I wasn't far into motherhood when I realized that not sleeping was going to be an issue for me. When I was pregnant for the first time, I thought I would just let the baby take the lead and everything would be sunshine and rainbows, but a few weeks in, I felt like an actual zombie. Desperate for some decent sleep, I took the advice of friends and purchased a white noise machine, and I haven't looked back since.
Not only do I still use white noise for my children who are now 9 and 6, but I recommend it to every new mom I know
During the newborn days, white noise simulates the noisiness of the womb, and it helps babies relax and fall into a slumber more easily. Eventually, it turns into a sleep cue, so when you turn it on, your little one will automatically know that it's time for some shut-eye and will be less likely to put up a fight at both naptime and bedtime.
I've used it with two kids now, and it works like a charm. It isn't an immediate fix for everyone, but with consistency, white noise really does help babies and even kids sleep better and for longer.
There's no need for a fancy one, either
We are currently using a white noise machine from Amazon that cost us about $25. Because our kids are older now, we've been through a few at this point, as they tend to burn out every few years. Considering our kids have used them for as many as 12 hours straight every night for long periods of time, that's not too bad. We always pick one that has the sounds our kids are used to, and one that has good reviews.
And I know it might seem silly that we still use white noise to help our elementary-school-age kids sleep, but we've been prioritizing getting enough sleep for them since they were infants and we don't want to have to tiptoe around the house in the mornings to avoid waking them up. Plus, on the days we want to sleep in, it helps the kids sleep later.
It's also become a family travel game-changer
Another bonus of getting our kids used to a white noise machine from birth has been that it actually helps them sleep better when we're traveling. We bring our white noise machine on every trip with the kids, and it helps drown out the noise from hotel hallways and busy streets and makes them feel more at ease in a strange bed.
Oh, and we should mention that you want to play it loud
Not loud enough to damage delicate hearing, of course, but the white noise machine should be set loudly enough that you can't hear too much from outside the baby's room. As long as you set it to a sound that is of a lower pitch, like "ocean waves" or "heavy rain," it will be super soothing to your baby.
Trust me, you won't regret this purchase, and pretty soon you'll be recommending it to everyone you know too!
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