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White noise to sleep... does it work?

19 replies

PloddingAlongHere · 16/08/2022 07:49

My dd was/is a terrible sleeper, baby #2 is pending next month. Do these Ewen the sheep type things actually work? I'm a massive skeptic and notmally take the opinion that these babies that come out the womb and sleep through the night are just luck but I'm already shattered!!
Anyone had any luck woth them? Or have a better idea?


This thread is quite old now so some of the suggestions may be out of date, but if you’ve landed here looking for white noise machine recommendations, we’ve recently updated our best white noise machines page with lots of great options, as tried and tested by Mumsnet users and their kids. We hope you find it useful.
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OP posts:
Ebonyhorse · 16/08/2022 07:50

I have a dream egg, it’s just part of the routine at bedroom, routine is essential!

greywinds · 16/08/2022 07:53

Different things work for different babies - dd1 loved swaddling. I agree routine and darkening the lights at nighttime help.

Good luck - I've had one awful sleeper I understand the fear.

Cuwins · 16/08/2022 07:57

The ones like the sheep- not for us when they stopped after 20mins she woke but we have a continuous running one and that seems to help. However as adults we have a continuous one running overnight too- makes a massive difference to us, we both struggle to sleep without it now

Blixem · 16/08/2022 07:57

I had a my hummy when DD was little and it wasn't great. It didn't go very loud and the batteries never lasted.
I got a white noise machine from amazon its been great. DD is nearly 3 and we still use it just outside her room to mask the noises from the other kids when she is in bed!

ChittyBang1987 · 16/08/2022 08:09

We do pink noise. Through Spotify. We used to do through alexa. Now we brought the track, on an old phone through blue tooth speak. She couldn't deal with turning off after 20 mins. It helps link sleep cycles, and now I can't sleep without the bloody thing either.

MumChats · 16/08/2022 08:12

Did for our DD. We downloaded a free white noise app on our phones which worked well. You could try that first and then buy a Ewan the sheep/Sophie Girafe/portable white noise machine if it helps?

PloddingAlongHere · 16/08/2022 08:13

You lot are so helpful, did you pop it in the mosses basket when they napped to or just for the quite nights to keep them asleep?

OP posts:
OldTinHat · 16/08/2022 08:19

I'm going back 24yrs but my DC always fell asleep immediately when I switched the baby monitor to white noise.

They also zonked out to the hairdryer and the vacuum!

Basilthymerosemary · 16/08/2022 08:25

We have a noise box. Little ones (now toddlers) have always had it and forms part of their bedtime routine. I do think it helps as it masks random noises that could potentially wake them and you don't need to tiptoe around. We wouldn't be without one- although we do change the 'sound' every few months.

downwiththebees · 16/08/2022 08:36

My first loved white noise - the louder the better! My second not bothered at all. There are lots of white noise apps you can download on your phone so you can try if baby likes it before getting a machine.

Cuwins · 16/08/2022 08:53

PloddingAlongHere · 16/08/2022 08:13

You lot are so helpful, did you pop it in the mosses basket when they napped to or just for the quite nights to keep them asleep?

Ours hangs on the cot (was the next to me when she was smaller) for any sleeps.

Juil · 16/08/2022 09:04

Sorry to say that they never worked for us.

89redballoons · 16/08/2022 20:39

It has noticeably helped both of mine, but agree it has to be on all night. If it switches off, that in itself can wake them up. The ones with cry sensors kick in when they're crying (obviously) and then it's too late!

For DS2 who is now 4 months, we have a tommee tippee dreammaker, which plays pink noise and has a red nightlight. The first time I turned on the pink noise DS2 was in the middle of crying and he just stopped. It was a bit spooky. It has different options for pulsing light, turning off after 20 mins, volume etc so you can play around and find what your baby likes. My DH does now describe our bedroom as "the murder room", though, as it is bathed in eerie red light and weird noise all night long.

Tasha80 · 17/08/2022 20:38

Don't bother with Ewan - he only does noises for 20 mins and even with the newer version the baby has to cry for him to do another cycle, which defeats the point of him.
You want continuous noise throughout the night / nap time to help the baby link up sleep cycles rather than becoming fully awake when one sleep cycle ends.
Pink noise is closer to the sound of a heartbeat so works better than white noise.
We use a noise machine positioned on the floor near to the baby's crib.
Husband has tinnitus so even before baby we had a noise machine on for sleep.

catsnore · 17/08/2022 21:06

I have experimented with YouTube white noise videos. They seem to help my baby settle back down at night if unsettled after a feed (found it quite effective for me too!!). I also put it on if she falls asleep in the car and then we get home - just to keep her asleep a bit longer without the engine noise.

Pompom2367 · 17/08/2022 21:08

We had Euan she hates but but loved just the unit from inside in the cot but she broke it we bought a monitor that plays white noise usually we put it on you tube till she is asleep then if she starts stirring during the night play it on the monitor and she re settles she is now 8 months and still works

Calphurnia88 · 20/08/2022 10:34

For my 5mo, sounds are a part of the nap/bedtime routine but it's more of a signal that it's time to sleep, rather than something that will put him to sleep.

I'm hoping the various sleep associations I use (sound, songs, sleep sack, comforter) will pave the way to independent sleep eventually but for now he needs to be fed to sleep. We used to rock but it stopped working when he became more distractable around 4mo.

ADQS · 06/09/2022 13:14

Ive been using white noise/rain noise for the past 11 months with my little one and now its on every night. I would absolutely try it and see the results. I think not having the break in sound helps reduce the chance of the baby waking up when there actually is a noise. My neighbours like to slam car doors but the white noise helps to muffle it.

Self promo - I made some white noise videos here - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTAplED12R1XJL7kEgG-SNQ

MikeB07 · 21/12/2023 19:37

We found you tube good for this and it works well, the 10 hour videos are good as they go all night, just make sure your phone is plugged in...

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC65P9cQVQEWhC3k2SSVFv3w

Before you continue to YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC65P9cQVQEWhC3k2SSVFv3w

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