Many parents use a white noise machine in their baby’s bedroom to help drown out background noise so their little one can get a more restful sleep.
And like just about any other topic, if you search long enough, you’re going to find articles and studies that warn you of the risks and dangers involved. One news article headline reads “Caution urged for infant sleep machines1” and claims that a study shows white noise machines, “could place infants at risk of developing noise-induced hearing loss.”
And as a loving parent, that’s alarming to you. You know that your baby’s hearing is sensitive, and obviously you want to keep them safe from any harm.
Should you get rid of your white noise machine? Or is there more to consider first?
I’ve got the answers for you here…
Can white noise damage your baby’s hearing?
The news article was referring to a study2 of sound machines in 2014. In this study, 14 different machines were tested at maximum volume and varying distances from the sound meter, mimicking the various locations in baby’s room that the machine might be located.
The results? All 14 machines exceeded 50 decibels at 100 centimeters from the sensor; 50 dB being the recommended noise limit for hospital nurseries.
Yikes! All 14 machines can damage your baby’s hearing?! Well, that’s certainly the impression you might get from reading the article…but wait. How loud is 50 dB?
According to the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety3 (see chart below), a conversation had at one metre is 55 dB, which is clearly not damaging to anyone’s hearing.
So, it would seem that the reason pediatric nurseries are suggested to keep the noise below 50 dB has more to do with creating a sleep-friendly environment than preventing hearing loss. It’s definitely not loud enough to do any kind of damage.
But wait! Three of these machines were capable of exceeding 85 dB of white noise. That’s the level of a diesel truck traveling 50 km/hr 20 metres away. The researchers warned that if a noise machine were played at levels of 85 dB or more for longer than 8 hours, it could cause hearing loss.
Now let’s apply some common sense…
I’ll admit, there’s potential for some hearing damage if you were to put one of those three machines on full blast near your baby’s crib, and that’s definitely worth letting parents know about.
But I would think, for the most part, common sense would prevent parents from turning the noise machine to maximum volume in their baby’s room overnight. I doubt very many of us would be able to sleep soundly with a diesel truck shifting gears on the street outside our bedroom window, nor would we expect our children to sleep under the same circumstances.
Yes, I believe it’s important to warn parents about the potential harm of white noise machines, but to do so in a responsible manner without causing unnecessary panic.
Are White Noise Machines Safe for Babies?
YES, white noise machines are safe for babies when kept at a safe noise level. They promote sleep by blocking out environmental and background noises and can be very soothing for newborns and younger babies who are still adjusting to life outside the womb.
So, go ahead and keep your baby’s white noise machine, but follow these safety guidelines:
- Keep white noise levels below 50 decibels to create a sleep-friendly environment. (You can download an app on your phone to test noise levels.)
- Place the sound machine as far away from your baby’s crib as possible.
The one thing that every parent, pediatrician, scientific researcher, and academic can agree on, is that we all need sleep. It’s undisputed. We suffer without it and we thrive when we prioritize it. So, if your little one sleeps better when you have a white noise machine by their crib or bed, don’t buy into the idea that you might be damaging their eardrums.
As long as you’re keeping the volume at a reasonable level, you’re probably just helping them get the sleep they need.
If your little one isn’t getting the sleep they need (with or without white noise), let’s chat. Schedule a free 15-minute call to talk about how we can get you and your family the sleep you need and deserve.
1 https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/03/03/infant-sleep-machines/5847677/
2 https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/133/4/677
3 https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/phys_agents/noise_basic.html