Babies and sleep
White noise for babies
White noise is one of the oldest settling tricks. A small trial supports it for newborns, and a later study measured how loud baby sound machines can get. Both are worth knowing before you press play.
The short answer
In a 1990 trial, 16 of 20 newborns fell asleep within five minutes with white noise, against 5 of 20 without it (Spencer 1990). That was one short session. Hugh 2014 measured 14 infant sleep machines and found every one louder than the 50 dBA hospital-nursery limit at 30 cm when turned all the way up. So it may help settle a baby, as long as you keep it quiet and keep the source away from the crib.
Listen
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White Noise
Even energy across the spectrum, the classic steady hush.
What the research found
Spencer 1990 randomised 40 newborns, aged 2 to 7 days, to white noise or no sound. Within five minutes, 80% of the white-noise group were asleep compared with 25% of the others.
It is a small, old study of one settling session in newborns. It says nothing about playing noise all night, about older babies, or about how loud is safe. It does suggest steady sound can help a baby drift off.
How loud is too loud
Hugh 2014 measured 14 infant sleep machines at full volume, corrected for a 6-month-old's ear canal. All 14 were louder than 50 dBA at 30 cm, the recommended limit for hospital nurseries, and three went above 85 dBA. The study measured devices, not babies' hearing, but the authors advise keeping any sound source well away from the crib, at a low volume, and on for a limited time.
In practice: put the phone or speaker across the room, never in the crib. Start at the lowest level that masks household noise. If you have to raise your voice to talk over it beside the crib, it is too loud.
All night, or just to settle?
The newborn trial only tested falling asleep. Following the advice to limit duration, a timer that fades the sound out once your baby is asleep is the cautious choice.
A sound machine does not change safe-sleep guidance from your pediatrician or health visitor.
In Aviana
Aviana is built for adult sleep, but its White Noise, pink and brown noise and soft rain work anywhere you need a steady sound. Set a sleep timer, or choose Fade out and stop so playback ends on its own, and keep the volume low.
The research
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Spencer 1990
40 newborns: 16 of 20 fell asleep within five minutes with white noise, against 5 of 20 without it.
White noise and sleep induction. Archives of Disease in Childhood, 1990. -
Hugh 2014
14 infant sleep machines at full volume: all exceeded 50 dBA at 30 cm, three exceeded 85 dBA.
Infant Sleep Machines and Hazardous Sound Pressure Levels. Pediatrics, 2014.
Questions
Is white noise safe for babies?
At a low volume and a sensible distance, white noise is a common settling aid. The concern is loudness: Hugh 2014 found infant sound machines at full volume all exceeded the 50 dBA nursery limit at 30 cm. Keep the source across the room and the level low.
How loud should white noise be for a baby?
As quiet as still does the job. A practical check: if you have to raise your voice to talk over it beside the crib, turn it down.
Should white noise play all night?
The newborn trial (Spencer 1990) only looked at falling asleep, and Hugh 2014 advises limiting how long sound plays. A timer that fades it out once your baby is asleep is the cautious choice.
White, pink or brown noise for babies?
No trial has compared them in infants; the newborn study used white noise. Pink and brown sound softer to adult ears, so pick whichever settles your baby at the lowest volume.
Where should I put the speaker?
Across the room from the crib, never inside it. Distance is the simplest way to lower what reaches your baby's ears.