Or you can buy a sound machine like the marpac that has two settings- 50 dB and 70 dB (from 6 inches).ĭr. You can buy devices that measure decibels (remember to take in account distance from the object) and there are even apps that'll do it for you. The current recommendation is that a sound machine should be no louder than 50 db and that you should use them for the least amount of time and at the lowest volume necessary. How loud the sound is along with how long you hear the sound determines if your going to have hearing damage (there can be other things that add to this too, like antibiotics, but I'm not going to get into those rare instances). The farther you get from a sound, the less the decibles. As in you talk and read and sing to your baby. If you are using white noise when a baby is sleeping and sometimes when he is awake and fussy, I doubt there is an issue as long as you have quality "noise time" when he is awake. But notice that 1) this was done on rats which we are not and 2) white noise was used all the time. You might look at this study and get a bit scared to use white noise. Is white noise safe? How loud should it be? Noise is simply distracting when your trying to shut off your mind and sleep. I know you've probably heard that children can get used to lots of noise, but in my experience, it isn't true for most children. You can try, but you will likely fail. And is it really worth possible weeks, months, or in the case of kids who don't get used to the noise (which, by the way, is most) forever worsened sleep? This 'sleeping with noise' might work if you have a newborn, but you'll need lots of luck to have it work later on unless (and this is a big maybe, too) your child is totally dirt tired. My 2 year old still sleeps better with his sound machine, but my 4 year old sleeps fine (and has done so for a while) with or without one.Ĭan't I just get my baby used to loud every-day noises? All you have to do is turn the volume down. Most kids wean off of this pretty easily and many young babies will still sleep OK without it even if they're used to it. I for one can't sleep without 2 pillows! Given how easy white noise is to use wherever and whenever, how much it can add to your pre-sleep routine and what a strong sleep cue it can be, I'd say it is a pretty positive sleep association.Īre you still scared it'll turn into a huge sleep prop that you'll be dragging around with you for the next 16 years? Relax! Don't worry. Yes, baby often gets used to it, but he gets used to lots of other stuff too. You aren't having to go in all night long to keep it running. I've thought about this for a while, and I've decided that it's no more a sleep prop than a lovey or crib is. It's a good substitute for when your about to pass out from too much shushing during those fussy evening witching hours.If they can hear you, you can bet that is what they're thinking. So why shove it in their face that you are having the time of your life without them while they sleep. Plus, pretty much every baby thinks that playing with mom, dad or siblings is a heck of a lot more fun than sleeping. It's considerate of baby. Would you want your sleep disrupted by noise all the time? Even if they sleep through it (which they probably won't unless they're super young or way overtired), their sleep is likely disrupted at times by it.You'll probably miss it when baby moves out of your room and takes it with him! Plus, many of you will notice, even if you've never slept with it before, that white noise is really soothing for you too (ever notice that you are suddenly able to fall asleep when the ac/heat kicks in?). More importantly, if you stop waking to every little sleep sound, you'll also stop trying to feed or comfort baby with every little noise he makes which can lead him to wake more frequently than he needs to. If you're sleeping in the same room as baby, you'll probably sleep better too! It'll help drown out baby's loud noises so you stop waking to every little sound he makes (it is the only thing that gave me any sleep with my first child who, I swear, was as loud as a pack of animals when he slept).It helps block distracting outside noise that could potential wake baby and it helps baby more easily make it through those sometimes frustrating sleep transitions. It's been proven to help your baby go to sleep and stay asleep longer.It helps to calm and de-stress baby, even those are are especially fussy or those with colic (see Happiest Baby on the Block 5 S's). If you want to set your baby up for the best sleep possible, use white noise. And if you know anything about babies, you know they like what they are used to. As in as loud as busy city traffic! They are used to loud. Babies have just come from an incredibly loud womb.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |