Baby Headphones: How Essential Is It to Protect A Baby’s Ears?

Baby Headphones

The growing ear membranes of toddlers and babies develop significantly during their initial years. They are prone to damage upon coming in contact with noises with high decibels. Infants and children have a higher sensitivity for loud noises than adults. It is because of their narrow sound canals that amplify the pressure or the frequency of the sound. In other words, loud sounds are much louder for kids. Providing protection to their ears using baby headphones or baby earmuffs would ensure that the child does not develop noise-induced hearing loss.  

How Noisy is Too Noisy?

The damage caused in the ears due to exposure to loud noises can be cumulative and permanent. If the child is exposed to or potentially exposed to loud noise, the parents or guardians must monitor the noise level. The sounds are measured in decibels, and safe sound is categorized based on the person’s age and the duration of exposure to the sound. The World Health Organization states that any noise above 85 dB is considered extremely loud and dangerous. Hearing loss can happen after exposure to even one short burst of hazardous noise levels or unsafe noise levels over a long period.

What Are the Potential Hearing Hazards for Infants?

Loud toys are popularly sold for children. However, some toys can produce sounds higher than 120 dB, which can be very harmful. It is necessary to check their noise-level before purchase, as toddlers play with toys near their face and ears, and hence even borderline noise like 80-90 dB can be harmful. Other potential noise hazards for babies can be high and consistent television volumes, concerts, sports events and festivals, firework displays, white noise machines, and everyday household appliances like hairdryers, blenders, and vacuum cleaners.

One can use Noise-cancelling headphones for babies and ear muffs to protect infants from being affected by high noise levels.  

How to Find the Right Baby Headphones?

Headphones can be protective and may not be dangerous for infants if these factors are made a priority.

1)    Volume Limiting Headphones

It is one of the best features that headphones can have, as the maximum volume is set to the accepted maximum volume of 85dB. So the parents can be sure that their toddlers are not listening to things beyond the safe sound level.

2)    Size and Comfort of The Earcup

It is essential to avoid earbuds or listening devices inserted into the ear canal as it can affect their ear health. Instead, parents can go for on-ear or over-ear headphones that fit the baby’s ears to keep them placed when they are wearing them. Headphones made of soft ear cups like plush leather are the best choices for infants to ensure that they get enough cushioning and protection. The headphones must also have adjustable headbands that can fit the infant’s head comfortably. They can be adjusted even as the baby grows.

3)    Wiring of The Headphones

Wireless headphones are the safest for protecting toddlers as they usually bite on the things in their proximity. Even if wired headphones are used, they need to be made of safe and durable material. A nylon-coated headphone cable can survive rough treatment and is tangle resistant.

It can be hard to avoid loud noises or control them around infants. But using baby headphones is a win-win situation for the parent and the infant. Hence it is highly recommended to use a pair.

Sebastian

Sebastian was born and raised in the busy city of Abbottabad. As a journalist, Saad Mushtaq has contributed to many online publications including the PAK Today and the Huffing Post. In regards to academics, Saad Mushtaq earned a degree in business from the Abbottabad UST, Havelian. Saad Mushtaq follows the money and covers all aspects of emerging tech here at The Hear Up.Thanks