White noise a better sleep for babies

As a parent, you always try to make your baby comfortable all the time. Babies can also feel irritated, discomfort, and become disturbed due to circumstances. To make your baby comfortable and calm during sleep, play white noise. It’s the most effective way to keep your baby calm and increase your baby’s sleeping time.

On this page you will get the following:

  • What is white noise?
  • Types of white noise
  • Benefits of white noise
  • Why does white noise work for babies?
  • Using tips for white noise
  • When should you use white noise?
  • Is white noise good for babies?
  • When do you need to avoid white noise?

What is white noise?
White noise is a consistent background sound that helps a baby’s brain calm and focus less on sudden, potentially disruptive sounds. This sound provides your baby with a familiar environment similar to what they experienced in the womb.

Types of white noise

Pure white noise
Pure white noise is a consistent sound that has all frequencies. It is similar to white light, so it’s called white noise. Pure white noise is helpful for your baby if they get disturbed easily. It can calm babies and give them proper sleep.

Natural white noise
Natural white noise is similar to pure white noise. It is a sound produced in a natural environment, like the sound of rainfall, ocean waves, waterfalls, birdsong, and insects. These sounds reduce your baby’s anxiety and stress, providing better sleep.

Household white noise
Household white noise is a sound produced by normal household activities and work. The sound includes fans, washing machines, hairdryers, showers or bathtubs, and kitchen appliances. This noise can create a more comfortable and peaceful sleep environment for your baby.

Specialized white noise
Specialized white noise is specifically designed for several purposes like increasing sleep, relaxation, and medical treatment. The sound is a combination of pink, white, and brown noise. It may help your baby in many ways by providing proper sleep, calm, and relaxation.

Pink noise
Pink noise is like pure white noise. It is used for relaxation, sleep environment, and sound therapy. This sound is more natural, less harsh, and balanced in your baby’s ear. The sound is like natural ambient noise such as waterfalls, rainfall, and ocean waves. It is useful for keeping your baby calm, relaxed, and asleep.

Ambient sound
Ambient sound is a background sound that is always present. These sounds can be natural, like bird chirping, rainfall, or animal calls, or artificial, like the hum of a car, bus, or sirens.

Brown noise
Brown noise, also known as red noise, is more powerful than pink and white noise with lower frequencies. Brown noise is like natural and human-made sounds. The sound is very strong.

Heartbeat sound
Heartbeat sound resembles the sound of a mother’s heartbeat. Newborns become comfortable with this sound as it is familiar to them.

Benefits of white noise

Improve sleep quality
To improve your baby’s sleep, you can play white noise. White noise enhances sleep quality and helps the baby fall asleep faster.

Easy to use
You can easily obtain a white noise machine or app for babies. These are readily available.

Reduce baby’s stress and anxiety
White noise can reduce your baby’s stress and anxiety, similar to how it helps adults.

Increase baby development
If your baby sleeps properly, their growth and development improve. Playing white noise helps improve a baby’s development by providing proper day and night sleep.

Better for parents
If the baby sleeps properly and stays calm, parents get time for themselves. White noise also provides a proper sleep environment for parents.

Increase sleep duration
Playing white noise can increase the baby’s sleep duration by creating a sleep environment where the baby is less likely to be disturbed.

Improves napping habit
Daytime naps are important for your baby’s growth and development. You can improve your baby’s napping habit with white noise.

Why does white noise work for babies?
White noise works for babies because it creates a familiar environment similar to what the baby experienced in the womb. It mimics the womb environment, which is filled with continuous sounds like the mother’s heartbeat, blood flow, and digestive noises. White noise imitates these sounds, creating a comforting environment that makes the baby calm and relaxed. White noise also covers up other disruptive noises, such as household noise, traffic sounds, or siblings fighting, which can make the baby irritated.

Using tips for white noise

Volume
Set the sound level to 50-60 decibels, similar to a normal conversation or a shower sound. Do not increase the volume to a level that can damage your baby’s hearing. Keep the sound level at a point that masks other noises, helping the baby stay calm and relaxed.

Consistency
When you use white noise for your baby, try to keep the same sound consistently. A sudden change in sound may disturb your baby. Maintain the same sound, and when it feels appropriate to change it, do so carefully.

Duration
You can play white noise throughout the night. It is generally safe to play white noise all night long, but avoid making your baby dependent on it. Turn off the white noise when the baby falls asleep.

Placement
Place the white noise device in a safe location away from the baby. Keep a distance from the device to avoid any potential effects if the white noise device becomes damaged. Be cautious about the placement of the device.

Monitor your baby
Monitor your baby during white noise use. If the baby is disturbed, change the sound or adjust the volume level. Pay attention to how your baby responds to white noise and monitor the device as well, as settings may change over time. Ensure the volume level remains safe for your baby.

Gradual reduction
As your baby grows and becomes accustomed to sleeping through environmental noises, gradually reduce the use of white noise. Aim to help your baby sleep without white noise, as becoming too dependent on it is not ideal.

Choose the right sound
If you decide to use white noise to calm your baby and help them fall asleep, choose the right sound. Try different types of white noise, pink noise, and natural sounds. Observe your baby’s response to determine which type of noise is most soothing.

Use limited
Do not use white noise 24/7 to relax your baby. Generally, you can use it throughout sleep time, but it’s preferable to use white noise only until the baby falls asleep. Overuse may lead to the baby becoming accustomed to it, which is not ideal.

When should you use white noise?

Bedtime
The most appropriate time to use white noise for your baby is at bedtime. During bedtime, white noise is an effective way to keep your baby asleep and promote longer sleep. It is generally safe to play white noise all night.

Nap Times
Daytime sleep is important for your baby’s growth and development. If you want your baby to take naps, playing white noise can help. It makes the baby comfortable and helps them sleep longer by blocking out household noise and other distractions.

During travel
Using white noise during travel can help you travel peacefully. It can be stressful for a baby to travel, but playing white noise can calm and soothe them, creating a home-like environment. It signals to the baby that it is sleep time.

To calm your baby
If your baby is crying without any apparent reason and appears stressed or anxious, playing white noise can help soothe and calm them.

Is white noise good for babies?
Yes, white noise is good for babies. You can use it without hesitation, but keep the sound volume at 50 to 60 decibels and maintain a safe distance from the device.

When do you need to avoid white noise?
Avoid white noise in the following situations:

  • When the sound is too loud
  • When your baby falls asleep independently
  • When babies need to be habituated to environmental sounds to develop sound sensitivity
  • If your baby is completely dependent on white noise
  • If you cannot monitor white noise apps or devices

Every parent tries to give the best to their baby. You also do the same. Whatever you use to make your baby calm and comfortable, always monitor those things. Remember, white noise is beneficial for babies. You can play white noise for your baby.