Is White Noise Safe for Babies?
White noise can help babies settle and stay asleep, and most parents who use it find it helpful. It is safe when used sensibly. The risks come from one thing: loud sound placed close to a baby for long periods. Here is what the research found and how to avoid that.
The study that raised concerns
In 2014 a team at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto (Hugh, Wolter, Propst, Gordon, Cushing and Papsin) published a study in the journal Pediatrics testing 14 infant sleep machines. At maximum volume, all 14 exceeded 50 decibels at 100 centimeters, the limit recommended for hospital nurseries. At 30 centimeters, roughly the distance of a machine on the crib rail, three of them exceeded 85 decibels, the level at which adult workers must wear hearing protection over an 8-hour shift.
The researchers did not find that babies had been harmed. They pointed out that machines could produce levels that, sustained over time, might put hearing and auditory development at risk, and recommended placing machines far from the crib, keeping the volume low and limiting how long they run.
Why babies need extra care
- A baby’s ear canal is small, which boosts sound pressure at the eardrum compared with an adult hearing the same sound.
- Babies cannot move away from a sound or tell you it is too loud.
- Sleep sound may run for 10 to 12 hours a day, far longer than most adult exposures.
Safe-use checklist
| Rule | Why |
|---|---|
| At least 2 meters (7 feet) from the crib | Sound level drops quickly with distance |
| About 50 dB at the crib | Roughly a soft shower; well below risk levels |
| Never in the crib or on the rail | Too close, and a cord or device is a hazard |
| No headphones or earbuds on babies | Puts sound directly in the ear canal |
| Use the lowest volume that works | Masking works at surprisingly low levels |
| Consider a timer | Covers the settling period without all-night exposure |
Measure it once: free sound meter apps, such as the one published by the US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), give a reasonable reading. Hold the phone where your baby’s head will be.
Does white noise actually help babies sleep?
The best-known evidence is a 1990 study by Spencer and colleagues in Archives of Disease in Childhood: 80 percent of newborns exposed to white noise fell asleep within five minutes, compared with 25 percent without it. Later studies have been smaller and more mixed, but white noise remains a widely used, low-cost tool. It mimics the constant whooshing of the womb and covers household noise during light sleep.
Weaning off white noise
There is no need to stop at a particular age; many children and adults keep using sleep sounds. If you want to phase it out, lower the volume a little every few nights over one to two weeks, or switch to the timer so it plays only while your child falls asleep.
Frequently asked questions
How loud should white noise be for a baby?
About 50 decibels at the crib, roughly a soft shower heard from the next room. If you have to raise your voice over it, it is too loud.
How far should a white noise machine be from a baby?
At least 2 meters, about 7 feet, from the crib, and never inside it or on the rail.
Can white noise damage a baby’s hearing?
Loud sound close to a baby for long periods could pose a risk; quiet sound at a distance does not. Following the volume and distance guidance keeps it safe.
Is it OK to play white noise all night for a baby?
Many parents do, at a low volume and a good distance. If you are unsure, use a timer to cover the settling period.