Another Infant Question - Loud Rides

[Hawk]

What are families doing with a sleeping or awake infant during loud rides, for example Ellen? Ear plugs, muffs? How about cotton?

Thanks in advance for tips.

Tim/Hawk

 

[kiddisney]

it would really be up to what the baby is comfortable with - and what you're comfortable taking the baby on - we took out 5 1/2 month old and he wasn't comfortable w/anything in his ears - he kept pulling on them - but he was comfortable w/loud rides - the only thing was sudden noises - and for those rides and/or attractions we didn't take him on them (for example we did go to the muppet attraction and put our hands over his years when we knew it was going to be loud because that wasn't rough - but did not go to philharmagic because we knew that there would be too many sudden outbursts - but if the baby could handle the ear plugs you may make more louder rides -

 

[Syrreal]

I'm not sure how much of Pirates you would consider loud, but DS slept through the whole thing...twice! He was almost 1 when we rode it.

 

[JeanfromBNA]

We sat behind a lady with an infant on the Great Movie Ride, and the loud noises scared the baby out of her wits. She wailed miserably. We could tell it was the noise that was the issue - she seemed to handle the bright lights, and the music when it wasn't blaring. I felt so sorry for her and it made me aware of just how loud even the most innocuous ride or attraction can be.

 

[goofygal531]

This past Nov we avoided a lot of noisy rides. We learned from our past visits with our older son what to avoid. On his first visit at one years old, we took him on Great Movie Ride and Muppets 3-D and he SCREAMED! So we knew to avoid other similar rides. He loved pirates!

Anything in the dark and loud I would avoid. It's the loud noise out of nowhere that scares them.

 

[Syrreal]

I wanted to add that we took DS on Journey to Imagination when he was 3 months old and he loved that one. He didn't freak out with the noise, the lights, or even the part where they blow wind on you.

It really depends on the child and you are who knows yours best. If at home they don't like loud noise, then they probably won't be comfortable with it on vacation.
If you are comfortable with it, and it's feasible on the ride, you can always just cover the baby's ears with your hands if you know you are expecting a loud part.

 

[kjetjl]

I used a soft blanket and wrapped my kids in it when they were babies and then held them really close with the blanket up over their ears. (I think some of the attractions are very cool and they found the warmth comforting)

Most times we were lucky, if they were startled by a loud noise I would just cuddle them and they were fine. A few times, they did cry out.

 

[goofygal531]

It really depends on the child and you are who knows yours best. If at home they don't like loud noise, then they probably won't be comfortable with it on vacation.

True, however a loud noise at home is nothing like a loud noise on a ride.

We live in NYC on a busy street. My boys bedroom window is right on that busy street. We always keep the window open a crack when they sleep. Since they were infants, they could both sleep thru fire truck sirens, ambulences, police chases, and our morning helicoppers visits.(checking traffic on the FDR).

Everyday noises are nothing like loud booms in a ride. The attractions set a story and play with all your senses. You could be calm riding the Great Movie Ride then all of a sudden the alien pops out (which didn't bother my son). Neither did the witch from Oz, what bothered my son was the movie clips at the end. It was just LOUD. VERY LOUD.

You have to play it by ear. You will have to test it out and see what effects the baby and what doesn't. I would plan on a lot of baby swaps and shopping and eating It's very different going to the parks with an infant.

 

[Syrreal]

True, however a loud noise at home is nothing like a loud noise on a ride.

I guess I wasn't as clear as I wanted to be
I meant how they react to non-everyday noises. Like, if they freak at 4th of July fireworks, odds are they won't like Wishes or Illuminations or rides with unexpected loud noise.

 

[frtchr]

Different kids will react differently to different things. (Brilliant, huh? ) Our dd was 11 m.o. when we went the first time. She slept during the Great Movie Ride, loved Pirates and Buzz Lightyear, and actually laughed when the stretching room at HM went black. At home, she freaks when the phone rings or she can hear a siren outside. Go figure!

 

[Hawk]

Thanks for the replies. It is my granddaughter who is 4 months old. My youngest is Coby who is 7 years old - so it has been awhile since I have had to worry about it.

Tim/Hawk

 

[jinia]

Bose sells these great ear muff things... I don't know what there called. I would start praticing with them well before I got there!! Have fun...

 

[Liljam]

I think cotton would be best if you choose to use ear plugs. My DH is in a Southern Rock band and when our son was a week old, the band played a show for my 13 year old DS's birthday and my other DS slept through it all and I just muffled the sound with my hands a little at times.

Experts say that if you have to yell over the sound, it's too loud for an infants ears but I don't always follow what they say.

To prep my little one for the sights and sounds of WDW, I have been tivoing playhouse disney shows and downloading mp3s or videos of the rides and playing them at a louder level. He seems to get very excited now when he hears Hot Dog Song on Mickey Mouse Clubhouse so it must be working !

I do worry about getting him to calm down IF he does cry on a ride. I could easily leave a show, but I hate the thought of disappointing other people on the rides with my son crying!