Don’t Let Fireworks Ruin Baby’s Sleep: Mom-Tested Tips That Work
It’s that time of year again—BBQs are sizzling, the temps are climbing, and yep... those neighborhood firecrackers are already making their grand entrance. Hello, Fourth of July weekend.
Even if your town’s big fireworks show is canceled this year, you can bet that your neighbor (you know the one) is already stocking up on a backyard pyrotechnics display.
Let’s be real: loud booms and surprise crackles are basically guaranteed on the Fourth—and if you’ve got a baby at home, your anxiety might already be kicking in. Will my baby sleep through the fireworks? What if they wake up screaming?
Mama, I see you. You are not alone—and I’ve got you covered with practical tips to help protect your baby’s sleep (and your sanity) during all the noisy chaos.
Here are 5 tips for helping your baby sleep through the Fourth of July fireworks.
Tip #1: Don't Worry — they may not even notice!
I know — easier said than done — but here’s some good news: your baby probably won’t even wake up! Most little ones are in their deepest sleep in the first half of the night (yep, before midnight), which means they’re much less likely to be disturbed by all that booming and popping outside.
So take a deep breath, mama. There’s a good chance your baby will snooze right through the neighborhood firework frenzy—and you won’t hear a single peep from the nursery. Now let’s all cross our fingers (and maybe our toes) that the noise settles down by midnight!
Tip #2: Use a Sound Machine
Sound machines can help your baby sleep and can drown out or mask the sound of fireworks.
Chances are, you already have one. If you do, I recommend turning it up slightly. But make sure you're not turning it up so loud as to harm your child's hearing. The recommendation is no louder than 50 decibels. You can actually download a decibel reader app on your phone to test the volume in advance. I recommend playing around with the volume the day before — this way you can ensure how loud you can turn your sound machine up safely. Then you can drown out those fireworks without posing a hazard to your child's hearing.
If you don't already have a sound machine, what are you waiting for? Go out and get one ASAP and start using it! Use it in advance so that your child can get used to the sound before the weekend. I recommend buying a sound machine that offers brown noise, like the Lectrofan Kinder. Brown noise is more soothing, while white noise is not very relaxing and can actually cause sleep disruptions. Brown noise: running river. White noise: static-filled unused radio station. I happen to have done a bit of research on a few, here are some of my favorites sound machines for babies→
Tip #3: Have Patience
It may take a little time for your baby to fall back asleep — that’s ok!
If your baby does wake up from the fireworks, don’t rush in right away. Give them a minute—they might surprise you and fall right back asleep on their own. In fact, I recommend waiting at least 2 minutes, and even up to 10 if you can.
Research shows that it can take a baby about 12 minutes on average to fall back to sleep after waking during the night. So by giving your little one a chance to self-settle, you’re actually supporting their sleep skills. Heading into the room too quickly might add even more stimulation—like movement, your voice, or light—and that can make it harder for them to drift off again.
Trust me, a little pause can go a long way.
Tip #4: Use Your Skills
Put your sleep training skills to work!
If your baby doesn’t fall back asleep on their own after 5-10 minutes, go ahead and treat the situation as a night waking. Perhaps pick up your baby, calm them, put them back down, and then leave the room. Continue to use whatever method you prefer to typically handle night wakings. Still wondering what that’s all about? Here’s a refresher on sleep training methods for getting your baby to sleep through the night→
Tip #5: Take a Break
A little bit of love goes a long way.
If your baby is really struggling to fall back asleep, don’t worry—it’s okay to take a break and reset. Gently take your little one out of the crib and move to a quiet, dimly lit spot in the house. Keep things calm and soothing. This is your time to love on them a little—rock, cuddle, hum a lullaby, or take a slow walk around the house. You can even offer a feed if it seems like they need it.
Spend about 15 minutes helping your baby regulate and wind back down. Then, head back to the nursery and repeat the final steps of your bedtime routine—maybe a fresh diaper, a short story or two, and then right back into the crib. Familiar rhythms will help signal to your baby that it’s time for sleep again.
Time to rest...
I hope these 5 tips help to ease your concerns going into the big holiday weekend. You can rest easy knowing that you have a plan so those fireworks don't get in the way of your little firecracker's rest.
If you're interested in learning more about working with me or my team of talented mamas, you can schedule a 15-minute Discovery Call — free of charge, no strings attached! You can also view a list of frequently asked questions for sleep training here→ and access articles on sleep training and more tips on helping your baby sleep through the night here→
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Sweet Dreams…
Kelly Murray is a certified sleep coach and an award-winning pediatric sleep consultant based in Chicago offering sleep coaching services nationwide.
