Kids love to be just like you, and so they will be delighted with their own pair of little earbuds. No doubt they will have noticed you walking around listening to music, or taking calls using earbuds and they are probably intrigued. But there are earbuds for kids too so they can be your cute little mini-me!
Not only will kids love the stylish look of earbuds, but they will bring a little peace to your house so you don't have to listen to your little one's music, or cartoons, or apps for travelling. They are also less bulky than kids' headphones making them ideal for days out or on holiday.
Of course you don't want to encourage kids to stick things in their ears, so they must be old enough to understand that only earbuds go in ears, which makes them ideal for older children. Additionally, although their compact size is great when you and your little one are out and about, it also makes them easier to lose, especially when carried around in little hands.
Best kids' earbuds at a glance
Best kids' earbuds for travelling: MyFirst CareBuds, £59 - Buy now on My First
Best themed kids' earbuds: Pokemon Pikachu TWS Wireless Earphones, £28.99 - Buy now on Amazon Uk
Best kids' earbuds for comfort: Belkin SOUNDFORM Nano, £29.99 - Buy now on Amazon UK
Best kids' earbuds with light up case: AMAFACE wireless earbuds, £31.99 - Buy now on Amazon UK
If your little one loves listening to their music, watching their favourite TV show on their kids' tablet, or even gaming, then a pair of earbuds will come in very handy and make them feel they are just like you too.
Best kids earbuds 2024
Best kids' earbuds for gaming
Amazon
These kids' earbuds come in a cute panda charging case, plus they also have three different size ear tips to help you find the best, most comfortable fit. They are designed for small ears so perfect for kids and they have music mode and gaming mode and they are enabled with the latest bluetooth technology.
One reviewer said: "Quality product! The kids love them, and so do I because the kids can listen to their iPads all in the same room and I can listen to my stuff!"
Pros
- Music and gaming mode
- Size can be adapted for small ears
Cons
- Some reviewers said the charge didn't last as long as expected
| Weight: | 3.8g per earbud |
| Battery life: | 36 hours playtime |
| Noise cancellation: | Yes |
- Cute charging case
- Music and gaming mode
- Additional ear tips to adapt size
- Noise cancellation
- Splash and rain proof
Best themed kids' earbuds
AmazonA must for Pokemon fans, these earbuds have a great battery life and also operate on Bluetooth version 5.3. With 6 hours of playtime, they also have a noise limitation feature of up to 85 decibels to protect those precious little ears.
One reviewer, Sandra, said: "My 10 year old has these and he absolutely loves them. Easy to use, they connect to his switch easily. Sturdy, lovely design and the case is sturdy too. Not bad value for wireless kids headphones."
Pros
- Noise limitation feature
- Fast charging
Cons
- Some reviewers struggled with connecting them
| Weight: | 145g |
| Battery life: | 6 hours |
| Noise limitation control: | Yes |
- Great for Pokemon fans
- Noise limitation feature
- Charging case with fast charging
- 6 hours of playtime
Best kids' earbuds for comfort
AmazonMade especially for kids, these ear buds come with five different ear tip sizes to ensure a perfect fit for any little ears. They also boast an impressive 24 hours of play time. Importantly, they protect your little one's ears with a volume limit of 85 decibels.
A customer, Phil, said: "The item was purchased for my 6 year old son to connect to his video consoles and iPad. The sound is excellent and fit his ears perfectly. The item looks and feels high quality too, would recommend highly!"
Pros
- Volume reduction to protect little ears
- Excellent battery life
Cons
- Some users had difficulty with pairing
| Weight: | 90g |
| Age: | 7 years + |
| Volume reduction: | Yes |
| Battery life: | 24 hours |
- Volume limit of 85dB
- Good battery life
- Five ear tips to ensure comfort
- Rain and sweat proof
- Sleek design
Best kids' earbuds for travelling
www.myfirst.techuk.myfirst.tech
The myFirst CareBuds feature a maximum volume of 85db, ensuring that kids won't harm their ears with loud music. Plus they also come with various size ear tips to fit a ranges of ages. Another great feature is that they automatically switch to transparency mode when they detect body movement. This is a great safety feature for kids, as it allows them to hear their surroundings while walking.
One reviewer commented: "My daughter likes to copy me - and airpods were one things that she wanted. However, she is 5 - and spending a lot on a pair of airpods that she might lose or not take the greatest care of makes no sense. So, we opted for these instead. These are easy to use and very kid friendly. The colors are great - she loves the light, cotton-candy like colors of the earbuds. This is also fun for kids because it comes with stickers and ways for the kids to decorate the case and make them their own. We paired these with her ipad and she loves being able to watching videos and play games using her earbuds. Overall, these are a great kid-friendly alternative. I love that the case charges them - it has the functionality I love of my airpods but in a more kid-friendly form and aesthetic."
Pros
- Safe for using when walking
- Include different size ear tips
Cons
- Some people said they didn't stay in their ears
| Weight: | 5g |
| Battery life: | 6 hours |
| Age range: | 4 - 13 years |
- Transparency mode
- Volume limit of 85dB
- Different size ear tips
- Waterproof
- Anti-lost strip
Best kids' ear buds with cute design
AmazonThese handy ear buds come in a cute cat case and offer excellent sound quality with bluetooth 5.1 connection. They are shaped to comfortably fit the ear and in total they offer 28 hours of charge with the case.
One reviewer said: "Such a cute pair of earbuds! The sound quality is really great and I love that it automatically connects to my phone when I take them out the case. Also the case can stand upright on a flat surface. Battery life is really good as well."
Pros
- Cute design with charging indicator
- Easy to pair
Cons
- No volume limits
| Weight: | 110g |
| Battery life: | 28 hours |
- Cute design
- 5.1 bluetooth version
- Long battery life
- Charging indicator on case
Best kids' earbuds for battery life
AmazonA great set of kids earbuds complete with blinking eyes. These are both fun and practical with great sound quality and adaptors to ensure they fit little ears. With an impressive battery life, the case can charge both ear buds from 0% - 100% four times.
A reviewer said: "Good quality ear buds in cool case. My son is very pleased. They hold their charge well and come with different size ear buds for smaller ears. Very happy with purchase."
Pros
- Fun case
- Excellent battery life and charging power
Cons
- Some reviewers thought the highest volume was too loud for kids
| Weight: | 100g |
| Battery life: | 6 hours on a single charge |
- Charge on the go
- Fun design
- Great battery life
- 5.1 version bluetooth
Best kids' earbuds with light up case
AmazonWith a cool design and great functionality, these earbuds will be a hit with little ones. The eyes of the Totoro remain blue when the earbuds are charged which is both fun and practical. With one-step pairing, excellent sound quality and multimode which means ear buds can be used individually, these are a great pair of kids earbuds.
Samantha, a reviewer, said: "Super cute and a fab little gadget, my daughter loves it! Connects to devices easily, crisp sound.. no complaints. Would recommend."
Pros
- Fun design with light up eyes
- Earbuds can be used individually
Cons
- Some reviewers found charging them a bit tricky
| Weight: | 100g |
| Battery life: | 36 hours with charging case |
- Multi mode to use earbuds individually
- Long battery life
- Fun design
- IPX5 water protection
- Ear tips to adapt size
Should kids use headphones or earbuds?
While it is a personal choice and it depends what your child finds most comfortable, it is important to consider safety as well. Earbuds could pose a choking hazard to younger children who still have a tendency to put things in their mouth, and also they could encourage them to stick other things in their ears. For all ages, volume is a big concern and earbuds should have volume control to ensure that what your little one is listening to is not too loud to prevent causing any damage to their sensitive ears.
What age should children get earbuds?
Children from age five upwards should be okay using earbuds as long as they don't listen to music with a high volume. Younger than this and not only could they be too loud but they could pose a choking hazard.
Is it safe for children to use earbuds?
As with all technology, moderation is key. In the same way you manage screen time, ensure your child isn't using earbuds all the time. While they are safe to use with volume control, younger children have smaller 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 which is why when in loud environments it is a good idea to use ear defenders. Also, check earbuds fit comfortably and are not irritating to your child. You might find over ear headphones are more comfortable.
Do kids need smaller earbuds?
Yes, most likely! Kids have smaller ears and so a pair of earbuds especially designed for children is the best choice. A lot of kids' earbuds include different size ear tips so you can adapt the size and ensure they are comfortable.
Laura Healy is a Commercial Content Writer for Mother&Baby. She is a mum-of-two girls and loves writing about all things parenting, she is particularly interested in the toddler years and eco-friendly baby products, as well as children’s literature. She has a PhD in Creative Writing and has published short stories in the UK and Ireland, as well as previously writing freelance for her local paper.