how loud is too loud?

nycmommy13

My SIL is getting married and asked our LO to be the ring bearer. He'll be 10 months and pulled in a wagon down the aisle. It'll be an outdoor wedding. My husband and I are musicians and playing most of the music for the ceremony but SIL is using bagpipes for when she walks down the aisle and for the recessional. I'm wondering if that'll be too loud for LO, considering he'll probably be within 10-20 feet of the bagpipes. My husband and I are planning on playing recordings of bagpipes for LO prior to the wedding in the hopes that the harsh sound won't startle him and make him cry. But is the volume too much? Should we look into ear plugs? I'm not even sure where to get ear plugs small enough for a baby that would stay in and not make him so uncomfortable that he'd cry. Anyone have any insight on this?

MargaretC5

Every wedding I have been to with a toddler ring bearing he always got stage fright and was carried down the aisle.  I have not been to a wedding that used a wagon, but depending on you LO personality he may start crying just because everyone is looking at him. I am pretty sure DS would not of done well in that situation at 10 months, but my nephew would of loved the attention.  If you have not already I would just discus back up plans with your sister in case your LO gets upset for any reason.  
For the bag pipes, probably depends on your LO.  The church next to us used to have the congregation follow a bag pipe player up to a near by park once a month.  They walked right by our living room window (side walk was less than 10 feet from the window) and DS never cared.  I don't think you would need ear plug, especially since it is outdoors.

elbou

I don't have personal experience with this. I would ask your LO's doctor. He or she would most likely know whether or not that would be too loud, and may have suggestions for ear plugs if needed as well.

jdal1206

I don't have experience with this but in terms of ear protection we got our LO some Baby Banz noise canceling head phones on Amazon for about $25. We have taken LO to a few movies and these have been great, they also grow with the baby as they go from 0 to 2yrs old! They come in different colors so maybe if you go this route you could get a color that goes with the color scheme of the wedding! But I also agree with PP's in terms of talking to your pedi just to be safe!

VexedMommy

You might try him out at a St. Patrick's day parade next month.  There is typically a good amount of noise from the bands that go by and you're likely to encounter some bagpipes too. 

RaisingJulian

If he's used to a loud environment then the noise shouldn't bother him much. 

kmd91

I'm really sensitive to noise, and being too close to bagpipes hurts my ears, so I would probably be a little bit wary if I were in the same position. With that said, though, that doesn't mean it'll be an issue for your little one. I would try and do a test if you can, just to see what his reaction is beforehand. But also, like PP said, there are so many things about that situation that could make him cry aside from the noise. With a super young ring bearer, you get what you get, to be perfectly honest. 

dramaphile

We're getting a pair of Baby Banz for LO when soccer season starts up again!