Too much white noise?

[newmum234]

I use loud white noise to help my DS (4 months) get to sleep and it seems to really help. But is it okay that he’s become reliant on white noise to fall asleep? Or should I try to mix it up so he has it sometimes but not others? I do find it useful because it obviously drowns out any loud household sounds or noise from the street, and seems to help him sleep longer...

DS currently napping. White noise stopped after 60 mins and he began stirring. I started it up again and he almost instantly went back to sleep!

You do what you can to survive!! My oldest (now 7) had to have white noise for several years, which then changed to soft classical music - he would stir otherwise, and I was too knackered. They all now have a bit of gentle classical that I play on my phone in the corridor but white noise for a few years never hurts.

After 6 months of no sleep I’ve started using white noise and I’ll carry it on for as long as needed.

It’s easy to phase it out when you’re ready just by turning it down day by day or moving it further away. So I wouldn’t worry for now.

I used it on my youngest to drown out the noise of his brother! I can't really remember how or why we stopped using it. I think it was around the time they went into the room together, which was about 10 months. I don't think he really needed it at night, he's always slept well at night, and he gave up napping completely before he was 2. So I don't think he became reliant on it.

My 3 year olds still have white noise on 🙈

We all have fans on all year round at night for the white noise as much as the breeze in this house.

I still use white noise with mine, almost two. Invested in a white noise machine and haven’t looked back! It drowns out any loud noises from the house and really helps him sleep.

This isn't a bad sleep association to form, as it's something that is sustainable long term and doesn't involve hard work for you (unlike rocking etc). And like pp said easy to gradually reduce later. So go for it!

I also use white noise and I think its fine. Its something they can choose to keep or not when they get older, and it doesnt harm them.

As a side note, what white noise machine do you have? I only ask because you said you re-set it after 60 mins. I have the My Hummy and you can set the time. I often just leave it on the 12 hour cycle and just turn it off when DS wakes.

I still need white noise to sleep and I’m 33!

I still need white noise to sleep and I’m 33!

Me too, and almost 40! Loved it when I had it on for the babies, never gave it up :D

I’m 32 & struggle to fall asleep without white noise! It’s no harm. It’s just noise. My 3 year old has the sound of rain on all night, it drowns out her baby sister!

There are sleep associations that are perhaps not ideal such dummies, rocking etc but white noise isn’t one.. and even if it was, you do what need to survive & sleep!

I used white noise from about three months of age it was brilliant.... it stopped working for DD aged 1 year though

Our 21 month old still has white noise for bedtime; she’s such a light sleeper we wouldn’t be able to carry on our evening as normal if she didn’t have it. Once she’s old enough to understand and follow instructions, e.g. stay in your room until 6.30am, we’re keeping it!

My almost 3 year old turns his white noise machine on himself. It’s a good sleep association because it’s an independent one and easily faded out whenever you want. As an adult, I sleep better with white noise so my DS can have it as long as he wants it.

We run a plug in white noise machine all night. It’s good to have it run all night as it helps link sleep cycles when they stir. Plug in saves you a fortune on batteries and the sound quality is usually better. I found the My Hummy very tinny.