Products Nannies Love: White Noise Machines

Product Review Sunday

While sleep routines including rocking, singing, cuddling, and warm baths help babies fall asleep, white noise machines and sound machines have been proven to be highly effective tools for babies that have trouble falling asleep and staying asleep.

Newborns love white noise because the womb is very loud. The womb is just slightly less loud than a lawnmower. Loud is normal to a baby. Life outside the womb is uncomfortably quiet. White noise sounds like “home” to a baby. White noise mimics the sound of the womb or "shushing" sounds babies love.

Research has found that white noise is absolutely safe for anyone, including babies and infants, since it is simply designed to block unfriendly noises and harsh sounds that prevent the baby from sleeping well.

Start using white noise machines by making the noise familiar to babies. Start by setting the volume in the lowest position. Adjust the volume level as needed with the passing of the days and nights.

When using a sound machine that provides a range of sounds, try different sounds and jot down the results to find what sounds help calm babies and decrease their colic or crying.

Most pediatricians advise playing white noise at least 35-minutes to allow babies to begin to experience a peaceful atmosphere leading to natural sleep.

Below are a great selection of white noise and sound machines to use to help babies sleep.