Why is a sound machine important for newborn sleep?

The short answer to why a sound machine is important is because we want newborns to have a high quality of sleep! 

In the womb, babies are surrounded by a constant and LOUD noise. The sound of blood rushing around the placenta is comparable to that of a vacuum cleaner. Hearing a similar noise can be very comforting and soothing to a new baby. 

In addition to the familiarity, sound machines cut down on outside noise and set up sleep cues for your baby.

Outside noise and your baby’s sleep

Barking dogs, sirens, and Uncle Fred’s booming laughter may all wake your baby up suddenly if they are in a light stage of sleep. Many parents want their babies to be flexible and able to sleep in different environments. We understand that wish, and sound machines can be easily weaned off, if that is the goal. However, in the meantime, it’s best to meet your baby where they are at. High quality sleep is just as important as nutrition or anything else that helps your baby learn and grow. 

Creating sleep cues to promote infant sleep

Sleep cues are things that happen that tell your baby it is time to settle into sleep. Three easy sleep cues you can replicate in any environment are: a sound machine, dim lights and a swaddle [or sleep sack]. If you consistently offer your baby sleep with these cues your baby will start getting sleepy with no extra effort on your part!

Our Top White Noise Sound Machines for Infant Sleep

Lectrofan

We feel that lectrofan is the top brand on the market. Each of their products produces a variety of sounds. Their sound quality is unmatched. Parents will be listening to the sound too so it needs to be something that is soothing and comforting to you! Some cheap sound machines can sound…cheap. Think static on a radio, high pitched and choppy. Lectrofan does have some of this “white noise” but also a range of brown, pink and fan sounds that are MUCH more pleasant to listen to. Also, their sound machines last! 

Hatch

Hatch is a pretty good contender with Lectrofan. The only true differences are that the Hatch has the option to use different light settings and can be run by an app on your phone. So you can set a bedtime routine setting with a dim light and softer noise, sleep setting with red light and louder noise and a wake setting with a brighter light and different noise altogether. One other key piece to mention is that if your baby wakes up then you can adjust the Hatch without going in the room. 

In our perfect world, we would love the Lectrofan and Hatch to have a baby. 

Sound machines are a highly useful tool during your baby’s first formative years! We stand strongly behind this recommendation to use them! 

Want to learn more about a sound option that isn’t a sound machine? Read our blog about the Shusher here.