Two Toddlers Afraid of Loud Noises!

[swildman]

Help! We leave in two weeks for our big trip to WDW. This will be a first visit for my DS4 and DS2. Neither one likes loud noises. Any suggestions? Any rides/attractions I need to be cautious of? They are not afraid of riding attractions - but my four year constantly keeps his hands over his ears b/c he's afraid it will be too loud.

 

[nessz79]

Definitely avoid Philharmagic in the MK...although it's super cute, it's also very loud. Same for other 3D shows like Honey I shrunk the audience and the Muppets...I think they are all loud.

 

[teresajoy]

Help! We leave in two weeks for our big trip to WDW. This will be a first visit for my DS4 and DS2. Neither one likes loud noises. Any suggestions? Any rides/attractions I need to be cautious of? They are not afraid of riding attractions - but my four year constantly keeps his hands over his ears b/c he's afraid it will be too loud.

I would also add to avoid It's a Bugs Life. That scares lots of kids.

 

[webshark3]

You may want to avoid the parks during the day, and at night. Afternoon won't be good either. LOL

My 4yro hates noise, but my ~2yro loves noise.

We don't avoid anything. We just tell him to cover his ears (which he does anyway). But he LOVES Philarmagic and the Muppets. I wouldn't avoid anything.

What will you do for Fireworks/parades?

 

[NemoMOm]

I had the same problem and we've been 4 times and he is fine. Although we do not do fireworks (which is probaly not good for their ears anyway) we do not avoid the parks at any time of day and he was always fine. Avoid the attractions stated before and perhaps interactive ones (they require audience participation that can get loud) such as Turtle Talk. You'll be fine.

 

[dijid]

Bring ear plugs. My 6yo is super noise sensitive and wore ear plugs in the parks. It was the only way we could enjoy everything.

 

[Marc A.]

We bought ear plugs for our 3 1/2 year old DD. If you go to a drug store they sell them for kids. She also has swimming plugs to block out some noise.
Hopefully they will help. Fireworks are too big of an event at DW to miss.

 

[webshark3]

Avoid the attractions stated before and perhaps interactive ones (they require audience participation that can get loud) such as Turtle Talk. You'll be fine.

Ok, I see many attractions as subjective as far as noise levels, but turtle talk? If THIS gets too "loud" then WDW should definitely be avoided all together.

 

[eyeheartgoofy]

We bought a pair of those protective ear muffs you see rock star babies wearing at their parents' concerts for our DD3 - the name brand escapes me but I think it starts with a P. We kept them in the backpack and if something was going to be super loud, we just put them on her ears and she was good to go.

We just used them last week for a Labor Day parade and she enjoyed the fire trucks at a few decibals lower than the rest of us.

 

[BayouMouseketeer]

When I took my kids for the first time, they were also 2 and 4. The 2 y/o was absolutely terrified of loud noises and the 4 y/o still to this day has a fear of loud noises and cries when balloons pop, fireworks go off, etc. But, amazingly, at WDW, there was just so much wonder and delight that neither of them seemed bothered by the noise at all! The only problem I ran into as far as noise goes is that DD (who was 2) had been potty trained for about 2 months when we went. But, the toilets there are the "self-flushing" kind and everytime she sat down they would end up flushing and that did scare her! We finally found out (after 3 days of her screaming on the potty!) that if you ask Guest Services, they can point you to a manual flush potty! Personally, I say let them do as much as they are willing and you may see that they handle the noises better than expected. Like I said, mine hated noises at the time, but did perfectly fine. Most of the louder rides my 2 y/o was too short for, anyway!

 

[Erin1700]

We bought a pair of those protective ear muffs you see rock star babies wearing at their parents' concerts for our DD3 - the name brand escapes me but I think it starts with a P. We kept them in the backpack and if something was going to be super loud, we just put them on her ears and she was good to go.

We just used them last week for a Labor Day parade and she enjoyed the fire trucks at a few decibals lower than the rest of us.

Could I use them for a 10 month old? Are they expensive?

 

[NemoMOm]

Ok, I see many attractions as subjective as far as noise levels, but turtle talk? If THIS gets too "loud" then WDW should definitely be avoided all together.

If you notice I said that the audience particpation gets too loud. Since my 18 mos became scared of the shouting audience I think it's fair to warn the op since she did ask for advice. As far as avoiding WDW that is ridiculous. Though DS is no longer scared of loud noises we have been 4x and next mos will the 5th, we have an amazing vacation every time. If we prefer to skip things that scare our children then so be it. We don't disrupt others and do not scare our children. Sounds like a win/win situation to me.

 

[teresajoy]

Lydia has just started enjoying fireworks, this past trip(at 4). Although, she tried to talk herself into it every time. I've seen fireworks, it isn't worth it to me to terrify my child so I can see them again. When she was three, she was convinced she wanted to watch them, but she got so scared (terrified) we ducked into one of the restaurants. Actually, the one we ducked into happened to be the Norway one, and there were princesses everywhere, it was pretty cool! She was wearing earplugs that year, but it was just too loud.

 

[amyhughes]

My DS#1 jumps alot at loud noises, fireworks, shouting, everything.

Some tips I have found that work really well for these kiddos while touring:

Take some Post-Its to use to cover the toilet sensors while your child is in there. The toilets are REALLY loud. Take it from someone who had to check them on occassion! If your child can hold their bladder for a bit, scout out where the Babycare centers are in each park, they have smaller toilets that aren't quite as loud, more like the ones in school!

For Wishes you can watch the Fireworks at several locations around the 7 Seas Lagoon (and I think have a better show sans crowds!) The dock at the Poly, Narcosse's at GF, The California Grill both of those locations will pipe the music in, and the dock at the Poly will have it on the speakers but faintly. There is also a balcony at the Contemporary that you can ask any CM about and they can point you to it for a wonderful view!

The 4-D shows can get a bit aggressive for my eldest as well, so we covered his ears or had him do this and keep on his glasses and the muffling was just enough to help him. He got scared a couple of times but I think it was more from the special effects than the noises in those cases.

You can take ear plugs for your child and they make some with a vinyl cord attached to both so he can hang them around his neck while just walking, plus it makes it easier to PULL out!

We did not find Turtle Talk to be Loud at all. In fact our sons were both yelling with the best of them. I think it is more the SPEAKER and BOOM sounds that really get to them. Childrens voices they are naturally used to especially if they are in school, day care, or preschool during the day.

Hope this helps and your family has a wonderful time!

 

[jcc0621]

My DS is 4 and has been sensitive to noise since he had tubes put in when he was around 1 1/2. He too always covers his ears when he thinks thing will be too loud. We missed alot of things on last years trip becasue of the noise (fireworks) but this year we brought ear plugs with us and he wore them on everything and did not cover his ears once We used the wax type that mold over the ear instead of going into the ear. This was the kind that was recommended by his ENT. Good luck and have a great trip

 

[teresajoy]

My DS is 4 and has been sensitive to noise since he had tubes put in when he was around 1 1/2. He too always covers his ears when he thinks thing will be too loud. We missed alot of things on last years trip becasue of the noise (fireworks) but this year we brought ear plugs with us and he wore them on everything and did not cover his ears once We used the wax type that mold over the ear instead of going into the ear. This was the kind that was recommended by his ENT. Good luck and have a great trip

I think that has been Lyddy's problem too. It started when she got the tubes put in at 1 1/2 as well. Although, it was certainly worth the trade off! She is 4 now too, and it has gotten a lot better.

 

[eyeheartgoofy]

Could I use them for a 10 month old? Are they expensive?

I found them - the brand is Peltor. Yes, you can use them for a baby. I want to say that I paid around $15-20 for them. I found them on an online store.

 

[workinmomof2]

Another vote for the ear muffs!!! My oldest DS was constantly keeping his hands over his ears when things got loud. I did not realize how bad it was for him until we went to see Thomas the Tank Engine on stage in April. The whistle sound was the worst for him. I kept asking him if he wanted to leave. He kept his hands over his ear and kept shaking his head no. That night I looked online and purchased him ear muffs. Mine are Peltor too. I was able to buy a package of two small at a lesser rate than if I purchased them separately. My little guy has to have everything that his BB has. They have been great for my oldest. He will even vacuum now when before he would run from the room. The pairs I bought were an adult small/child size. They are adjustable. My little guy is quite small only about 22 pounds and they fit him fine. I think they would work fine on a 10 month old. I have tried them on. The sounds are extremely muffled. The child can still hear but they have to be looking at you to know that you are talking to them. At least in the experience with my kids. I know it could not be that they are just ignoring me.

 

[wildzootv]

we did ear plugs for our little guy too. Worked well as well as telling him in advance that there were going to be loud noises, and gave him a cue to give us and we knew to cover his ears when it was too much.

 

[3boyzmom]

Hi,

I have one son who is sensitive to noise. He's 6 and only now can enjoy fireworks. On our last trip, he and my younger son both found the Lights! Motors! Action! show in Disney Studios extremely loud ( because it is extremely loud!). I was surprised however that they both HATED the Rainforest Cafe - it was too loud for them.