Baby Sound Machines, Volume and Placement
A baby sound machine is optional; if you use one, keep it outside the crib, at least 30 centimeters (about a foot) away, and well below full volume.
By Amanda RoseContributing writer.
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The short answer
Babies do not need a sound machine to sleep. Some families like one because steady sound can mask a barking dog, traffic or a sibling down the hall. If you use one, two rules matter most: keep it out of the crib and away from the baby's head, and never run it at full volume. There is no official volume limit for home use, so the safe habit is low and far.
Do babies need a sound machine
No. It is a comfort tool, not a safety item. The Sleep Foundation notes that studies have found white noise helped newborns fall asleep faster, and that white noise has been studied as a way to reduce infant crying. It also points out that there are no official guidelines for how loud a sleep noise machine should be. A quiet, dark room works for many babies without any machine.
White noise vs pink noise for baby
Both are "broadband" sounds that spread across the range people can hear. The difference is the balance:
| Sound | What it is | Sounds like |
|---|---|---|
| White noise | Every frequency at equal power | Radio or TV static |
| Pink noise | Power drops as pitch rises, so it sounds lower | A waterfall |
| Brown noise | Drops off even more steeply than pink | Rainfall or a shower |
The Sleep Foundation cites studies in which pink noise enhanced deep sleep in older adults, and notes that the effect of brown noise on sleep has not been widely studied. The sources here do not compare the colors for babies. Pick the sound that masks your household noise at the lowest volume.
How loud should a sound machine be for baby
Two studies measured how loud infant sound machines can get:
- Hugh and others, Pediatrics, 2014: all 14 machines tested were louder than 50 A-weighted decibels (dBA) at 30 centimeters at full volume. That 50 dBA figure is the recommended noise limit for infants in hospital nurseries. Three machines topped 85 dBA, a level that, over more than 8 hours, goes past adult workplace limits.
- Hong and others, 2021: of 14 infant white noise machines and phone apps, 9 went over 85 dBA at full volume at 10 centimeters, roughly inside the crib. None went over at 30 or 100 centimeters, and none did at the lowest setting.
The 2021 authors recommend avoiding the top volume setting and keeping any device well outside the crib, at least 30 centimeters (about 12 inches) from the child.
Placement checklist
- Put the machine on a dresser or shelf across the room, never in the crib or tied to the rail.
- Start at the lowest setting and turn it up only until it covers the noise you want to mask.
- Keep cords out of reach of the crib.
- If you use a phone app, the same rules apply: phones were among the devices tested.
Shopping on Wiki Shopping
Sound machines, night lights and other sleep soothers are listed under baby products. Look for a model with fine volume steps and a timer, so you can keep the sound low and limit how long it runs.