Getting a restful sleep seems to be just a dream if you have a cute newborn baby in the family. Even if you are past the stage of having to get up to feed your baby every few hours, it is possible that your baby will still have trouble falling asleep (or remaining asleep).
Relaxing activities like taking a warm bath are often recommended by pediatricians as a way to aid in getting a baby to sleep better at night. When traditional methods fail, some parents resort to using alternative ways, such as using a white noise machine.
Although a white noise machine may help your baby feel relaxed and fall asleep, it may also have long-term repercussions.
Before making use of a white noise machine as your go-to baby-sleeping solution, it is crucial to consider both the benefits and drawbacks of this equipment.
The Purpose Of Using A White Noise Machine For Newborn Babies
The term “white noise” refers to any sound that can hide or cover up other sounds that may be present in their natural environment. If you are living in a city, for instance, the use of white noise may be able to aid in blocking out the sounds associated with traffic.
It is possible to use particular sounds to help stimulate sleep regardless of the noises in the surrounding environment. The sounds of a tropical rainforest or a beach can be calming examples.
There are even white noise machines on the market that are intended solely for use with young children. Some of them come with lullabies or even a sound that simulates a mother’s heartbeat, which is meant to comfort the baby.
White noise may be beneficial, according to the findings of a ground-breaking study that was conducted in 1990 and published in the reliable source Archives of Disease in Childhood. After conducting the research on forty newborns, the researchers discovered that after five minutes of listening to white noise, eighty percent of the infants were able to fall asleep.
White Noise Machine For Babies: The Pros
There is some evidence that playing white noise in the background helps babies fall asleep more quickly.
The ability of white noise to put babies to sleep is perhaps the most obvious advantage that it offers to parents of infants. It’s possible that your baby will respond well to white noise if you’ve noticed that they have a tendency to nod off during busy times that aren’t their typical nap time or bedtime.
Because your baby may have become accustomed to being active in a noisy environment, putting him or her to bed in an entirely silent room may have the reverse effect on how well he or she sleeps.
Household sounds can be masked by sleep aids.
White noise has the ability to mask other sounds, such as those made by older siblings.
There is some evidence that families with multiple children of varying ages could benefit from using a white noise machine.
For instance, if you have a baby that needs to nap but another child who no longer has to take naps, using a white noise machine can help block out the noises of siblings to help your baby get a better night’s sleep.
Some white noise machines for babies have a setting that simulates the heartbeat of the mother, which may be reassuring for infants who have just been born.
White Noise Machine For Babies: The Cons
When you misuse a white noise machine, it may exceed the noise limits recommended for babies.
White noise may have some positive effects, but it does not always provide a risk-free environment for those seeking peace and quiet.
The American Academy of Pediatrics conducted research in which they evaluated and compared 14 different white noise machines that were designed specifically for infants. They discovered that every single one of them had levels of noise that were in excess of the suitable noise limits in hospital nurseries, which are set at 50 decibels.
According to the findings of the study, prolonged exposure to sound pressure levels of this kind may be detrimental to the auditory development of the baby.
White noise machines should be kept at a distance of at least 7 feet (200 cm) from a baby’s crib, according to the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), which was based on research that was conducted. You should also keep the volume on the machine at a level that is lower than the highest possible setting for the volume.
Babies can be too dependent on a white noise machine in order to fall asleep.
Babies who have a positive reaction to white noise may have an easier time falling asleep at night and during naps, but only if they have access to white noise on a consistent basis. If your infant is in a place where they need to sleep, but the sound machine is not there, you might run into some difficulties as a result of this situation.
A few examples of this would be going on vacation, spending the night at grandma’s house, or even going to daycare. A situation like this has the potential to be incredibly inconvenient for everyone involved.
Not all babies react positively to white noise.
It is essential to keep in mind that some infants do better with white noise than others.
Because the requirements for a good night’s sleep vary from one infant to the next, finding the optimal level of white noise may require some experimentation.
Growth and Development: Babies Need to Sleep
When people think of sleep deprivation, they often picture an irritable, exhausting day filled with countless cups of coffee. The effects of inadequate sleep could not be as apparent in babies and young children.
Concerns related to sleep deprivation in young children include:
- fussiness
- frequent disagreeableness
- excessive behavioral fluctuations
- hyperactivity
Sleeping Schedules For Babies
To cope with the effects of sleep deprivation, it is also vital to know how much sleep a baby should have. Here are some recommendations for each age category:
Newborns may sleep up to 18 hours a day, waking in a few hours for feeding times.
Between 1 and 2 months, infants should continuously sleep 4 to 5 hours.
Between 3 and 6 months, total nighttime sleep can vary from 8 to 9 hours, including short daytime naps.
6 to 12 months: 14 hours of total sleep, with 2 to 3 daytime naps.
Remember that these are suggested averages. Every baby is unique. Some babies may require more sleep, while others need less.
