Hands up if this sounds familiar to you…It’s been an exhausting morning; your little one finally falls asleep for their afternoon nap. You prepare a much-needed cup of tea, sit down, and prepare for a 30-minute much-needed break. Suddenly, the neighbour’s dog starts barking, a sibling calls out for you, and the doorbell goes; the online food shop has arrived, and, just like that, Sleeping Beauty is wide awake and not impressed. Arghhh!
Unfortunately, environmental noises are a fact of life that you can’t do much about, and they can often wake babies from those precious naps and sleep times. That said, there is some good news: a gentle humming background noise can assist: white noise. In my experience, white noise machines can be a lifesaver when it comes to helping babies fall asleep and stay asleep if additional noise becomes a problem.
There are lots of options out there, but I like to use the Dohm machines. https://yogasleep.com/collections/baby-sound-machines They are small, simple-to-use devices that create a sound that blocks out a lot of these day-to-day noises that can startle and wake a child. Its sound is similar to rushing air, which can be soothing to a baby. Of course there are also lots of apps you can download on your phone too.
Although it might seem unnatural to create noise when you want your baby to go to sleep, remember: it wasn’t exactly soundproofed in the womb!
Your child is quite used to noise by the time they are born. That is because they’ve been listening to you talk, your stomach gurgling, and you generally getting on with life! They can hear your chats with friends and family, the TV, and the car radio while in utero. Believe it or not, complete quiet can be more confusing to a newborn than background noise.
One of the most significant benefits of the white noise machine is that it helps babies fall back to sleep if they wake up. This means their nap times will last longer and they will be less likely to fully wake at night.
The main concern parents have about trying this is usually about their child becoming ‘addicted’ to white noise, and that’s a valid point. My experience is that there’s no need to worry about this. A white noise machine is NOT being used as a ‘sleep prop’ – like a dummy or being rocked and sung to. It’s there to block out noises you can’t control that might be waking your child.
When you’re ready to wean your child off the machine, simply turn the volume down a little every night until you’re not using the sound at all.
If you want to talk through sleep issues that you’re struggling with, get in touch with us and talk through your concerns within a free 30-minute consultation. We’re here to help the whole family regain a great night’s sleep.
