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There are few topics new parents talk about more than baby sleep… and how to get a little more of it.
We often tiptoe around the house, trying to keep everything completely silent so bub stays asleep. But when you think about where babies have come from, the womb, it makes sense that some may find steady background noise more comforting than silence.
The womb is a noisy place. Babies hear mum’s heartbeat, the swooshing of amniotic fluid and the muffled sounds of the outside world. After months of being surrounded by sound, a completely silent room can feel very different at sleep time.
That’s where the benefits of white noise for babies may come in. White noise can help soften sudden household sounds while creating a steady and familiar background during naps and bedtime.
It’s no surprise that at Nodiee, we’re big fans of white noise for baby sleep. If you’re wondering whether a white noise machine could help your family’s sleep routine, here are a few things to consider.
So, what exactly is white noise?
White noise is a steady sound made up of frequencies from across the sound spectrum. It is often compared to the static sound you might hear while tuning an old television or radio.
Although people often use the term white noise to describe any continuous background sound, there are actually several different sound types.
Pink noise, for example, is softer and lower pitched than white noise. It may sound similar to steady rainfall or a distant waterfall.
Brown noise, sometimes called red noise, is deeper again and may sound closer to heavy rain, rolling ocean waves or a low rumble.
Many baby sound machines now include white noise, pink noise, brown noise and nature sounds, giving parents more options when choosing a sound for baby sleep.
What’s really interesting is that researchers have spent quite a bit of time looking at the potential benefits of white noise for sleep, including how it may help babies settle.
While researchers are still studying exactly how white noise may support sleep, many parents use it as part of their baby’s nap and bedtime routine.
For little ones who love nothing more than an all-night party, a white noise machine for babies may help create a calmer and more consistent sleep environment.
Here are a few ways white noise may support baby sleep.
Think about what babies hear while they are in the womb. It is not silent. Instead, it is filled with steady, low and muffled sounds.
White noise, pink noise and other continuous sleep sounds may help recreate part of that familiar environment after birth.
For some babies, this steady background noise can feel more comforting than a completely silent room, especially during the transition into naps or bedtime.
We created our Sleep Assist Smart PRO with 34 soothing sounds, including white noise, pink noise, brown noise, lullabies and nature sounds.
That gives you plenty of options to try while finding the sound bub responds to best.
Is your little one part of a busy household? Do you have older children, noisy neighbours, barking dogs or traffic outside?
One of the main benefits of white noise for babies is that it may help mask sudden changes in sound.
Instead of every door closing, dog barking or conversation standing out, white noise creates a more consistent background. This may make sharp household noises less noticeable during baby sleep.
It can be especially useful for daytime naps when the rest of the household is still moving around and getting things done.
We’ve all heard how routines can help little ones understand what is coming next.
A simple bedtime routine might include a feed, fresh nappy, dimmed lights, a cuddle and the same sleep sound playing in the background.
When white noise is used consistently before naps and bedtime, bub may begin to associate that sound with winding down and getting ready for sleep.
White noise will not guarantee that your baby falls asleep instantly, stays asleep all night or wakes at the same time every day. However, it can become one familiar sleep cue within a calm and consistent baby sleep routine.
At Nodiee, we’ve focused on this with our Sleep Assist Smart PRO, which includes soothing sounds, an adjustable coloured night light, timers and memory settings to make everyday routines easier.
We’ve all heard about how routines - like feed and play times - can help little ones thrive. And that starts with a good sleep pattern. White noise may help your baby go to sleep, stay asleep, and wake at the same time.
At Nodiee, we’ve really focused on this with our Sleep Assist Smart PRO, which also features programmable coloured lights to help toddlers know when it’s ok to wake up… and when it’s time to stay put in bed.
Ultimately does white noise help babies sleep? The research suggests it may.
One early study published by the American National Library of Medicine found white noise may indeed help parents with unsettled babies. In that study, 80% of their participants fell asleep within 5 minutes when white noise was played.
So, does white noise help babies sleep? Some research suggests that white noise may help certain babies settle more quickly.
One early study found that 80% of participating newborns fell asleep within five minutes while white noise was playing.
A later study involving babies with colic also found that white noise may help reduce crying and support longer sleep compared with swinging or swaying.
Of course, every baby is different. A white noise machine is not a guaranteed solution for every nap, bedtime battle or overnight wake-up.
It is best thought of as one possible baby sleep aid that may help create a more familiar and consistent environment.
When babies sleep, parents have a better chance of sleeping too.
But the benefits of white noise machines are not limited to babies and toddlers. Plenty of adults use white noise for sleep, especially light sleepers, shift workers and people living in noisy households.
That’s why we designed the Sleep Assist Smart PRO for babies, kids, parents and anyone who needs a little help winding down.
Along with white noise, the Sleep Assist Smart PRO includes a wide range of sounds such as ocean waves, rainfall, lullabies and nature sounds.
You can keep the sound playing continuously throughout the night or choose a 30, 60 or 90-minute timer for automatic switch-off.
At Nodiee, we’re on a mission to help families sleep soundly. And because safety is always the priority, it is important to use a white noise machine for babies as part of a safe sleep setup.
Place the sound machine on a secure surface outside the cot or bassinet and away from bub’s head and ears. Keep cords completely out of reach and use the sound at a low, comfortable volume.
Always place bub on their back to sleep on a firm, flat surface. Keep pillows, toys, loose bedding and other items that could cover bub’s face out of the cot.
Australian safe sleep guidance also recommends that babies sleep in their own safe sleep space in the same room as their parent or caregiver for at least the first six months.
Are you keen to create a calmer and more consistent sleep routine for your family? Then we’re here to help.
Our Sleep Assist Smart PRO is a white noise machine, baby sound machine, night light and plenty more, all in one.
Find the sleep sound that works for bub and make it part of your family’s everyday wind-down routine.