A Guide To A (Very Very) Quiet New Years Eve

For parents of young kids, celebrating on New Year’s Eve may seem like a thing of the past.

But fear not! You can still have a night worth celebrating by bringing the party to your living room. All you need is some clever planning to not wake the kids.

Here’s a countdown of 10 tips for a different kind of Silent Night:

10. Lay down extra carpets 

And I know shoes complete the outfit, but this is a socks and slippers affair.

9. Insist on a whisper system

This will lend an intimate atmosphere to the soirée. Also consider non-verbal forms of communication: eye contact, hand signals, flash cards.

8. Two words: Wireless headphones

They let you enjoy some party tunes without the troublesome noise bleed.

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7. Stop that pop!

Pre-open the champagne and use a bit of plastic wrap over the opening to keep those bubbles fresh.

6. Ditch the fancy glasses

Avoid the cacophonous clinking of crystal cups. They're also essential for avoiding potential breakage (another noisy affair).

5. No crunchy foods

No chips, crackers, baby carrots — they're out. Stick to soft breads and dips.

4. Try a decibel detector app

Or buy one of those decibel detectors from the heist scene in Mission Impossible. “Toast. Toast.”

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3. Voiceless countdown

Use your fingers, you have 10 of them for a reason!

2. Embrace subtitles

When it comes time to sing Auld Lang Syne, bring up a video with subtitles so you can follow along.

1. Try not to laugh

Laughter wakes children and invites them to come down and join the party. But smile as big as you like.