Do earplugs really work when sleeping during the day?

prmenrs, RN · Oct 9, 2005

I don't know how well they'd work, or if they are comfortable enough to wear that long. I used to rely on "white noise"-- a fan (face it away from you when it's cold), one of those sound machines, something like that.

Make sure the room is dark enough, and put your sunglasses on before you exit the hospital--you don't want the sunlight to stimulate your retina and reset your body clock. Eat an apple or some carrots on the way home--helps keep you awake--night workers are notorious for falling asleep @ the wheel! So be very careful, ok?

And no caffiene after ~ 3am!

grannynurse FNP student · Oct 9, 2005

I've never worn them before, but am wondering if they are effective enough to drown out "family noise" when a night shift nurse is trying to sleep during the day. Anybody use them and do you like them?

I use the sponge form ones, to drown out my noisy grandkids, when they want to stay up late, and I want to sleep. They work just fine for me.

Grannynurse :balloons:

SandraJean · Oct 9, 2005

I used to work nights in the past, when I lived alone. It wasn't too bad sleeping when I got home, but the apt. was quiet. Just wondering if I could make it work with a noisy family these days! Thanks for the suggestions! :zzzzz

DidiRN · Oct 9, 2005

I've used them on occasion due to some noisy neighbors. But I live alone, and I could not wear them when I went back to bed in the afternoon, and I had to hear my alarm to get up for work.

SandraJean · Oct 9, 2005

Are they comfortable to wear?

ZASHAGALKA, RN · Oct 9, 2005

never worked for me - but I need to answer phone if school is calling about kids.

I agree w/ previous poster, buy a loud fan or something that creates 'white noise'.

~faith,

Timothy

SandraJean · Oct 9, 2005

I would probably only wear them on the weekends when everybody is at home. When the kids are at school, I probably wouldn't.

DidiRN · Oct 9, 2005

Well, sort of...by that I mean, it took some getting used to wearing. Felt really weird at first (ears felt full and pressured), but I could see where it would drive someone crazy. But I only tried one brand, perhaps there are better ones out there that are more comfortable.

Are they comfortable to wear?

Still Riding · Oct 9, 2005

I live in a house with a few other girls. One of them has a room right by a really common area, she wears ear plugs to bed all the time. she puts her alarm right by her ear and she never has a problem waking up when needed. I asked one day if we ever wake her up and she said no, one day someone even vaccumed and she never heard a thing.

I have a hard enough time waking up to my alarm (even the buzzer) so i don't think i could ever wear them unless I could sleep till my body decided to wake up.

don't know if that helps, SR

Trauma Columnist · Oct 9, 2005

I worked nights for many years and slept when the kids were at sitter. If everyone was home - hubby always made big effort to get them out of the house. I tried ear plugs but couldn't tolerate them. Good luck.

LydiaNN · Oct 9, 2005

I used the full bag of tricks when I had to sleep during the day- an eye mask, a fan for white noise, and those wax earplugs that come in the blue box, can't think of the brand name. They were the only type that helped. They block lots of noise out, though.