White noise/sound machine for baby?

[MiniMummy576]

I hadn't really considered a sound machine for dc2 (due April) as we never had one for DS, so I don't really get what they're for... But I saw a friend of mine had put out a begging request for one on a local FB page and it made me wonder whether I was missing a trick by not getting one!

DC2 will be in a Next2Me cot for the first 6 months or so and then will be moving into the cot bed in the 'nursery' with DS.
When DS was a baby if he woke he was always BF to sleep, since he's stopped BF'ing we always give him a cuddle if he wakes. He's a really good sleeper - only waking when there's a problem - so I'd sort of planned to do the same thing. (Just so not to drip feed for naps during the day, he would only ever sleep on me until he stopped BF'ing)

Can I just ask about people's experience of the noise machines? How/when do you use them? Are they worth the money or just a gimmick?

[Cutesbabasmummy]

We had Ewan the Dream Sheep and he was fab! It has womb sounds which worked really well when DS was tiny and then when he could activate it himself he used to like the classical piano. He would often put it on in the night if he woke up and it just seemed to help him settle. He's just turned three and doesn't really need it now but it is still in bed with him at night!

[KimmySchmidt1]

Ollie the owl has a number of sounds including white noise and also has a night light. Also worth downloading a white noise app on your phone for the day time.

It replicates the noise in the womb - some babies find silence distressing after 10 months of background noise, which is why it often works to soothe.

[MiniMummy576]

Do you use them even when they're in the cot next to you at night?
I think first time round I remember reading that the sounds of the parents moving/breathing were enough at night so that's probably why I discounted them.

[Lemondrop99]

There's a thread on it here. My preference is for a proper white noise machine, run all night. I've used white noise at night since about 8 weeks, so yes, while he is sleeping next to me.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/sleep/3159801-which-white-noise-toy

[MiniMummy576]

Lemondrop99 thank you for the link.
Having looked at all the options I think I've settled on getting a myhummy - purely because it's the only one that doesn't turn off after 3 hours of baby being asleep (which seems absolutely bonkers to me!)