Is Your Child’s White Noise Machine Actually Dangerous?

Many of you have probably heard the claim that white noise can actually damage our babies’ brains, and I have too. People who hold this view assert that white noise machines have the potential to cause hearing loss, may impact auditory processing, and can even cause speech delays. I’ve dived into the research that is commonly used to support these claims, and I want to share what I found with you so that you can make an informed decision.

Claim #1: The use of white noise can impact auditory processing

Some people have concerns that using white noise can actually change the way our children’s brains process sound (also known as auditory processing). The study most commonly referenced when discussing this claim was conducted on rats. Rats were exposed to continuous white noise at a level of 70 dB, and the results of this study demonstrated that these rats had impaired auditory cortical development. But, let’s take a look at the conditions these rats were put under. They were exposed to white noise continuously, and this white noise was at a louder level than is recognized as being safe for a white noise machine (keep reading- because we are going to discuss the appropriate volume of white noise machines and how you can make sure you are using one safely). These findings cannot be generalized to the way we, as parents, use white noise machines with our babies. We typically use white noise only for sleep, and ideally at a lower volume. During awake times, white noise machines are turned off and baby is exposed to a wide range of noises including his/her parents’ or caregivers’ voices, the birds chirping, silence and so much more! Basically, if you are not using your white noise machine 24 hours a day, and you interact with your baby during awake times, you probably don’t need to worry about this one study.

Claim #2: The use of white noise can delay speech and negatively impact development and learning

Some people have concerns that white noise can delay speech and negatively impact children in other ways such as impairing development and learning. We do know that when a child is exposed to loud noises throughout the day, it can potentially impact their language skills and other areas of cognition. Part of this goes back to what we discussed in the last paragraph: a child needs to be exposed to language and communication during the day as well as a wide variety of different kinds of noises for optimal auditory processing and language development. However, again, assuming that sound machines are used at a safe volume, and are turned off during awake times, this knowledge in and of itself is not evidence that sound machine use for sleep is harmful.

Claim #3: The use of white noise can cause hearing loss

Many people are concerned that white noise can be at an excessive volume that can cause hearing damage and loss. From the research I’ve read, this is the only claim I’ve discussed here that is supported by solid evidence. The good news is that we can make sure we use sound machines safely to avoid this. The AAP studied several popular sounds machines on the market and found that all of them produced sound greater than 50 dB at it’s maximum volume, while some of them even produced sounds greater than 85 dB! The current recommended maximum volume for sound machine use with infants is 50 dB. Exceeding this volume does come with the risk of causing hearing loss.

Should You Use A Sound Machine?

Whether you use a sound machine for your baby’s sleep or not is a personal choice. Sound machines are not absolutely necessary, but some families find them beneficial for the following reasons:

• Some research has shown that sound machines may mimic the sounds of womb and help soothe baby.
• Sound machines can be used as a sleep association; Baby associates the sound machine with sleep and understands that it’s bedtime.
• Sound machines can drown out external noise, which can be really helpful for those who live in smaller houses, loud environments, or have other children.

In my opinion, the most compelling reason to use a sound machine (and why I personally need to use a sound machine with my children) is to drown out background noise that could wake my children up. We live in a fairly small house with creaky wood floors, and when our children are sleeping, we tip toe around and try to be as quiet as possible. Using a sound machine just provides us with a little bit of cushion that decreases the risk of our children waking when we inevitably make some noise. Plus I have very light sleepers! Many families experience the same dilemma and find sound machines help with this.

I believe it’s important to be informed, and to not make decisions based in fear. There really isn’t solid evidence to support the first two claims listed above, when sound machines are used appropriately and safely. There is also nothing wrong with choosing not to use a sound machine, and families ultimately need to make a decision that feels right for them.

How to use a sound machine safely

The AAP recommends that sound machines be no louder than 50 dB and placed at least 7 feet away from your child’s head. You can download a free decibel measuring app on your phone to test how loud your sound machine is. Remember, that many sound machines on the market exceed the recommended limit of 50 dB, so make sure you don’t just crank the volume up as loud as possible. 50 dB is about the volume of moderate rainfall.

Tip: Since it’s recommended to place the sound machine at a distance of 7 feet or more from baby, try placing it in between baby and the source of the noise. For example, if the noise of concern mostly comes from outside, place the sound machine between baby and the window. If most of the noise is coming from the house, place the sound machine between baby and the bedroom door.

If you are concerned about the continuous noise from the sound machine, you can also opt to turn the sound machine off once your child is asleep, or set it on a timer.

I also recommend using more natural white noise, such as the kind created from a fan, rather than a sound or music that loops. We have been through quite a few sound machines, and this is our personal favorite (so much so that we have one in everybody’s bedroom now). The white noise is created from a fan, so it doesn’t loop and sounds really natural and soothing. Note: you can see on this product description that the maximum volume is greater than 50 dB as is the case with most sound machines on the market, so be aware of this, and use a dB meter to find a safe volume.

To summarize, the biggest factor to be concerned about when it comes to sound machine and white noise use is the volume. There isn’t solid evidence to support that white noise use can negatively impact baby’s brain development or language skills when used appropriately. Make sure you put the sound machine at safe distance from baby, keep the volume below 50 dB, and turn it off during awake hours. Or don’t use a sound machine if you feel uncomfortable about it: that’s totally fine, too! Some children do really well with sound machines and parents find it helps them sleep, while some children don’t seem to like the sound machine. So do whatever works best for your family’s needs.

If you’d like holistic and responsive support with your child’s sleep, grab one of my comprehensive eCourses: The Infant Sleep Foundations eCourse or the Toddler Sleep Foundations eCourse. If you’d prefer 1:1 support, you can book a call or support package.