How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-29 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
• NENOS Kids Headphones Children's biggest strength: a foldable, fully adjustable over-ear design with automatic volume limiting and a built-in audio-sharing jack — no splitter needed.
• NENOS Kids Headphones Children's biggest trade-off: it is wired only, so there is no Bluetooth and no battery to fall back on.
• Altec Lansing Kid Safe Noise biggest strength: active noise cancellation plus Bluetooth 5 wireless and a wired backup, with an 85 dB volume ceiling.
• Altec Lansing Kid Safe Noise biggest trade-off: it is an on-ear fit aimed at ages 7 and up, so it is a stretch for very small children.
• Pick NENOS for a 3–8 year old who mostly listens at home, in the car or on a computer.
• Pick Altec Lansing for a 7+ kid who travels, flies, or needs to block out a noisy house.
The NENOS Kids Headphones Children's is a wired over-ear pair with a very specific mission: keep things simple and safe for small children. The volume is automatically limited, which removes the worry of a child cranking the dial too high. The earpads are soft and the whole thing is lightweight, so it is comfortable for the ages 3–8 range the manufacturer recommends. Over-ear cups sit around the ear rather than pressing on it, which generally helps younger kids tolerate longer sessions.
The feature I find genuinely clever is the audio sharing. There is no splitter required — a second pair of headphones plugs straight into the NENOS and both kids hear the same thing. On a long car ride or a shared tablet session, that is a small detail that solves a real, recurring argument. It is also fully foldable and fully adjustable, so it collapses into a bag and grows with the child's head. It ships with a cable and a protective case, and the finish is a mint color with a soft, rounded enclosure.
Who should buy it: parents of 3–8 year olds who want a durable, wired, no-fuss pair for home, school or the car, and who like the idea of two kids sharing one device without extra gear. Who should skip it: anyone who needs wireless audio, noise cancellation, or a pair that will still fit a tween. If your child is 9 or older, or you want to cut the cord entirely, this is not the one.
The Altec Lansing Kid Safe Noise is a different animal. It is a wireless on-ear headphone built around active noise cancellation, and that ANC is the headline. On a plane, in a busy airport, or in a loud household, it actively reduces the surrounding racket so your child can actually hear their movie, music or lesson. For travel and noisy environments, that is a meaningful upgrade over plain sound isolation.
It connects over Bluetooth 5 with a range of roughly 9 meters, and it also accepts a 3.5 mm wired connection when you want unlimited listening without draining the battery. Speaking of which, the battery is rated at 15 hours of average use, with a 15-hour charge time listed. Volume is limited to 85 dB, and the sensitivity figure matches at 85 dB, so the ceiling is baked into the design rather than left to a software toggle. The fit is on-ear with an around-ear/over-ear earpiece shape, using silicone and TPE materials, and the whole thing folds for storage.
Who should buy it: parents of kids 7 and up who fly, commute, or live somewhere loud, and who want the convenience of Bluetooth without giving up a wired fallback. Who should skip it: families with toddlers or 4–5 year olds, since this is sized and positioned for older kids, and anyone who specifically wants an over-ear cup that fully surrounds a small ear.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for the youngest kids (3–8) → NENOS Kids Headphones Children's, which is explicitly sized and recommended for that range.
• Best for noise blocking → Altec Lansing Kid Safe Noise, thanks to active noise cancellation rather than passive isolation.
• Best for wireless freedom → Altec Lansing Kid Safe Noise, with Bluetooth 5 and a 9.14 m range.
• Best for sharing one device between two kids → NENOS Kids Headphones Children's, which lets a second headphone plug straight in with no splitter.
• Best for a wired-only, no-charging setup → NENOS Kids Headphones Children's, which runs purely off a 3.5 mm jack.
• Best for longer listening sessions away from a charger → Altec Lansing Kid Safe Noise, with its 15-hour battery and wired backup for unlimited play.
• Best for travel and flights → Altec Lansing Kid Safe Noise; best for home, car and computer use → NENOS Kids Headphones Children's.
If I were buying for a 3–8 year old and wanted the simplest, most kid-proof option, I would pick the NENOS Kids Headphones Children's — the foldable over-ear fit, the automatic volume limiting and the splitter-free audio sharing cover the everyday realities of small kids better than anything wireless.
If my child were 7 or older and we traveled or dealt with a loud house, I would buy the Altec Lansing Kid Safe Noise instead. The active noise cancellation, Bluetooth 5 and dual wired/wireless listening are worth the extra complexity for that stage. In my opinion, age and whether you need wireless should make this decision for you, not brand loyalty.
are on ear headphones good
On-ear headphones like the Altec Lansing Kid Safe Noise rest against the ear rather than around it. They tend to be lighter and more compact than over-ear models, which suits kids 7 and up, but they block less sound passively — which is exactly why the ANC on this model matters.
what are the best open ear headphones
Neither of these is an open-ear design. The NENOS is an over-ear pair and the Altec Lansing is on-ear with an around-ear/over-ear earpiece shape. If you specifically want open-ear audio, you would need to look at a different category entirely.
which are the best over the ear headphones
For kids, the NENOS Kids Headphones Children's is the over-ear option here, with soft earpads, a lightweight build and a foldable, adjustable frame for ages 3–8. The Altec Lansing leans on-ear but lists an around-ear/over-ear earpiece shape, so it straddles the two.
what are the best over the ear headphones to buy
It depends on the child's age and whether you need wireless. For a younger kid who listens at home, I recommend the over-ear NENOS. For an older kid who needs noise cancellation and Bluetooth, I recommend the Altec Lansing Kid Safe Noise. Check the current price on Amazon before deciding, since both fit different budgets.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
When you buy through links on this page, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon or its affiliates. This site is an independent third-party review and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Amazon or the product brands mentioned.
See also: Turtle Beach Recon 70 vs Redragon H730, wireless bluetooth headset, Hearprotek Sleep Earbuds vs awatrue Kids Headphones, UGREEN Headphone Adapter vs SUPVOL iPhone