New Year's Eve is one of the loudest nights of the year. City fireworks, neighborhood fireworks, party music, horns, and noisemakers all peak at the same moment, right at midnight, when most little ones are asleep or overtired.

Whether you're heading to a big fireworks show, hosting at home, or watching from a window, a little planning helps everyone start the year happy.

Fireworks Are the Big One

Fireworks produce impulse noise: short, sharp bangs that can be extremely loud up close. Unlike steady background noise, these peaks happen too fast for little ears to adjust.

• Put earmuffs on before the first firework, not after the first cry. Let kids get used to the fit while it's quiet.
• Distance helps: watch from farther back, or from inside a car or home with the windows closed.
• Sleeping baby? Neighborhood fireworks often start before midnight and run late. Earmuffs can help a sleeping baby stay asleep through the noise.

Parties, Horns and Noisemakers

Indoor parties get loud as the countdown builds. Party horns and noisemakers are fun, but they're often blown right next to someone's ear.

Late Night, Happy Kids

• Celebrate early: many families do a "noon year" or an early countdown with a time zone that hits midnight earlier.
• Plan a quiet room: at a party, find a space where kids can rest or nap away from the music.
• Dress for the cold: outdoor fireworks mean standing still in winter weather. Layers and blankets keep little ones comfortable, and earmuffs fit over a warm hat.
• New Year's Day outings: winter sun and snow glare are strong on bright days. Pack sunglasses or goggles for sledding and ski trips.

Let the Countdown Be the Memory

Whether you're up at midnight or asleep by eight, the goal is the same: a happy start to the year for the whole family, including the littlest ones.