Sleeping with earplugs, anyone?

Does anyone wear ear plugs for sleeping? If so, what kind do you like?

I'm a light sleeper. I've used a white noise machine for years and it has been a huge help.

I also live in on the second floor of a three-story condo building. Even with the white noise machine, I usually hear my upstairs neighbor walking around, but in the past it hasn't been much of a big deal and after I get used to their schedule I'm able to sleep through it or fall back to sleep quickly (I am not an early riser).

However my current upstairs neighor is the noisiest neighbor I've had in 30 years of living in dorms, apartments and condos. I think part of the problem is that she has very little carpeting -- I swear I can hear her opening and closing dresser drawers. But unfortunately the condo rules do not include carpet requirements any so I can't force her to get more. I've spoken to her about the problem which helped a little but not much. She's just a stomping, slamming kind of person who does not move gently and is not willing to try. She also has a dog which is pretty small but very energetic, and when it runs across the room it sounds like a drum roll on my ceiling. Oh and she also thinks its okay to vacuum early in the morning. (She also makes no attempt to park her SUV within the white lines that mark the spaces in our lot, so the person parked next to her has trouble opening their door. All in all, she's oblivious to the fact that she shares this place with other people.)

So, recently I tried wearing ear plugs at night in addition to the white noise machine. First I tried Mack's Ultra Soft Foam, which block out lots of noise but are too big. The part that was visible in my ear pressed against the tragus and left me feeling sore the next day.

Last night I tried Mack's pink women's ear plugs, which are a little smaller. They were more comfortable though still left me a little sore.

Also, after I remove them, I can hear fine, but I have a weird feeling in my ears like it takes them a while to adjust to the absence of pressure from the plugs.

I actually found something in Slate where a guy compared several different kinds and rated them. He liked Hearos the best. I might try them next.

I'm annoyed that this is necessary, but I can't continue to lose sleep to this woman. I'm tired of being angry and tired all the time.

So, any suggestions?

The only ones I can wear without pain are the Hearos beige Ultimate Softness.

If you sleep on your back you might consider custom molded plugs. They work by blocking the ear opening, so if you sleep on your side they'll conduct noise from where they rub against the pillow. I had a pair, but my dog ate them...

Another vote for Hearos.

I can't sleep without them. I did quite a bit of experimenting, and I like the CVS brand soft foam ones the best, 30 decibels. They're Celeste colored (like a Bianchi).

I have a nearly full pack of Mack's Ultra safe Sound (32 decibels) you can have for free. The best thing about them is the pack has instructions on placing them properly in the ear. Seems simple enough, but the technique on their bag makes a big difference. These were a little uncomfortable for me, but you might like them. PM me your address if you want to give them a shot.

I like the bright red/orange ones that are shaped like a bell. I've seen them under several different brand names, including Flints and Krogers (generic). I've also had good results with silicone earplugs, but my partner asked me to switch after one night when an earplug migrated from my ear to his hair :rolleyes:

Another vote for Hearos, they have improved the quality of my life.

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Originally Posted by soprano

I like the bright red/orange ones that are shaped like a bell. I've seen them under several different brand names, including Flints and Krogers (generic).

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Those are pretty decent...there are also PINK ones (called "Sleep Pretty in Pink") that I think might be a little smaller if the other ones are too big. I really hate wearing earplugs (makes me nervous...what if there was something I NEEDED to hear?? that's the only sense that's really working to protect you when you're sleeping!) and don't need to at home, but when I go camping with my family I have to wear them to get any sleep...certain people snore, and it's loud! Sorry to hear you have such an inconsiderate neighbor. I for one don't miss having people living above me...my apartment here is on the top level of the building and that is nice. I've had annoying upstairs neighbors before and it is not fun. I'm assuming you've tried to talk to her and it just hasn't worked.

I was going to recommend the Mack's silicone pillow soft earplugs. I used to wear them religiously when sleeping and they (for me) are the only brand that don't hurt my ears because you mold them to your ear shape.

ny_biker: what white noise machine are you using? I've become a very light sleeper, waking up multiple times at night. I'm curious about one of those machines.

I use Hearos -- the lavender ones. They do make my ear canals a bit tender, so I don't like to wear them multiple nights in a row, but I do sleep better when I wear them than when I don't. I try to use them only if needed - not every night. I'll keep a pair on the bedside table, so if a noise bothers me in the middle of the night or early in the morning, I can put them in then. I often put one only in my left ear since I sleep on my right side much more than my left. They only seem to bother me if I put one in the ear I'm sleeping on.

I sleep with one in my left ear (right ear is smooshed into the pillow for the most part). Mainly, it's because I"m a light sleeper and poor DH has this habit of breathing (imagine that!) loudly - not snoring - at night, which is like finger nails on a chalkboard to me.

I've never seen "brand name" earplugs - other than Mack's silicone plugs, which I've used and are okay, but I got tired of pulling my hair out of them each morning. I've tried pink ones, green ones and the red ones shaped like a bell (store brand, all from CVS or whatever drug store I'm in at that time). Currently, I'm using some super soft green ones from CVS and they seem to work okay. Not a huge sound barrier, but enough to sleep (along with a melatonin pill). The bell-shaped ones I found to be nearly impossible to get into my ear. Useless. If anyone wants what I have left - let me know and I'll send them your way. I never heard of Hearo's, and I sent away on their website for a free sample. 6-8 weeks to deliver :rolleyes: - we'll see how it goes.

I've only found the Ultimate Softness ones at Walgreens. CVS definitely doesn't have them. The red and yellow ones are just super painful to me.

7rider, I've always gotten my Hearos at Wal-mart and have never had problems finding one. I bought a plastic jar of something like 50 pairs!

Howard Leight
Lite Sleepers or Lazer Lite. Pink and yellow ones.

Funny i just stumbled upon this thread as my upstairs neighbors have been driving me absolutely insane. They are the type of people that must walk on their heels. As hard as I hear their heels hit the floor I don't know how they have any feet left. Also they are the 'never sit still' type and the 'just getting going at 11:30 at night' type too. Not to mention the 'lets scream and yell and fight then have sex' types. :rolleyes: Soooo sick of these two people. I have asked them numerous time to turn music down too and that never lasts for more than a day. I have been documenting their shennanigans for my land lord and since he has opted NOT to renew their lease. I too have been wearing earplugs, running two fans and I STILL get awoken by these two people. I don't know what kind of earplugs I have but they are white and moldable. They are OK but wearing out. Are their any that target particular noises. My neighbors are stompers so its the low base noises that wake me up most often.

I've been using the Hearos Ultimate Softness ear plugs. They have the highest decibel rating and are soft enough not hurt my ears. Though if I push them in too far, I get an earache. Also, it took LOTS of practice for me to get them in my ears correctly.

I still have the white noise machine on max volume. These two things generally work, but at least once a week the self-centered **** upstairs still manages to wake me up, usually because the dog running back and forth and back and forth and back and forth and back and forth across my living room ceiling, or because she simply must vacuum first thing in the morning. These noises on my living room ceiling are loud enough to wake me up in my bedroom with the ear plugs and the white noise and a pillow on top of my head. I do not hear my alarm clock most mornings, but I can still hear her.

Anyway, I don't think any earplugs will block out all noise, and I think the low rumbling tones are the hardest to block.

We have already learned our lesson about living on any floor but the top. We lived in houses for years, then moved into an apartment for a bit over a year. We were in the top floor, and we could still occasionally hear the couple below us, when they had a party with kids running around. But they came up and asked us to tone it down when we were playing with our dog (throwing her stuffed dog for her to retrieve). We had no idea how loud a 16 lb. dog running on carpet must be above their heads. So, that stopped us from playing indoors with her the rest of the time we lived there.

Now we live in a first floor condo. We thought the noise would be minimal since this is a brand new concrete building, but we hear the people above us walking across their floor like elephants, we hear music, etc. Never again. We will only live on the top floor (if in a condo/apt) or in a townhouse, or in a single-family home. Even the top floor is not great because of worrying about our dog making noise and bothering those below us.

Earplugs are a way of life for me! :(

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Originally Posted by emily_in_nc

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Now we live in a first floor condo. We thought the noise would be minimal since this is a brand new concrete building, but we hear the people above us walking across their floor like elephants, we hear music, etc. Never again. We will only live on the top floor (if in a condo/apt) or in a townhouse, or in a single-family home. Even the top floor is not great because of worrying about our dog making noise and bothering those below us.

Earplugs are a way of life for me! :(

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Much of this, I think, has to do with how the building is constructed. I live in a first floor apt, and there are people over me with dogs - several people have moved in/out since I've been here and my apartment is as silent as a house. I NEVER hear anything from my neighbors, very occasionally I MIGHT here a hint of a sound from their washing machine but that is it. Quietest place I've ever lived...

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Originally Posted by 7rider

I sleep with one in my left ear (right ear is smooshed into the pillow for the most part). Mainly, it's because I"m a light sleeper and poor DH has this habit of breathing (imagine that!) loudly - not snoring - at night, which is like finger nails on a chalkboard to me.

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I could have written this, only my DB DOES snore.

I also sleep with my eye shades; I must like sensory deprivation.

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Originally Posted by emily_in_nc

We have already learned our lesson about living on any floor but the top. We lived in houses for years, then moved into an apartment for a bit over a year. We were in the top floor, and we could still occasionally hear the couple below us, when they had a party with kids running around. But they came up and asked us to tone it down when we were playing with our dog (throwing her stuffed dog for her to retrieve). We had no idea how loud a 16 lb. dog running on carpet must be above their heads. So, that stopped us from playing indoors with her the rest of the time we lived there.

Now we live in a first floor condo. We thought the noise would be minimal since this is a brand new concrete building, but we hear the people above us walking across their floor like elephants, we hear music, etc. Never again. We will only live on the top floor (if in a condo/apt) or in a townhouse, or in a single-family home. Even the top floor is not great because of worrying about our dog making noise and bothering those below us.

Earplugs are a way of life for me! :(

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The key is that you actually care about bothering your neighbors. The **** who lives upstairs from me knows she is bothering me, and she doesn't care. She prefers to pretend she is the only person who lives in the building.

And she's a dentist. Considering the ungentle way she lives (always slamming things), I can only imagine how awful it is to be one of her patients.

Oh, and did I mention how she treats her dog? When she first got the dog, it barked nonstop for hours while it was home alone. So I left a note saying that the dog was in distress. I really wanted to say that the noise was bothering me, but I figured I'd get better results if I concentrated on the dog's well-being. Anyway, instead of training the dog, she dealt with it by always taking the it with her when she leaves the house. Which means she's leaving the dog in the car while she goes shopping and runs errands. In all kinds of weather. I have no idea what happens to it while my neighbor is at work all day.

I've lived in apartments and condos for 30 years now, and the noise transfer does vary depending on the building. Unfortunately the place I live now is really bad for up-down noise transfer. On the other hand, I never hear a peep from the people next door.

The best was the pre-war building I lived in when I was in NYC, and the apartment I had in Chicago at the corner of Clark and Fullerton. Though the one in Chicago had lots of street noise, especially sirens.

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Originally Posted by ny biker

it took LOTS of practice for me to get them in my ears correctly.

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It's mainly a matter of figuring out exactly where on your ear you need to pull to open your ear canal. That's different for everyone, and your right ear might be different from your left. Once you have that down it's a breeze.

When the plugs start getting hard to roll, and/or won't hold their shape long enough to get them into my ears, that's a sign they're wearing out and it's time for a new pair.

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Originally Posted by ny biker

The key is that you actually care about bothering your neighbors. The **** who lives upstairs from me knows she is bothering me, and she doesn't care. She prefers to pretend she is the only person who lives in the building.

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True -- we were mortified to find out that Paisley's cavorting was loud enough through carpet to bother the couple below. We hated not being able to play with her indoors, but tried to make up for it by plenty of outdoor play sessions.

Our best friend and neighbor in the building who lived on the first floor lived below a single mom and 10 year old boy. He ran loudly around the apt., and she (a very large woman) stomped. When we would visit our friend, we were amazed by how loud it was up above her. She said she'd asked them to keep it down, but "Mom" acted like she was being ridiculous and refused to change anything. I can't imagine. After living in a single-family home for most of my adult (and child) life, going back to multi-resident housing has been a difficult adjustment, to be sure. It has its advantages, but I find myself yearning for the peace and quiet and privacy of a home and yard. The grass is always greener on the other side, that's for sure!

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Originally Posted by Muirenn

My grass is very green . I need to mow it. And rake the yard. Power wash the house, re-paint the eves....

OTOH, I can't imagine having to deal with that kind of noise. Think it would drive me nuts.

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Yep, that's the dilemma. We were really glad to lose the yard work and house maintenance, but condo/apartment living comes with its own set of challenges.