All too often, I hear parents saying that they have completely skipped the white noise machines and choose to have their baby sleep in a completely silent room. For some, this is a necessity. However for most, this is one of the main reasons Baby is not sleeping through the night, not learning to self soothe, is a restless sleeper, or is easily stimulated by small sounds around them.
Some parents think it’ll hurt the baby’s hearing, some believe they’ll only need white noise to sleep and won’t sleep anywhere else, and some believe it’s too stimulating.
However, as a Newborn Sleep Specialist and Baby Nurse, I’ll be the first to tell you, none of these myths are accurate. White noise is in fact incredibly soothing, it is not harmful to their hearing, and for most babies, it’s an absolute necessity.
White noise machines emit a low and constant shushing noise that masks all other sounds, giving Baby a constant comfort.
It aides them in self soothing and is actually creating the “4th trimester” type of atmosphere for them.
Did you know, in the womb, your baby hears a constant shushing sound, that is AS LOUD AS a vacuum! That’s right! Long before their little ears can even hear anything, they have this constant shushing sound blaring all around them. And in fact, it is by far the most soothing sound they have ever heard!
White noise machines allow you to move freely about the house and enjoy your evenings, without disrupting your child’s sleep.
I constaly have parents fighting sleep regressions with their toddlers as the new baby arrives home. Your toddler hears the baby cry, they hear mom and dad constantly walking around the house, and they become easily over stimulated and over tired with the new household dynamic. Just like that, you’re up at night with your 2 year old and newborn. Step number one, WHITE NOISE! If your toddler has a constant sound to focus on, they will fall asleep and stay asleep much more easily than before! You won’t have to tiptoe outside their door anymore!
Babies who listen to a constant white noise during the night, can more easily fall asleep in loud and noisy places. They learn to tune out sounds and focus on the general rumble of those talking around them.
Dogs barking, thunder roaring, horns honking, sirens flying by, family gatherings, none of this matters when their have a loud and constant white noise near by. White noise masks all the sounds around them and ensures they aren’t sleeping restlessly.
Dr. Karp’s 5 S’s, in Happiest Baby on the Block, have been a proven tool for ALL parents.
Including, swaddle, side/stomach, sucking, swaying, and SHUSHING. So why not provide baby the constant shush and comfort they need to help them fall asleep and stay asleep longer?
—> Want to learn more about Happiest Baby on the Block techniques, contact your CNCS today! <—
My favorite white noise machine is The Hatch. It has a built in night-light, that offers a red light (the only color that does not stimulate baby during the night), several sounds and white noises, and it can be controlled by an app on your phone or the buttons on the machine itself. - The Hatch can be turned up very loud, for appropriate settings, but should never be set to its maximum volume.
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According to the AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics), sound machines should be at the farthest point in the room from the baby and at least one setting below its maximum volume limit.
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• Ensure your baby is sleeping their best with black out curtains, a tight swaddle and white noise. Have more questions about safe & healthy sleep habits for your baby? Contact me today! •
“A groundbreaking 1990 study published in the Archives of Disease in Childhood, found that white noise could be helpful. Forty newborns were studied, and it was found that 80 percent were able to fall asleep after five minutes of hearing white noise.”
