White Noise for Newborns: How to Use It Safely

You can play background noise for a newborn as long as it is quiet, the source is not close to the baby, and it is not playing constantly. Turn down the volume, place the device well away from the crib, and switch it off when the noise is no longer needed.

White noise and other steady sounds can become part of a bedtime routine, but it is important to monitor the volume and distance from the source. This article explains how to use noise for newborns and what to watch for so you do not overstimulate your baby’s hearing. For other ideas for the first months of life, read our guide, “Knitting for Newborns: Choosing Yarn, Safety, and First Projects.”

• 50 дБ Maximum white-noise volume in the recommendations provided
• 1 м Minimum distance between the noise source and the child
• 2,5 месяца Age reference in the deti-online.com article; not confirmed by the other materials provided as a universal cutoff

Can white noise soothe a newborn?

White noise may soothe a newborn as they fall asleep, but it does not guarantee sleep and is not essential to caring for a baby. It is a sound background that helps some babies relax but may bother others.

AmaroBaby’s recommendations say that white noise itself is not harmful to a newborn when used correctly. For cautious use, keep the volume at or below 50 dB and place the sound source at least a meter from the baby; if your baby seems unsettled by it, do not insist on using it.

When to turn it on and how to interpret age-based advice

Eldorado.ru advises turning on white noise while the baby is falling asleep and during the early stages of sleep, after which the device can be switched off. This does not mean the noise has to play all night: it can simply be part of the bedtime routine.

The deti-online.com article describes white noise as most effective for babies under 2.5 months, but this age cutoff should not be treated as a universal medical standard: the other materials provided do not confirm it. Pay attention to your baby’s response and use noise only during sleep, not while they are awake.

How should you choose the volume and distance from the source?

To keep white noise at a safe volume, set it no higher than 50 dB and place the source at least 1 m from your newborn; if the sound bothers your baby, switch it off.

Two key safety guidelines: 50 dB and 1 m

The 50 dB threshold is the upper limit in the recommendations provided, not a reason to turn up the volume to drown out household noise. The sound source should be at least 1 m from the baby: do not put the device in the crib or place it near your baby’s head.

• Dedicated device: A suitable option if you can control the volume and place the device at least 1 m from the baby.
• Another sound source: You can use one too, provided you can apply the same two settings: keep the level at or below 50 dB and place it at a safe distance.

The source materials do not specify particular models or prices, so when choosing, look for the ability to adjust the volume and place the source at the required distance. Settings are not the only consideration: if the sound clearly bothers your baby or makes them restless, switch it off rather than trying to create quiet with louder background noise.

When should you turn white noise on and off?

Turn on white noise to help your baby fall asleep, then switch it off once they are asleep. This keeps its use associated with sleep instead of turning it into constant background noise during the day. This cautious approach is in line with Eldorado.ru’s recommendation to switch off the device after the baby falls asleep.

If the sound stays on overnight

The recommendations differ: Eldorado.ru suggests switching off the noise after the baby falls asleep, while a combined resource says it can be left on all night if the volume is limited. If you choose the overnight option, pay attention to your baby’s response and do not insist on keeping the sound on if it makes them uncomfortable.

• More cautious option: Switch off the device after the baby falls asleep — a simple way to limit exposure to noise.
• If you leave the sound on: Keep the volume at or below 50 dB and place the source at least 1 m from the baby.

White noise should not be left on while your baby is awake or used as continuous background noise during the day. For sleep, choose what your baby tolerates: switching it off after they fall asleep is the more cautious approach, while overnight use requires keeping the volume at or below 50 dB and maintaining a distance of at least 1 m.

Why shouldn’t you use noise while your baby is awake?

Do not play white noise constantly while your baby is awake: they need to hear a variety of sounds and the everyday speech around them. So do not use it as an all-day soundscape or let it drown out your interactions with your baby.

Limit: Don’t let noise become an all-day background

AmaroBaby’s recommendations advise against white noise while a baby is awake. BabySleep describes a different approach: introducing the sound during calm periods of wakefulness and using it as a “bridge to sleep.” Keep this difference in approaches in mind rather than turning noise into constant background sound.

• Cautious approach: Use white noise for settling and sleep, not all day.
• BabySleep approach: Briefly introduce the sound during calm periods of wakefulness.
• Everyday interaction: Do not let noise drown out speech and other sounds around your baby.

When recommendations differ, the cautious choice is to limit noise to settling and sleep. White noise does not replace a safe sleep setup and should not make it harder to notice your baby’s discomfort: if the sound makes them restless, do not insist on using it.

What mistakes can make white-noise use less safe?

White noise is used carelessly when the volume exceeds 50 dB, the source is placed less than 1 m from a newborn, or playback continues despite the baby’s reaction. These limits matter even when the sound seems quiet and soothing to an adult.

Do not move a speaker or phone closer to the crib to make the effect more noticeable: keep it at least 1 m away and the volume at or below 50 dB. If your baby grimaces, becomes restless, or otherwise shows that the sound bothers them, switch it off instead of letting it play automatically.

Do not interpret the claim that white noise is safe as permission to play any sound, at any volume, at any time. The combined recommendation is to pay attention to your baby’s response; in addition, do not use noise while they are awake. White noise does not guarantee that your baby will settle: if it does not help, do not turn it up beyond 50 dB or insist on using it. Try soothing your baby without it.

What else should you consider when choosing a sound routine?

When choosing a sound routine, decide whether white noise is actually needed to help your baby fall asleep, and follow two safety guidelines: no more than 50 dB and at least 1 m between the source and the crib.

Eldorado.ru links the use of noise to falling asleep and the early stages of sleep, while AmaroBaby advises against using it when a baby is awake. First, consider whether the sound helps your baby fall asleep: if they sleep peacefully without it, white noise is not necessary.

• Volume: Do not exceed 50 dB.
• Distance: Place the sound source at least 1 m from the crib.
• Your baby’s response: If the noise causes discomfort, do not insist on using it.

When sound isn’t needed

White noise can be part of a bedtime routine, but it is not essential background sound for every waking moment. Pay attention to how your baby is doing, and do not turn it on automatically if they fall asleep without it or become restless when they hear it.

If you’re interested in first projects for your baby and the materials to use, find out more in our guide, “Knitting for Newborns: Choosing Yarn, Safety, and First Projects.”

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Written byAnastasiya Dyakova

Анастасия Дьякова специализируется на вопросах ментального здоровья мам и поддержке в послеродовом периоде. Она стремится предоставить читателям полезные советы и вдохновляющие истории, способствующие укреплению связи между матерями и их детьми. Ее подход основан на эмпатии и научных исследованиях.