The 5 Best Kids Headphones of 2025

We’ve tested more than 90 pairs of kids headphones for this guide since we first published it in 2016. Some models have been discontinued, and others have been replaced by newer models. To conserve space, we don’t list every set of headphones we’ve tested here, but we do keep a complete spreadsheet with all our testing results. We dismissed all of the models listed below for some reason, but they at least stayed within safer measured volume ranges in one or more of their listening modes.

Avid WonderEars AP400: We love that this wired pair (which uses a USB-C connection) tested within safer ranges, but the microphone picks up a ton of background noise, the fixed earcups are uncomfortable, and the sound is muffled in the vocal range and hissing in the cymbal and consonants range.

Belkin Soundform Mini: This pair is marketed directly to schools, but it is also available on Amazon. In our tests, only the Bluetooth mode measured within safer volume ranges, so we wouldn’t advise using these in wired mode. Though this pair sounds decent enough for the price, the creaky plastic chassis and non-swiveling earcups mean that the Soundform Mini isn’t comfortable to wear for long listening sessions.

iClever BTH03: The earcups on this wireless pair don’t swivel, so it can be hard to keep the headphones on. And the microphone is basically unusable, so don’t pick this set for video-chat or phone purposes.

iClever BTH20: This pair has a lot of good aspects: The volume level is within the safer range, the control buttons are large and easy to use, and the earpad foam is soft and pliable. However, the sound quality is muffled and coarse, and the active noise cancellation is incredibly disappointing, barely taking the edge off of the lowest sustained noises.

JBL JR460NC: We love the solid-feeling build, and the impressive microphone is one of the clearest-sounding non-boom microphones we’ve tested on kids headphones. However, the microphone doesn’t work when this pair is used corded, the active noise cancellation is minimal, and the headphones themselves have no volume controls.

JLab JBuddies Studio 2 Wireless: The earcups on this budget pair don’t swivel, and the earpads are made of cheap foam—so this set is not comfortable to wear for long periods. Music sounds a little bloated and cheap, but is generally pleasant enough. The microphone sounds compressed but intelligible.

LilGadgets Untangled Pro: Although in our measurements these headphones went only slightly over safer limits via Bluetooth, they got far too loud when we used them in wired mode.

MyFirst CareBuds: We don’t recommend wireless earbuds for young children. This pair could be okay for tweens, but the cutesy stickers and colors may be too babyish for that crowd. This pair’s performance is more or less what you’d expect from a budget pair of adult true wireless earbuds: The sound is fine, and the microphone is decent, although it picks up room noise. The touch controls are limited to play/pause, skip/reverse, and transparency mode. We didn’t see any way to access a digital assistant, and there are no volume controls. Frustratingly, there are no instructions on how to pair the buds with a new Bluetooth device after the first pairing. We like that this pair comes with six sets of tips, but the earbuds themselves may be too large for small ears, especially for kids under 10 years old.

Onanoff BuddyPhones Cosmos+: The BuddyPhones Cosmos+ is an adult-size pair of wireless, noise-cancelling headphones that’s bound to be massive on young kids. This is more than a comfort problem, as gaps between the earpads and a child’s face can negatively impact the efficacy of the active noise cancellation. The removable boom mic is a nice addition but could get lost if you don’t keep it in the case. Although this pair stayed within safer limits on two of its three loudness settings in our measurements, like many devices that have a “travel mode,” on that setting this pair reached a loudness level higher than we believe is safe.

Onanoff BuddyPhones Play+: We had high hopes for this pair as a Bluetooth variation of our budget pick for toddlers. However, the BuddyPhones Play+ had some serious audio flaws in our tests. When the set was in toddler mode (the safest setting), the drivers couldn’t handle intense bass notes, and hip-hop bass lines had a flapping quality. In addition, the microphone was somehow both compressed and picking up a lot of background noise at the same time.

Onanoff BuddyPhones School+: This pair is essentially the BuddyPhones Explore+ with the addition of a boom mic. If you have a small kiddo who needs additional voice clarity on calls, the BuddyPhones School+ is a fantastic option. However, the boom mic is stuck to the cable, so unlike on the JLab JBuddies Play, there is no way for your little one to listen without the mic sticking out in front of their face. We also wish that this pair had swiveling earcups, which are more comfortable for longer listening sessions (which a child might need in a school setting).

Onanoff Storyphones: The idea behind this pair is device-free listening. After an adult preloads the content, all the child needs to do to play a story or music is to place a detachable magnetic disk on the earcup. It’s a neat idea, but in practice it was frustrating when combined with a misplacement-prone child. We frequently found ourselves on our stomachs with a flashlight trying to track down a wanted disk that had rolled out of sight. If you have a more organized home or absolutely need a device-free system, the Storyphones set is charming and fun for kids to use.

Pogs The Elephant 2: If you’re willing to pay more to buy from a company that uses 55% recycled materials in its headphones and packaging, the Elephant 2 is a decent pair of headphones for little heads. The removable cable can be connected to either ear and has a single-button remote and mic that sounds clear for phone calls. But the sound is more muffled and cheap than what our budget picks offer, and the padding on the earcups isn’t as plush.

Pogs The Gecko 2: This wireless pair has no volume controls and a smeared, overly bassy sound that makes dialogue on music-filled TV shows tough to follow.

Pogs The Turtle: The water sound effects you get when you press the buttons are cute, but the noise cancellation is barely effective, and the sound is strident, harsh, and piercing.

PuroBasic: We like the PuroBasic’s sturdy build quality and the long, fabric-wrapped cable with universal volume control and a microphone. The cable doesn’t detach, but it doesn’t feel flimsy so we aren’t as concerned that it will break. The sound quality is less detailed than that of our Puro picks, so older kids or music fans might not be impressed—but our six-year-old tester proclaimed the sound was “pretty good.” The only drawback to this pair is the fixed earcups: Because they sit on the ear (rather than around the ear) and don’t swivel, they’re less comfortable to wear long-term. Or, as our panelist added, “they’re only medium comfortable.”

Puro Sound Labs PuroFlex Kids: This set wraps around the back of the head and uses bone conduction, which transmits sound to the inner ear and leaves the outer ear uncovered. This may be a good option for kids who specifically don’t like the feeling of headphones over their ears. But for some kids (especially those who have tactile sensitivities) the vibration and unusual fit may be a tough sell. Additionally, as much as we like volume limits, unless the wearer is in a perfectly quiet room or wearing earplugs, this bone-conduction pair may not get loud enough to be audible.

Puro Sound Labs JuniorJams Plus: This updated pair adds USB-C charging and improved battery life over its predecessor, and it still sounds great. We like that you can connect two pairs via a cable so that kids can share one device, but we prefer the replaceable, swappable earcups and carrying case of the Puro BT2200-Plus.

This article was edited by Adrienne Maxwell and Grant Clauser.