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Original poster

Scared my phone could have hurt DS :(

125 replies

newmum234 · 07/10/2020 14:51

I have a white noise app on my smartphone that I use throughout all DS's naps and at bedtime. I've been leaving my phone in his cot with the app playing constantly. I wedge it between the cot and the mattress so it's secure, and it's only about 20cm from his head.

I randomly started wondering earlier if it's okay for a baby to be so close to a mobile phone, Googled and came across this article:

www.mirror.co.uk/science/you-should-never-your-baby-9935251

Now I'm really worried that I've exposed him to electromagnetic fields and am feeling terrible Sad Could I have harmed him?! DS is 5.5 months.

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1940s · 07/10/2020 15:37

There's a white noise owl on Amazon. Approx £20. Can play 24/7. Plug in or portable. Absolute lifesaver. It's a hard little on, not a cuddly one

ButterflyBitch · 07/10/2020 15:39

I listen to white noise n my phone all night long and have done for years. There isn’t a problem at all. Though like someone up thread said maybe be careful in case the phone gets too hot.

Original poster
newmum234 · 07/10/2020 15:40

@022828MAN I just thought it would be better to have it close to him - as it would drown out more sound! Surely the further away from baby the white noise is, the more external sounds they're likely to hear?

@OnSilverStars that one looks good - does it plug into a socket or is it battery powered/charged by USB?

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Pearsapiece · 07/10/2020 15:43

Oh jesus christ I've heard it all now! It's absolutely fine.

lifesalongsong · 07/10/2020 15:52

For the long term might it be better to work on getting to sleep without it, life is so much easier if children dont need any kind of must have to sleep ime

LG93 · 07/10/2020 15:53

My hummy bears can run for 30 mins up to constantly depending on the setting. You can also have it on a sleep sensor so it goes quiet after a set length of time(chosen by you) and kicks back in if it detects baby stirring in the night

Letsallscreamatthesistene · 07/10/2020 15:56

Get a MyHummy. They run for 12 hours. My DS has his on all night and for every nap.

MoonJelly · 07/10/2020 16:00

Why does it need to be on all the time? Wouldn't it be better to wean him off it?

iano · 07/10/2020 16:00

I agree with pp that this might be a good opportunity to wean him of the white noise a bit.
I'm a bit confused that you seem to think it needs to be very loud. It's just continuous background noise. The whole point is that it's meant to relaxing drone.

Original poster
newmum234 · 07/10/2020 16:01

Thanks - MyHummy look good but they're so expensive! Which one have you got?

OP posts:
Letsallscreamatthesistene · 07/10/2020 16:02

Why does OP need to wean him off it? Its doing no harm and if it helps her baby to sleep, then id leave it. Its hardly the worst thing in the world.

Original poster
newmum234 · 07/10/2020 16:03

Our place is small with thin walls, and we want to be able to have normal conversations, have friends over (which can get quite loud!) and watch TV at night without waking DS.

I figured that the louder I have the white noise, the more likely it is to drown out all these sounds!

Do babies need to be weaned off white noise? I thought it was okay to use it all the time...

OP posts:
Letsallscreamatthesistene · 07/10/2020 16:04

I got the all singing, all dancing one in a sale at christmas last year. To be honest though, id just get the cheaper one if I were to buy it again. If you know how you want to use it (just white noise, on continuously) then theres no need for the pricey one.

Ohalrightthen · 07/10/2020 16:04

Why on earth are you getting scientific advice from the Mirror? Just get a cheap white noise machine from Amazon, mine cost £20 or similar. Plug in, turn on, white noise until you turn it off.

Letsallscreamatthesistene · 07/10/2020 16:07

You dont need to wean them off white noise. It literally does no harm. I dont know why people on MN seem obsessed weaning small babies off sleep aids so young.

I know adults that sleep with white noise/the radio playing/etc. I also know babies who had white noise for sleep, then got old enough to turn it on/off themselves. It does no harm.

Feminist10101 · 07/10/2020 16:08

In the kindest way possible, OP, you’ve made numerous anxious posts since having your baby about things which are completely normal.

If you consider what the human race has had to survive to this point it may put your concerns into some context.

Are you getting support for your anxiety?

Feminist10101 · 07/10/2020 16:09

@newmum234

Our place is small with thin walls, and we want to be able to have normal conversations, have friends over (which can get quite loud!) and watch TV at night without waking DS.

I figured that the louder I have the white noise, the more likely it is to drown out all these sounds!

Do babies need to be weaned off white noise? I thought it was okay to use it all the time...

Is your DS not in the same room as you when sleeping, as per SIDS guidance?
Embracelife · 07/10/2020 16:11

This seems to be a balanced discussion.
Note it says keep the source away by 200 cm
www.healthline.com/health/parenting/white-noise-for-babies#cons

Not a good idea to havd a mobile phone which might overheat near baby s head.

surely get baby used to sleeping

with normal household noise ?

Embracelife · 07/10/2020 16:12

Not good to have loud white noise all the time near baby s head to drown out other noise.

Letsallscreamatthesistene · 07/10/2020 16:14

@embracelife why not? I get that the noise shouldnt be deafening and it shouldnt be super close, but whats the harm if its a sensible distance and a reasonable volume?

Original poster
newmum234 · 07/10/2020 16:14

Is your DS not in the same room as you when sleeping, as per SIDS guidance?

I don't want to spend every evening from 7pm in our bedroom so no, we leave him to sleep on his own in our bedroom at night whilst we have dinner/watch TV.

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Original poster
newmum234 · 07/10/2020 16:17

Does anyone have their baby downstairs with them in the evenings at this age? Confused We did in the early days but now he's 5.5 months I thought it would be okay to have him in our bedroom in his cot until we come upstairs. We could have him downstairs in the pram or sling, but I highly doubt he would sleep. Plus we'd have to disrupt him every night at around 10.30pm when we go to bed!

OP posts:
IckyPop · 07/10/2020 16:21

@newmum234

Thanks for all the suggestions but does anyone know if I could have harmed DS? I'm really freaking out - I can't believe I've been so stupid Sad
My husband is an technical expert in the field and I can reassure you by saying you will not have harmed your baby in any way whatsoever. Thanks
DivGirl · 07/10/2020 16:23

I have a myhummy and I'd say save your money and just get an Alexa thing. Much cheaper, much better.

Also, you have not harmed your baby. I was expecting you to say you'd dropped the phone on his head, and even then I was going to tell you to stop stressing.

BertieBotts · 07/10/2020 16:25

No, it's fine for them to be in your bedroom.