Protect children's hearing at fireworks, concerts, motorsport, and other loud events, from babies to teens.
SNR and NRR in Plain English
Ear defenders sold in the UK and Europe carry an SNR (Single Number Rating), measured under the EN 352 standard. In the US they carry an NRR (Noise Reduction Rating), measured under rules set by the EPA.
Both are lab ratings: trained adults fit the product carefully and the lab measures how much sound it blocks. The two tests use different methods, so the same product usually shows a higher SNR than NRR, and you can't compare an SNR with an NRR directly.
Real-world protection is usually lower than either number and depends mostly on fit: a gap from hair, glasses, a loose band, or the wrong tip size lets sound in.
Sizing and Fit
- Match the muff to the age. Babies under about 2 need an infant muff. Never squeeze an older child's or an adult's pair onto a baby: it won't seal and may press too hard.
- The cups should cover the whole ear, with the cushions resting on the head, not on the ear itself.
- Adjust the band so it's snug but not tight. Tuck hair away from the cushions and take off hats that sit under them.
- Try them at home first, in a calm moment, so your child gets used to the feel before the loud day.
- Check the fit each time, and replace cracked or flattened cushions: they stop sealing.
Keep Your Distance
No ear defender is a substitute for distance from loud sounds. Ear muffs reduce noise; they don't block it.
At fireworks, watch from well back and never near the launch area. At concerts, keep children away from the speakers, take breaks somewhere quieter, and leave if it still seems too loud.
You can check the level with our free decibel meter or the concert decibel meter. Phone microphones can under-read sounds above about 100 dB, so treat a high reading as a minimum.
Autism and Sensory Needs
Many autistic children, and children with other sensory processing differences, find everyday noise overwhelming, and families often use ear defenders to make busy or loud places more manageable. Ear defenders don't treat anything; they make sound quieter.
- Comfort matters most for longer wear. A light muff with soft cushions, such as the Muffy Kids, is often easier to accept than the highest-rated one.
- Let your child help choose, including the color, and try them at home before a busy day out.
- You may not need the highest rating for a supermarket or a school hall. Events as loud as fireworks are different: use a well-fitted, well-rated pair.
- How often and how long to use them is worth talking through with your child's occupational therapist, audiologist, or doctor, who know your child.
- Noise-canceling headphones are a different product: they use electronics to reduce steady noise and aren't all rated as hearing protection.
Teachers can show a class how loud it is with our classroom noise meter.
