How does White Noise calm your baby and help them sleep better?

Babies like white noise. They’re used to it. Before making their grand entry into the world, your baby spent 9 months in your womb, their days and nights awash in the comforting purr of human life. The beat of your heart, the sound of your blood rushing around your body, the rhythmic in and out of your every breath created a comforting dissonance not unlike the din of a vacuum.

The white noise mimics the sounds of the womb, helping calm your baby and makes them feel safe. So, how exactly does white noise work?

Back in the Womb

White noise mirrors the sounds of a mother’s womb, especially her heartbeat and her blood flow, it allows babies to feel as safe and comfortable as they do in their mothers’ bellies.

A Busy Home

White noise is also well suited for babies who have trouble falling asleep as it helps to block household noise, like that coming from siblings.

Everyday Sounds

Known to be effective in calming fussy or colicky babies, white noise is similar to many sounds in our natural environment and to the sounds that many of our household electrical appliances make.

The sounds of which household appliances calm babies?

• Washing machines
• Dishwashers
• Blow dryers
• Vacuum cleaners
• Fans

Which sounds found in nature calm babies and help them sleep better?

• The sound of water
• The sound of rain
• The sound of waterfalls
• The sound of the sea and its waves
• The sound of wind

Some babies don’t like white noise

It’s important to realise that white noise doesn’t work for all babies. Every baby is different when it comes to sleep needs, so white noise could end up being a trial and error process.

If you decide to try white noise, make sure you do so safely and at a low volume.