What do you do when the kids come along?

The only way you will be able to enjoy audio is to have a dedicated listening room away from the children. Otherwise, your equipment will constantly be at risk - especially if you have a turntable in your gear - they like to touch everything. Soon you will have cookie crumbs in your CD player. Also, you won't have the silence required for serious listening.

I have three kids, now 8, 10, 12. I've never "childproofed" my stereo or my house. Teach them not to touch what isn't theirs, that way you can take them to friend's houses etc without having to worry they'll trash the place. I don't have a dedicated room, the system is out where all can use it. One rule: don't touch dad's turntable. When they reach 10 years old, build them their own system for their room, we need to encourage the young'uns to take part in our hobby.

My experience has been closer to Jeff's than to Pkaram's. My 2-year-old knows what she can touch and can use the CD player, DVD and VCR with a little help. What I miss is the time to criticaly listen at the columes I'd like (which aren't all THAT loud, really). However, like JVR said, the kids are way more important. BTW, I did go on a shopping spree a couple of months before she was born. Glad I did.

I agree with most of the aspects presented in this forum -- I am going through this now, and the worst part is turning the music off at night -- That is when everyone wakes up.

During the first months with children, the music actually helps both the parent and the child. My kids both had different musical tastes detectable at a couple of months old.

Now that the kids are older, some of the kids music gets played on the system.... Actually, some of the kids disks have really good recording quality...

One some good rules are the hands-off approach on the gear, food only at the kitchen table, and minimizing the damage opportunities for both the equipment and the kids...

If it is important to you, make sure you have your rules communicated and agreed before marriage and kids, otherwise divorce or compromise will surely follow..

I understand that babies learn their parent's voices
while still in the womb. If you are playing music
now, chances are the baby will take to it like mother's
milk.