Toddler vs. Fireworks!

[TinkerBell DVC]

Would you take ear protection to tackle the fireworks with or would you chance her not being scared? She absolutely loves thunderstorms (yells BOOM and everything) but unsure about fireworks. Any help would be great... I've been many many many times but never with a toddler

 

[cyneswith]

What age? DS was scared when he was ~18 months, and at 2 years, but has otherwise been OK with them. DD was nervous at 1 year for the 4th, but was OK if I was holding her. I think the ear protection would freak them out more than the noise. Also, be OK with leaving before they are over if they DO freak her out.

 

[TinkerBell DVC]

She will be 19 months... My husband or myself will definitely hold her that might help her. I am glad you mentioned that. We will be there for MNSSHP. Fingers crossed she like fireworks Also since this is the first time we are going with our little princess we are going with the flow (which I read was the best way to go with a toddler). Thank you for your quick reply.

 

[kayemgi]

Any way you can do a test run? Does anything near you have fireworks coming up? We did a test run with our 20-month old on Fourth of July and she did great! The fireworks go off at our local lake, which is only a few blocks from our house, so very loud. We didn't get ear protection as I didn't think she would wear it, and our house is right there, so if she freaked out I could just take her home and leave the others to enjoy the show. But she did wonderfully. She was tired from staying up late, so I was holding her in the baby carrier, and she was resting her head on my shoulder, and I held my hand over her other ear just to try to keep it from being deafening to her. She didn't seem bothered by the noise at all, other than a little startled at the first pops. She seemed neither here nor there on watching the fireworks, she almost fell asleep during them!

 

[smiths02]

We didn't go with a 19 month old. With my older son, we went when he was 2, and fireworks were just too late for us, so we skipped fireworks in favor of bedtime (my ILs did watch him one night and DH and I got to go to MK late). With my twins, we also went when they were 2, and we chose to do Pirates and Pals cruise...I just didn't want to be in those big crowds with the loud noises late at night. We only had one late night, so it worked out well.
Anyhow, sometimes the "best" view isn't as important as being a little farther out from the chaos and able to leave the park easier.

 

[mjkacmom]

I left MK with two 4 year old who were hysterical.

 

[Dinohood]

yes i would take ear plugs I do not like loud sounds so at concerts and fireworks I wear ear plugs also it protects your ears in the long run

 

[Princess Minnie321]

We have done local fireworks for the past two years when DS was 4 and 5 and DD was 2 and 3. They were both fine with the noise. My DS has sensory issues and does not like loud noises, but he did fine with the fireworks.

 

[StirlingSilver83]

I just got my toddler and my 9 year old noise reducing headphones. My 9yr old is on the spectrum and never got to see the fireworks before bc he doesnt like loud sounds and my toddler doesnt like loud sounds either. My only concern when I bought these headphones was that my toddler wouldn't wear them but when I got them in the mail I tried them on him he thought he was hot stuff and loved them lol. Anyways heres a link to the headphones we got. They fit my toddlers head perfectly and they also fit my 9 year olds head perfectly...they are definitely a 1 size fits all and they come in different colors too!
https://www.amazon.com/Snug-Sound-E...489&sr=8-2&keywords=sound+reducing+headphones

 

[buzznina]

How hard is it to just put a pair of ear plugs in your pocket to have, just in case.

 

[Mousemommy1]

Depends on the child. None of my kids have had issues with the noise from fireworks.

 

[smiths02]

How hard is it to just put a pair of ear plugs in your pocket to have, just in case.

I don't know if I'd want to put ear plugs in a 19 month old's ears, though. Maybe some kind of ear muffs or noise reducing headphones?

 

[Aliceacc]

You can get toddler Peltor noise cancelling earmuffs at amazon for about $20. My daughter had the pink ones at that age. When she got older she got a larger size. They were a Godsend.

When you consider all the other money you're spending on a WDW trip, I think that's a bargain, both in terms of protecting her ears and keeping the fear at bay.

 

[CaleCakes]

We didn't go with a 19 month old. With my older son, we went when he was 2, and fireworks were just too late for us, so we skipped fireworks in favor of bedtime (my ILs did watch him one night and DH and I got to go to MK late). With my twins, we also went when they were 2, and we chose to do Pirates and Pals cruise...I just didn't want to be in those big crowds with the loud noises late at night. We only had one late night, so it worked out well.
Anyhow, sometimes the "best" view isn't as important as being a little farther out from the chaos and able to leave the park easier.

How was the Pirate and Pals cruise? I personally love pirates and I think getting away from the crowds might work for us that time of night.

 

[smiths02]

How was the Pirate and Pals cruise? I personally love pirates and I think getting away from the crowds might work for us that time of night.

They really loved it. We went in 2015 and then when we went in 2016, I did a Fantasmic dining package instead. The twins kept asking when we were going on the pirate boat again (and they didn't mean POTC becuase it was closed when we went in 2015).
They really liked meeting Captain Hook and Smee. They liked getting prizes from the guy on our ship. They enjoyed the fireworks without too much noise. They were a little sleepy for Peter Pan at the end, but otherwise, it was great.

 

[buzznina]

I don't know if I'd want to put ear plugs in a 19 month old's ears, though. Maybe some kind of ear muffs or noise reducing headphones?

Our DD had no issues with the pair our Pediatrician gave us years ago. They make so many now for infants to use for flying and swimming.

 

[little miss minnie]

So last September, my daughter was pretty uneasy about the fireworks in the park (20 months at the time) . This past 4th of July, the night before, somebody lit off a firework close to where we were standing outside and it was super super loud. Nobody was expecting it, so it scared the beegeezus out of all of us, especially her. Scarred her for the actual fireworks the next day. She was so scared she wouldnt even look up at the pretty colors. So needless to say, Im concerned for our upcoming October trip. I bought a pair of kid noise ear muffs on Amazon for 15 bucks, they are called
Snug Safe n Sound Kids Earmuffs / Hearing Protectors - Adjustable Headband Ear Defenders For Children and Adults

Here is the link https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CBDJ84S/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

She is 2.5 and they fit her well, and they're adjustable. They also come in lots of cute colors. There is also a carrying case I bought for them so they will store easily in our park bag. I figure it wont hurt to have them, and if they don't do the job and she's still scared, we will just duck into a store or leave.

 

[jknewberry]

We went when my boys were 17 months and 3.5, and again a year later- they loved the fireworks both times and weren't bothered by the noise.

 

[Fosteringaprincess]

We do carry ear protection.if Any my kids want to wear it it is there. I will say I don't feel that " wishes" at mk is near as loud as a normal firework show though. One of mine has sensory processing issues so for him it's very important that we are prepared but he has taken them off before. Every family is very different though. Good luck!

 

[Crystal824]

I haven't; however, I did go running into the MK shops with my oldest the first time we watched fireworks. She was 10 months and started screaming. My youngest didn't have an issue. It might make sense to bring something just in case.