July 4th Fireworks with 2 month old

[mom2happy]

I told my husband that he will have to take my 5 and 7 yr old to the fireworks by himself this year and Ill be staying home with the baby.
He thinks Im being too nervous about it and that we should all go.
Im worried about her little ears and nervous system.
Am I right or wrong about this?

[Bokonon]

My baby was 2 months old for last year's fireworks, and I didn't bring her because it would be too loud, too crowded, and too late for her to be up (she has always been a high-needs baby and a disruption to bedtime like that would have been disastrous).

I'm sure you wouldn't be the first person to take their infant to a fireworks display, but the best case scenario is that she sleeps through it, and the worst case scenario is that it hurts her ears, scares her, and she screams through the whole thing. It's not a gamble I was willing to take, so I completely understand your hesitation!

[Nicole730]

It would depend on the temperment of your DD. My daughter will be present for fireworks this year, she'll be 4 months. I took DS to some when he was 3 months and 4 months, he just snoozed/nursed through them. I figured if he got upset we would just walk back to the car.

[zinemama]

I think you are right. I wouldn't subject the ears of a 2mo to that much loud, constant noise.

[harli]

When my son was just a few months old we lived the the property next to where our town set off their major fireworks display. We had just relocated and our only friends at that point in the area were neighbors so there was no getting away from the noise. Granted ds was always pretty laid back but he slept right through it.

[snoopy5386]

We got DD kid noise blocking earphones. They work great for exactly this type of thing.

[lifeguard]

It would fully depend on how far I was going to be from the fireworks.

We brought ds to a New Year's party when he was 2 months old. In Costa Rica (where we were living at the time) there are major fireworks everywhere that night. Ds slept through it all, but we were up a mountain & not particularly close to where any of them were actually being set up.

You can be quite far away & still enjoy the show.

[busymama77]

Originally Posted by lifeguard

It would fully depend on how far I was going to be from the fireworks.
We brought ds to a New Year's party when he was 2 months old. In Costa Rica (where we were living at the time) there are major fireworks everywhere that night. Ds slept through it all, but we were up a mountain & not particularly close to where any of them were actually being set up.

You can be quite far away & still enjoy the show.

I agree. We've reschedule our usual 4th of July firework plans this year due to the fact that where we go to see the fireworks, they shoot up right over you and they are really loud.
We're headed to a baseball field at a nearby school/church to watch the fireworks that are at least 2 miles away and you won't be able to hear them. Not only for my 4mo's old ears, but my 4.5 year old's ears - he's not a huge fan either.

[philomom]

We see our fireworks indoors from a skyscraper nearby. The noise is not nearly as booming and no crowds to shuffle through.


But yeah, I think a tiny babe should skip the traditional stuff.

[Knitting Mama]

We're probably going to be at my SIL's house, near where the fireworks are going off, but Cecilia doesn't like being in the dark, even when being held, so I think she and I will stay inside while the rest of the folks go look.

[rlmueller]

I'd go. Low needs chilled out kind of baby girl though.

[SilverFish]

we took our 3 month old to the summer fireworks in downtown montreal. they were literally the loudest fireworks i've heard in a while, but she was pretty unimpressed by them. spent most of the time nursing or gnawing on her hands. it was totally not a big deal. we didn't go super super close because we wanted to be able to get to the car if necessary, but i think we'll go again and actually go to a better vantage point since she was so chill.

[Asiago]

I have an 8 month old and am going to ask my pediatrician tomorrow if it's safe to take him or not to the fireworks. My gut is telling me not to attend the display this weekend. I have been searching for information and it seems babies can suffer hearing loss. This is one of the articles:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/02/health/02baby.html

[Knitting Mama]

Originally Posted by Cecilia's Mama

We're probably going to be at my SIL's house, near where the fireworks are going off, but Cecilia doesn't like being in the dark, even when being held, so I think she and I will stay inside while the rest of the folks go look.

After much discussion, my husband and I decided we're not going to go to SIL's Saturday. One, Cecilia still doesn't like the car most of the time, and it's an hour ride in each direction. Two, she's afraid of the dark, so the return trip would be hell. That ties into Three, she's only 3 months old and I am positive the loud noises plus the darkness with fireworks will scare her. And finally, Four, it will be way past her bedtime and she'll be cranky on top of being scared and pissed about being in the car. No thank you!

Of course, the in-laws aren't thrilled with this, since they take everything as a slight...but I make the best choices I can for my baby and put everyone else's needs second.

[CookAMH]

I don't think it's so much a matter of hurting the ears (ie too many decibels) as it being an unpleasant environment for such a small baby. I would probably stay home too!

[rhiOrion]

I haven't thought about it much yet. But we have a pair of the Peltor Kid's ear muffs that work well.