Help little ones snooze off into the land of nod with white noise
Forget counting sheep: it’s all about white noise.
From white to pink to brown, different types of noise have become trending topics within the wellness world over the past few years. Sounding a bit like static on an untuned TV channel or radio, white noise is claimed to be great for calming your mind, helping you fall asleep faster. Using white noise to help your baby fall asleep is also on the rise, with white noise machines specifically designed for your little one’s ears.
But, is white noise the new lullaby for helping your baby doze off? Scroll on to find out more.
What is white noise?
White noise is a collection of different static-sounding noises, that are thought to help your brain tune out background noises, making it perfect for falling asleep to.
There isn’t just white noise – you can get other coloured noise, like pink and brown noise. These all have different sound frequencies, so they all sound a little bit different. While white noise sounds like normal static, pink noise sounds more like wind and brown like rumbling thunder.
White noise is different to the stereotypical sound machine noises, which are usually made up of sounds from nature like chirping birds or whale songs.
How can white noise help babies sleep?
There isn’t a lot of research around this, but it’s thought that babies find white noise soothing because it mimics the sounds your baby heard in the womb. Similar to making a ‘shush’ noise to comfort a crying baby, white noise can help soothe your baby, and help them drift off into the land of nod.
White noise can also help to drown out any background noises. This might be especially helpful if you have older children in the house, or any other normal household noise like pets or even traffic outside that might keep your baby awake. You might find that white noise is particularly helpful for naps throughout the day for this reason.
You might find that white noise can help soothe a colicky baby, however this may differ from baby to baby. For more advice about colic, speak to your health visitor or GP.
However, white noise doesn’t always calm babies and help them sleep; but, you can always try white noise out with your little one to see if it helps lull them to sleep.
Are there any problems with using white noise?
There are two important factors to keep in mind if you choose to use white noise in your baby’s bedtime and naptime routine.
First thing’s first: volume. Babies have more sensitive ears than adults and playing white noise too loudly for too long could damage their hearing. In fact, playing white noise loudly sounds the same to a baby as an adult being stood inside a noisy Underground station.
Try to place the sound machine around two metres away from your baby’s crib, and if they’re calm, play the white noise at a level similar to whispering or a lullaby. (In decibels, this is between 57 to 68.)
But, if your baby is crying, turn the volume up to nearly match them, or 85 decibels; this is because it’ll help calm them down. As soon as they’ve stopped crying, turn the volume down.
It’s also important that you don’t rely on white noise to help your baby sleep. This is because your baby might become dependent and struggle to sleep without white noise on. If you play white noise, turn it off shortly after your baby has fallen asleep. Alternatively, most sound machines have automatic shut-off features, but double-check this first.
Our top tips for using white noise
Not sure where to start? Check out our top tips for using white noise to help your baby drift off.
- If you want to test out using white noise using your phone first, make sure your phone is placed far away from your baby or put on aeroplane mode to avoid exposing your baby to any microwave radiation
- White noise can be used not just for outside distractions, but inside ones too. You might find that white noise can help your baby fall asleep even with dealing with something like mild teething pain
- Try to limit white noise to your baby’s wind-down routine before naps or bedtime. That way, their brain will start to connect white noise to sleep
Our picks for white noise machines
Best for: White noise & night light in one
Try: Momcozy White Noise Machine
• 11 white noises
• Volume levels from 40 to 110 decibels
With an option to use manually or on an app, Momcozy’s White Noise Machine doubles as a light with seven different colours, perfect for a night light or a cosy soft light to use during nighttime feeds. Plus, there’s an automatic shut-off, making it super easy for you to incorporate white noise into your baby’s routine while avoiding them becoming dependent.
Best for: White noise on the go
Try: Tonies Nap Time – White Noise attachment
• Plays 120 minutes of white noise
• Attachment for the Toniebox (sold separately)
This cute little white cat and kitten duo can be placed on top of your little one’s Toniebox to start a soothing white noise medley. The Toniebox is also portable and comes in a range of colours, making this option super-handy for taking on the go – great for holidays or even sleepovers at Grandma’s house.
Now that you’ve gotten the lowdown on white noise, why not spend their naptime doing some light reading, like our guide to quick and easy pampering for new parents? Or, discover even more top tips for creating the perfect bedtime routine for your little one.
