Suggestions for White Noise

Updated on October 18, 2007
M.G. asks from Dundee, IL
32 answers

My baby is a very light sleeper and the slightest noise will wake her up. We've recently started putting a coldmist humidifier in her room and run it while she sleeps to block out background noise which works very well but we just read that they need to be cleaned every day which is next to impossible. Does anyone have any suggestions on what to use for white noise while my little one sleeps?

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J.L.

answers from Chicago on

http://www.white-noise.us/

We bought the one for $49.99...I know it is pricey...but it works really well. I have 3 of them now..one for us, our daughter who is now 2 and our son who is a month old. I think it helps. Good luck.

1 mom found this helpful
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R.M.

answers from Chicago on

We use a small fan that is turned against the wall. It is easy to take with us and is good in the summer for a breeze.

1 mom found this helpful
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W.O.

answers from Chicago on

we have the Homemedics sound machine from Linen and Things, LOVE IT! We use it on the waterfall option. I like that I can pack it easily to take with us when/if we travel. I did try the radio static, but every once in a while people talking on CB radios would cut in and disturb everything.

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L.P.

answers from Chicago on

Radio static - try 98.5 on the dial. it is right next to the classical station.

1 mom found this helpful
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D.C.

answers from Chicago on

M.,

After trying various sound machines and humidifiers, I finally came to the conclusion that a fan is the best way to make white noise. My kids sleep on the first floor, and the fan really blocks out all the noise that I make on the first floor while they're napping or have gone to bed. I bought a little table fan at Target for about $15 or $20, and it works great. Test it out in the store if you can to make sure it makes enough noise.

One thing - I believe I read in the instructions that using a humidifer without water is a fire hazzard! Be careful! I do use those, with water, during the winter or when we have colds, but they don't seem to make enough noise to make a difference. I hate cleaning them all the time. It's such a pain!

1 mom found this helpful
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A.C.

answers from Chicago on

We have used a HEPA air purifier in my daughter's room since she was an infant. Added benefit is that I never have to dust her room!

1 mom found this helpful
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C.

answers from Chicago on

We use a white noise machine from Babies R Us called Sound Sleeper. I like that it plugs into the wall and we use it all night so it helps in the morning too since my kids are fairly late sleepers in the morning, though it has different settings for how long you want it to go if you don't want it going all night long. It has many types of sounds and you can combine the sounds too. It's $19.99. We use that for my almost 2 year old and at nap time with home day care kids. My 3.5 year old has listened to the same CD (Baby Einstein Lullaby Classics) since he was a baby while sleeping. We play that softly all night long for him too on repeat to help him sleep through the morning noise too. So, just a couple more ideas for you. Also, with the cool mist humidifier, my kids are prone to dry skin, so the dermatologist told us to use it all night every night that we have the furnace on to help with their skin.

1 mom found this helpful
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A.S.

answers from Chicago on

We use one of those Sound machines they make for adults that has different sounds (rainforest, white noise, waves etc) to help you fall asleep. Ours has a specific white noise sound. It was the only thing that helped my son when he was colicky as a baby and he still uses it at 3 1/2. I think it was about 20.00.

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S.B.

answers from Chicago on

Hi M., Looks like you've gotten a ton of suggestions already. Here's the one we've used for three years (recently buying a replacement after my husband accidentally dropped ours on the floor and ruined the power connection, so be careful about that!). I highly recommend it.

http://www.sharperimage.com/us/en/catalog/product/sku__SI...

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A.G.

answers from Chicago on

I purchased ours from Linens N Things, and it's called a Homedics SoundSpa Relaxation Sound Machine. It has 6 different noises, and we prefer the waterfall sound because it is the closest to white noise. It also works with batteries, which has been great because we can pack it and take it any where even if we go away for a long weekend and don't have access to an outlet to use it!
I tried the fan but even if it's not directly blowing on my daughter I found that it cools the room down too much so now that winter is coming I wouldn't recommend it unless you want to raise your heat a bit to compensate.

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S.K.

answers from Chicago on

I also just took the water tank off the (cold air) humidifier, so it's just the fan making the noise. Perfect and cheap solution!! Have been doing it for a year now. But I'm intrigued by the radio static solution! Will give that a shot with the next baby - this poor, overworked humidifier is bound to break down eventually.

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D.P.

answers from Chicago on

Hi M.-
In desperation one day, I purchased white noise sampler sounds on e-bay for about $4 -- which allowed me to download 7 noises, 10 minutes each. I burned a CD, and used my old portable CD player hooked up to a computer speaker that I took from my old desktop computer and I would choose a noise (water, womb sounds, vacuum, fan, dryer, etc) and put it on repeat and play it all night. It worked great!! The water noised worked best for me and it was much cheaper than a sound machine. Now I use it for lullaby music to put my 7-month old to sleep for naps. Good Luck!

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L.A.

answers from Chicago on

BOX FANS!! Both of my kids sleep with boxfans on high...it drowns out barking dogs, school buses, loud neighbors, garbage trucks, etc. I don't know what I'd do without them!

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H.J.

answers from Chicago on

Sharper Image has one that's really good. You can choose from lots of different sounds, white noise among them.

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A.K.

answers from Chicago on

Hello. April 10,2002 is when my youngest son was born.lol Congrats. Try a little fan. They have desk box fans and it worked with my kids (I had the same problem you did). Anyway, hope this helps.....and congrats.:)

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J.P.

answers from Chicago on

I ditto Deb. We also bought one at Target for about $20 and have been using it for many, many months. I think it has really helped my son and myself, he can sleep and I don't have to tiptoe around the house!!

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K.M.

answers from Chicago on

Hi M.,

We use a fan for white noise for both our kids. We don't face the fan towards them, we actually put it in a corner and let it blow right into the corner.

I sleep with a fan myself and my husband thought I was starting a bad habit with them, but in reality, both the kids like the noise - it calms them, and we don't have to be as quiet while they are sleeping either because the fan noise blocks everything out.

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V.D.

answers from San Diego on

I know you have already had numerous responses, but thought I'd share my thoughts too. :) We too have 2 daughters that are very light sleepers. I had originally bought a Honeywell Air Purifier...however, it's not very loud at all & barely made a difference. So...I bought a Honeywell little desk top fan (Target for $10.99, Walmart also has them) and put it in a corner away from their crib/bed (my daughters, ages almost 3 & the other just turned 1 share a room) & point it towards the ceiling (in circulating mode)...works wonders. In fact, works so well that we now have one in our bedroom too. Which helps tremendously, especially for my husband who is currently working nights and needed something to block out noises while he sleeps in the morning and the girls and I are awake.
Best of luck to you.

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J.M.

answers from Chicago on

M.,

I have a seven year old that was also born on April 10th! We still use either a fan (in warm weather) or a space heater(in cold weather).

Good Luck!

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L.F.

answers from Chicago on

The ceiling fan on low might be best. One of the builders says it works best with his children. He has had three sets so he should know.

Make noise so she gets use to it. I have had other friends do that.

Good Luck

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A.H.

answers from Chicago on

How about a small fan? Or maybe play a gentle white noise CD on in her room? They're very calming.

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L.S.

answers from Chicago on

Hi M.!
I have a friend who used the humidifier without water so it just made the noise her daughter was used to but she didn't have to worry about filling it up or cleaning it so often. She saved some money and didn't have to worry if her daughter would take to a different noise.

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J.J.

answers from Chicago on

Hi M...
I know, I want to buy one for myself..!! they have those white noise/nature sounds machines.. some even have clocks with them up at Bed Bath and Beyond..linens and things ( I think the brand names is homedics or something.. ) and if you bring in your 20 percent off coupon, it will be less than $20.00.. it has like a rain storm.. forest.. ocean.. things like that.
sweet dreams!

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K.K.

answers from Chicago on

We use a clean air filter thing that plugs intot he outlet. It was like 20 bucks at target and wlamart by the clean air stuff

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L.K.

answers from Chicago on

We have a Honeywell air purifier in our daughter's room. It is not extremely loud, but it blocks out a lot of background noise. I hope this helps. :)

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D.H.

answers from Chicago on

I see someone already posted this, but we just took the humidifier and didn't put any water in it. We use it every night and at nap time too. Fans and air purifiers should work well too. Good luck.

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A.S.

answers from Chicago on

we used to use a small fan, now we use an air purifier. Both work well for us. My friend uses a small sound machine that plays nature sounds like rain, etc.

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L.P.

answers from Chicago on

What I did was buy a cheap clock radio for $9 and just put it on static. Works like a charm!

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S.O.

answers from Chicago on

You can try using a fan it does'nt have to blow on her but maybe a wall or out her door it works realy good.

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C.U.

answers from Chicago on

We use a fan also, not pointed to them. Either circulating or pointed away.

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P.F.

answers from Chicago on

Hi M.,
I'm sure you've gotten this response already but just in case...try putting a cd player in her room. My daughter got one as a gift with some lullaby music before she was born. She is now 4 years old and still listens to fall asleep. She does fine without it when we are not home, but when we are it is a staple. Night light goes on and so does the cd.
Good luck!
P.

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A.M.

answers from Chicago on

Get a "clean air machine" it's shapped like a 8x10 box and it's GREAT! i have two for both my girls rooms and i still use them to drown out the noises during the night so they don't wake up. you can get them at walmart, by the humidifiers and smokeless ashtrays. good luck!

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