Ear defenders and fireworks

[Witchy996]

Have a 3 year old and 20 month old who I took to the fireworks last night. They loved it.

However on social media and down there all the small children had ear defenders on. Are they to protect their ears or in case they get scared?

Now I feel like a bad mum. They did have hats on and didn't seem to mind the noise

It's really in case they are scared. Unless you were obscenely close it shouldn't be close enough to cause any damage. Mine have worn ear defenders when young (my 5 year old did this weekend) because they asked to as were nervous it would be scary. When we were kids, ear defenders weren't even a thing and it caused us no long term damage.

I think it's a good idea where possible, don't think it makes you a bad mum for not doing though

One of mine wears them. He can't bear the sound otherwise and doesn't enjoy the fireworks without them. That's all it is.

Surely it's up to the kids, if they're fine, then why worry. It's so occasional, it's not going to damage their hearing.