How to Manage Noisy Fireworks While Keeping Your Baby’s Sleep
Barbecues are going, the temperature is rising, neighborhood firecrackers are already starting to explode… yep, here it comes: the Fourth of July holiday weekend.
Although it's going to look a lot different this year without the big firework displays, that's not to say that your neighborhood pyro isn't going to put on their own show.
Let's face it: it's probably guaranteed that somebody in your neighborhood or maybe a family member is going to be letting off fireworks on the Fourth of July. (Let’s just hope they’re over by midnight…)
If you have a baby, I'm sure that you're already starting to feel the anxiety. “Will my baby sleep through all the noise??” Concerned parents, I hear you and I am here for you!
Here are 5 tips for helping your baby sleep through the Fourth of July fireworks.
Tip #1: Don't Worry — they may not even notice!
I know — easier said than done — but chances are, your baby's not even going to wake up! The first half of the night (before midnight), your child is in a deep sleep. I bet you they're not going to hear a thing — and you're not even going to hear a peep out of your baby. So let's cross our fingers and toes that the fireworks stop before midnight!
Tip #2: Use a Sound Machine
Sound machines can help your baby sleep and can drown out or mask the sound of fireworks.
Chances are, you already have one. If you do, I recommend turning it up slightly. But make sure you're not turning it up so loud as to harm your child's hearing. The recommendation is no louder than 50 decibels. You can actually download a decibel reader app on your phone to test the volume in advance. I recommend playing around with the volume the day before — this way you can ensure how loud you can turn your sound machine up safely. Then you can drown out those fireworks without posing a hazard to your child's hearing.
If you don't already have a sound machine, what are you waiting for? Go out and get one ASAP and start using it! Use it in advance so that your child can get used to the sound before the weekend. I recommend buying a sound machine that offers brown noise, like the Lectrofan Kinder. Brown noise is more soothing, while white noise is not very relaxing and can actually cause sleep disruptions. Brown noise: running river. White noise: static-filled unused radio station. I happen to have done a bit of research on a few, here are some of my favorites sound machines for babies→
Tip #3: Have Patience
It may take a little time for your baby to fall back asleep — that’s ok!
If your baby wakes up, give them a minute — they may fall back to sleep. I would wait at least 2 minutes, if not up to 10. Research shows that it can take a baby 12 minutes, on average, to fall back to sleep if they wake up in the night. So give your baby some space to self-settle, because as soon as you go into that room, you're going to provide even more stimulation.
Tip #4: Use Your Skills
Put your sleep training skills to work!
If your baby doesn’t fall back asleep on their own after 5-10 minutes, go ahead and treat the situation as a night waking. Perhaps pick up your baby, calm them, put them back down, and then leave the room. Continue to use whatever method you prefer to typically handle night wakings. Still wondering what that’s all about? Here’s a refresher on sleep training methods for getting your baby to sleep through the night→
Tip #5: Take a Break
A little bit of love goes a long way.
If your baby is having a hard time falling back asleep, it’s okay to take a break. Take your baby out of their crib, go somewhere in the house that is relatively quiet and keep the lights dim. Then love on your baby for a good 15 minutes. Maybe rock your baby a little bit, walk around the house, sing to your baby, read a couple of stories, even feed if necessary. After 15 minutes, go back into your baby's room and repeat the last couple steps of the bedtime routine (i.e. perhaps change baby’s diaper, read a book or two, then back into the crib).
Time to rest...
I hope these 5 tips help to ease your concerns going into the big holiday weekend. You can rest easy knowing that you have a plan so those fireworks don't get in the way of your little firecracker's rest.
If you're interested in learning more about working with me or my team of talented mamas, you can schedule a 15-minute Discovery Call — free of charge, no strings attached! You can also view a list of frequently asked questions for sleep training here→ and access articles on sleep training and more tips on helping your baby sleep through the night here→
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Sweet Dreams…
Kelly Murray is a certified sleep coach and an award-winning pediatric sleep consultant based in Chicago offering sleep coaching services nationwide.
