Originally Posted by
CDTraveler
And as for the volume knob, *I* still control that. Periodically I'll check the volume through the headphones to make sure he's not blasting his eardrums out.
That's good! Because most pediatricians will tell you that using headphones on a child (especially a toddler) is not something one should do at all. I would rather protect their ears from continuous noise levels close to 90db by using wax or foam plugs. Make sure you take them out before the plane descends or it could hurt badly.
See here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aircraft_noise
and here (excerpt below)
http://www.aafp.org/afp/20000501/2749.html
Sound intensity is measured as sound pressure level (SPL) in a logarithmic decibel (dB) scale (Table 1). Noise exposure measurements are often expressed as dB(A), a scale weighted toward sounds at higher frequencies, to which the human ear is more sensitive. Noise can cause permanent hearing loss at chronic exposures equal to an average SPL of 85 dB(A) or higher for an eight-hour period.7 Based on the logarithmic scale, a 3-dB increase in SPL represents a doubling of the sound intensity. Therefore, four hours of noise exposure at 88 dB(A) is considered to provide the same noise "dose" as eight hours at 85 dB(A), and a single gunshot, which is approximately 140 to 170 dB(A), has the same sound energy as 40 hours of 90-dB(A) noise.8
This means that two hours of 91 dbA, which is what you will get on a lot of flights, can lead to permanent hearing damage even in adults. Let alone tods.
Here is a 127 page document by the FAA detailing noise levels for most plane types.
http://www.airweb.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgAdvisoryCircular.nsf/0/aeab4e3e783d2b6086256e3700762a57/$FILE/AC36-3H.pdf
Besides that, two parents on one child should find the time to take care properly of the child so that using the "easy-way-out" brain paralyzer of a video will not be necessary.
So much for telling you how to raise your kids.
In terms of headphones, as an audiophile, I recommend the Sennheiser PX100 or PX200 series. They fold flat and sound good. They also come with a sturdy and nifty carrying case.
The provided link is probably the best source for headphones on the net. Note that these can be had elsewhere for half the price, though.
http://www.headphone.com/guide/by-ma...ser-px-100.php
Till