You are at your wit’s end, you have not slept, eaten, or taken a good break from taking care of your baby, all because he just will not sleep. And when he does, you have to have the agility and grace of a ninja to make sure that you do not make any noise and risk waking him up again. This is the scenario that most mothers in the world have experienced at least once in their lives.
But what can you do? That is the way of the mom life – as you have been probably told a hundred times over since your precious one was born. But what if I told you that finally, there could be a fighting chance for mothers to give their babies good night sleeps and in return give themselves their most needed rest, too?
This is where science-based solutions come in handy. Thanks to technology, there are now legit white noise machines, or simply called sound machines, which help babies sleep fast and soundly during their sleeping hours.
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In this article, we will show you a list of all the best white noise machines there are in the market and why they are said to be the best. But first, let us explain to you further how these white noise machines work.
What Is A White Noise Machine And How Does It Work?
For those who don’t understand, let us first define what white noise is. Are you familiar with the noise that your TV or your radio makes when it loses its signal? The consistent “shhh” sound that it makes? That, in a nutshell, is white noise. It is the combination of different frequencies that come together in one, single sound.
Now you may wonder why noise would ever be associated with having a good night’s sleep. Hang in there, you will soon find out.
The amazing thing about the human brains is that it still processes sounds even while we sleep, most especially sounds that are unfamiliar and sounds that seem to signal danger. This is why we can be woken up anytime of the day when we sleep. But the thing, those same unfamiliar sounds can also be the reason why we don’t get a good night’s sleep: banging on the door, loud motorcycles outside our homes, loud barking of the neighbor’s dog, loud crashes, etc. Our brains continue to process these sounds resulting to restless and sleepless nights. This is, of course, the same with babies if not worse.
Babies are light sleepers and have gotten used to sleeping in their mothers’ wombs for nine months where there is not much disturbing sounds and elements. Any sudden, foreign, loud sounds that babies hear when they nap can easily wake them up and can even result to crying feats for hours on end. So this is where the logic behind installing a white noise machine in the room becomes sensible.
You see, white noise in the background, as it continuously plays, allows drowning of the rest of the other noises within the environment. When you have one steady sound playing, the rest of the other sudden and loud noises will be muffled, which will make it easier and better for your baby to sleep into. White noise machines offer non-repetitive sounds without asking the brains for any focus, yet allows it to concentrate on one steady sound – or in this case, noise.
Hard to believe? Apparently the use of sound machines or white noise machines and its benefits to giving babies and adults alike restful sleep has been making waves that scientists, in fact, have devoted a study for it. In the journal entitled Archives of Disease in Childhood, a study called “White noise and sleep induction” was conducted to see whether white noise help in making infants sleep. 2 groups of newborns were studied, and 80% of them responded positively to white noise – sleeping within 5 minutes of listening to it.
The Pros in Using White Noise Machine
It is a win-win situation, really, for the baby and the mother. It cannot be stressed enough how important sleep is for humans especially for developing bodies and brains of infants. But if a baby gets good amount of sleep, the mother can rest, too, and can therefore be better in providing proper care to her little one.
Eva Mendes, an actress, businesswoman, and a mother of two toddlers, swears by using a white noise machine for herself and for her kids. She says that with a white noise machine, she can be allowed to have a regular conversation with anyone without bothering her sleeping children. Best part is, using the noise machine has helped her loads with her own sleeping problems.
Using a white noise machine can cancel other noises in the environment and can produce a steady note, making almost a calming sound for your baby to sleep in. But because of technology, many machines now offer more than just the regular hertz output. The really hi-tech ones offer looped sounds with options to listen to binary beats instead of just one-note frequencies, and some even have night lights installed in them which makes it a whole lot more convenient to use.
Top 10 White Noise Machines Available in the Market
1. Top overall brand – Marpac Dohm Classic White Noise Machine
This machine can safely get away with the tag “Most Tenure in the White Noise Machine Industry” because of how long it has been making waves in the market. Since 1962, this classic product is known for its reliability and simplicity. It may be accused of being “too simple” but it is actually just being true to its form – it is a simple sound machine and it delivers only what it promised – white noise. Because it does not have any room for other functions, it also does not have a lot of complicated buttons and switches that can easily be broken due to “wear and tear”. It has one simple knob that you can turn to adjust the volume, and there is of course the on and off switch. It creates a soothing wind sound that somehow resembles the sound that a box electric fan gives. If you are looking for a variety of sounds to choose from, then this product may not be the perfect match for you. But if you want a sound machine that is consistent in its efficacy, then this product is worth giving a try.
Conclusion: Very simple, very handy, and very reliable.
2. Runner Up Brand – Lectrofan Classic
This machine may be small – standing at 2 inches tall and only 4 inches wide – but it packs in power and wins in functionality. Of course, it does not hurt that with its petite attributes, you can place it anywhere in your room that is convenient to you. It will not hurt your room’s aesthetics if that is what you are concerned about. In fact, its overall look is made with careful thought of bringing in modern and vintage together, ergo its very cool looking vibe. Is it variety you are looking for? Then this is the product for you because it not only produces white noise, it also has the option for pink and brown noise – perfect options to choose what soothes you and your baby. You also have the option to increase it to its highest volume of 85 decibels – that is as loud as a working vacuum, or lower it down to almost just a hum. Better to be informed, though, the acceptable decibels for babies is up to 50 decibels only according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. A major plus for this product is that it has a timer, too, so that helps mothers in terms of convenience. They can just set the time of until when they want it turned on at night.
Conclusion: Small but packs a punch in style and functionality.
3. Best Mutli-tasker – Hatchbaby Rest
Mothers are known for their multi-tasking skills, and of course, in helping their babies sleep well and long, they also need the same multi-tasking machine. This white noise machine for babies is a favorite among parents because it has all what a baby would need to get a good night sleep: comforting white noise background, night light, and a “time to rise” function that gently wakes up baby from sleep – best for those who want to give their babies a routine everyday. And best of all, it can easily be controlled through your phone or anyone’s phone because it is app-based. You want to change the color of its night-light? No problem. You want to adjust its brightness? No problem? Want to adjust the volume? No problem. Everything can be controlled through the convenience of your phone. Did I mention that you can turn it on or off just by a simple touch on the top of the device? And with just a few, simple clicks on your phone, you can pick your favorite white noise background from its sound library. It is that easy and convenient for all its users.
Conclusion: Hard-working device that gives its users their needed convenience.
4. The Pop-Tech Bestseller – Baby Shusher Sleep Miracle Soother
It may be obvious from its ergonomic design, smooth edges, and colorful look that this sound machine is a crowd favorite. It is popular among new parents because of its trendy look and its cool, modern functions. It even won the Gold Award from OH Baby for being voted the most by parents as 2021’s best product for babies.
This device is unique because unlike other sound machines that give out white noise as background, Baby Shusher actually uses real human voice as the calming “shush” to help make baby sleep soundly. It has a good volume functionality that is gentle to the baby’s ears and not annoying for the other people in the room. Its design is made to be portable and comes with a removable wrist strap so if you need to carry your baby to another room, it will just literally hang with you, which means the shushing sound that it makes will not get disrupted. It has an adjustable timer, too, that goes from 15 to 30 minutes.
Conclusion: A bestseller for a good reason.
5. The Clever Sound Maker – Cloud B Sleep Sheep Sound Soother
We love clever gadgets around here, and nothing is as clever and ultra useful than this cute plush toy with a built-in white noise sound machine. It is so smartly packaged in a cute plush character that no sleep-resistant-baby can be the wiser. Of course, its features are smart, too. It has 4 natural melodies: mother’s heartbeat, spring showers, ocean waves, and whale songs. It also has 2 nursery rhymes: Twinkle-twinkle, and Rockabye Baby. It has a timer too that automatically shuts off after 23 to 45 minutes, and because this was made to be handy, it has a detachable Velcro strap that you can attach to the baby’s crib, stroller, and even your bag if you are carrying your baby. Another add-on convenience to this product is that the plush exterior is totally washable.
Conclusion: Smart way to soothe your baby to sleep.
6. The Practical Choice – MyBaby Soundspa On-the-go
Because your baby has plenty of needs, and these needs do not come in cheap, you always want to get the best products that will not burn a hole in your pocket. This is why this device is perfect for those who really need the help in making their babies sleep soundly because it provides great benefits to its users and it comes in a very budget-friendly price. Now, this machine is not called on-the-go for nothing: it is made for parents to easily bring with them no matter where they go and the clip on hook can easily be attached anywhere from strollers, to carriers, to bags, even cribs. It is battery powered and keeps the white noise background on a continuous state, making sure that your baby gets his well-deserved rest.
Conclusion: Convenience and practicality combined in one.
7. The Simple Choice of Many – Big Red Rooster
This device is always on everyone’s favorite white noise machine list. Caroline Picard, the health editor of Good Housekeeping says that the beauty of this product is in its simplicity, and we can’t agree more. Its easy-to use functions make it a breeze to navigate. It has 6 different relaxing sounds that your baby will surely feel relaxed listening to. It has the option to be connected to power or to be operated through a battery.
Conclusion: Simplicity and practicality at its best.
8. The 5-Star Sound Machine – HoMedics Deep Sleep Mini
It looks modern, feels modern, and best of all works modern. This portable sleep sound machine is a favorite of many because of its 3 sleep therapy programs, and 5 sound options. You can charge it to be used for a whole 12 hours. This means you can give your baby a relaxing, deep rest without the worry that the sound will get cut off mid sleep. It also has a timer that ranges from 30, 60, to 90 minutes.
Conclusion: Beneficial for both baby and adults.
9. The Top-Rated Sound Machine – Marpac Hussh White Noise Sound Machine
If you like to travel and bring your baby with you, this device can be your life saver. Made to be portable, its design is ergonomic enough to survive the wear and tear of travelling. Coming from Marpac, a reputable brand for this kind of machine, this is noted to be very reliable and useful because if its 3 sound options, tested by the company’s specialists, that promotes sleep and of course mask the noise of the baby’s environment.
Conclusion: Your handy travel buddy.
Last but not least – Munchkin Nursery Projector and Sound System
This device calms your baby audibly and visually. Its soothing melodies are made up of 3 ambient sounds such as white noise, mother’s heartbeat, and even ocean waves. It even comes with a classical melody that appeals to baby’s subconscious. Its projector is able to give out 3 images that are made to relax and calm your baby. Overall, this smart device works hard on keeping your baby asleep soundly and peacefully.
Conclusion: Multi-tasking device perfect for picky mothers.
Conclusion
There are indeed many white noise sound machines in the market but the consumer numbers do not lie. More often than not, parents choose the machines that are simple and easy to use. This product list and review shows the products that are repetitively chosen by parents to help make their babies sleep peacefully at night or during nap times.
Sources:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1792397/
https://www.healthline.com/health/parenting/white-noise-for-babies#white-noise-for-babies
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/white-noise-sleep-tips_n_5707e35ce4b063f854df7b5d
https://www.msn.com/en-us/entertainment/celebrity/eva-mendes-uses-white-noise-machine-to-help-her-sleep/ar-BBURODg
http://nymag.com/strategist/article/best-sound-machines-noise-machines.html
https://www.aap.org/en-us/about-the-aap/aap-press-room/pages/can-infant-sleep-machines-be-hazardous-to-babies%27-ears.aspx
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