they become dirty or worn, you can keep them refreshed, which is also healthier for your child's ears.

Our parent tester found these to be good value for money and worked well to reduce sounds, including noises such as drilling and power tools when being used around the house for a renovation or at loud outdoor events. While the bare wires were not ideal, they were comfortable to wear, and they're even ideal for children to wear longer term in busy places, making them ideal for neurodivergent children.

Our parent tester, Hannah, was really impressed by the Dooky Baby Ear Protection and thought it was a great way to introduce her 8-month-old son to earmuffs.

While most ear defenders can be bulky, these are small, compact and super soft and comfy. If you’re someone who is always out and about at festivals and busy events, these are a great option for getting your baby used to wearing them. They're great value, and whilst they didn't block out noise completely, Hannah found that they did help soothe her son when they were at an air show, as he didn't seem phased by the loud noises. 

They're easy to adjust, and the earmuff itself is lovely and squishy, meaning it's not too hard on baby's head. On hot days, Hannah found the band can make their forehead or hair a little sweaty, but this isn't a major issue.

Available in seven colourful designs, the flexible headband of these Zohan Kids ear defenders suits different head sizes, from as small as 6-month-old babies, to almost adult head sizes. This makes them perfect as long-lasting ear defenders for toddlers, kids, and even teens.

Our parent tester loved the different designsand mentioned that both her kids were more than happy to wear the Zohan Defenders because of the funky pattern. They come with lightweight yet thick ear cups and cushions for great comfort and a carry bag for easy storage. The tester's daughter was happy keeping these on her head while house construction was taking place and seemed unphased by the banging.

Her son was also happy to keep the ear defenders on while at a busy event. These ear defenders are great value for money. The only downside is if you take the ear cups off, they are extremely difficult to get back on again.

Whether you're attending a family party with fireworks or taking your mini-me to their first festival, the Banz Bubzee ear defenders are essential for keeping loud noises at a manageable level. One reviewer who thought these were well worth it said that they've used these since their baby was just four weeks old for several weddings, tube trips and airplane journeys. Their little one falls asleep with ease when wearing them and they've received plenty of compliments too.

They offer a comfortable snug pressure-free fit, made from soft plush foam, with the cushioned cups protecting your child's ears nicely. The soft headband is also fully adjustable so that you can achieve the best fit for your child's head to keep the ear muffs in place. You should get plenty of use out of these. One reviewer says the ear defenders seem like they will last a long time. They say that although the product is suitable for up to three years, they 3 think they will last quite a bit longer as they nearly fit over their own adult ears! Our favourite thing about these defenders is that they look cool (lots of parents in reviews say their child has received compliments when wearing them), yet they are also robust - in fact, they're said to be virtually indestructible!

Reducing sound by up to 45 decibels, these ear protectors are great for loud events or neurodiverse children. Best suitable for 12-24 months, the stretchy headband evenly distributes pressure for a comfy fit. One reviewer who bought these for their five-month-old twins noticed that sometimes the ear muffs had slipped down to the child's eye level, so they felt they had to watch out. The velcro should allow you to adjust the headband so that it doesn't slip.

They said that once their babies got used to them, they found they were really good, and a month later, when they were at a wedding, and the babies were six months old, they were able to sleep, allowing the parents to stay at the party for longer. They recommended to practice with babies at home first though, so they can practice wearing them without trying to take them off. The Reer Baby Capsule defenders are compact and can also be neatly folded, perfect for whipping out at a moment's notice.

Adjustable and with comfortable padding on the headband, these should provide a comfy fit for little ones. The BBTKCare Kids ear cups have thick oval sponges to dampen sound whilst still being breathable. They're soft as well to reduce pressure on the ears and built to support the younger age range with maximum comfort and sealing.

One reviewer bought these for their five-month-old to wear at a truck race, which is quite noisy. They said the ear muffs did a good job and that their little one actually slept through the races despite them being quite close to the track at some points. They definitely recommend them, saying they are easy to adjust too, with plenty of room for growth. Another reviewer bought the product for their four-month-old baby and used it at weddings to help them sleep through loud DJ music. "They aren't noise cancelling, but they do help," they said and they would recommend the product.

Described as the 'original baby ear defenders,' these will provide support and protection—they're even newborn-safe. The Ems For Kids includes two ear defender cups and an interchangeable and easy-to-wash headband.

It should relieve pressure and is nice and compact to carry around. One reviewer thought these were a great fit for her six-week-old baby, who wore them on bonfire night and slept happily through the entire display. While these ear defenders are targeted at young babies, this reviewer thought they also look big enough to fit their little one for a few years to come.