Give the gift of quiet music

It's Christmas Eve, and I know many of you have lots of shopping, baking and wrapping to do. So I'll keep it short today with just a single message: If you're giving anyone (especially a kid or teenager) an electronic music-playing device tomorrow, take a moment before you wrap it to pre-set the volume.

Hearing experts at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center urge parents to set the maximum decibel level at something between half and two-thirds of the device's top volume. (As for how to do that, you'll have to consult the owner's manual.)

Listening to loud music can lead to hearing loss. The situation's grown trickier in recent years with the advent of earbuds, which make it difficult for parents to hear just how loud their kids' music is.

So, add one that one extra task to your to-do list today. Then travel safely, celebrate joyfully -- and check back in with The Checkup on Monday, December 28!