7 white noise sounds to help your baby sleep

"How do I get my baby to sleep easily?" must surely be the most searched question on the internet by parents! Sooner or later, most babies go through phases where settling is harder, and as a parent you find yourself searching for THE ultimate solution — often in vain. A trick that works for one baby may be completely useless for another.

Yet there are certain sounds that might well soothe your little one and gently but surely guide them into a deep sleep: white noise. This family of sounds has a mildly hypnotic and calming effect, and reminds a newborn of the sounds they heard whilst in their mother's womb. Here is a look at 7 white noise sounds that could well change your life:

7 sounds to know about

1 - Fan or blowing sounds

A constant ambient sound such as a fan, a hoover, or a hairdryer can have an almost instant soothing effect on your child.

2 - Water sounds

Sounds such as rain trickling against the windowpanes, the sea rolling in, a small waterfall, or a rushing stream are often appreciated by babies.

3 - The hum of a car engine

It is very common for babies to fall asleep in the car. The gentle vibration acts like a lullaby, instantly soothing them.

4 - Heartbeat sounds

Heartbeat sounds are among the best-known white noise types; a baby heard their mother's heartbeat whilst in the womb, so this sound has a deeply comforting effect on them.

5 - White noise playlists

You will easily find playlists on YouTube, DailyMotion, and other platforms containing hours of white noise. If you are using a phone or a connected device, however, make sure you keep it as far away from your little one as possible.

6 - White noise apps

It is also possible to download apps to test white noise on your baby and see whether they respond to it. Options include: Sommeil, Sleeptot, BabyBoon, Instant Baby Sleep, and many others.

7 - And what about pink noise?

Pink noise has a deeper, lower sound than white noise; it promotes quality sleep and has been scientifically proven to improve the deep sleep phase.

In conclusion…

There are several ways to try white noise with your child: mobile apps, ready-made playlists on YouTube, soft toys such as MyHummy comforters, or baby night lights.

These white noise devices should, however, be used in moderation, as it is important that children do not become dependent on these sounds to fall asleep.

What is the difference between white noise and pink noise?

Both white and pink noise can be used to add texture to an audio project, but they are in fact very different. White noise is a type of random noise with a constant spectral density, meaning it contains the same amount of energy at every frequency. When white noise is amplified, all frequencies are boosted equally.

Pink noise is a type of noise whose spectral density decreases as frequency increases, meaning the lower frequencies are louder than the higher ones. Pink noise is often used to add depth and movement to an audio project and is particularly useful for creating envelope effects and crossfades.