At midnight the fireworks go off, and your baby is asleep. Or was: babies startle at loud, sudden noises, says Kind en Gezin, the Flemish child and family agency (in Dutch) about newborns. A little preparation can help.
What is allowed near you?
In Belgium, the FPS Economy (in Dutch) advises checking first whether setting off fireworks is allowed in your municipality.
In the Netherlands, a national ban on consumer fireworks (in Dutch) has applied since 1 August 2026. Small fireworks such as sparklers are still allowed. Foundations and associations with an exemption may set off fireworks at New Year, from 6 pm on 31 December to 2 am on 1 January.
Your baby's hearing
Children's hearing is more sensitive than adults'. Kind en Gezin advises avoiding places where the sound level is above 85 decibels, or not staying there too long and keeping enough distance from the source of the noise.
Hearing protection for your baby
If you take your baby somewhere noisy, protect their ears with ear defenders. Earplugs are not suitable for the ears of babies or young children, says Kind en Gezin.
On the night itself
- Keep to your usual bedtime routine. A clean nappy, sleeping bag on, a cuddle, dimmed lights, a calm room: repetition gives your baby something to hold on to and helps them relax, according to Kind en Gezin's FAQ on sleep (in Dutch).
- White noise? According to Kind en Gezin, it is not needed for natural sleep development. If you do use it, do not place the device too close to the cot, use the lowest volume and switch it off once your baby is asleep. For babies under 6 months, the Dutch youth health care guideline (in Dutch) advises against continuous noise. If you do use it, keep the volume low, at least 30 cm from your child and outside the cot.
More on noise, light and temperature in the bedroom is in our article on baby room temperature. The main safe sleep rules are in our safe sleep checklist.
Does your baby wake with a start?
If your baby wakes up tearful and panicky, you can reassure them by talking softly, stroking them or offering a dummy, says NJi (in Dutch). Try to stay calm yourself: that helps your child relax.
To help them relax and fall asleep, a soft "shh" sound can help, as can talking calmly, rubbing their tummy or gently rocking your baby with your hand. If your baby stays unsettled, breathe calmly, pick them up and comfort them in your arms. Try again once they are calmer, without forcing it. That is how Kind en Gezin describes settling to sleep in its FAQ.
Checking without going into the room
Kind en Gezin advises letting your child sleep in the same room as you for at least the first 6 months. If your baby sleeps in their own room from 6 months, the Dream Sight shows you on your phone how your baby is lying. The camera detects crying, sound and motion and then sends you a notification. With two-way audio, you can soothe your baby with your voice without entering the room. In the app, you choose how sensitive the sound notifications are: with low sensitivity, you only get a notification when there is a lot of noise.
A baby monitor or camera can help, but does not replace your own senses, says Kind en Gezin. If you use the camera together with the Dream Sock, the combination is called the Dream Duo. More questions? See our FAQ.