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Original poster

Household noise whilst baby sleeps

22 replies

Freddiesmum2023 · 26/07/2023 08:08

Hello, I’m looking for some advice/experiences from you guys.

My son is 6 months old and we have used white noise ever since he was born. I don’t think any noise we have made has ever woke him up, however I can’t seem to bring myself to make any noise and insist on the house being super quiet whilst he’s asleep. It goes as far as learning what floorboards creak and avoiding them like the plague! My question is, do I need to be quiet? Will he be woken by the kettle being turned on or a floorboard creaking or is this just my post natal anxiety? Because I don’t want to make noise I am also struggling to do anything other than wait for him to wake up once he has gone to bed so feel like I am just wasting the couple of hours I have to myself every night! Does this ever stop? Will I ever get my evenings back? Thanks so much in advance!

OP posts:

Loobydoobies · 26/07/2023 08:10

No need to be quiet. Have you tried sleeping with white noise on? It covers most things :)

YouveGotAFastCar · 26/07/2023 08:12

He might be woken up initially if you’ve always been silent - but that way he’ll never get used to sleeping through noise, and you’ll always have to be quiet.

We don’t use white noise but have never been that quiet when he’s asleep, and he sleeps through most things. It’s a good time to try 🙂

cryinglaughing · 26/07/2023 08:12

I would be going the other way and try to ensure baby sleeps through anything.
I deliberately hoovered when mine were napping.
Didn't want my kids waking up at the slightest sound. Now they both sleep through anything 🙌🏻

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YouPistonWhat · 26/07/2023 08:12

You need to go about your normal so so he can sleep through every day noises.
You are training him for a life of sleeplessness otherwise. Any time you go on holiday, he goes on a sleep over, he moves into a student flat, gets married etc, he will never be able to sleep if his brain doesn’t learn that some noises are safe to sleep through.

OrangeySnicket · 26/07/2023 08:12

Just make noise. My baby has slept through pantomimes, circus shows, discos etc. It's called sleeping like a baby for a reason (once you can actually get them to sleep!).

Convincemebob · 26/07/2023 08:13

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

OrangeySnicket · 26/07/2023 08:13

(I don't use white noise either)

cocksstrideintheevening · 26/07/2023 08:14

Dts we're in nicu, the nurses always said one of the benefits of it is that they will seep through anything because it's so noisy in there. They were right!

Make noise, not excessive but normal household noise or you'll be tiptoeing around forever.

maslinpan · 26/07/2023 08:15

The womb is a noisy place so your DS will be completely used to background noise from the start.

AtomicBlondeRose · 26/07/2023 08:15

Definitely make noise. I used to hoover etc during naps so they would get used to it and it was always fine. I could bang around their rooms and never wake them up!

Bonbon21 · 26/07/2023 08:16

You cannot live like this.
Your wee one will have to get used to the world and all its noises in time.
But for now.. yes you should lower the tv volume, but otherwise.. the laundry has to be done, you need to vacuum, doors open and close, phone rings..
If you use a sling, pop him in and carry on..talk to him, sing to him while doing whatever it is you are doing.
If not, keep within his eyeline.. sit on the floor in front of the washing machine eith him while its on and talk and sing to him.. you get the idea..
If you live in silence he WILL react to any and every noise and might be quite nervy as he grows up.
You are doing fine.. just relax and enjoy.. believe me the tough times lie ahead!!
X

continentallentil · 26/07/2023 08:17

No - stop that now!

He might initially, but will quickly settle. Use the white noise while you are getting him used to it, but I’d start to wean him off that too - you want him to learn to be a good sleeper.

Fuzzballworries · 26/07/2023 08:18

Ever since babysitting for a couple who said they often played piano once their children were in bed, I have been firmly in the 'make noise' camp.

My MIL was like you but now weirdly my DH can't get to sleep without the radio playing, which keeps me awake! He's also a light sleeper and suffers for it.

I find if you make noise then your children get used to it and find it easier to sleep anywhere. I can drop off on planes for example. My DS dislikes silence at bedtime and likes to hear 'household noise' as it reminds him we're downstairs and he's safe. Honestly, once in a storm we had once of those 'explosion' thunderclaps over the house - I jumped out of my skin and raced up to check the DCs weren't jibbering wrecks, but they were both still asleep 🙄

You may wake your DS initially, but just pop up and lay a hand on him, and encourage him back to sleep and he'll soon get used to it.

DumpedByText · 26/07/2023 08:20

I used to be able to hoover when DD was a baby! Just get on with normal life while he naps, creeping around is ridiculous 😊

continentallentil · 26/07/2023 08:22

Your evenings

Also you need to work on relaxing when he’s asleep, else you will exhaust yourself. Talk to your partner about ideas to do that? I am guessing they’ll be a bit concerned about you right now.

If you are struggling talk to your HV or GP, as you might have a bit of PND.

Devilsmommy · 26/07/2023 08:22

I was like this because mine was such a bad sleeper but nowadays though I can't hoover when he's asleep, as long as his door is closed I can do everything normally. I used pink noise at first but then he became too distracted by it so his room is silent but I'm going around not tip toeing anymore

PragmaticWench · 26/07/2023 08:26

DH was raised like this and now needs 'perfect' conditions to sleep, so pitch black, zero noise AT ALL otherwise he can't sleep. Can't nap anywhere. I blame his parents entirely for creeping around their house his entire childhood making sure to never make a noise whilst he slept.

jannier · 26/07/2023 08:45

Freddiesmum2023 · 26/07/2023 08:08

Hello, I’m looking for some advice/experiences from you guys.

The quieter you keep it the harder your life will be every outside noise in summer, the doorbell, visitors etc will wake him, make your normal noise
My friend would turn off her doorbell and they sat in near silence her son was still a terrible sleeper at 7 I could hoover in my kids rooms put clothes away etc.
If your going to use childcare it won't be dark or quiet.

aSofaNearYou · 26/07/2023 09:01

I totally get how you feel OP - I wanted both of my DC to stay asleep so badly I didn't want to take any chances. People are right though, you're making a rod for your own back if you insist on total silence. I adopt a quiet but not silent approach, so I go about my life as usual, watch Tv, have conversations, boil the kettle etc, but I'm not overly loud so I don't shout or hoover or anything. I attempt to avoid the creaky floorboards around her bedroom.

I've never been able to force myself to be deliberately loud, it's a balance for me.

Aria2015 · 26/07/2023 09:19

My 2 year old has a white noice machine and she sleeps through the cleaners coming and hoovering the whole house! You should be fine!

mondaytosunday · 26/07/2023 13:09

I've never made any concessions to nap time. Babies seem to be able to sleep when in noisy cafés etc so no need to keep quiet at home. I mean I wouldn't vacuum their room while they are sleeping, but I just carry on with usual activities.

HoppingPavlova · 17/08/2023 11:29

Making a real rod for your back. They need normal household noises to be the norm while they sleep. Also, think if you have a number 2/3 etc then what do you plan to do? Gaffa tape them to the lounge and they can’t make a noise if baby or younger sibling has naps or bedtime earlier than theirs?

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