So you want to buy headphones for sleep? Here are 3 things you need to get a good night’s sleep
If you like listening to music to help you fall asleep, you may want to invest in something else sleep headphones. Rather than playing loud music and disturbing your partner, sleep headphones sit comfortably in your ears and can help improve your sleep quality.
Sleep headphones have many benefits, but if you’re new to them, you may be using them incorrectly. This not only disturbs your sleep but can also cause damage to your ears. So, before buying the sleep headphones you’ve been considering, make sure they have these three features.
1. The comfortable fit of your bed
Wearing any type of headphones for long periods of time can be uncomfortable, but it’s even more so with sleep headphones as you wear them for several hours. Before buying headphones for sleeping, it is important to check that the model is suitable for your sleeping environment.
Side sleepers it can be the trickiest sleeping position to buy headphones for, as sleeping on your side can push the earbuds away from your ears, leading to painful holes that can wake you up throughout the night. Fortunately, there are sleeping headphones specifically designed for side sleeping or you can use a headband-style design with built-in speakers.
If you are an earbud wearer, this style of sleep headphones comes with multiple tip options that are usually made of soft silicone to fit comfortably in the ear. It’s also important to check that the earbud tips are the right size for your ear as this affects your comfort, and that they will last all night – you don’t want to lose one in your bed, after all!
(Photo credit: Joanna Ebsworth)
2. All-night battery life
If you’re someone who wants to listen to music all night, you’ll need headphones with all-night battery life. In my experience, all sleep headphones I’ve tried have lasted me between eight – 10 hours on a single charge, which usually includes a full night’s sleep.
Another useful feature to look out for is the charging process. The earbud-style headphones come with charging cases like regular earbuds, so you can get a quick top-up charge using the case before you fully charge both gadgets. With the charging case, you’re looking to extend the battery life of your sleep headphones up to 40 hours which could give you four or five nights of use.
3. Noise masking noise
There is plenty noise cancellation sleep headphones on the market, but if you want my advice, I would prioritize sound masking over noise cancellation. Sound masking blocks outside noise while playing soothing sleep sounds and music to help you fall asleep.
The reason I think noise canceling is a better choice for sleep headphones is so you don’t miss your morning alarm – although there are new options that can wake you up by adjusting the sound at a certain time. But since sleep is your most vulnerable time, it’s always best to be able to hear important sounds to stay safe.
