hand dryers in baby change

[FScott30]

This is going to sound like a silly question but are hand dryers in the baby change rooms dangerous for baby's hearing? I had my 11 week old right next to hand drier in his car seat buggy and turned it on without knowing how loud it would be. The pressure was also really great and the room was quite small

I think most young children hate the noise. Perhaps that's just the ones I've met.

Hand dryers always makes my 5mo DD cry, I don't use them but sometimes turn them on accidentally and she hates the noise. I think toilets with baby change facilities should have paper towels instead! Not sure if it's dangerous, it doesn't seem to have affected my DDs hearing and there are lots of other loud and unexpected noises we've come across such as traffic etc so I wouldn't worry.

With loud noises generally it's continued exposure that is damaging - a snare drum beat is often 110 decibels, which would be damaging if it was a constant noise, but as it's parodic it's ok. Ive no idea how many db a hand drier is, but think occasional exposure is unlikely to cause any lasting harm, so long as your baby isn't too close to it of course!

I think that sudden loud noises such as a hand dryer switching on will startle and upset a baby but it's probably not enough to damage their hearing.

It's normal for young children to dislike it. DD is 2.6 & has only just recently become used to some driers. Don't make a big deal out of it, ie when they are older try to make out it's a game instead of something to be scared of & protected from. It helps.

Ugh, I hate it when they put the change table practically over the change table. The noise has always upset my babies, and my3.9yr old still says "please can we not use hand driers Mummy?".

I think it's something to do with the pitch, as well as the level of noise. I never use them when there are small babies or children around, as most I've come across hate the sound.

Possibly upsetting. But not harmful. And more hygienic than damp towels.

DS1 is 4 and still bolts when one is turned on - especially one of those extreme (or excel or something) ones in the small supermarket toilets.

TBH I'm actually surprised they're not breaking some noise law - they're so loud they hurt my ears too.

However they shouldn't do any harm for the short period they're on.

I could have sworn there was some kind of study that showed that towels (disposable definitely, those laundered rolls I don't know) were more hygienic than blowers, because the blowers created a warm, humid atmosphere for bugs to grow in.

I was thinking smelly laundered rolls, but take your point Chunky.