Even normal noises in your home or neighborhood that are acceptable to you are too loud for your infant. A vacuum cleaner, for example, produces 70 decibels (dB), whereas a city street may produce up to 90 decibels (dB). The human ear can hear sounds between 15 and 160 dB. In other words, your infant can hear millions of times more noise than you can. Newborns have very small ears and hairless skin, which makes them sensitive to sound. Even with the use of headphones, music players, and other devices that block out noise, infants are still exposed to loud sounds. You should avoid playing any type of music while you're cleaning to protect their hearing. Noise pollution is one of the most common health concerns for parents-to-be and new mothers. Infants younger than 1 year old are particularly at risk from noise exposure because their brains are developing more rapidly than their bodies. Excessive noise during this time may lead to learning problems later on. Adults who live in areas where noise levels are high must overcome their instinct to protect their children by keeping them inside or under a blanket when noise levels are high. Vacuums are used daily items many new parents assume are safe for babies. However, studies show that even though vacuums are designed to be quiet, they are still too noisy for infants.