Can babies become dependent on white noise?

By Livia Gamble

So your baby’s not sleeping? Perhaps someone at your mothers’ group suggested a white noise machine, but you’re worried your little one might become dependent on it for sleep?

But at the same time, you’re tired and willing to try anything. We get it!

We’ve gathered answers to common questions about white noise machines for babies, so you and your baby can get some sleep sooner rather than later. 

Noise and sleep for babies 

The truth is that babies don’t need complete silence to sleep. According to research, the sounds a baby hears in the womb can be quite loud. And it’s thought that white noise can be incredibly soothing for a baby, similar to what they heard while in the womb. 

The Raising Children Network says the key is keeping the noise consistent. For babies under six months, they suggest using white noise like a fan or radio. There are also many white noise machines available on the market, designed just for babies, as well as white noise apps to download.

Pro and cons of white noise

Pros

• It can be soothing for babies. As mentioned above, the womb is a noisy place for a baby, so noise can help to mimic that environment.
• Background noise can help block out loud sounds like a toddler, the postman knocking on the door to deliver a package, or the vacuum. 
• Babies may fall asleep faster with white noise – if you notice your baby often falls asleep at noisy times, then some white noise might work well.

Cons

• Babies could become dependent on white noise for sleep – your baby may become reliant on the background noise to sleep. Silence may also wake him up if he fell asleep to noise. 
• Not all white noise machines are created equal – one study found some white noise machines exceeded the recommended noise level of 50 decibels, which could potentially damage hearing.
• Not all babies enjoy background sounds – every baby is different.

Is being dependent on noise to sleep such a bad thing?

In an interview with Romper, Dr Harvey Karp says even adults use cues to help them fall asleep, like a comfortable bed, a ‘special pillow’, or even turning a fan on for some noise. So why, he says, should it be any different for a baby?

“There’s a lot of confusion about what sensations we can give babies without making them ‘dependent,'” he says. “Babies do learn and have expectations that things will be the same every night, and babies are dependent on sound as soon as they are born. That’s because in the womb they get the constant sound that’s as loud as a vacuum cleaner! To put a baby to sleep without white noise is jarring for them.”

The Raising Children Networks has a suggestion for those who are concerned: “If you’re worried your baby might come to depend on these sounds to get to sleep, try turning them off now and then.”

How to use white noise safely for baby sleep 

White noise machines can be safe for babies as long as they are used correctly – here’s how:

• If you use a radio or a fan as a source of noise, be sure to place it away from your baby’s ears, and keep the volume low to your child’s hearing. 
• Machines should be placed at least 200cm from your baby’s cot or bassinet. 
• Start on the lowest setting and gradually work your way up to find a level that soothes your baby (less than 50 decibels).
• Monitor the volume yourself – there’s an app for just about everything, including measuring decibels, like this one.
• Don’t play sounds all day. Babies learn so much from their environments – for example, speech and music. Don’t clutter up their soundscape with background noise. 
• Try not to use it all the time. You could turn the machine off before you go to bed, or once your baby is asleep. 

The best white noise machines for babies

When choosing a white noise machine, avoid anything that is placed in or close to the cot. Toys that integrate these types of sounds are cute, but the likelihood of them being used too close to your baby is high. 

Some baby monitors now come with in-built sound functions such as white noise, like the Oricom Secure870 3.5″ Touchscreen Monitor w/ Starry Lightshow. One parent wrote in their review: “I love the light show along with the white noise, which helps my little one sleep.”

Other white noise products our community has reviewed include:

• Mybaby SoundSpa On The Go Soother
• Baby Shusher
• VTech ST1000 Safe & Sound Portable Soother
• Skip Hop Moonlight & Melodies Nightlight Soother Elephant

Remember – all babies are different, and it’s completely normal for them to wake during the night, especially those under 6 months.

If you’re ever concerned about your baby’s sleep, make an appointment with your GP or other health professional. 

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Read more:

• 4 baby sleep products that other parents have tried – and loved!
• How to set up a safe sleep environment for your newborn
• Baby sleep accessories and night lights reviewed