noise cancelling headsets and children

[Roxanne]

I recently (23 February) flew Dubai to Sydney (EK0412). Although we had some departure delays ex. Dubai, I had no issues with the standard of flight or flight crew. However in 31 years of international travel experience, this was the worst flight ever!. I was seated in economy 55G. Three toddlers who set up a rotational crying programme made it impossible to sleep. I was using my standard industrial strength earplugs - used annually at Formula One races - however these did not block any of their noise. Since I had a 'visual' with two of the toddlers and their parents I quickly realised that both children were teething. I am assuming that the other toddler located two rows behind just wanted to join in. Are there any recommendations for Noise Cancelling Headsets that would actually block this sort of noise? I have never needed any 'sleep assistance' when flying and actually have always managed several hours which have allowed me to arrive at Immigration in any country with some sense of reasonable attitude towards the relevant Immigration staff. This was very difficult this time - which I will raise in another discussion. Many thanks for any suggstions.

 

[bryanjones]

they may dull the noise a bit, but to be honest - once you have the baby crying noise in your head, the background noise of the engines etc will go away and the baby noise will be very loud.

 

[dodgeyhack]

Your best bet would be 'in ear noise isolating earphones'. Google that phrase and you'll see what I mean.
These block all types of noise as they plug your ear canal. The good ones come with a variety of tips so you can pick the one that fits best and gives a good seal.
You should be able to get a reduction of around 25dB

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Ear drops block out a lot of noise so may help you sleep better. Those silicon ear plugs you get at F1GPs which look like clear putty may help or even use that with NC headsets such as Bose QC25's. You can't tell where screaming kids are going to be on a plane but I always avoid sitting anywhere near the bassinet rows as chances are there will be infants in them.

 

[Awesom Andy]

A small bottle of rum/vodka for the crying babies should solve the problem.

 

[exceladdict]

they may dull the noise a bit, but to be honest - once you have the baby crying noise in your head, the background noise of the engines etc will go away and the baby noise will be very loud.

The problem is that, no matter how much we dislike young children, our ears are best tuned to hear people speak (or put the other way, our voices land in the most sensitive spectrum of our hearing range).

Those silicon ear plugs you get at F1GPs which look like clear putty may help or even use that with NC headsets such as Bose QC25's.

My wife and I stand by silicone earplugs for loud music, etc. I also have a set of musician's plugs (drummer). If I remember the audiologist correctly, 'lower frequencies (bass) gets in through smaller gaps, higher frequencies through bigger gaps'. So the perfect seal of silicone earplugs would help as crying baby comes in around 3500hz.

Musician's plugs typically cut the high to top end and are basically an expensive version of the silicone plugs that don't completely muffle your mids (1000-5000hz) so they won't help.

QC15/20/25s will do great for the plane noise/rumble but not so much for sporadic noise or whirring (think the take off on an A319/320). Noise cancelling headsets work best on constant, low frequencies. In my experience they do help a bit but given our natural sensitivity to baby cry, it might not be worth $400 specifically for that (I'd argue it's worth $400 just for the plane noise cancellation though).

You can't tell where screaming kids are going to be on a plane but I always avoid sitting anywhere near the bassinet rows as chances are there will be infants in them.

A lot of people on this forum love the top Y cabin on the QF A380. My only experience of it was with three crying toddlers and some other poorly behaved children similar to OP's. No matter where the bassinet sign is, you never know who will bring kids on board

 

[exceladdict]

A small bottle of rum/vodka for the crying babies should solve the problem.

For the babies or for the OP?

I remember an ad from the early 1900s about some 'baby tonic' to stop cries - it was effectively alcohol!

 

[jellybelly]

A small bottle of rum/vodka for the crying babies should solve the problem.

And a large bottle for those wanting to block out the noise!

 

[Sprucegoose]

A baby's cry is designed (by nature) to attract attention!!

 

[nonpop]

And a large bottle for those wanting to block out the noise!

As a baby we got the fingers dipped in Vodka and run around the gums.
This was done a couple of times to soothe us if we were extra vocal. Was apparently very effective during teething.

And has had no ill effects at all. I only drink Champagne in the morning and wont touch Vodka until at least 12pm.

 

[Alanslegal]

As a baby we got the fingers dipped in Vodka and run around the gums.
This was done a couple of times to soothe us if we were extra vocal. Was apparently very effective during teething.

And has had no ill effects at all. I only drink Champagne in the morning and wont touch Vodka until at least 12pm.

Couldn't use vodka in this day of age ..... we're a nanny state

 

[nonpop]

Couldn't use vodka in this day of age ..... we're a nanny state

You are correct ... would need to be Bundy Rum to support the local economy :shock:

 

[TomVexille]

You are correct ... would need to be Bundy Rum to support the local economy :shock:

Talk about cruel and unusual

 

[esseeeayeenn]

I've been amazed at the number of crying babies and toddlers on flights I've taken recently, especially during take off and landing.
A lot of parents seem unaware of the benefit of giving them something to suck or chew on to help their ears compensate for the change in air pressure.
A lot also seem to consider a crying child as an inevitability with which you must simply put up - not a problem which can be resolved with some effort and attention.

 

[harvyk]

I've been amazed at the number of crying babies and toddlers on flights I've taken recently, especially during take off and landing.
A lot of parents seem unaware of the benefit of giving them something to suck or chew on to help their ears compensate for the change in air pressure.
A lot also seem to consider a crying child as an inevitability with which you must simply put up - not a problem which can be resolved with some effort and attention.

Please impart as much of your knowledge and first hand experience you have about the subject of preventing small children from crying on planes.

/sarcasm


There are very few parents whom take their kids flying whom don't do some degree of research first. First lets get something straight, kids are kids, not small adults. Small children don't always respond the way society wants and since each child is unique in their wants needs and desires they don't always go the way textbooks (or parenting experts) say they will. Sometimes other factors come into play. I once had my daughter burst into tears on a plane, turned out all she wanted was a cup not a bottle of water. For that entire half an hour we where offering everything from favourite toys to food to a bottle of water, but it wasn't in a cup. Sure enough we got the evil glares from other pax whilst we were trying everything, and whilst looking after the other kids.

Ultimately you're on public transport, if you don't want kids on your plane hire a private jet.

Sorry if I've gone a bit ranty, but I've lost count of the amount of advice I've seen from self proclaimed experts whom are never willing to come around at 3am to take care of a crying child so I can get some sleep.

 

[Hvr]

Couldn't use vodka in this day of age ..... we're a nanny state

Then the nanny can look after the children.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

Please impart as much of your knowledge and first hand experience you have about the subject of preventing small children from crying on planes.

/sarcasm

I have three children. I flew from Perth to Dublin with two of them, via Bangkok and London, when the eldest was a few days under 2 years old and her younger brother was a few days under 1 year old.
And back by the same route four weeks or so later.

But by all means rant away.

 

[harvyk]

I have three children. I flew from Perth to Dublin with two of them, via Bangkok and London, when the eldest was a few days under 2 years old and her younger brother was a few days under 1 year old.
And back by the same route four weeks or so later.

But by all means rant away.

Father of 4 inc twins. All 4 have been on many flights from pretty much a few months old onwards, from things as short as CBR-BNE to things as long as transpacs, all with at least one or more kids 2 and under.

My previous comments stand please impart your knowledge, or better still don't. One of the things I've learned in my travels is that with limited exception, most parents are always trying the best they can, all kids are different, and helpful advice / criticism of other parents will never win you friends.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

My comments were very specifically directed at parents who don't try.

 

[harvyk]

My comments were very specifically directed at parents who don't try.

It's still a very difficult judgement to make. Just because something is what you or I would try doesn't mean it's appropriate or works for all children. Just because a parent is sitting there seemingly doing nothing you don't really know what is actually going on.

Snipping at other parents actions or in-actions is certainly a very popular past time. Yes it suxs to be on a plane with a screaming kid, it suxs even more to be the parent of that screaming kid, and it suxs even more to have "helpful strangers" come up and give unsolicited advice.

My own personal policy is to never judge what a parent is doing, regardless of whether I think it's right or wrong. As you would know being a parent is about the hardest job there is, it's a job of trial and error, it's a 24 x 7 x 365 job for 20 years, which you can't quit. You don't get holidays (even official holidays are no holidays if the kids come along), and really provided the kids are kept safe and turn into productive members of society it's no one else's business but your own on how you decide to carry out that job.

So to take this back on topic, since the OP seemed to have the right attitude, but nope can't recommend a good set of noise cancellers.