White noise for sleep. Good/bad?

[Glittercloud17]

My DD insist on white noise for sleep. While I’m not against it and have allowed her to use it (she’s 8), I’m starting to wonder if it’s becoming an issue.

She absolutely insists on using it and says that she can’t fall asleep without it to the point she is willing to miss out on other things; for example she turned down the opportunity to go camping with her friends because she knew she wouldn’t be able to have it. And in the middle of the night, sometimes I hear her put it on (& it’s annoying to listen too).

Since my daughter was born, I admit that I too have become used to having it (slightly different version on my phone). I play it on my phone and it stops my mind chatter. But I’m pretty sure I can do without it most of the time.

is it unreasonable to insist on having this on? She doesn’t have it on loud (so not worried about her hearing) but rather worried it’s become a crotch like a dummy or similar.

I cant sleep without white noise. Doesn't matter where I am I need it on

Cant see that it's doing her any harm

Watching with interest as our daughter uses it (only 3.5) - we introduced at the advice of a sleep consultant. We use it to and it does give a better sleep!!

Crotch? 🤔

Clearly a typo 🙄

You can get little white noise boxes to take away camping.

I'm listening to white noise right now so I can't criticise your DD!

Why would white noise be harmful?

Sorry. First language not English. *crUtch

Use it for both my kids, oldest is 6.

I also use it now as can't sleep without it once they moved rooms

Not saying it’s a bad thing, I’m asking if it could be a bad thing because she can’t fall asleep without it. She always needs the device to fall asleep, because it’s stopping her from having sleepovers.

White noise can be soothing to kids with sensory issues. I indulge myself to it as it masks my tinnitus. However any level of noise pollution while sleeping has an adverse effect and it accumulates over years. Dainty use of the white noise machine is not much different than living by a motorway or close to the airport

Since I was a child, I have always needed complete silence and proper darkness to fall asleep and stay asleep. My parents thought it was ridiculous and that they could train that out of me. They never turned off the lights outside my room (my room door had frosted glass) or kept silence after my bed time (they continued to chat, have loud TV on etc). Reader, they couldn't. I am a light sleeper, always have been, always will.

Discovering ear plugs when I was 19 was a game changer. I went from a permanent insomniac to someone who could just sleep. I can't be without them. I can't even stand the noise of my DH breathing. My parents think it's hilarious. I think they're cruel and insensitive.

Let the poor child have her white noise.

I wouldn’t take it away for home sleep but would work on her being able to manage without it if necessary (like for sleepovers or school residentials). For example do you ever stay at grandparents, that would be a chance to practise without it. Or if not then maybe the white noise is “broken” one night (not a school night) and she can find out whether she can sleep without it if need be.

I prefer silence to sleep but when that's not possible I wear these and use a 10 hour rain noise track on Spotify. I chose the ones with the wire to the phone ( not keen on bluetooth for that long ).

https://www.sleepphones.com/sleepphones-headband-headphones
Game changer for me.

She could bring a noise machine a sleepover, and there are portable ones for camping.

It's not something that has to be kept secret.

How so? The adverse affect? Any research or links around this? Thanks

Here's one for a start

I prefer silence but where I live makes that impossible. There's always banging from neighbours and drunk/drugged people arguing in the street. The fact it's otherwise a quiet area makes their noise even more noticeable. (I know that sounds like a contradiction, but there's a heated argument/fight every night of the week, you just don't know where and when it will kick off. Sound carries even from a few streets away.)

Currently my tactic is a dehumidifier roaring away with decent earplugs, this hides most of the noise. I can still hear the fire alarm when it gets set off in the night and can still feel the bed moving when the people upstairs are throwing things around, but it blocks out most of the noise most of the time.

I've used a fan and later a white noise machine for years. Also have a portable rechargeable one for holidays. I sleep much better for it and haven't experienced any downsides yet.