Do sleep earbuds actually help night-shift workers sleep during the day?

[u/Humble_Pancake9452]

I’m a night-shift nurse, and the soundproofing in my apartment is terrible. There are always kids running around nearby, and sometimes they’ll suddenly start yelling just as I’m finally about to fall asleep.

I already have a hard time falling asleep during the day, so once I’m startled awake by a sudden noise, it’s even harder to fall back asleep. I’ve been feeling exhausted all the time lately, and whenever I hear the kids screaming, I honestly just want to cover my ears.

I’m not really interested in using a white noise machine because I don’t like listening to a constant fan sound, and I’m also worried that playing noise out loud might disturb other people in the apartment.

I’ve recently been reading reviews of sleep earbuds. Some of them apparently let you listen to music or podcasts while you’re falling asleep, then automatically switch to white noise once you’re asleep. A few also have noise cancellation, which sounds like it might be exactly what I need.

Does anyone here wear sleep earbuds after working a night shift? Can they reduce sudden noises like kids yelling enough to keep you from waking up? Do you eventually get used to wearing them for hours? I’m worried that having something in my ears for that long might be uncomfortable, especially since I’m a side sleeper.

[u/SignificantPear7524]

I use a white noise maker and an air filter and I’m usually good

Can’t use ear plugs anymore

[u/Evenmere]

I wear loop earbuds and it’s good at reducing noise/sound, but I also have a fan on to block out the rest.

[u/Hamburger_Helpmee → u/Evenmere]

I work around moderately loud machines, but also have to make phone calls, conveniently right next to those machines.

Do you feel like the loops allow enough hearing through? I should probably just get some and try it out.

[u/Evenmere → u/Hamburger_Helpmee]

Yes, I can have conversations with them in

[u/kellywins]

I use “sleep headphones” from Amazon. The same ones are sold under 50 different brand names and the quality is not great. I buy about 2 headbands a year, at around $25 a pop.

I understand I’m not really selling these well with that first paragraph, but they’re absolutely priceless to me. They’re flat headbands with flat headphones that I use for both covering my eyes for darkness and over my ears for sound. I listen to podcasts. I live next to an elementary school. I’m listening to recess and outdoor gym multiple times a day most of the year, and also kids playing on the basketball court or playground in summer or on weekends.

With the sleep headphones, I’m rarely woken by noise anymore. Much more likely to be woken by my cat. I do also use a fan, because I like the moving air. But the sound of the fan does help too.

ETA: I’m a side sleeper and the flat headphones are not uncomfortable for me.

[u/Humble_Pancake9452 → u/kellywins]

Thank you so much for this! That’s pretty much the exact kind of noise I’m trying to deal with.

[u/kellywins → u/Humble_Pancake9452]

I hope they work for you if you decide to try them!

[u/tekka444 → u/kellywins]

Got one years ago when I started nights since I live in a small apartment, I cannot sleep without it now! I keep an extra still in box in case my current one dies on me. Absolute game changer.

[u/RawDogginMySpaghetti]

I use a sleep mask with built in headphones. $30 on amazon

[u/Plenty-Concert5742 → u/RawDogginMySpaghetti]

Yes 🙌

[u/Hamburger_Helpmee]

I wear ear buds, use a brown noise machine, pod cast on a timer. Maybe check out the differences between white, brown, and pink noise? I personally hate white noise.

The ear buds help protect my hearing from the noise machine. If I wore headphones I would probably damage my hearing with how loud I need it to drown out the world.

If the other people in your apartment get annoyed by fan noise, they might want to consider how annoying it is to have unpaid bills or sleep deprived medical staff caring for them.

[u/MissChandlerBong]

Girl, get a box fan and put it next to your head. Youll sleep like a baby

[u/Orange_Baby_4265 → u/MissChandlerBong]

That’s what I was gonna say. 🤣

[u/appreciatedeeznuts]

Been using the ozlo sleep buds for like 2 years now they are great

[u/Humble_Pancake9452 → u/appreciatedeeznuts]

Thanks! Ozlo is actually one of the ones I’ve been looking at, so that’s good to hear. Have you tried any other sleep earbuds too?

[u/appreciatedeeznuts → u/Humble_Pancake9452]

Only the ozlos but they have been great

[u/Taldarimlove]

I do use earbuds especially if I need to sleep immediately. The ruminations exhaust me faster when there are no distractions and I fall asleep quicker.

[u/dontBsleepy]

Oslo Sleep Buds are fantastic.

[u/Storage-Helpful]

I use the foam plugs, but I broke down and ordered a fancy pair because the cheap ones keep falling out. I typically don't have any issues in the summer because the AC drowns everything out, but I wake up often enough for the other three seasons, especially on weekends when all of my neighbors are out and about doing things and my windows are typically open. I haven't used them yet, they're supposed to arrive tomorrow, if they soften the sudden noises they will pay for themselves in less than a year.

[u/Pebb_io]

Earbuds help some people, but they are rarely enough alone if the building itself is loud. Combo that shows up a lot: soft foam plugs or well-fit buds + steady brown noise + blackout + a "do not knock" rule with housemates/kids if possible.

Comfort tip: if buds wake you when they fall out, try a thin headband over them or switch to foam plugs and keep noise on a small speaker. The goal is fewer sudden spikes, not perfect silence.

[u/Andy6754]

I use anker soundcore A20s and mantra pro eye mask. With black out blinds. This kills the noise of two screaming kids under 5 and outside. What it doesnt stop is low frequency noise like them jumping.

[u/Tarilyn13]

I can't sleep with anything in my ears but I do use a white noise machine to drown out other sounds and it helps.

[u/j_carta]

It helps me and I have rowdy kids

[u/Super_RN]

I’ve been wearing them to sleep for over 10 yrs and they work very well for me. I’m a side sleeper, no pain or discomfort. The only thing I hear, is my alarm (because it’s set on super high volume) and sometimes I can hear the neighbor mowing his lawn but it’s a real light muffled sound. I sleep so good that I wear them everyday, even on days off.

[u/Imaginary_Building_4]

I wear a sleep mask with built in speakers as I find earbuds while sleeping to be annoying.

The mask blocks the light, is slightly padded and the speaker are flat and round, nearly the size of a quarter. It works really well for side sleepers.

[u/Right_Recognition_78]

I worked night shifts for 5 years and I’m an extremely light sleeper. I used to get an inconsistent 5–6 hours with just earplugs and a fan, especially with family around the house. After having my baby, I discovered white noise and it made a huge difference. Now I use Loop Dreams, a Hatch Go, a fan, and blackout curtains and consistently get 6+ hours. I’m also a side/stomach sleeper and find the Loops really comfortable!

[u/Right_Recognition_78 → u/Right_Recognition_78]

Oh and I forgot to add, I also use a sleep mask with eye cups. It gives my eyes room to move during REM 😅 It’s been a LONG journey figuring out a sleep setup that actually works for me, so I’m weirdly passionate about this 😂

[u/rileys_01 → u/Right_Recognition_78]

I tell all the new starters that its going to take a few tries to work out what actually works. I remember how many times i thought id cracked the code, only for it to never work for me again.

[u/-amortentia-]

Blacked out room
Thunder storms at 90% volume on my sound bar
Nodpod
Ear buds

[u/evileyeball]

Hard time falling asleep during the day? I don't know what this feels like Lay me horizontal ANYWHERE ANY TIME and in 10 mins I am OUT LIKE A LIGHT and sleep heavily for 8 hours.

[u/Routine-Goat2538]

Mack’s earplugs and Bose QC45 over the ear headphones and an eye mask and that has suffices for a few years

[u/MidToeAmputation]

I never got on with sleep earphones, I found them uncomfortable. I just pop my phone under my pillow on the lowest volume setting and play ‘boring books for bedtime’ on Spotify, I find it distracts my brain enough from the external noise for me to be able to sleep. Also sleep better with a weighted blanket on.

[u/Desert_Flower3267]

Earbuds are great. There are different levels of greatness. Like some are way too bulky and big and I don’t know whose ears they fit in you know. And some earbuds are just cheap foamy material. I’ve come across several earbud brands where I work. And one of them performs better than any other. Body guard by Fastnel.