Noises

So what is too loud for a baby or infant? I go by the singing-in-the-car rule. If you have the radio on in the car and have to raise your voice to be heard by someone in the passenger seat, then it is probably too loud for little Janey. 

The crazy thing is that so many little kids’ toys make noises, loud noises for that matter, especially electronic ones. So do your best to keep these noise-making high-tech gadgets away from baby’s ears. At least always have them on the lowest possible volume setting. There are some nifty sound level meter apps that will give you a close estimate of how loud a toy is. If the toy meets or exceeds 85 dB around 25 cm (about 10 inches) away from the microphone, consider choosing a quieter toy. If your child already has a loud toy, a layer of duct tape can be placed over the microphone to muffle the sound.

If you are planning on taking your toddler or baby to a concert, then make sure you get baby earmuffs that fit snuggly on baby’s head to help protect their ears. Earplugs are not recommended for infants, toddlers, or young children.