Alpine Muffy Baby Ear Defenders review: Tested by mum of two
I’m a mum of two and a parenting writer, so I know just how far you’d go to ensure your baby is safe, calm and content. To maintain a social life, however, sometimes you want to head out with your baby in tow — whether to a family party, a fireworks celebration or a festival.
Investing in the best baby ear defenders will calm your baby or toddler in loud environments. Reducing your surroundings’ decibel (dB) rating protects your child’s tiny, developing ear canals and reduces the risk of hearing damage.
The Alpine Muffy Ear Defenders come highly rated for their quality and comfort, but do they live up to the hype? Can they really protect your little ones’ hearing from loud noises?
I put them to the test with seven-month-old baby Miles to find out. Here’s everything you need to know.
Muffy Baby Ear Defenders
How I tested the Alpine Muffy Baby Ear Defenders
I tested the Alpine Muffy Baby Ear Defenders during the busy festive period with the smallest member of my extended family: the adorable seven-month-old baby Miles. He wore the ear defenders during family parties and in busy restaurant settings to protect his ears from raucous laughter, loud music and even fireworks to mark the start of the new year.
My tests involved evaluating the following factors:
Adjustability and age suitability
One-size earmuffs certainly don’t fit all babies. If they’re too loose, they’re likely to slip down. If they’re too tight, you risk putting pressure on your baby’s head or hurting their outer ears. Whether defenders have a strap or headband with cups attached, the ability to adjust sizing to your child’s head is crucial.
In addition to evaluating the Muffy Ear Defenders’ recommended age suitability, I reviewed how easy they were to set up, fit to size and adjust the positioning once they were in place.
Level of comfort
I then observed my tester to assess his overall level of comfort. I watched for any signs of frustration and carefully checked for pressure marks when I removed the ear defenders. I also considered the fabrics used and how comfortable these were against Miles’s skin.
Durability
Since the Muffy Ear Defenders are a product that will likely be used often, I tested their durability. I threw them into a changing bag, dropped them from heights and popped them in the included drawstring carry bag before looking for signs of damage or wear and tear.
Noise reduction rating
While I couldn’t scientifically test the ear defenders’ noise reduction rating, I used the Alpine Muffy Ear Defenders in loud, busy environments. I observed Miles’s reactions and how he responded to his parents.
Ease of cleaning
Depending on where your travels take you, ear defenders have the potential to get dirty. For hygiene purposes, I considered how easy the Muffy Ear Defenders were to take apart and clean. I disassembled the cups and checked the care instructions for the fabric strap.
Key features of the Alpine Muffy Ear Defenders
These features were standouts for me:
Adjustable strap design
Unlike some headband-style ear defenders, the Alpine Muffy Baby Ear Defenders have cups attached to a long, stretchy, elasticated headband. The strap has several small non-slip tabs to hold it securely in place.
Most importantly, this soft, lightweight strap doesn’t put pressure on the soft spot on your baby’s head. This can help increase the likelihood of acceptance by your little one.
Padded cups
Some ear defenders feel slightly plasticky, particularly headband designs, but the Muffy Baby Ear Defenders have well-cushioned, super-soft, smooth cups to cover your baby’s entire ear. Plus, with a removable deep foam interior, they successfully muffle sounds without compressing your bubba’s outer ears.
Portable carry bag
When not in use, the Alpine Muffy Baby Ear Defender cups fit together with the strap wrapped around before popping into the hygienic storage bag.
The compact size takes up little space in your weekend bag or changing bag, making them ideal for concerts or flights with limited carry-on luggage allowances.
Alpine Muffy Baby Ear Defenders review
Adjustability and age suitability
The Muffy Ear Defenders, which came boxed with clear instructions, were easy to set up and adjust in size. While some reviewers found the cup casings tricky to open, the process was quick and easy for me. I just opened the back of the cups, fed the strap through and clipped them back into place.
The long fabric strap has several adjustable Velcro tabs that fasten at the nape of your baby’s neck. Tailoring it for my tester was a breeze. I simply stretched it over his head and adjusted it. While the non-slip tabs prevented it from slipping, the cups still moved freely along the strap, which required some tweaking of the positioning with every use.
Alpine claims these baby ear defenders are suitable from birth until approximately three years. However, based on my testing with a seven-month-old, you may find your toddler outgrows them sooner. But older babies and toddlers may prefer the independence of a headband-style ear defender.
Level of comfort
I was surprised that my tester didn’t try to take the ear protectors off at any point. He actually seemed enthusiastic about wearing them! Despite some happy crawling from Miles, the non-slip strap worked well and securely held the device across his head.
For safety reasons, the brand recommends babies wear ear defenders for a maximum of 90 minutes before giving them a break. Ideally, they should wear them for no more than three hours each day. I removed the defenders regularly during testing and saw no apparent marks or impressions on Miles’s skin.
Durability
Despite weighing just 114g, the Alpine Muffy Baby Ear Defenders are robust and durable. They can withstand drops without the cups detaching from the band.
One of my favourite features is the drawstring carry bag for storage. It keeps them clean and hygienic when used outside the home and protects the cushioned cups from damage.
Noise reduction rating
The Alpine Muffy Baby Ear Defenders have a noise reduction rating of 23 dB, which is lower than some other baby ear defenders I tested, including the Dekukar Baby Ear Defenders and Reer SilentGuard Baby Ear Muffs.
Despite this, the Alpine Muffy notably improved my tester’s comfort levels. He could hear and respond to conversations close by without being affected by the loud party music.
My tester even fell asleep wearing these ear defenders — despite the rest of the family playing boisterous party games in the background. I was able to enjoy the festivities with peace of mind.
Ease of cleaning
I found the Alpine Muffy Baby Ear Defenders easy to clean — though the light grey cups quickly show soiling. While the band is unsuitable for washing machines, it took minimal effort to wash by hand and dried quickly.
The cup cushions were also a snap to clean with a damp cloth and mild detergent. While I didn’t need to do this during testing, removing the inner foam was simple.
What other baby ear defenders could you consider?
There are several similar baby ear defenders you could consider for your baby.
During testing, I loved the two-in-one design of the Dekukar Baby Ear Defenders. They include a soft and stretchy band and a traditional headband, so you can adjust the style and fit as your baby grows.
Older children may prefer headband ear defenders, which are adjustable and super-secure. Despite their budget-friendly price tag, the PandaEar Ear Defenders impressed me with their well-cushioned headband and protective canvas bag.
What age are Alpine Muffy Ear Defenders for?
The Alpine Muffy Ear Defenders are recommended for babies from birth to approximately 36 months. However, based on my testing, children might outgrow them or prefer headband-style ear defenders before they turn three.
Is it OK for your baby to sleep with Alpine Muffy Ear Defenders on?
Yes. Thanks to the band’s soft fabric, my tester could sleep comfortably wearing the Muffy Ear Defenders. The rigid cups may restrict sleep a little more once your baby can roll over, but my tester nodded off on his back quite contently with the defenders in place.
Are Alpine Muffy Ear Defenders worth it?
Yes, the Alpine Muffy Ear Defenders get a big thumbs-up from Women’s Health. If you’re likely to visit loud environments with your baby in tow, these defenders offer comfortable, reliable hearing protection at a relatively affordable price.
More baby safety content…
Read now: These 27 best sex positions are sure to reignite your relationship
Cut through the noise and get practical, expert advice, home workouts, easy nutrition and more direct to your inbox. Sign up to the WOMEN’S HEALTH NEWSLETTER
You Might Also Like
