🛡️ Child safety · 0 – 12 months
🌧️ Using White Noise for Baby Sleep
White noise mimics the muffled, continuous whooshing baby heard 24/7 inside the womb, while masking everyday household racket (the TV, footsteps, or stealth kitchen trips). It’s an absolute lifesaver for calming a fussy baby, but use it wisely: keep the volume safe to protect tiny ears and avoid turning it into a mandatory sleep crutch every single night.
What to do
- If you're using YouTube or a streaming app on your smartphone, switch it to aeroplane mode (keep Wi-Fi on if needed), place the phone face down well away from the cot, and kill the sound once baby has nodded off. White noise should be your emergency spare tyre for rough nights, not an unbreakable nightly ritual!
Golden rules
1. Experiment with different sounds
Try steady appliance hums (vacuum cleaner, cooker hood, fan, hairdryer), soothing water sounds (gentle rain, ocean waves), or even the steady rumble of an engine.
2. Keep the volume down
Keep it below 50 decibels—roughly the level of a soft whisper or gentle rain, not a jet engine taking off.
3. Keep your distance
Place the phone, Bluetooth speaker, or sound machine at least 1 to 2 metres (3 to 6 feet) away from the cot.
4. Cap the runtime
Turn the sound off once baby is fast asleep (or set a 30- to 45-minute timer) so their little ears get vital periods of pure, restful quiet.
5. Don't overthink it
YouTube and music streaming platforms are packed with multi-hour tracks featuring every kind of white noise known to man. No need to buy pricey specialised gadgets.
Read next
This guide doesn't replace medical advice. When in doubt, call your doctor or your local emergency number.