Can You Sleep With Airpods in?

Wearing AirPods while sleeping sounds relaxing, right? But is it really safe? Many people do it to block noise or fall asleep faster, but not everyone knows the risks. 

From ear pain to hearing issues, there’s more to it than just comfort. Let’s break it down so you know what’s truly safe for your sleep.

• Limit Use to Short Periods: Aim for no more than 3–4 hours to avoid irritation or infection.
  
  

• Keep Volume Low: Prolonged loud audio can damage hearing over time.
  
  

• Prioritize Hygiene: Clean your AirPods and ears regularly to reduce bacteria and wax buildup.
  
  

• Watch for Discomfort: Sleeping on your side with AirPods can cause soreness and pressure points.
  
  

• Be Aware of Rare Risks: Battery issues and overheating are uncommon but still possible, use with care.

• Using AirPods for a Better Sleep Experience: Many people use AirPods while sleeping to enhance their sleep experience by providing soothing sounds such as white noise or calming music.

• Blocking Out Distractions with AirPods: AirPods help block out common sleep disturbances like snoring or traffic noise, creating a quieter environment for relaxation.

• Apps That Enhance Sleep with AirPods: Certain apps, like Sleep++, work well with AirPods by offering calming audio and gentle alarms to help you fall asleep more easily and wake up refreshed.

• Creating a More Peaceful Bedroom Atmosphere: With AirPods, your bedroom environment can feel more peaceful, promoting better rest and improved sleep quality.

It’s best to limit AirPods use during sleep to about 3–4 hours. Extended wear can cause soreness, irritation, and increase the risk of ear infections. 

Trapped moisture and bacteria buildup may occur, especially if you wear them frequently overnight. 

To stay safe, keep the volume low, clean your AirPods often, and avoid sleeping with them every night.

• AirPods pressing on ears can cause irritation: Wearing AirPods while sleeping can irritate the ear canal because of pressure and rubbing, especially if used for a long time. This can cause itching, pain, or swelling.

• Moisture and bacteria trapped by AirPods can cause infections: AirPods can hold moisture and bacteria inside your ear, which may lead to infections. Wearing them right after a shower traps water in your ears, making infections more likely.

• Taking breaks and cleaning AirPods helps keep ears safe: To avoid problems, don’t wear AirPods for too long, and give your ears a rest. Clean your AirPods weekly with a dry cloth to remove dirt, but don’t use alcohol because it can damage them.

• High Volume Harms Hearing Over Time: Listening at high volumes for extended periods can damage the delicate cells in your ears. This damage is cumulative and may lead to permanent hearing loss or tinnitus.

• Even Moderate Volume Can Be Risky: Even if the sound isn’t blaring, using AirPods for several hours daily can still be harmful. Prolonged exposure, even at lower decibels, adds up over time and can subtly degrade hearing.

• Safe Listening Time Is Limited: Experts suggest following the 60/60 rule: no more than 60 minutes of use per day at 60 decibels. Going beyond this recommendation increases the risk of long-term hearing damage.

• AirPods and Tinnitus Are Closely Linked: Many users report developing or worsening tinnitus after prolonged earbud use. Constant noise in your ears can aggravate or trigger ringing or buzzing sounds that persist even in silence.

• Studies Reveal a Rising Risk in Youth: Research shows a significant increase in noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) among children and adolescents due to excessive use of personal audio devices like AirPods

AirPods can block the ear canal and prevent natural wax drainage, which helps keep the ear clean and healthy. 

Sleeping with them in may worsen this by applying pressure that pushes wax deeper, causing blockages or discomfort. 

To reduce buildup, limit overnight use and clean both your ears and the earbuds frequently.

• Audio Can Be Both Relaxing and Disruptive: Audio may help you drift off to sleep, but it can also work against you. Sounds that are too loud or overly stimulating, especially when paired with screen use, can interfere with your natural sleep cycle.

• Brain Stimulation Before Bed Affects Sleep Quality: According to Dr. Randall Wright, neurologist and sleep specialist, stimulating the brain before bedtime, such as watching screens or listening to intense audio, can have negative effects on your ability to rest.

• Constant Sound Disrupts REM and Deep Sleep: All-night audio can prevent smooth transitions between crucial sleep stages, including REM sleep. These stages are vital for memory, dreaming, and waking up refreshed.

• Timed Playback Helps Minimize Sleep Interruption: Using a timer or audio with an auto-shutoff after 30–60 minutes is a smart way to prevent sleep disruption and ensure audio doesn't play through the entire night.

• Gentle Sounds Are Best for Uninterrupted Rest: Low-volume, soothing sounds, like ocean waves or rain, create a calm sleep environment. They help mask background noise without overstimulating your brain

• Physical Discomfort From Prolonged Wear: Wearing AirPods for extended periods, especially while lying on your side, can cause soreness. The pressure from your pillow pressing the earbuds against your ears often leads to discomfort in the ear area or jaw.

• Pressure Points Causing Ear Pain: The fit of the earbuds can create pressure points that restrict blood flow in the ear canal. This prolonged pressure may result in tissue damage or even tissue death, worsening discomfort over time.

• Tips to Reduce Ear Pressure While Sleeping: To avoid discomfort, try sleeping on your back or use pillows designed for side sleepers that relieve ear pressure.

Though rare, AirPod batteries can overheat, especially if used for prolonged periods or charged incorrectly. 

Avoid charging them while in use or leaving them in overnight. Store them properly and avoid use if they appear damaged to minimize any risk of malfunction or overheating.