Airpods for Kids: How to Use Them Safely?

Are AirPods safe for kids? Find out in this article as we discuss the potential risks and benefits of allowing children to use Apple's popular wireless earbuds. Make informed decisions to protect your child's hearing while enjoying the convenience of AirPods.

In the age of technology, parents are faced with the dilemma of whether or not to allow their children to use AirPods. With concerns ranging from potential hearing damage to safety issues, parents need to make informed decisions. This article addresses these concerns and provides guidance on ensuring the safe use of AirPods for kids. From volume control to fit evaluation, read on to learn the essential tips to help parents make informed decisions and protect their children's hearing while using AirPods.

Table Of Contents

Are AirPods Safe for Kids?

Yes, they are! However, there are a few things to consider. As a parent, it's important to regulate the volume, usage time and ensure a comfortable fit for your kids when using AirPods.

Protecting Your Kids' Hearing

Prolonged listening at high volumes can harm your kids' hearing. There is no specific age recommendation for headphones or AirPods. Therefore, you are in the best position as a parent to make the judgment call. Experts have identified several factors that determine earbud safety for children:

1. Volume: Listening to high volumes for extended periods, regardless of the audio device used, can have adverse effects on young children. These effects may include noise-induced hearing loss, vertigo, or ear pain.

2. Age: Younger children have smaller ear canals that cannot comfortably accommodate standard ear tip sizes. Additionally, their ears are still developing and are more sensitive to sound. Hence, ensuring that young ones do not listen to audio at the same volume levels as teenagers or adults is crucial.

3. Audio levels: Keeping the audio levels below the safe limit of 85 dB is crucial for protecting your child's hearing. This ensures that the sound remains at a comfortable and safe level.

4. Listening duration: To prevent such issues, it is recommended to limit your child's listening sessions to 60 minutes per session. Doing so reduces the strain on their ears and provides them ample time to rest.

Why AirPods Are Not Suitable for Children

The following are some of the reasons why AirPods are not suitable for children:

1. Volume Concerns:

Standard earbuds are too loud for kids, exceeding recommended noise levels. Protecting your child's hearing is crucial, as prolonged exposure to high volumes can be detrimental.

2. Financial Impact:

Besides health risks, giving your children these small earbuds can be expensive. Losing a single earbud can lead to costly replacements, approximately $100 each.

3. Safety Hazards:

AirPods and similar small wireless earbuds pose a significant risk of choking for young children. Even when used correctly, they can still cause harm.

Can the Use of Wireless Earbuds Impact Children Due to Radiation?

Parents often worry about the potential harmful effects of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) emitted by Bluetooth devices on their children. However, here's a fascinating twist: The radiation emitted by these devices is non-ionizing and carries a unique set of frequencies that gracefully traverse the human body without causing any harm.

How to Safely Use AirPods for Kids

i) Evaluate the Fit:

Ensure the AirPods fit well in your child's ears to prevent discomfort, falling out, and ear pain. Use the appropriate ear tips provided by Apple for maximum comfort.

ii) Educate About Choking Hazards:

Children may mistake AirPods for toys and put them in their mouths, posing a choking risk. Educate your kids about this potential danger to prevent accidents.

iii) Volume Control:

Just like the noise from chainsaws and motorbikes, excessively loud earbuds can harm hearing. Ensure the AirPods volume is not too high to prevent hearing impairment in children.

iv) Follow the 60:60 Rule:

Teach your kids the 60:60 rule, which means they should keep the AirPods volume below 60% of the maximum and use them for 60 minutes daily. This helps prevent noise-induced hearing loss.

v) Check for Sound Leakage:

Lower the volume of AirPods until you can no longer hear the sound leaking out. This ensures the volume is at a safe level for your child.

vi) Set Volume Restrictions:

Apple devices: Use the Restrictions feature in your Apple device's settings to set volume limits. You can also limit volume through Music settings without a password. Android devices: Search for volume-limit apps for kids in the Google Play Store to find and install apps that limit volume. Google Chrome: Create a Supervisor User to control the volume of PC games, music, or videos when using AirPods with Google Chrome.

Best Earbuds for Kids in 2023

1. Volkano Kiddies: Volkano Kiddies offer good sound quality, noise isolation, and hearing protection. They come in fun designs and are suitable for older kids.

Volume Limiter: 85 dB
Build Quality: Cable with silver-plated plug + carrying pouch
Ear Tips: Standard silicone (3 sizes)
Connectivity: Wired
Microphone: No

2. JVC Gumy: JVC Gumy earphones are affordable and come in vibrant colors. They offer clear sound quality but lack a volume limiter and microphone.

Volume Limiter: No
Build Quality: Cable with gold-plated plug
Ear Tips: Standard silicone (3 sizes)
Connectivity: Wired
Microphone: No

3. LilGadgets BestBuds: LilGadgets BestBuds are high-quality, volume-limited earphones for kids. They come with a tangle-free cable, a hard protective case, and a SharePort adapter for audio sharing.

Volume Limiter: 73 dB
Build Quality: Tangle-free cable + hard protective case
Ear Tips: Standard silicone (3 sizes)
Connectivity: Wired
Microphone: Yes

How to Keep Earbuds Secure for Kids?

Finding earbuds that fit kids can be challenging since most don't have smaller-sized ear tips. Additionally, kids tend to move around often, causing the earbuds to fall out easily. Here are some unique ways to address this concern:

Clean or wash the ear tips regularly for a better grip. Regular cleaning ensures the ear tips maintain proper grip within the ear canal.
Opt for earbuds with wingtips for added security. Wingtips provide extra stability and help keep the earbuds in place.
Use a cable clip to secure long wires and prevent tugging. A cable clip keeps the wires tidy and prevents them from being accidentally pulled.
Try a soft headband that wraps around the head. A soft headband can secure the earbuds and prevent them from slipping out.

Final Thought

When it comes to allowing kids to use AirPods, parents should regulate volume, usage time and ensure a comfortable fit. Prolonged exposure to high volumes can harm hearing, so keeping audio levels below 85 dB and limiting listening sessions to 60 minutes is important. Parents should also be aware of choking hazards and educate their children. Evaluating fit, setting volume restrictions, and considering alternative earbuds designed for kids can help ensure safe usage.