White noise harmful?

[RachelG]

Hello

I recall being told that "white noise" (eg radio in fuzzy bit between stations) can settle babies, so I tried it with my DS (about 4 months old). He loves it, it calms him instantly, and really helps him get to sleep. After I've sung a couple of songs and settled him (still awake) in his cot, I put the radio on and he nods off easily. The trouble is, if I try and turn the radio off, he starts to stir and can sometimes wake up and cry. This happens day and night. The radio isn't loud - about the volume it would be if you were listening to something in a quiet room on your own. But I'm wondering if the constant noise can do any damage to his ears! Also, have I just created a problem for myself ie he now needs the radio to sleep. I've been so keen to avoid the usual pitfalls (always rocking or breastfeeding baby to sleep), I wonder if I've just found another "thing" that has to be done.

What do you think?

Fisher Price fishie Aquaquariam - has white noise settings that go off after 15 minutes

recommend it

(no it can't harm him, you're thinking of ultrasonic sounds )

maybe you could try to turn the radio volume down a little bit whilst he;s sleeping? with a view to eventually being able to turn it off whilst he's asleep?

Also recomend the aquarium by the way, DS is 3.5 and still has it on at night!

I have used 'white noise' - a radio - ALL my life. I can assure you my hearing is excellent. In fact, it's too accute and I'm a very light sleeper as a result.

I don't think it's harmful at all. Think about it, until recently, people normally shared sleeping space with the whole family, so could hear breathing, snoring etc, while asleep, also wind in trees, rivers flowing, whatever. Silence is a weird, recent thing for us.

Both my boys have white noise machines in their rooms whenever they sleep. It just hides other noises, and makes travel easier, as they bring the sleep noises from home, with them.

White noise is used in large open plan offices, and wouldn't be allowed from a H & S point of view if there was any health issue.