Eleven reasons your child needs Banz earmuffs

 

As a parent, you may be unaware of the advantages of Banz earmuffs for children. It may come as a surprise that there are in fact eleven reasons your child needs them. The experts at Banz New Zealand have been kind enough to share their blog with us so that we can gain a better understanding of why earmuffs are so important. I invite you to take a look - it is truly enlightening.

 

Have you thought about hearing damage?

 

Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) accumulates and can't be reversed, and even a single loud event can cause damage. According to the National Foundation for the Deaf in New Zealand, if it sounds too loud, it probably is too loud. Children have more sensitive hearing than adults due to their thinner skull bones and undamaged ears; what is loud to adults is often excruciatingly loud to them. Banz earmuffs are an ideal way to protect children's delicate hearing.

 

What’s so great about Banz earmuffs?

 

Banz earmuffs boast a powerful Noise Reduction Rate of 31 decibels, granting them a Class 4 rating, which is just one scalp below industrial-strength earmuffs. Furthermore, they are compliant with all applicable international standards. It's important to note that Banz earmuffs do not muffle sound completely, so your child will still be able to hear you. This is a great feature for parents whose kids often choose to ignore them!

 

A note on using ear plugs for children: ear plugs are often too big for a child’s small ear canal. If they’re cut down, they still may not fit the canal properly and allow noise through. Also, those pretty-coloured ear plugs are a real choking hazard!

So, lets cut to the chase….

When should babies and kids be wearing hearing protection? 

1. Flying: The noise of take-off may upset some young children, so hearing protection is recommended.

In an airplane cabin, noise levels can be disruptive for children unfamiliar with the confined and strange situation. Banz earmuffs help them create a quieter, more comfortable experience, allowing them to sleep in peace.

 

Come fly with me! Happy on the plane in Banz earmuffs

2. Fireworks: Backyard fireworks at Guy Fawkes are a Kiwi tradition. But is it worth risking your children’s hearing for a few pretty sparkles?

In recent years, the intensity of explosive sounds from fireworks has grown, even after certain types of fireworks have been prohibited for a number of years. This is especially true for professionally organized displays, which tend to launch fireworks higher in the sky and generate a louder sound when the explosions reach the ground. To protect your child, earmuffs are essential.

 

 

Fireworks’ loud bangs mean your kids need hearing protection

3. Motorsport: High-decibel noises from engines, screeching tires, and car crashes can be enjoyable for the family, however it is much too loud for your child's hearing. Race officials are known for wearing hearing protection at motor racing events, emphasizing the importance of ear protection for children.

 4. Working with tools/ home renos: If you have the builders in – or are doing the job yourself – then you’ll be surrounded by noise while the job’s underway. The professionals wear hearing protection and everyone around them should too – especially kids!

This includes the times when they’re helping Mum or Dad in the workshop.

5. Loud events: 

When we take our kids to events like festivals, concerts, and airshows where sound levels can't be controlled, wearing hearing protection is a wise precaution. At seated concerts, we can't move away from potential loud noise, even from popular children's entertainment acts. In large venues, the roar of the crowd can quickly add to the high decibels. On online forums, many parents have shared stories of their children covering ears out of distress caused by excessive sound.

 

6. Movies: We love to take the kids to the movies, but the soundtrack may be set at ear-damaging levels.

Movie theaters can reach sound levels as high as 98 decibels, comparable to the noise of a passing train or an airplane taking off. The average volume of dialogue in movies is said to be 85 decibels, yet New York’s Children’s Hearing Institute suggests kids not be exposed to sound above 80 decibels (the level of city street traffic). Kit Frank, an audiologist in the U.S., encourages parents to keep noise levels at 85 decibels or lower. Above this, “there’s a potential for hearing damage” for both adults and children.

 

But surely, movies aimed at kids are quieter? Not necessarily. Storks, an 2016 animated feature for kids, hit a peak of 99.3 decibels. Another occasion for Banz earmuffs!

7. Childcare centers: 

Due to the high levels of noise in pre-schools, the National Foundation for the Deaf in New Zealand has created the Safe Sound Indicator – a traffic-light system – to signal when noise levels become a concern. To help protect children from sound overwhelm, Banz earmuffs can be used to reduce the volume. The carpentry table is an ideal opportunity to model this safety practice, and many pre-schools have already implemented Banz earmuffs – why not suggest it to the management at your centre?

 

8. On the farm: Loud machinery can be extremely damaging to hearing - especially for young ears. Parents working on the farm likely make sure to protect their hearing, yet if their children come across noisy equipment such as chainsaws, tractors, weed-eaters and the like, bear in mind it's just as important to keep their little ones safe. Unbeknown to some, animals can be incredibly loud too, with a squealing pig emitting a sound just like that of a snowmobile’s engine. Banz earmuffs are widely used in New Zealand's rural communities for good reason!

9. Noise-sensitive children: Some children are more sensitive to loud noise and overstimulation than others. Wearing Banz earmuffs in triggering situations allows a child the chance to regroup by dulling down the external stimulation – many customers have described their child’s Banz earmuffs as “a life saver”. Children with autism and sensory processing disorder find Banz earmuffs particularly useful.

10. At home: Protect your child from unbearable noises! Give them a set of Banz earmuffs and watch them smile, even when your vacuum cleaner is on full blast. Maintain your musical practices without exposing your child to any potential harm from unpleasant sounds.

11. Sports: Cheers and jeers! We may love a rousing good game, but the sheer volume of the crowd can be overwhelming for the wee ones. Not to mention harmfully loud - sound levels measured in stadiums can be as high as a jet engine lifting off *again and again and again*. Shield their ears with Banz earmuffs and make sure the team is fully supported!

 

Yes! My ears are comfy and my team’s winning!

So, where will your children wear their Banz earmuffs? Comment and tell us! And you just may win a prize!