Snoring Husband? 10 Ear Plugs To Regain Sleep And Sanity

By now, we should all know the restorative power that a good night of sleep has. For adults, having adequate sleep is necessary to function day to day as we juggle the various responsibilities we have. For children, sleep is important for their development too.

Yet, we are often disturbed by noises around us when we sleep. Those living with others will know how much noise they can make - a snoring husband, the sound of little feet pattering as your kids climb out of bed, doors and cupboards closing, and such. During the day, it's also nearly impossible to catch a nap if you have noisy neighbours or traffic outside your window.

What's a mom to do? Ear plugs, of course. A pair of good ear plugs can help you regain your sleep, and more importantly, your sanity. Ahead, we've gathered 10 options, from easy-to-find, one-size-fits-all foam ear plugs to reusable and customisable silicone ear plugs.

1. For those just starting: Audiplugs Soft Foam Comfort & Sleep Ear Plugs 4 Pairs, $10.90

If you're just at the initial exploration phase on whether you want to wear ear plugs to bed, consider getting the Audiplugs iteration first. This is because they are readily available online and at physical stores such as Guardian and Watsons. Made with soft polyurethane, Audiplugs' ear plugs reduce noise by up to 33 decibels. These come with a carry case and are reusable till they become too dirty - at which point you can dispose of them.

To use such earplugs, compress them between your fingers into a smooth, crease-free cylinder. With the opposite hand, reach over and pull up and back on the outer ear to straighten the ear canal before inserting the pointed side first. The plug should then expand to fill the canal, thereby blocking out sounds. Ensure that your hands and ears are clean and dry before insertion.

2. For those who can't find a good fit: Mack's Pillow Soft Silicone Earplugs, $11.90

The shape and size of the ear canal vary from person to person. As such, over-the-counter options may not be the best for some. These silicone ear plugs from Mack's were made to remedy this problem as they can be moulded to fit any ear canal. After cleaning your hands and ear opening, shape the whole plug into a ball. Then, fit it into the ear opening and flatten it to form an airtight seal. It reduces up to 22 decibels of noise. The brand recommends a maximum of five uses.

3. For those with smaller ear canals: Mack's Slim Fit Soft Foam Earplugs 50 Pairs, $14.46

At its slimmest point, the Mack's Slim Fit model measures a mere nine millimetres across, making it an option for those who struggle with the size of regular ear plugs in the market. This petite size is also marketed for those with sensitive ear canals. It is made with polyurethane and reduces up to 31 decibels of noise. Discard after a few uses or when it gets gunky.

4. For those with wider ear canals: 3M 1100 Foam Ear Plugs 25 Pairs, $20.13

And on the opposite spectrum, those with wider ear canals might find the 3M 1100 ear plugs to be a better fit. After all, you want a good fit to ensure proper sound blockage! This model blocks up to 29 decibels of noise. The 3M ear plugs are also made with polyurethane, which is hypoallergenic and easy to clean.

5. For a less fussy option: Anomeo Ear Plugs for Deep Sleep, $15.90

The options mentioned above require some form of adjusting to properly insert them into your ear canals to block out sounds. And if you can't be fussed, the Anomeo earplugs are a plug-and-play option. The triple-flanged design constructed out of silicone and polyurethane securely fits into your ear canal while blocking out water. It also comes with an attachable neck cord system to prevent loss and make it easy to bring around. They are reusable and can be washed and returned to the accompanying case - no more lost ear plugs. These block up to 26 decibels of noise.

6. For those who don't want to block out sound completely: Vibes High Fidelity Concert Earplugs, $45.09

If you have a baby or an elderly person to care for at night, blocking out noise completely isn't an option. Enter the Vibes ear plugs - these reduce noise by up to 22 decibels while having an acoustic sound chamber and acoustic filter that still lets some sounds through without affecting sound fidelity. That means while you'll be less affected by your husband's snores, you can still hear your baby if need be. Parents and children can also wear these to noisy places (ahem, looking at you Kiztopia) to protect their ears while being discreet about it - on the end of the silicone tip is a tiny clear stem that sticks out. But due to this same feature, it may not be ideal for wearing to sleep on your side.

7. For frequent fliers: Mack’s FlightGuard Airplane Pressure Relief Earplugs, $16.20

Aeroplane rides can be extremely noisy, especially if you're sensitive to the sound of other passengers. So, if you want to try and catch some Z's and feel like less of a limp dishrag when you land, try the Mack's FlightGuard earplugs. It reduces noise by up to 26 decibels using a flanged design, and the ear plugs are also fitted with a ceramic filter that helps relieve ear pressure discomfort during take-off and landing. It comes with a storage case so you can clean and reuse them.

8. For the environmentally-conscious: Happy Ears Ocean Plastics Discovery Pack, $42.50

Karl Berglund founded Happy Ears in 2010 after he was forced to wear traditional ear plugs to recover his hearing after a surfing accident in Bali. Fast forward to the present - Happy Ears has sold over a billion ear plugs and launched the eco-conscious Ocean Plastics iteration made of post-consumer ocean plastics to combat the issue of the disposable nature of single-use ear plugs. The Happy Ears ear plugs are washable and reduce noise up to 27 decibels. The discovery set comes with small, medium, and large ear plugs to help you find the one that fits you best. The short, soft stem also promises to be suitable for side sleepers. There is a money-back guarantee, too.

9. For those struggling with them falling out: Loop Quiet Earplugs, $29.95

The sleek and stylish Loop ear plugs were made to solve the issue of ear plugs falling out. The loop, a soft-touch silicone plug, fits against the ear to keep it from dislodging until you want to remove the ear plugs. You can also choose between four silicone ear tip sizes (XS to L) to match your ear canals. The Loop ear plugs reduce noise up to 26 decibels. The best part yet? Loop offers 100-day returns without questions and a two-year warranty on their products.

10. For technophiles: QuietOn 3.1 Sleep Earbuds, $369

Noise-cancelling wireless earbuds employ noise-cancelling technology to combat external sounds so that you aren't disturbed by them. QuietOn uses the same technology here with the sleeping earbuds. But unlike traditional earbuds, these are only made for sleep as they don't emit any masking sound, have no Bluetooth connectivity, or emit electromagnetic field radiation. However, they must be charged with a single charge, offering 28 hours of battery life. QuietOn promises that the earbuds are small enough for side sleepers, each with four ear tip sizes (XS to L). There is a 60-day money-back guarantee and a one-year international warranty as well.