Diwali is a time of pretty lights, sweets and get-togethers with your loved ones. It is undoubtedly one of the grandest festivals celebrated in our country with almost everyone participating in the festivities. However, Diwali can be an extremely stressful time for your baby with all the air and noise pollution surrounding him. As parents, it is your duty to protect your baby's ears from crackers during Diwali.

Despite several attempts to ban firecrackers, especially the noisy ones, they are still a part of Diwali celebrations. These firecrackers are very stressful for your baby and can also be the cause of several health issues, particularly related to your baby’s ears. So, make sure you protect your baby's ears from crackers during Diwali. Here are some tips on how you can have a happy and safe Diwali. Also read: 7 Effective Ways To Protect Your Kids from Dangers of Pollution

Why are firecrackers harmful to babies?

When we speak, the sound that we produce measures at about 60 decibels. For the human ear, up to about 80 decibels of sound is tolerable. When any sound goes up to 120 decibels, it can cause physical pain. The firecrackers that we use as part of Diwali celebrations can produce sounds of up to 150-180 decibels that can negatively affect our hearing. Here, we are talking about adults, so you can only imagine how painful this is for the sensitive ears of your baby. If the ears of your baby are not protected, it can lead to temporary or even permanent hearing loss. When babies are exposed to extremely loud noise, the symptoms experienced are as follows:

• Ringing of the ears
• Feeling of immense pressure in the ears
• Buzzing and crackling sounds in the ears.

When your baby experiences these symptoms, he or she will cry, scratch the ears or even pull at them. But before your baby actually experiences these symptoms, it is a good idea to take necessary precautions. Also read: Delhi Pollution : How badly are your kids affected?

How to protect your baby’s ears from crackers during Diwali

It is possible to keep your baby safe from the sound of firecrackers with a few simple precautionary measures such as:

#1. Staying indoors with doors closed

The best option is to stay away from the noise and keeping the baby indoors. Make sure that all the doors and windows are closed when the fireworks are going off to muffle the sound that they produce. It is also a good idea to keep your baby in a room where the sounds are least heard. You may have to use the air conditioning if possible to make sure that your baby is comfortable. However, since Diwali is celebrated in the colder months, your baby is less likely to get too warm.

#2. Using baby ear muffs

Baby earmuffs are available online for you to keep your baby’s ears safe from the sound. In case you are unable to find these ear muffs, you also have the option of using cotton or a thicker fabric to wrap around your baby’s ears to keep the ears from getting affected by the sound. This is one of the easiest ways to protect your baby's ears from crackers during Diwali.

#3. Avoiding loud fireworks

If you choose to burn firecrackers, it is a good idea to use the ones that only produce light and sparks instead of the ones that create a lot of sound. You also have the option of low decibel fireworks like fountains, aerial fireworks and sparklers that are just as fun and a lot less noisy.

#4. Keeping your baby at a safe distance from fireworks

Every street or apartment block has a spot where the crackers are burnt normally. If you have a dedicated area like this where you live, keep your baby as far away from this area as possible. If not, as mentioned before, choose a spot in your home where the baby is less likely to hear these sounds. Also read: How To Clean Earwax From Baby’s Ears

#5. Ensuring that baby is well rested

Anxiety is one of the biggest issues with respect to Diwali. Your baby will feel the stress of the fireworks even more if he or she is not well rested. Plan well in advance and make sure that your baby is well rested and fed before the peak time of fireworks during the day. That way, your baby will not be as cranky and uncomfortable. Also make sure that your feeding time is over before people begin to light crackers so that you do not have to worry about your baby being too anxious to even eat. Also read: 7 Tips to prevent and treat ear ache in children while travelling in flight

#6. Taking a holiday

If you can take the time off, it is a good idea to book a holiday in one of those resorts that are tucked away in remote areas. There will be no firecrackers to bother your baby and you will also be able to enjoy a great holiday with all your loved ones. It is the perfect excuse to pack your bags and get some time off for yourself as well. We hope that these tips help you to protect your baby's ears from crackers during Diwali. Here is wishing you a very happy, safe and prosperous Diwali. Want to share your experience as a mom with other moms through words or images? Become a part of the Moms United community. Click here and we will get in touch with you

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