Noise canceling headphones or earplugs for kids

[TristiK]

My DDs love to watch fireworks, but HATE the noise. I'm hoping to find something to block out the noise so they can enjoy the fireworks. They'll be 4 and 7 at the time. Whatever we use, I'll have to lug it in my bag all day at the parks, so I don't want anything too bulky. Would love to hear if you've used something that works

 

[Nennie]

I would get the foam earplugs. We used them for my son at the Monster Truck show! LOL!! They have them at Walmart by the power tools!

 

[wilkeliza]

You can get kid size ear plugs at the drug store. I personally think the noise cancelling ear muffs are best but if you don't want to lug them around then ear plugs are your next best option. The thing is ear plugs have to be put in properly and if your kids are going to mess with them they could push them further into their ear canal then what is safe.

 

[TristiK]

You can get kid size ear plugs at the drug store. I personally think the noise cancelling ear muffs are best but if you don't want to lug them around then ear plugs are your next best option. The thing is ear plugs have to be put in properly and if your kids are going to mess with them they could push them further into their ear canal then what is safe.

That was my fear with the earplugs. DH may just have to also bring a backpack on those days.

 

[wilkeliza]

That was my fear with the earplugs. DH may just have to also bring a backpack on those days.

I use ear plugs nightly and I can tell you about 1/4 of the time I can't get them into my own ear right. I couldn't imagine trying to put them in a kids ear.

 

[Alesia]

Noise cancelling headphones do not work for sudden noises like fireworks.

 

[wilkeliza]

Noise cancelling headphones do not work for sudden noises like fireworks.

I thought the OP meant ear muffs (like used at a gun range) when they meant noise cancelling headphones. Some use the term interchanging even though you are correct that they are not exactly the same thing.

 

[Alesia]

I thought the OP meant ear muffs (like used at a gun range) when they meant noise cancelling headphones. Some use the term interchanging even though you are correct that they are not exactly the same thing.

True, but I would hate for the OP to waste good money on noise cancelling headphones if that isn't what they actually need

 

[DLgal]

Buy the 3M Peltor earmuffs from Amazon. My autistic son uses them on almost every ride at the parks due to oversensitive hearing. He is still scared of fireworks, but with the earmuffs on, he can actually handle being in their vicinity without completely freezing in fear and melting down. I have put them on to see how well they work and they provide enough protection to make the fireworks sound muffled so the sound doesn't make you jump. Makes them sound faraway. They are under $15 a pair. Kinda bulky but they work WAY better than ear plugs. We tried those first with no success.

 

[HopperFan]

DS has severe noise issues. We used to carry headphones. Ugh. We are able to watch them now with silicone ear plugs because you mold, then push in and they really do a great job of reducing noise. Sometimes he can't eve hear me talk to him. I actually pull them apart and make two out of one since his ears are small. http://pics.drugstore.com/prodimg/565087/450.jpg

 

[TristiK]

True, but I would hate for the OP to waste good money on noise cancelling headphones if that isn't what they actually need

I use ear plugs nightly and I can tell you about 1/4 of the time I can't get them into my own ear right. I couldn't imagine trying to put them in a kids ear.

 

[TristiK]

True, but I would hate for the OP to waste good money on noise cancelling headphones if that isn't what they actually need

I meant the earmuffs, but didn't know the technical term. Thanks all!

 

[Kae]

We never had a problem putting the foam earplugs the the kids ears and they were 4 & 18 mths. now they don't cancel out all the noise but enough that the fireworks did not bother the kids. they also used them at a lot of the attractions such as Pirates and they wore them at our local movie theater.

If you pull up on the outer part of the ear they pop right in

Kae

 

[DaniMoon]

We used the moldable earplugs (orange) for our trip in November. They were perfect. My son is 7 and he used them a ton. You don't realize how loud EVERYTHING is, until you have someone with a sound sensitivity with you. He used them A BUNCH! I would say for at least half the rides, I think for him it was also a sense of security. I wish I would have taken them when he was 5, it would have helped him.

 

[Thing 1]

We have used the small foam ones with DS even as a preschooler. I am trying to think we might have cut them in half when he was really little but Im not sure on that. We found they worked ok, but its really easy to loose one so take plenty of extras. They will come out if they mess with them but they are both old enough to understand that its a choice to leave them along and it not be so loud or not. There are tons of really loud things at WDW so you might want to carry some at all times.

 

[dspud]

This is probably not a great idea just for Disney, but I use the battery powered 3M Peltor Tactical 6S Active Volume Hearing Protector ear muffs. You can find them on Amazon. They are about $50 bucks a pair, but they are good because they don't block normal converation or noise, just the loud "pops" like you would expect with fireworks or gunshots. With regular ear muffs, I find myself taking them on and off all day long when I am at the range. With these, I just turn them on and keep them on all day. Never thought of it, but would be great at disney if you are sensitive to noise. You can turn them up or down. Again, not really suggesting them if you just need them for the fireworks, but If you think you may use them a lot, they are a good investment.

 

[kohlby]

Buy the 3M Peltor earmuffs from Amazon. My autistic son uses them on almost every ride at the parks due to oversensitive hearing. He is still scared of fireworks, but with the earmuffs on, he can actually handle being in their vicinity without completely freezing in fear and melting down. I have put them on to see how well they work and they provide enough protection to make the fireworks sound muffled so the sound doesn't make you jump. Makes them sound faraway. They are under $15 a pair. Kinda bulky but they work WAY better than ear plugs. We tried those first with no success.

That's what we use as well. We lost them on our last trip to Orlando recently though so time to order another pair. We had to skip the fireworks due to losing them. We found some regular ear plugs but those bother him sensory-wise.