Is it OK to leave a white noise machine on all night for baby?
Some white noise machines for babies, particularly those that are designed to be cuddled in the cot, stop the noise after a designated amount of time (anything from five minutes up to an hour or two). While this can work well to soothe some babies to sleep, others may wake up when the noise is turned off. Therefore, a white noise machine that can play continuously through the night may be more effective for some babies.
As with everything, what’s true for one baby isn’t always true for another, so you may need to experiment a little to find the solution that works best for your baby. Therefore, choosing a white noise machine with both a timer and a continuous setting is probably a sensible idea.
Which white noise sound is best for baby?
White noise, pink noise or brown noise - what are the differences and which is best for getting babies to sleep? Well, it really does come down to preference.
White noise, which sounds like radio static or a humming air conditioning unit, covers all frequencies that humans can hear and is great for masking background noise and helping babies to sleep soundly. Pink noise is softer with lower frequencies than white noise, which makes it less ear-piercing. The sound of falling rain would be a real-life example of pink noise. Brown noise is similar to pink noise, but has an even deeper sound, with more bass in the lower frequencies (think less rain, more waves or a gentle storm). Pink and brown noise are great for calming a restless baby and settling them down for a deep sleep.
What age is white noise appropriate for?
Babies, children and adults of all ages use white noise to help them get a restful night's sleep. However babies can become reliant on them which may prove problematic if you end up staying away from home overnight.
Can white noise machines damage a baby's hearing?
White noise machines are safe for babies, as long as you don’t exceed recommended noise limits for babies, which is 50 decibels.
Based on a study by the American Academy of Pediatrics, it is recommended that white noise machines are placed at least seven feet away from the cot or bed and should always be used below the maximum volume setting.
Which is the best white noise machine for babies?
After researching dozens of different machines to compile this list of the 10 best white noise machines for babies, our conclusion is that the Dreamegg D11 is the best white noise machine there is.
We love how it can be used at home, plugged into the wall to play continuously. But if you want to take it out and about, it’s neat and compact, and can run off its battery. It has a cute design, with a useful night light that can also be turned off if you prefer. And with 11 different sounds to choose from, there’s sure to be one that your baby enjoys.
How we chose our recommendations
Because we know that there’s nothing like a real recommendation from real parents, we first headed to the Mumsnet forums to find out which white noise machines discerning Mumsnet users had bought for their children. We compiled a list of the machines they recommended for being the most effective at helping their babies sleep.
We then did some research across the wider web, looking at which baby white noise machines had won accolades or been featured in ‘best buy’ lists across websites and print media, and what customers reviews said about them. We also looked at safe sleep guidelines from the NHS, to ensure all of our recommendations comply with the latest safety guidance.
Having collated all that information, we picked the white noise machines we thought would make the best buys in several categories.
Recommendations from real parents
Mumsnet has been helping parents make their lives easier since 2000 and, in those years, we’ve seen, tried and reviewed thousands of products. Transparency is really important to us and that's why we're always upfront about where we find our recommendations.
We write about products that we feel offer the best value to most parents – the ones that our users would recommend to their own friends and family.
Before we recommend new products, we always ask our trusted Mumsnet users, of which there are more than 7 million each month. That’s a lot of honest, impartial advice.
Expert guidance
We always ensure our information represents the latest recommendations from experts so you can rely on it, and we research each product thoroughly to ensure it follows the latest expert advice and stands up to scrutiny. Here we consulted reputable sources such as consumer watchdogs Which?, as well as the NHS and The Lullaby Trust and took note of what they looked for in a white noise machine for babies and which ones they were recommending to their readers.
Consumer feedback
We also scour the internet, leaving no stone unturned to check out real reviews from customers who have bought the products themselves and given both positive and negative feedback.
Celebrated best products
Finally, we cross-referenced all of the above information to find the best white noise machines for babies that have won the most accolades and recommendations across the board to bring you a selection of the best ones at various price points. We think there’s something here for everyone.
About the author
Jenny Wonnacott has been working as a Content Editor for Mumsnet since 2022 and, as part of the core Baby & Child team, has been responsible for the Bedtime category of articles, buyers' guides and review content for most of this time. She has extensive experience of researching, testing and reviewing a wide range of baby and toddler sleep items from cribs to swaddles, baby monitors and toddler beds.
A mum of three, Jenny has done her fair share of late-night Googling in search of the best baby sleep aids - and now puts that experience to good use by ensuring Mumsnet’s reviews and buyers' guides are practical, trustworthy and based on genuine insight. She works closely with medical and industry experts and Mumsnet’s community of parent testers to make sure every product recommendation truly lives up to the site’s goal of making parents’ lives easier.
Why you should trust us
At Mumsnet, we believe parents should be able to access impartial and honest advice about products and services they may purchase.
We consult real parents as well as experts so we can offer the benefit of honest experience and we don’t take payment for our reviews from companies.
Our team of writers is made up of experienced consumer and parenting journalists who between them have a wealth of experience and knowledge at their fingertips.