Football is really loud -- and loud is a good thing.
That may sound strange coming from a hearing protection advocate like me, but to be honest, the need for noise is just a part of being human. We love loud things: whether it's fireworks or thunderstorms, a rock concert or a symphony orchestra, or the Olympics or a football game, loud events touch something deep inside us -- capturing our attention, making our hearts beat faster, and ultimately drawing us in. The power of a roaring crowd affects us all. Whether we're drawn to a Blue Angels show or a political rally, a Wagner opera or a NASCAR race, humans simply have a need to be a part of loud events (whether they're good for us or not). And while I spend a lot of time talking about the hazards of loud noises, the ultimate goal of hearing protection is not about avoiding loud things -- it's about finding a way to enjoy all that sound and fury safely.
But for infants and children, loud is not such a good thing. Loud can be terrifying, upsetting, or just plain painful, both physically and emotionally. What seems like thrilling fun to you and me might be a whole world of hurt for a baby or toddler. When you're little, every part of the world is big, and new, and full of exciting sights and sounds... all of which can quickly become overwhelming. So child hearing protection isn't just critical for preventing noise-induced hearing loss (which is permanent) from an early age -- it's also important for a child's sense of security and safety.
So let's bring all this back to football: for families headed to a football game, ear muffs for babies and children are an absolute must. Infants, toddlers, and young children all need hearing protection at games -- and this is true whether you're going to a huge NFL stadium or a small local high-school field!
So to help you pick, here are some of our most popular and effective ear muffs for babies and children:
If you need help choosing the right ear muffs for your kids, try our interactive Child Ear Muff Comparison Chart -- and don't be afraid to give us a call or shoot us an email, we are here to help!
At the end of the day, the ability to hear is a precious asset; sound is a rich, wonderful, and powerful part of the human experience; and by investing as early as possible in baby ear muffs or other child hearing protectors, you can help your child grow up ready to enjoy a lifetime of good hearing -- including the opportunity to fully experience all those heart-pounding, mesmerizing, loud things we humans love so dearly.
Including football games.
But prepare yourselves, all you die-hard sports-loving parents, because child hearing protection does have one potential drawback: with a good pair of baby ear muffs on, your tiny little sports fan in the making may snooze right through his or her very first football game. But then, that might not be such a bad thing, either.
Until next time, be safe and do the right thing.
--Tom Bergman, Marketing Director
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