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Original poster

Has anyone else tried white noise/gentle music ALL NIGHT? For an older baby... Trying anything now!!

61 replies

emeraldgirl1 · 09/01/2014 20:25

She's 10m and a shit sleeper :(

I've been getting her to sleep easily (staying asleep is another matter) with some gentle lullabies on my iPad for the past couple of months. She's a dreadful wriggler and shuffler but with the music on she seems to chill a bit and stops writhing long enough to go to sleep.

I've stopped doing it for the last couple of weeks (out of routine of it with Xmas etc) and I've suddenly realised it's been taking four or five times as long to get her to settle enough to sleep if she doesn't have music on.

Am I nuts to consider playing it all night?

Would it create yet another terrible dependency, along with the dummy/being hoiked into Mummy's bed at 1am dependency I've already managed to create in her?

And really, would it actually matter?????!!! If she could only sleep with gentle music playing every bloody night for the rest of her life, but gained a mummy who wasn't close to a nervous breakdown every night???

Is white noise a better bet?

Really just asking if anyone has done this and if so if it was a good idea or just another way to screw up in the long term :( create a sodding rod for your own back etc etc :(

OP posts:
FruitSaladIsNotPudding · 09/01/2014 20:29

We did it all night when dd was younger, I can't see the harm. It might create a dependency, yes, but would that matter? Download the white noise onto your iPod/phone and get one of those nifty mini Bluetooth speakers and you're totally portable, so I can't see the harm.

We had success with ocean noise/rain noise, which is also more bearable for the rest of the household than music!

MarthasHarbour · 09/01/2014 20:31

Meh, do it! We used to settle DS to sleep with lullabies on a loop. Stopped it when he was about 2 I think.

You know it makes sense! For the sake of your sanity do it!

Grin oh and a Wine Cake

tinierclanger · 09/01/2014 20:31

I have white noise on for DD all night. She still a pretty bad sleeper though! But now I've just got in the habit. I think it does settle her down faster at least. If/when she ever starts sleeping better I plan to just gradually fade the volume down.

Passmethecrisps · 09/01/2014 20:31

I agree. Big deal. I missed Ewan the dream sheep terribly when dd went into her own room as he helped me sleep.

Cheap CD player with a cd on repeat?

tinierclanger · 09/01/2014 20:32

I do it via a free app BTW. I use the traffic noise as weirdly I find it the most soothing!

Passmethecrisps · 09/01/2014 20:34

I also had lots of apps. I think sleep pillow was my favourite one.

I am a but sceptical of the whole dependency thing anyway. How many adults do you know still have to be fed to sleep or use a dummy? They are wee. Comfort is nice. Sleep is lovely Grin

RubyrooUK · 09/01/2014 20:39

Frankly, if either of my children ever slept as a result, I'd keep white noise on repeat until they left home.

Grin
Dededum · 09/01/2014 20:41

10 years ago to help DS2 sleep I put him to sleep in front of the dryer and then purchased a CD of white noise ! Strangely enough he doesn't go to sleep with the CD anymore though does like to listen to the radio when he sleeps.

Happydaze77 · 09/01/2014 20:44

Do whatever it takes right now. You can always very gradually lower the volume if you want to 'wean' her off it at a later date.

Totesamazeballs · 09/01/2014 20:45

I would do it. We got the babycalm white noise cd when DS was little and put it on all night. It helped me to sleep more I think! He is now 20 months and has a lullaby thing on the side of his cot which he can turn on and off when he wishes. I often find it on once I say goodnight to him. He loves music and finds singing calming.

Original poster
emeraldgirl1 · 09/01/2014 20:54

Am pausing briefly via this thread to say thank you before I start googling white noise apps...

Thank you!

I am so tired of feeling that I've made an r for my own b because I started bringing dd into bed with me at 7m after deciding I couldn't face another night leaning into her cot.

Totesamazeballs dd finds music incredibly calming just like your DS so I am glad to hear it has worked for you. She calms instantly when I sing to her for example.

Now that I have the blessing of the amazing gurus on this board I feel a lot better!

Do the apps play on repeat for hours ? (Am total Luddite btw so apologies for thick question)

OP posts:
Original poster
emeraldgirl1 · 09/01/2014 20:55

Oh and Martha's harbour thanks for the wine and cake, god knows I need it!

OP posts:
neversleepagain · 09/01/2014 20:58

I use white noise for my babies all night, they are 15 months old. I have a Sleep Sound machine that I bought on eBay.

FossilMum · 09/01/2014 20:58

Yeah, we had wave music with heartbeats on max on the upstairs computer all night until DS was about 1 year old. We found it helped us sleep, too. We cut it out eventually with no probs.

Happydaze77 · 09/01/2014 21:00

I downloaded a free white noise app on my ipod. Deskfan mode works a treat! Only problem is it means I never get to use my ipod anymore!

Haahoooo · 09/01/2014 21:10

Yep, DD has white noise on all night, at low volume. We bought a white noise machine before she was born as DH was very sensitive to noise. Now it's moved with her into her room and I do think it really helps her. She's 16 months.

Ironically, from the day she was both DH has started being able to sleep through anything

Original poster
emeraldgirl1 · 09/01/2014 21:15

Thank you!!

Am now desperately pinning all my hopes that this is The Solution!

DD is a very active, wriggly, never 'off' sort of baby so I not know why it's taken me so long to think about this maybe helping.

We did use a cd of appliance sounds when she was 4 months old which had some success I think but it coincided with heat wave and 4 month regression so perhaps I was unfair in ditching it when it didn't work perfectly. Tbf maybe she would have just slept evn worse bak then without it.

Aso my mum has gone on about creating dependency... But my mum isn't the one up for 2 hours at a stretch trying to persuade a manic, overtired baby to chill out enough to sleep...

OP posts:
Original poster
emeraldgirl1 · 09/01/2014 21:16

Sorry about typos...

OP posts:
Chigley1 · 09/01/2014 21:16

Yes used to do this frequently. I had an old battery powered radio under the cot and left it 'untuned' all night.

dotty2 · 09/01/2014 21:20

Yes we bought some CDs and played them in our room all night. I don't think it helped DD, but I found I couldn't sleep without them after a while...Good luck.

(Honestly, sleep deprived parents are such a marketing opportunity - who in their right minds would pay good money for a CD of white noise. But no one's in their right mind on 3 hours sleep a night.)

leobear · 09/01/2014 21:21

Yes, my 12 month old has white noise all night. My DD1 had it as well, not sure when we stopped with her, but she is 3 and hasn't had white noise for yonks Smile

jazzandh · 09/01/2014 21:44

We have fans/air purifiers on all night.......

...all of us!!

Means that we don't have to worry about household noise when younger ones going to bed, and blots out and of those odd disturbing noises in the night..(I am a very light sleeper)!

When we go on holiday, if we have one of the children in our room, we have a fan as well, means we don't all lie there trying to hold our breath!!

Fetacat · 09/01/2014 22:08

My ds loves the ocean and bubbles noises on the mumsnet app that's free. It's brilliant and you can just leave it on all night if you turn off auto lock on your phone/tablet

stealthsquiggle · 09/01/2014 22:14

I had the radio on all night when DS was tiny - it drove DH nuts funny how he could and still can sleep through waking DC and anything else but not that Hmm but worked a charm. I would definitely try it IIWY, OP. DD used to be plonked in front of the dishwasher in her bouncy chair when she was grizzly for the same effect with added warmth Grin

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