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Original poster

I use white noise every night, bad for baby?

27 replies

Sophie1029734 · 25/03/2021 19:46

Hi everyone. Since birth I've been useing white noise for my little girl. I need it to sleep and have done for years, we co sleep so it's just always been on at night. Even during her naps its on, the walls are so thin and anything I do downstairs can be heard upstairs. Twice I forgot to put it on and twice she woke up from kitchen noises or simply dropping something .

I always saw different things that played white noise aimed for babies so I made the assumption that there were no issues with it. My nan says it's bad for her hearing, i was sick of hearing this comment so decided to look it up. I'm now faced with a tone of sites saying its damaging to their ears. Now I'm worried 😭

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Original poster
Sophie1029734 · 25/03/2021 19:51

Btw my baby is now 13m

OP posts:
Thatwentbadly · 25/03/2021 19:51

Unless it’s loud enough to cause damage - it would be uncomfortable loud - then it’s fine.

bloodywhitecat · 25/03/2021 19:52

Wouldn't it have to be very loud for it to damage hearing?

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Quail15 · 25/03/2021 20:16

My DD is 2 and had had low level white noise in her room since she was born. She is a very light sleeper and without it she wakes the moment anyone walks past her room. Definitely no issues with her hearing.

EasterIsComing · 25/03/2021 20:18

In the nicest possible way you Nan is nuts. Why does everyone feel they have to criticise Mums, as if we don’t beat ourselves up enough without everyone else piling in with random criticism.

eensyweensySpider · 25/03/2021 20:20

@Sophie1029734

Btw my baby is now 13m
Same here!! 13m old and still using the white noise, all night. In fact, I can't sleep without it now either 😂 It just buzzes away quietly in the background....
FTEngineerM · 25/03/2021 20:20

Jesus I’ve heard it all now, has she any idea how loud it is inside my womb?! They literally love that noise.

MumofPsuedoAdult · 25/03/2021 20:23

When my DS was a baby my mum told me to keep the crib in the living room as if he got used to falling asleep with background noise he'd learn to sleep anywhere. He's 19 now and she was right.

ShirleyPhallus · 25/03/2021 20:24

If it makes you feel better, you can download an app that measures the sound of a room in decibels. I had the same concerns when my baby was little and used one of those to get the perfect noise level! (Perhaps a little obsessive I’ll grant you)

Sandsnake · 25/03/2021 20:29

White noise is amazing! DS has had it from being a tiny baby and is now five and still loves it. DD has it too and is 13 months.
It’s been a total godsend when there have been things like fireworks or we’ve had people round as they’re not disturbed by the noise.

Mamabear04 · 27/03/2021 08:04

My DD is 16mo and we still use it because she is a light sleeper and we live in a flat. My nan used to tell me it was bad to exercise so....take her comments with a pinch of salt. You know what's best for your baby

Letsallscreamatthesistene · 27/03/2021 08:43

12mo here and still using white noise. Unless its the volume of a fog horn, you're fine.

AlexaStop · 27/03/2021 11:23

I still use it with my 22mo and also 8mo. It's the only way that they don't disturb each other during the night when one wakes up

ViolaValentina · 27/03/2021 11:25

My toddler is 17mo and we still use it every night and nap time as she's a really light sleeper and gets woken up otherwise.
I can't sleep without it on now either!

user1493413286 · 27/03/2021 12:57

Do people use it all night long? And if so what do you have to play it from?
I use a Ewan the sheep but it only lasts 20 minutes and I think it’d help DS sleep if it was all night.
I read a few things about it before I started using it and it was only if you have it too loud that it damages their hearing

AliceMcK · 27/03/2021 13:00

We used white noise for years with our DCs. Only stopped in the last month with our 3yo. Absolutely nothing wrong with any of my childrens hearing unless I’m asking them to do something.

Letsallscreamatthesistene · 27/03/2021 13:58

@user1493413286

Do people use it all night long? And if so what do you have to play it from? I use a Ewan the sheep but it only lasts 20 minutes and I think it’d help DS sleep if it was all night. I read a few things about it before I started using it and it was only if you have it too loud that it damages their hearing
My Hummy!
ohidoliketobe · 27/03/2021 14:02

@MumofPsuedoAdult

When my DS was a baby my mum told me to keep the crib in the living room as if he got used to falling asleep with background noise he'd learn to sleep anywhere. He's 19 now and she was right.
Absolutely this! When pregnant with my 1sy, a no nonsense midwife asked me to describe the womb environment - dark, wet, noisy, mum's heartbeat all the time, don't get hungry, cosy and warm. Then asked, so imagine the shock to the system when they're born and its bright, and cold and people insist on tip toeing around them and expect them to sleep in silence in a little moses basket all in their own! Give them a cuddle, keep them used to noise.
Mamabear04 · 27/03/2021 16:41

user1493413286

Do people use it all night long? And if so what do you have to play it from?
I use a Ewan the sheep but it only lasts 20 minutes and I think it’d help DS sleep if it was all night.
I read a few things about it before I started using it and it was only if you have it too loud that it damages their hearing

We bought a wee battery operated thing off Amazon for a tenner and it stays on all night

eensyweensySpider · 27/03/2021 16:58

@user1493413286

Do people use it all night long? And if so what do you have to play it from? I use a Ewan the sheep but it only lasts 20 minutes and I think it’d help DS sleep if it was all night. I read a few things about it before I started using it and it was only if you have it too loud that it damages their hearing
I have a White Noise playlist on Spotify, specifically for babies. There's a particular soundtrack we use and it's left on repeat on the iPad all night. But there are loads of hours and hours long tracks on YouTube too.
Ivfmommy2b · 28/03/2021 21:40

You can buy a white noise machine (plug in) from Amazon. It’s great!!

Mimi1313 · 15/09/2022 11:08

Don't worry about using white noise! I started using it when my baby was 3mo and it helped him settle and stay asleep. I stopped using it at 5mo because I just did and his sleep was terrible but I got used it. I randomly started using it again at 8mo and lo and behold, he sleeps so much better now!!! Some babies are just light sleepers (like some adults are) and my little one wakes up just from hearing my husband rustling around!

Blackopal · 15/09/2022 11:10

Bought a white noise machine for first child and it is still on every night 12 years later!
I love it.

Aretheyhavingalaugh · 15/09/2022 11:26

I used white noise for first DC until she was a year old as she would wake up constantly. With my 2nd, I stopped using at 6 months as I noticed he was getting a build up of ear wax on the side that was playing the white noise and he is a much better sleeper than my first born.

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