PSA: Most toys can be muted

Taytee · December 2011

I have a tip I'd like to share. One of those "I guess I thought everyone knew!" hints.

You can mute just about any plastic toy by placing tape over some or all of the little speaker holes. I recommend clear packing or gift tape so it goes unnoticed by your kiddo. The people who work for FP must be deaf. Even their "low" setting is loud enough to be heard over a chainsaw. The "))" setting must be for when you're standing behind a Boeing Jet engine. If you have hardwood or tile floors, the sounds go for miles.

There was a kid in the ER last night with THE most annoying truck sound toy ever. I guess she got so many glares that by the time I went to discharge her she kept apologizing over and over for disrupting sick people. But of course, it's her son's favorite toy in the whole world so there was no way he was going to make it through an ER visit without it. I asked her "Do you mind if I show you how you can make it quieter? Might make things more sane at home too". Her eyes got wide "Yes, PLEASE!". I scrounged up some "scotch tape", which is not easy to do in a hospital... It was at least half as quiet and he didn't even notice. Abby sometimes complains a little at first but she gets over it quickly.

Anyway. If you have toys (or those press the sound books!) that are too loud and taking the batteries out is not an option Just stick some tape on there after they go to sleep and enjoy the relative quiet in the morning.

Mrs.Froggianna · December 2011

This is priceless info. My mom just got Luke a couple construction trucks that are loud enough to wake the dead. Time to bust out the packing tape!

KittyFX · December 2011

I have done this before on a few toys with duct tape. Doesn't help me at all around here that DH is nearly deaf in one year. I don't know if toy companies think little kids are hard of hearing or only use their toys in noisy enviroments or what but I think it's ridiculous.