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Is it bad to Sleep with AirPods in? Read First

Many people are wondering if it’s bad to sleep with AirPods in. But is it so bad? This is a general question because of these earbuds’ wireless and comfortable nature. Well, there are some risks involved if you choose to do this. In this article, we’ll go over the pros and cons of wearing AirPods while sleeping so you can decide whether to do it long-term!

Why are AirPods so popular?

Most people choose AirPods because they’re lightweight and sleek, perfect for long-term wear without causing discomfort or pain in your ears. They have unique features like noise cancelation, which makes them great for canceling external noises while you work or study at home, school, library, etc.

Because of this, some people have started using AirPods in bed to help them relax and fall asleep faster. If you can block out noise and distractions, it will be easier to drift off into a peaceful slumber.

However, a few minor risks might be involved if you choose to do this. Let’s go over them so you can make an informed decision!

Sleeping with AirPods: What are some risks?

Now let’s go over some possible cons of sleeping with your AirPods on! Keep in mind most of them are minor risks, and unless you’re using them for an extended period, the chances of anything happening are slim.

is it bad to sleep with airpods in - low quality sleep

Cancer and radiation

One of the biggest concerns is whether sleeping with AirPods will increase your risk of cancer. This stems from AirPods’ use of Bluetooth radiation to communicate with iPhones and iPads.

While there haven’t been any studies to suggest a definitive link between long-term exposure to radiation and an increased risk of cancer, it’s still worth considering, especially if you wear AirPods every day for hours on end!

If you want to fall asleep with AirPods daily, you should consider this a risk. If only you do it occasionally, then the risk is minimal and applies to both night and day.

Radiation also applies to wireless devices like laptops, smartphones, and tablets. If you’re afraid of the radiation, consider getting a pair of wired earbuds to get a good night’s sleep instead, and don’t use them for many hours during the day.

Battery malfunction

One of the risks that are hard to avoid is battery malfunction! AirPods use lithium-ion batteries, which are susceptible to failure, especially when charged or discharged too quickly.

A damaged battery can spill its contents and cause a fire, so watching your AirPods battery levels and chargers is essential. If you’re using them while sleeping, then you might not be able to notice when something happens.

Batteries can swell up at other times, so keeping them in a cool, dry place is essential. Needless to say, this is very unlikely to happen unless the battery is super old or just wrong. And a swollen battery could occur both day and night. However, you might not notice quickly enough if you’re sleeping.

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Apple has some of the best quality standards in the industry, so you can almost be sure that your AirPods will not explode while they’re in your ears.

Sleeping with AirPods could cause hearing loss

This is a severe risk if you’re not careful. One of the most critical factors in hearing loss is volume level! AirPods have a built-in limiter that caps their maximum output at roughly 85 dB, so it’s unlikely they’ll cause any problems unless you listen to them close to max volume for an extended period.

Falling asleep with levels above that isn’t recommended at all. If you want to listen at a safe volume level, set it around 50% or less. You won’t have noise issues at night, so the lower volume will be fine for your ears.

If possible, program your phone to stop playing music after a certain amount of time so you’re not exposed to high volumes after you fall asleep.

Build up ear wax

Another minor issue from sleeping with AirPods is increased ear wax build-up. This happens because the AirPods aren’t designed to clean your ears as you sleep.

If you’re someone who already has a lot of ear wax, then sleeping with AirPods might make the problem worse. You should try using them for a week and see if there’s any change in how much ear wax you produce. If it gets worse, then stop using them!

If you still want to sleep with AirPods, you can try cleaning your ears before bed and cleaning your AirPods constantly. This brings us to the next point.

Ear infections

Ear infections are another thing to be careful of if you’re using AirPods. An ear infection can occur if you don’t clean your ears or AirPods often enough!

This is especially true for people who already have issues with their immune system, like asthma and allergies. It might not happen when sleeping, but it’s something to consider. Washing your hands regularly will help reduce the risk of this happening and other health risks.

If you live in a humid or hot place, you might also want to be careful about ear infections. This happens because bacteria are more likely to reproduce in these conditions. Keep an eye on your ears for any signs of infection!

is it bad to sleep with airpods in - ear pain

Low-quality sleep

It might sound like a minor issue, but it can affect your day-to-day life if you’re not getting good quality sleep. This happens when you listen to loud noises before bed, and AirPods count as one of those!

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If you struggle to fall or stay asleep, sleeping with AirPods might not be the best idea. You should try using them for a week and see how it goes. If you wake up tired and groggy, it might be time to stop using them before bed.

Ear pain

Another thing to consider is ear pain! If you’re not careful, then the AirPods can cause your ears some significant discomfort. The pressure on one earbud, in particular, can be a major factor. If you keep them pushed into your ears for too long, it’ll feel like the earbuds are going against one side of your head!

This will cause discomfort and even lead to major headaches if you’re not careful. If you’re a side sleeper, this is even more likely because the earbud will be pushed against your pillow.

You can try adjusting their position to see if it helps with the problem! If that doesn’t work, use another method of listening to music or audiobooks before bed instead. You’ll still get a good night’s rest without discomfort from sleeping with AirPods!

Get a pair of speakers and put them in your dresser. This will be an inexpensive solution and doesn’t have any risks involved! You’ll still get all the benefits from listening to your favorite songs or audiobooks before bed while having excellent sound! That is unless you have a partner who doesn’t want to hear your favorite songs all night!

AirPods falling out

This isn’t a significant concern, but AirPods have been known to fall out of people’s ears during the night. If you’re a restless sleeper, this could happen to you!

One person swallowed his AirPods, so be careful! If it happens to you (it won’t), make sure you know what to do.

If they fall out while sleeping, try looking around the bed for them first before doing anything else. You could try placing your AirPods under the pillow or mattress so they don’t get lost every morning.

Not being able to hear external sounds

This could be a pro or a con, depending on how you look at it! If you like sleeping in a completely dark/silent room, then AirPods are perfect. They’ll cancel out all the noise from outside and allow you to get a good night’s rest without any distractions.

If you like to hear external sounds when sleeping (like an alarm clock), then AirPods might not be the best idea. You won’t be able to hear anything around you, which could be dangerous in an emergency!

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Is it bad to keep with AirPods? Here are a few pros

Now that we have gone over all the possible risks and rewards of sleeping with AirPods, it’s up to you to decide what’s best for you! They’re an excellent option for people who want to relax without any outside noise.

Just ensure you know the risks before using them, and don’t abuse them. Here are a few advantages of sleeping with AirPods.

Relaxation

Some people find it relaxing and soothing to listen to their favorite podcasts, songs, or audiobooks before bed. It can help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer by blocking out all the noise from outside!

Another popular option is listening to white noise or natural sounds. This can be a great way to relax and quickly fall asleep without distractions!

Noise cancelation

If you’re constantly disturbed by outside noise, then AirPods are perfect! They have excellent noise cancelation capabilities, allowing you to get a good night’s sleep without disruptions.

In particular, the AirPods Pro has active noise cancelation that will help block out any noise from outside. It’s a great way to stay undisturbed for the night if you live in a noisy area. In case you’re wondering, noise canceling isn’t bad for your ears or dangerous.

No wires – extra comfort

This is one of the AirPods’ best features! They’re wireless and won’t get in your way when sleeping. Some people even like to sleep with them anyway because they don’t want their partner taking them off during the night (sound familiar?).

While many wireless headphones are out there, Apple made a new trend when they launched the AirPods back in 2016. They were the first wireless earbuds on the market without a cable between each ear, which is why people still use them today!

Is it bad to sleep with AirPods? Your choice

There you have it! Whether you want to use AirPods or not is your choice, but I think they’re an excellent option for people who want to relax before bed. Just be aware of the risks involved and ensure you don’t sleep with them daily.

You can even try placing them in different parts of your room, like under pillows or on your mattress! This will help prevent losing them every morning while also ensuring that they won’t fall out during the night.

Whatever decision you make, remember that every situation has pros and cons! If you’re still unsure whether sleeping with Airpods suits you, consult someone who knows more than me – like an audiologist. Or try doing it for a week and see if it works for you.

Abby

Wednesday 22nd of March 2023

this is horrible misinformation bluetooth does NOT cause cancer, as you noted no studies have shown this and your article is misleading in having one of the main concerns being something that is categorically untrue.

Descriptive Audio

Wednesday 22nd of March 2023

Nobody said that, but it's a question we get often.

As you said, there are no conclusive studies, and we still don't know what long term problems could this cause. Better safe than sorry. That's our conclusion for now.