Spinoff question: White noise

Ok, one more question...sorry to crash a couple months early

Some of you had mentioned having a source of white noise in the nursery. When DD arrives, we were originally going to keep her crib in our room for the first few weeks or months. I am hesitant to do this, because I always have a bedside fan on in our room (DH snores and this is the ONLY way I can drown him out).

I'm actually afraid to have DD too used to a white noise source, because I'd like her to be able to sleep without it. So now we're thinking of just putting her in the nursery from the first night she is home.

I know you've all BTDT, so I'm hoping you can give me some advice on this. I'm sure I'm being too idealistic (as many 1st time moms are!), but I know that *I* can no longer sleep without the white noise, even when DH is away on business.

Thanks all!

Re: Spinoff question: White noise

we also have a fan running in the bedroom, even if it's 10 degrees outside~!! I need it and DS is in our room. if he needs it later on I'll buy him a small fan for his room.

Re: Spinoff question: White noise

I don't think there's anything wrong with white noise while you're sleeping - baby or adult!
We have a white noise machine in Lily's room and it's on every night.

Re: Spinoff question: White noise

DD has a fan in her room for white noise, every night. I hate that she's dependent on it, but I'm not sure if she's truly dependent on it or me that think she's dependent on it. We have a very small house, so I feel like she hears everything after she goes to bed (kitchen cabinets, bathroom is right next to her room, etc) so I feel the noise helps though.

She naps without white noise at MIL's during the week though, so who knows.

Re: Spinoff question: White noise

When DD is in her room, the fan is on...it hums for whatever reason and she sleeps so well in there.

Re: Spinoff question: White noise

We have a fan in DD's room. On warm nights we left it on all night & now that it is getting cooler we turn it off when we go to bed. She doesn't wake up when we turn it off & sleeps just as well as when we left it on all night.

Re: Spinoff question: White noise

I actually just heard on the news the other day fans actually reduce the risk of sids I didnt catch the rest of why but I thought I would add

Re: Spinoff question: White noise

Re: Spinoff question: White noise

Consumer reports book isn't a fan of white noise for a baby. I personally agree and have no plans to start that.

A ceiling fan/fan for the purpose of cooling the room is one thing IMO, but actual "noise" machines are another. I would never use one (noise machine).

Message edited 10/14/2008 7:32:23 AM.

Re: Spinoff question: White noise

Jacob will be 2 next month and he has had a white noise machine in his room since day 1. I dont think that there is anything wrong with it at all. Jacob has also has slept without it from time to time without a problem.

Re: Spinoff question: White noise

Re: Spinoff question: White noise

Posted by Calla

Posted by Goobster

Consumer reports book isn't a fan of white noise for a baby. I personally agree and have no plans to start that.

A ceiling fan is one thing, but actual "noise" machines are another. I would never use one (noise machine).

Ahhh I remember the days (before I had children) that I had the confidence to say "never".

DD#1 didn't have a sound machine. DD#2 does because she was repeatedly being woken up by the noise made by big sister.

There is no right or wrong answer on this. Meet your kid and see if he/she is having trouble sleeping with household noise.

Message edited 10/14/2008 7:46:47 AM.

Re: Spinoff question: White noise

We have used a white noise machine from my son's birth, and he can sleep with it, and he can sleep without it. It doesn't matter to him if its on or not, but it makes us feel better.

If you have a colicky baby, it helps a great deal.

Message edited 10/14/2008 7:11:49 AM.

Re: Spinoff question: White noise

I don't have a white noise machine in her room, however, I do have a radio w/CD player which plays her lullabies for 90 minutes as she is going to sleep. I love it...

ETA: I do have a humidifier in her room though, which, when it turns on I guess serves as white noise...

Message edited 10/14/2008 8:04:30 AM.

Re: Spinoff question: White noise

Posted by Goobster

Posted by Calla

Posted by Goobster

Consumer reports book isn't a fan of white noise for a baby. I personally agree and have no plans to start that.

A ceiling fan is one thing, but actual "noise" machines are another. I would never use one (noise machine).

Ahhh I remember the days (before I had children) that I had the confidence to say "never".

DD#1 didn't have a sound machine. DD#2 does because she was repeatedly being woken up by the noise made by big sister.

There is no right or wrong answer on this. Meet your kid and see if he/she is having trouble sleeping with household noise.

I personally can say never in my case. For me, even when I "meet" my kid, I am not someone who agrees in the introduction of noise purposely in developing my child's sleeping habits. I hate white noise or any kind of noise in general and I do agree with Beth that it's not a habit I would want to start (for my child). Even the ceiling fan and air conditioner drive me insane (but I will use them if they are needed, however I shut it off asap). In fact, once we moved in together, I stopped DH from using a white noise machine or leaving the tv on to fall asleep b/c it drove me insane that much.

In addition, I read in Consumer Reports that it's not advised to use white noise in re to an infant's developing hearing. If anyone wants to know more, they can simply google white noise, hearing and infants. Reading these articles, combined with my own issues with white noise all lead up to reasons that I know I will never use white noise for my infant/child (whether I have a child yet or not).

However, if others want to use it, to each is own, not my concern.

Re: Spinoff question: White noise

Message edited 10/14/2008 11:02:15 AM.

Re: Spinoff question: White noise

I NEVER thought I would need white noise but it began with a simple humidifier when DS seemed stuffy....

Then I discovered how useful it was because it could drown out the noise of DH and I getting ready for bed, cleaning bottle, etc. Now we use it every night and for every nap.

However DS is not addicted, I have put him to sleep in friends cribs without the noise with no issues.

Anyway, we have one from Bed bath and beyond which has a timer. DS goes to bed at 9, the machine goes on...we got to bed around 11 and set the timer for 1 hour. So by 12 there is no white noise and he sleeps without problem.


PS the BTDT moms are right NEVER say NEVER...no matter how sure you are of your convictions. You just dont know what your child with like/need and what you will do when faced with a few extra hours of sleep vs being up every hour on the hour!!! Also the "introduction of noise" can be a positive thing. Because not every place you want your DC to sleep will be quiet. DS is so used to noise while sleeping, that he sleeps at amusement parks, on a ferry from CT while we were standing on the platform with the windows open and our car being lowered to get off, while the vacuum is running etc.

Also for the OP, we didnt use white noise probably for the first 3 months and DS slept fine. But DS is a light sleeper so we had to avoid his room, bassinet etc to not wake him. ONce we put in the humidifier we noticed that we could go and check on him, get stuff out of the closet etc, without him waking.

Message edited 10/14/2008 10:18:32 AM.

Re: Spinoff question: White noise

DD has a slumber bear that recreates the sound of the womb (supposedly). It is essentially white noise. It only lasts for about 10 minutes, we hit a couple times. For the next DC, I want to get something similar, that makes noise for 30 minutes or so. My hope is that it is enough noise to help them sleep but not continuous throughout the night so they have difficulty sleeping without it. Claire is pretty good-she can sleep through a lot of noise, even after the bear stops.

Re: Spinoff question: White noise

Re: Spinoff question: White noise

personally from my own experience if u have a baby that has colic or something like acid reflux that can mimic colic symptoms white noise is a god send....at first i just used my motuh with a sssshhh sound but that was so frustrating for me bc i couldnt leave the room now i can and dd sleeps without it at night so i know its not an absolute necessity just naps during the day when she is especially fussy....i learned u cant limit yourself of options when u have a screaming baby that u cant comfort no one is saying that is the cure an to use it always bc i dont think anything is a cure or works every time when ur talking newborns/children but like i said why limit yourself of the options out there that can help u/ur baby find sanity and comfort

Re: Spinoff question: White noise

Posted by Goobster

Posted by KateDevine
Yes, but so many ped recommend it as well, you can find anything you want on google.

I think that I'd be careful when saying "never", you may have been able to train your husband, but a newborn is a totally different story.

I never used a white noise machine, we never used one (although DS had a ceiling fan, but I don't think that mattered) but had DS needed one to sleep, I would have been all about it.

Of course you will find people with a varying opinion on this and every other single topic in the world. I just don't do things I don't feel comfortable with. So even if 5 drs say it's ok, and 5 say it's not ok, I go with what I feel is best after looking at both sides, as we all do. Considering I find it annoying, a bad habit, AND I also agree it can't be a good thing from the medical perspective, yes, I KNOW I will never use it. Ever. Eventually the child will learn to sleep in his/her surroundings, as we all adjust to the noises in our environment eventually. And I disagree, if my DH (an adult in the habit after many years) can finally stop using it, my child who doesn't have any control and doesn't know any better certainly won't be able to get in a habit if I don't start it.

ETA- Soothing music for a while before bed or during a nap is one thing and I can see myself using that if it's clearly needed to soothe. White noise, no, nothing is more abrasive sounding to me and I can say never.

Re: Spinoff question: White noise

Message edited 10/14/2008 10:58:53 AM.

Re: Spinoff question: White noise

As far as white noise and developing a bad habit, I just don't buy it. i think you are going to either be a heavy sleeper or a light sleeper and not much you can do regarding your environment is going to change that. My in-laws are under the belief that if you have a baby sleep in regular (not white) noise all the time then they will be a heavy sleeper. I hate to tell you but unless you leave the radio on all night - it's gonna be quiet! I grew up in a very quiet household and I sleep heavier than anyone i have ever met. My house could be getting robbed and I wouldn't wake up. Sorry, to digress.

For the baby, I use a white noise machine during daytime naps because my house is quiet and i dont want loud sudden noises, like the sound of the phone ringing 1 of 50 times per day that my mother in law calls the house, waking the baby. I don't use it at night though because I don't find the need. He is a pretty heavy sleeper though.

You have to what you have to do. it's nice to think that you will be one way as a parent, but you really have no idea how you will be once the sleep deprivation hits. And to be honest, if your baby can't sleep without a white noise machine the SLEEP DEPRIVATION will be much, much more harmful to their all around development than a little white noise.

Re: Spinoff question: White noise

Posted by Goobster

Posted by KateDevine
Yes, but so many ped recommend it as well, you can find anything you want on google.

I think that I'd be careful when saying "never", you may have been able to train your husband, but a newborn is a totally different story.

I never used a white noise machine, we never used one (although DS had a ceiling fan, but I don't think that mattered) but had DS needed one to sleep, I would have been all about it.

Of course you will find people with a varying opinion on this and every other single topic in the world. I just don't do things I don't feel comfortable with. So even if 5 drs say it's ok, and 5 say it's not ok, I go with what I feel is best after looking at both sides, as we all do. Considering I find it annoying, a bad habit, AND I also agree it can't be a good thing from the medical perspective, yes, I KNOW I will never use it. Ever. Eventually the child will learn to sleep in his/her surroundings, as we all adjust to the noises in our environment eventually. And I disagree, if my DH (an adult in the habit after many years) can finally stop using it, my child who doesn't have any control and doesn't know any better certainly won't be able to get in a habit if I don't start it.

ETA- Soothing music for a while before bed or during a nap is one thing and I can see myself using that if it's clearly needed to soothe. White noise, no, nothing is more abrasive sounding to me and I can say never.

Re: Spinoff question: White noise

Message edited 10/14/2008 11:13:02 AM.