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Original poster

Help me solve a tech dilemma - ds listening to music at night

37 replies

howmanyseas · 18/08/2022 10:10

I have a teen DS who likes listening to music as he drops off to sleep. This is fine by me. However, he has put together various playlists on Spotify (he has the free version) and seems to be able to access them only on his laptop or phone. He's currently going to sleep with headphones plugged into his laptop.

Officially we have a rule of no laptops/ phones overnight in bedrooms but I've been allowing it while we try and find a solution. I'm keen to return to this rule ASAP.

Any tips??!! I think an MP3 player would have fitted the bill but understand these are about as obsolete as cassette players nowadays..!

It's probably obvious given all of the above but I am a total dinosaur when it comes to these things.

Help for this middle aged CD listener (apparently further evidence of my ancientness) gratefully received...

OP posts:
threepointonefourone · 18/08/2022 10:17

The obvious one there is Bluetooth headphones that have volumecontrol and a stop/start function.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 18/08/2022 10:18

How old is he?

Meltingsocks · 18/08/2022 10:22

Bluetooth sleep headband, has added benefits of blocking light too, should be wish, partner wears one every night

Haggisfish3 · 18/08/2022 10:22

Or Bluetooth speaker and phone in other room.

Meltingsocks · 18/08/2022 10:23

www.snoozeband.co.uk/

Like this

Meltingsocks · 18/08/2022 10:23

Disable all apps on phone apart from Spotify using parental controls

ShaunaTheSheep · 18/08/2022 10:24

He's going to sleep, not gaming/surfing, so I really can't understand the issue with having tech in the bedroom.

Original poster
howmanyseas · 18/08/2022 10:25

threepointonefourone · 18/08/2022 10:17

The obvious one there is Bluetooth headphones that have volumecontrol and a stop/start function.

Aha! Obvious to all but me 😂 I'll have a Google.

OP posts:
Original poster
howmanyseas · 18/08/2022 10:25

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 18/08/2022 10:18

How old is he?

14

OP posts:
Original poster
howmanyseas · 18/08/2022 10:26

ShaunaTheSheep · 18/08/2022 10:24

He's going to sleep, not gaming/surfing, so I really can't understand the issue with having tech in the bedroom.

Because he has a history of sneaky behaviour where screens are concerned so I'd prefer to remove the temptation than go down that road again.

OP posts:
breadandwatered · 18/08/2022 10:27

A Google speaker, you can mute microphone or make it stop working after a certain time, they'll also fade out etc

beebopper6 · 18/08/2022 10:27

Yep - Bluetooth is the way to go. He won't have as much control over the playlist as he would with the phone in his hand but it's a good compromise.

Original poster
howmanyseas · 18/08/2022 10:28

And thanks for all the other suggestions too! I will start googling. I had no idea where to even start to at least now I have something to go on!

Re the Bluetooth devices- how does this work in relation to his phone/ laptop? I've only ever used Bluetooth to send photos to someone standing right next to me.

OP posts:
ZingotheDingo · 18/08/2022 10:29

I do similar - I have a shelf outside the bedroom (there's a plug in the corridor) and use the auto sleep function so that after an hour / two hours it turns off (or he could just select a playlist on spotify.

Then bluetooth headphones - but be careful about wire length and strangulation.

Bluetooth heapdhones have quite a range in our house so if you don't have a plug outside the door try a room nearby / or below.

Spinasaurus · 18/08/2022 10:30

Agree Bluetooth speaker or headphones.

I have an Alexa. You can also synch up that with your Spotify account and set a timer on your Alexa to shut it off past a certain time etc.

Darkness22 · 18/08/2022 10:30

If you pay for Spotify he can download his playlist and it doesn't require WiFi. So you could switch WiFi off, but he could still have data I suppose. Bluetooth headphones and phone outside bedroom door?

Meltingsocks · 18/08/2022 10:55

ZingotheDingo · 18/08/2022 10:29

I do similar - I have a shelf outside the bedroom (there's a plug in the corridor) and use the auto sleep function so that after an hour / two hours it turns off (or he could just select a playlist on spotify.

Then bluetooth headphones - but be careful about wire length and strangulation.

Bluetooth heapdhones have quite a range in our house so if you don't have a plug outside the door try a room nearby / or below.

The point of Bluetooth is the headphones are wireless GrinGrinGrin

Talipesmum · 18/08/2022 11:01

Do you have an old phone that you could set up as just a music player, with no other apps on it, locked down permissions etc, ? I’m thinking of doing this for mine for audio books etc.

Original poster
howmanyseas · 18/08/2022 11:07

Meltingsocks · 18/08/2022 10:23

Disable all apps on phone apart from Spotify using parental controls

Is this possible with Google Family Link? I've tried but never managed it.

OP posts:
Original poster
howmanyseas · 18/08/2022 11:09

Darkness22 · 18/08/2022 10:30

If you pay for Spotify he can download his playlist and it doesn't require WiFi. So you could switch WiFi off, but he could still have data I suppose. Bluetooth headphones and phone outside bedroom door?

I did wonder whether the subscription version of Spotify might possibly hold the key to this. He's fairly loaded at the moment as he had a birthday recently so this could work.

OP posts:
noideaboutanything · 18/08/2022 11:15

My nine year old is the same and has a snooze band and a Spotify mighty so he can play his playlists with no tech in the room. It’s a bit of a faff to use as needs activating from the iPad but one activated he can scroll his playlists and off he goes. He can also take it out of the house, eg on a run, no iPad needed nearby.

Alphabet1spaghetti2 · 18/08/2022 11:20

blue tooth head band (£13-£19 on amazon). Connect it to the laptop/tablet or a phone. Choose playlist of appropriate length. Or a radio station. Job done. sleep earbuds have a self switch off timer, but they are more expensive.

TheManSellsFish · 18/08/2022 11:26

Amazon Echo may be a cheap option

Original poster
howmanyseas · 18/08/2022 11:34

Loads of solutions here! I knew MN would know 😀

Thanks again, everyone.

OP posts:
WeeOrcadian · 18/08/2022 11:34

I can recommend Google speakers - we have several and often use them to play white noise / rain sounds in the bedrooms. I can control the one in DC's bedroom from my phone's Spotify app and turn it off once they're asleep

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