Can You Sleep With AirPods In? Read Before Doing it!

Yesterday, me and my colleague Jennifer decided to meet over a cup of coffee after work. She had been looking quite pinched all this week so I took her out for Tim Hortin’s Iced Cappuccino and baked croissants. So the reason for her sullen face was that she had been having quite a debate at home about whether it’s safe to have LED Lights around us. Jennifer had rather been contesting that LED Light Strips are not even safe but also reusable.

While listening patiently to her, I completely agreed because I personally believe that Smart Devices are very advanced these days and there is no harm in having them around all the time. Our lives have become rather dependent on our AirPods, Smart Tvs, Smart Watches to track our moves and even the can’t-work-without Macbook Air. Whilst the discussion, I ended up disclosing causally that I had rather been wearing AirPods to sleep each day. 

On this, she rather glared at me and asked,’ how can you sleep with AirPods in?’ That’s when her anguish took a backseat and she was head over heels lecturing me about that it could be dangerous to sleep with AirPods.

After a long debate over this, we drifted back to our workstations but this actually kept me awake last night. Had I become addicted ? Is it bad to fall asleep with AirPods in ? Is my health at a great risk now ? The fear took over and I was hallucinating wearing a hearing aid one day. That’s when I decided to slay these jitters and uncover the truth. 

I researched about it endlessly for hours and I can now truthfully affirm that there are a lot of cons and a few pros to it if you ask me if is it bad to sleep with AirPods in. 

Airpods are extremely popular these days as I have been frequently receiving queries from my readers regarding their AirPods when they just die very fast or are exceptionally quiet or most commonly, are lost easily. So, I decided to apprise them of the unknown facts about AirPods so that they know how safe they are and for how long they should be wearing them so that there are no health risks involved and no regrets, thereafter. 

So, head on to learn if is it dangerous to sleep with Airpods and if you do, how to sleep with Airpods in. 

Is It Bad To Fall Asleep With AirPods In?

No wonder, advancements in technology have totally taken over everyone and often, people struggle to iron out their sleep-related problems with the assistance of tech-innovations. 

It has been commonly believed that relaxing and peaceful music promotes a good sleep at night but is it safe to wear AirPods while sleeping ?

See, sleeping while AirPods ‘on’ can be safe only when done in a correct manner. Yes, you can sleep faster when you are listening to soothing music, the soft pitter-patter of rain, or a very boring podcast. Rather some users swear by sleeping with AirPods ‘on’ as a full-proof way of dozing off quickly. 

In this case, falling asleep with AirPods, the wireless in-ear headphones,  is much easier than wearing wired headphones on the bed. Never try sleeping with wired headphones ‘on’ as you can end up entangling yourself which  can be extremely dangerous. Therefore, you must be very well-versed with how to sleep with Airpods in before you try doing this in bed.

I will not be deciding this for you : sleeping with AirPods in is neither ‘good’ nor ‘bad’. However, there are many potential dangers involved in sleeping with AirPods plugged which you should be aware of. 
Before this becomes a perpetual habit, I want you to understand the hazards involved so that you can decide for yourself if you are ready to house those risks in your life. Read further to learn about the potential dangers you might be inviting in your life while you have been striving to sleep peacefully with AirPods plugged in for the long nights.

Possible Dangers Of Wearing AirPods To Sleep

• A lot of Ear-Wax Build up
• Otitis Externa
• Necrosis
• The loss of Hearing ability
• Disturbed Sleep Patterns
• Compromise on Safety
• Risk of losing AirPods
• A permanent damage to AirPods due to sweat and moisture
• A Physical Discomfort

Aren’t there too many ? Although you must have been able to identify some common hazards like hearing loss, disturbed sleep etc but I’m sure, some of them will sound unfamiliar. I will break those down for you so that you know, the dangers muddled with sleeping with AirPods are not even a joke and they ought to be taken very seriously. 

1. A lot of EarWax Build Up

If AirPods are worn while sleeping, they tend to rest a bit deeper inside the ears and then,  there are high chances of ear wax build up. This happens because the AirPods haven’t been designed to clean your ears while you sleep.

If you already suffer from earwax build-up more than normal, using AirPods excessively can worsen the situation. Test try wearing the Airpods for a week. If you sense an increase in the earwax production, stop using AirPods, or  minimise the usage. 

The use of AirPods can easily be avoided while sleeping. 

If you wear AirPods while sleeping regularly, this habit can forbid the earwax from leaking naturally which isn’t healthy for your ears. For the 7 to 9 hours when you sleep at night, the ear canal will be clogged by the earbuds and will end up creating issues like infection, pain in the ears and even, a hearing loss.

If you are still not convinced about avoiding AirPods while sleeping, try to clean your ears and remove the excessive wax before sleeping. Also, keep your AirPods very clean.

2. Otitis Externa

For those who don’t know, the ‘Otitis Externa’ is a kind of bacterial infection which infects the ear canal. The symptoms are hearing loss, earache and a heavy feeling of fullness in the ear. In this , there is an increased risk of the infection spreading from the ear canal to the surrounding skin area which will let the infected fluid enter the ear. Now, this will keep the outer ear also in severe pain.

As shown in the picture, the eardrum is connected to the outer ear through the ear canal so an infection in the ear canal and the outer ear bears strong chances of infecting the eardrum which will definitely affect the hearing abilities. 

This kind of infection is most common to occur among swimmers but it can also affect people who never take off AirPods or headphones. 
To avoid such a terrible situation, clean your ears and AirPods of the dirt and the microorganisms regularly using either alcohol or cotton swabs dipped in distilled water.

3. Necrosis

In simple words, Necrosis means, ‘death of tissue’. When AirPods are worn for an excessive duration of time and if they don’t fit very well, they tend to put an extra pressure on skin which is inside the ear canal. This blocks the blood flow to the tissue cells and results in deterioration of the skin which will ultimately cause ‘Necrosis’. Therefore, always wear the Airpods which fit your ears properly. 

In this article, I will be discussing separately about how to choose AirPods that fit you correctly. Till then, move to the next point and learn how sleeping with AirPods can result in loss of hearing abilities.

4. The Loss of Hearing Ability

Now, this is a very serious risk if you are not very careful. If the ‘auditory canal’ is over exposed to loud sounds, one may end up suffering from hearing loss.

The maximum sound output in AirPods is capped by their in-built limiter to 85 dB. So, if you listen to AirPods at their maximum possible volume for a long duration continuously, it can then affect your hearing abilities. 

I won’t recommend falling asleep at these extended levels of the volume. If you still want to enjoy music while laying off in bed, the maximum volume should be 50% or less. There are no noise-issues at night so you should not have any problems listening at lower volumes. 

5. Disturbed Sleep Patterns 

It may not seem a serious issue to some but lack of good sleep at night can affect your daily productivity and will make you feel drowsy and lethargic throughout the day. This is most likely to occur when you listen to loud music before you sleep.

So, if you keep tossing in bed and struggle to enjoy a deep sleep, wearing AirPods to bed isn’t a good idea at all. Try skipping them in bed for a few days and see if there is any change in the quality of sleep. If there is, you should most definitely avoid AirPods in bed.

6. Compromise on Safety

Wearing AirPods in bed can prevent you from hearing any external sound. It can either be a pro or a con, depending on how you look at it. Wearing AirPods during the day is fine for canceling out noise from the surroundings but wearing AirPods at bedtime can compromise your safety. It can block important sounds and can prevent you from listening to emergency sounds like a fire alarm, or a knock on the door. 

What if your parents or children are calling out loud for you in dire need of something and you are lost in another musical world ? What if a bunch of thieves intend to invade and rob you ? 

So, before you regret it, it’s better not to wear Airpods while you sleep so that you can notice any alarming sound from your surroundings. 

7. Risk of Losing AirPods

AirPods don’t fall out so easily but they can still fall down since at night, you toss and roll in bed and if you fall asleep while wearing them, you’ll either find them nabbed under you in the morning or they will crawl down from the bed. They can be dead and lost in the wide world of blankets or at unknown locations under the nightstand.

It’s no fault of the AirPods if they fall out while you sleep. They are not anyways glued to your ears while you sleep. They are such tiny and fragile pieces which bear a high tendency to fall out or lose themselves while the user falls asleep. 

So, if you switch sides a lot while sleeping and sleep restlessly, avoid wearing AirPods while sleeping.

8. Damaged Airpods Due to Sweat and Moisture

The 3rd Gen Airpods, the AirPods Pro and the MagSafe Charging Case for AirPods ( 3rd Gen) are water-resistant but the AirPods are not waterproof. That’s why they may end up incurring permanent damage due to sweat and moisture.

Due to this, the battery malfunctions are most likely to occur. Either the AirPods’ battery will die out very fast or the AirPods will have recurring volume issues and will be quiet most of the time.

All of these troublesome issues can occur if the AirPods have absorbed excessive sweat while you were sleeping and now, dirt has accumulated over them.

So, if you sweat excessively, please remember that the AirPods are not a waterproof device and can be permanently damaged due to extreme perspiration or moisture. Forget about wearing them to bed, especially in the Summers! 

9. A Physical Discomfort

If you choose your side on the bed while sleeping and are wearing Airpods, the Airbuds will face the pillow and create pressure on your ears to keep them from falling off. It might not feel very strenuous at first but it does add up to the discomfort.

You will end up waking up from a peaceful slumber due to the painful pressure on your ears. So, to avoid any such discomfort, I would recommend letting your AirPods rest in peace on your nightstand and you should try to fall asleep without their help. 

Benefits Of Wearing AirPods To Sleep

Now that you are well-versed with the possible dangers of sleeping with AirPods plugged in your ears, it’s for you to decide what is best for you.

According to me, they are an excellent option if you want to just unwind and enjoy some soothing music. What I recommend is that you do not abuse them and be aware of the risks involved if you choose to keep them plugged in while sleeping. 

As you have read above, there are numerous disadvantages of sleeping with AirPods. Nevertheless, the users have conveyed some plus points also which you must comprehend. Take a look at the advantages of using AirPods while sleeping. 

1. Relaxation

It’s a great way to unwind and relax after a long day by listening to soothing music or podcasts. Nothing can beat the comfort of snuggling into your cushy bed wearing your favorite nightdress and Lana Del Rey’s Songs (I know what you are thinking but I can’t help it! I am a big fan) playing on your AirPods.

There is so much happening throughout the day. I have seen people trying constantly to match the speed of life and hence, they suffer from FOMO ( Fear Of Missing Out). 

Listening to calm and soothing music in such cases feels like a bliss and is nothing less than those precious few minutes which makes you feel that life is still in your control. 

When you are happy, or hear something you like, the happy chemicals ‘Dopamine’ and ‘Serotonin’ are released in your brain. Listening to soft calming music before sleeping prompts a fast, deep and long night’s sleep. 

I am mentioning a few positive  and enjoyable things down here which you can try on your AirPods to help you fall asleep better and faster. 

1. AudioBooks
2. Podcasts
3. Soft and Gentle Music like Piano or Classical
4. Nature Sounds

2. Relief from External Disturbance

The AirPods come with this unique feature of ‘Noise cancellation’ which allows you to block the external sounds and lets you listen to music without any disturbance. If there is construction work in your building, or your roommate is playing PUBG with a lot of thuds and bangs! In these cases, the earbuds will prove a bliss and block out the external noise for you.

It is completely acceptable that the ‘Noise cancellation’ feature is essential to be able to enjoy music during the day but at night, there is no hustle-bustle. The Nights are soft and silent and rather, try sipping on Macha tea and playing soft Piano Classical on Spotify before you sleep. You won’t have to keep the earbuds plugged in thereafter.

3. Extra Comfort Due to No Wires

This is the very basic reason why AirPods are such a hit among all age groups. They are wireless and are portable. There is no risk and trouble of dragging the wires along with you.If they are used while sleeping, there is no risk of entangling yourself like it is feared in the case of ‘wired headphones’.

The Apple headphones were already very popular but were of course wired. That is the reason when AirPods  were launched way back in 2016, they are still the most favored and people are buying them even today. 

The wireless feature of the AirPods is one reason why people don’t mind wearing them in bed. It has only added to the extra comfort and you can doze off peacefully while some tranquil Mozart tunes play in the background. 

Is It Bad To Sleep With AirPods In ? The Choice Is Yours!

So, I have elaborated upon both the advantages and disadvantages of wearing AirPods while sleeping. Now, it’s you who has to take your pick of what you prefer ! 

If you are not obsessed with the AirPods and like to sleep off with them once in a while, it’s still manageable. Long – term usage of AirPods for falling asleep can make you habitual and the sleep pattern will be totally dependent on the AirPods which isn’t at all healthy.  

I would recommend that please remember, “innovations are curated to make our lives simpler. They don’t become our ‘Life’.” Use AirPods to relax you so that you can enjoy your slumber but do not let them possess your lifestyle. Take due precautions before you become slave to technology. Rather, be the ‘master’ and use innovations to make your life easy, not let ‘it’ dictate you.

How To Sleep With AirPods In

Although I will leave it upto to take your pick whether you will be sleeping with AirPods in or not, but I have a few suggestions to offer on how to sleep with AirPods in. 

There is always a way around and you can get the best of your AirPods without having them disturb your sleep. Try these methods mentioned below to enjoy your Airpods to sleep without having them keep your health at risk. 

• By maintaining Proper Hygiene on AirPods
• By Avoiding Loud Music 
• By Selecting Airpods that Fit perfectly
• By Taking Break from AirPods Regularly
• By keeping Airpods in case
• By using Memory Foam Pillow

Now, I will be detailing to you about each one of the methods listed above so that you are using the AirPods to the best of their capacity without compromising on your sensitive ears and precious sleep hours. I suggest you to literally adopt these healthy habits so that your lifestyle remains healthy and you remain bushy-tailed to enjoy these fabulous tech-devices all your life.

1. By Maintaining Proper Hygiene on Airpods

I am considering the scenario where you won’t be giving up completely on your AirPods and will be using them for a while to help you sleep better. This marks their usage as more than normal as the AirPods are vigorously used throughout the day for attending phone calls and listening to music and podcasts during the day.

In this case, it is extremely essential to maintain proper hygiene on your Airpods. As explained above, excessive earwax buildup can clog the earbuds and you will be left with AirPods which either die too fast or become quiet day by day. The basic functions and the battery of the Airpods and the Charging Case falls at a great risk if both of them are not kept clean. I have already delved enough on what a disaster can occur if there is extreme ear wax build up and you might suffer from ‘Necrosis’ or ‘Otitis Externa’.

So, have mercy on your ears and the AirPods and keep them dry and very clean. For keeping the AirPods dried-up and fresh, use the following things :

1. Cotton swab dipped in distilled water
2. Clean, dry lint-free cloth to wipe them gently
3. Good quality Alcohol Wipes  
4. Blu-Tack to extract the sticky dirt out.

Make it a habit to use the above regularly on your AirPods and the AirPods case to find them dry, clean and smelling fresh and nice all the time. 

2. By Avoiding Loud Music

Soft, calm music is known to improve sleep quality by calming down the parts of the autonomic nervous system. It also lowers down the blood pressure, promotes slower breathing and lowers the heart rate.

Loud music at sleep time, on the other hand, disturbs the sleep stages and results in poor quality of sleep. It can leave you feeling distubed, drowsy and very lethargic the next day. 

I recommend listening to very soft, calm and meditative music if you are adamant on AirPods to lull you off to sleep. The volume should be very low and the music you listen to should not increase your heart rate at all or make you feel aggressive. 
You can even try ASMR ( Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response )  or White Noise for Sound Sleep. They ‘ll keep you calm and help you smile down to sleep

3.  By Selecting Airpods that Fit You Perfectly

The standard size of the Airpods is the same but the mimics and the earbuds come in different sizes. My ears are a normal size but my girlfriend has these tiny, a bit smaller ears so I had to help her select AirPods with a perfect earbud size to fit her perfectly to keep them from falling out often

If you own the Airpods Pro, they offer three interchangeable tips in different sizes. In fact, for small sized ears, the AirPods Pro are a perfect choice. Only on a correct size, you get the best of the sound quality and the noise cancellation on AirPods. If the size of the earbuds is either too small or too big, there are chances they’ll fall out and you will realize much later that you have lost them.  

4. By Taking Regular Breaks from Airpods

You must take a break from your Airpods at regular intervals if you are either listening to music or attending calls. The breaks can range anywhere from 30 minutes to one-two hours. 

See, please remember that the world was existent when these AirPods or the Smart Devices weren’t invented and for sure, it was a healthier and better place. There were less diseases and people connected with each other with more warmth.

So, remove your AirPods once in a while and connect in real with the world around you. It will keep your Airpods clean and in good condition plus it will maintain health on your ears and ensure normal functioning on your vitals. 

5. By Keeping AirPods in Case

After you feel sleepy, remember to keep the AirPods back in its Case. It will deliver two benefits. The AirPods won’t die under your blanket and won’t be misplaced. You will find them charged in the morning and you won’t have to spare out extra time to charge them up. 

Alos, when the Airpods are kept back in the case, they will be spared from absorbing sweat and moisture. As I explained above, excessive sweat and moisture will damage your AirPods and can lead to serious battery malfunctions. 

When you still have the AirPods under your pillow, there are high chances you might lose them and they can very well lure you once again to pick them up. Then, your sleep goes down the drain and you will have a very disturbed sleep time. 

So, avoid that temptation and keep the Airpods back in their Charging Case once you feel calm and sleepy. 

6. By Using a Memory Foam Pillow

As the name indicated , this ‘memory foam pillow’ returns back to its shape after being used. It doesn’t flatten out like the regular pillows. The best part is that it provides ample flexibility and adjusts according to the contour of your head and neck.

So, if you are wearing AirPods in bed, it will not let the AirPods bear any extra pressure and the AirPods, in turn, won’t dig into your ears. This will save you from Necrosis and severe pain in the ears.

This weekend, I ordered this amazing ventilated Memory Foam Pillow and  it has already been snatched away by my girlfriend. It is so fluffy and spongy that I had been snoring the most comfortable naps ever. I won’t hesitate ordering one more for myself and will recommend the same to you. 

So, all the methods which are deliberated upon here, will ensure that neither you deprive yourself from using AirPods to fall asleep softly nor they will hamper a healthy lifestyle.

Habits don’t change overnight. They take time but you must be patient and remember why you even started in the first place. By using these tips, you feel both musical and happy at the same plus your health will be maintained.

How To Keep AirPods In While Sleeping

So, by now, you must have carefully assessed the pros and cons of sleeping with your AirPods or AirPods Pro plugged in. It is then essential to learn about how to keep AirPods in while sleeping and how to save them slipping out while you sleep.
If you also switch sides a lot while you sleep, then this section is a must read. The users might struggle often to know how to sleep on your side with AirPods so that neither the AirPod falls out nor your ears are pressurized.

Twist your Airpods

This is an old trick but very useful one. Most often, the AirPods are worn with their stem pointed down. They can easily slip down in this vertical position and are loosely hooked to your ears

What you can do is that after you plug the Airpods in, twist them to an angle of 30° in a way that the stem of the AirPods points out horizontally and sticks away from your ears. 

This way, they will not slip down easily and will remain plugged in while you lay in bed. And, as suggested above, using a ‘memory foam pillow’ will ensure that there is no extra pressure on your ears and your sleeping position is comfortable even when the AirPods are plugged in. 

Use Anti-Slip AirPods Cover

Apart from the above technique, you can also use an anti-slip cover for your AirPods. I use the DamonLight Anti-Slip Silicone Soft Sports Cover for my AirPods.  

They are easy to attach to the AirPods. Just stretch them enough, don’t rip them apart and make your Airpods wear them. They’ll remain in place then and even if you change sides while sleeping, they won’t fall out at all.

The only drawback is you will have to remove them when you keep the Airpods back in the Charging Case for charging. But, this can be managed since you won’t be using Airpods for sleeping on a regular basis, I hope. 

Use AirPod Grips

The AirPod Grips are also a good option to keep your AirPods in place while you sleep on your side. They prevent the AirPods from falling out and keep them gripped firmly to your ears. In the hollow stem of the AirPod grips, just slide the stem of the Airpods and wrap the larger hook of the grip around your ear.

This way, your Airpods will be secured comfortably in your ears and won’t fall out while you toss and roll in bed. 

Hence, I feel I have shared the best of my knowledge and research about using the Airpods/AirPods Pro in the best possible manner while you sleep without compromising on your sleep and keeping you healthy. 

Just beware of the potential dangers of using the AirPods excessively and grab them only to benefit your lifestyle, not to make you addicted in any manner.

Sleep hours are the most precious hours of the day to reset you for the next day and to gather mental and physical strength to face the hectic life schedules. So, make sure that you sleep well and use AirPods to make you calmer to fall into a deep goodnight’s sleep.

FAQs

Q1. Does sleeping with AirPods damage your ears ?

Answer – If AirPods are plugged in while you sleep, it can be the prime reason for bacterial infections and discomfort. Having them plugged in while you fall asleep may not cause short-term bad effects but it could be very discomforting. 

Q2. Is it safe to sleep with ear plugs ?

Answer – Earplugs are relatively safe to wear while sleeping. However, if this is done on a regular basis, some minor problems can occur in the longer run like earwax build up. At times, the noise from the environment can also lead to a disturbed sleep.

Q3. Why do my AirPods get hot ?

Answer – The reason for your AirPods heating up is when they are exposed to high temperatures, a hardware issue, a faulty charging system or high supply of voltage. They can feel hotter if there is accumulated dust and magnet currents between the charger and earbuds.

Q4. What to do if my ears are ringing ?

Answer – When you feel your ears are ringing, this condition is called ‘Tinnitus’. Usually, it can be caused by an existing condition like hearing loss due to old age, an injury on the ears or problems with the circulatory system. Generally, treatment of Tinnitus is done by treating the root-cause problem which makes Tinnitus less prominent and reduces its frequency to occur. 

Q5. My usage of AirPods has increased. Am I at any risk ?

Answer – Excessive usage of Airpods can lead to pain in the ears and other problems like Tinnitus in your ears. AirPods should be worn for a maximum of 90 minutes at a stretch.

The Last Words:

Honestly, I wasn’t mindfully aware of all these numerous potential dangers of using AirPods while sleeping until Jennifer pointed at my unusual yawning and swollen eye-bags. 

After counseling you in the best possible manner regarding the pros and cons of using AirPods while sleeping, I am determined not to use them very often and develop healthy sleep patterns. A happy and healthy sleep is very essential to keep you mindful in life and to keep vivid uncomfortable dreams at bay. 

So, enjoy music, sip on hot, delicious Chamomile tea and before your eyelids feel heavy, keep the AirPods back in their case. Goodnight ! 

A small side note: I am not a health expert so whatever advice I have shared has come from my research. If you feel the need to visit a doctor, please do so.