Is It Safe to Take Your Baby to a Concert? Here's What Experts Say
It wasn't as viral a moment as the Coldplay kiss cam fiasco, but at a recent Maluma concert in Mexico City, the artist made headlines for something other than his music.
ICYMI, Maluma stopped the show to call out a parent who brought a baby along for the night. Per USA Today, he addressed the fan in Spanish, saying, "Do you think it's a good idea to bring a 1-year-old baby to a concert where the decibels are through the...roof, where the sound is blasting?"
Maluma then advised the parent to protect the child's ears—or better yet, not bring the little one at all. "I say this with all care and with all respect, since I'm a dad. I would never have brought a 1-year-old to a concert. So next time, be a bit more mindful, OK?"
This particular encounter follows another controversial moment involving a kiddo at a concert. Earlier this month, Dominic Fike brought his baby—who, unlike the child at the Maluma show, was wearing headphones—on stage at Lollapalooza (more on whether headphones do enough to protect babies' ears in a moment).
And these two mini-fans aren't the first babies to attend a concert. Who could forget the parent who brought their baby to nap on the floor at a Taylor Swift show last year?
These instances leave a parent like me to wonder whether it's safe to bring a baby to a concert at all. Because a certain someone may be looking to buy tickets to a certain Jake Owen concert in the near future. In question as I plan the evening: Should this be a night out among adults, or a family affair?
Not a Myth: Concerts Can Lead to Hearing Damage in Babies
It looks like I'll be hiring a sitter, since experts side with Maluma, and warn that a baby's hearing can indeed be permanently damaged from exposure to very loud music—and concerts certainly get very loud.
According to Abhita Reddy, MD, board-certified pediatric ENT/Otolaryngologist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, a gig like Maluma's can reach 90 to 120 decibels, depending on the type of music, size of venue, and a person's distance from the speakers, among other factors.
She cautions that when sound reaches 90 to 95 decibels, a child's hearing can be impacted even if they are exposed for a short period of time. 'We do not recommend any prolonged...exposure for anything over 95 decibels, as even a few minutes of exposure can cause permanent hearing loss,' Dr. Reddy tells Parents.
The potential risks of a night out with your tot are serious, and not only include permanent hearing loss, but the potential for increased sound sensitivity, and ringing in the ears.
As a general guideline, you should not expose your baby's ears to a noise level of over 70 decibels, or about what a vacuum cleaner would emit, according to pediatrician Michael Glazier, MD, chief medical officer for Bluebird Kids Health based in Jacksonville.
What About Noise-Reducing Headphones and Other Safety Precautions?
Of course, we've all seen babies wearing noise-reducing headphones like those that Fike's little one sported at the music festival. I'm recalling Michael Phelps' son donning a cute pair at the Olympic Games years ago, too.
But there are some important things to know about headphones for future music and sporting event fans. First, if you decide to purchase a pair for your child, Dr. Reddy recommends looking for the over-ear kind that feature sound reduction of 20 to 30 decibels. Minimuffs is a brand to consider as it is sometimes used in neonatal intensive care units, according to Dr. Glazier.
'It is important to note ear protectors decrease the decibel level of noise exposure, but do not eliminate it,' he cautions. Dr. Reddy further notes that noise-reducing headphones are not well-regulated.
Meanwhile, she recommends that parents who opt to bring a baby or small child to a concert not only outfit a baby with headphones, but be sure to download an app to their phones that checks sound levels in decibels from their seats.
So...Are Concerts Safe For Babies?
Ultimately, Dr. Glazier says taking a baby to a concert is not a good idea as your baby's ears are sensitive, and a still-developing auditory system can be permanently damaged.
'Overall, taking small children to large concerts is not recommended given the lack of regulation surrounding sound standards at different venues,' Dr. Reddy concurs.
Beyond the concerns over hearing loss, parents should consider other risks of toting a small child to a concert, such as secondhand smoke exposure and that attendees could be intoxicated, leading to an increased risk of an accident.
As far as when you should take a child to a concert, Dr. Glazier recommends that this rite of passage be saved for a time that they are mature enough to handle the excitement—and noise.
Read the original article on Parents
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