Baby White Noise Frequently Asked Questions

There's a lot of recent hoopla and brouhaha about babies and music.

The market for baby-related music products is loaded with items to buy. From crib-mounted cassette and CD players to bears that have heartbeats and breathe, there's no shortage of items for parents to peruse. The fuss stems a lot from child psychologists and experts catching on to what parents have long known...

Music and noise can actually help sooth babies and ease them down at nap and bedtime!

New parents, however, often find themselves at a loss on what to buy and what might really work.

To help out, we've put together a list of frequently asked questions in regard to using music and noise to help put a little one down for the night. Remember, the types of sounds that work extend well beyond lullabies.
 

The White Noise Craze

As parents and baby experts both realize that the absence of noise can actually distract a little one from sleeping, the creation of white noise products has become a very big deal on the market. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about these products and the use of white noise in general: baby white noise

Q. What is white noise?

A. White noise is nothing more than basic, background sounds that are frequent in everyday life. These are the noises we hear all the time, but tend to not even register.

Q. Can you give me an example of white noise?

A. White noise is technically almost any sound that takes place in the "background" of life. From the ebbing and flowing of water on a beach to the sounds of birds singing and even fan blades humming, these noises are commonly found in the background and often go unnoticed as adults baby white noise

Q. Why would I want to introduce white noise into my baby's room? Won't it distract her?

A. While no two babies are alike, most newborns especially respond well to white noise. Remember, as your little one was in the womb, white noise surrounded her at all times. While you were going about your everyday affairs, she heard the beat of a heart, the swishing of liquids and so on. In essence, white noise is what she's used to.

Q. How can I use white noise?

A. There are all kinds of options for introducing white noise into a baby's room. From installing a ceiling fan and running it while she sleeps to putting in continuous play CDs, the choice is yours. Our suggestion is to start out small and see what works for your baby. Some babies respond to nothing more than a fan running, but others need more creative white noise sounds to help them relax and fall to sleep.

Q. Are there different types of background noise I can use?

A. Absolutely. The options include everything from everyday household background noises, such as vacuums running and washing machines washing, to nature sounds like the water and birds. Whatever works for your baby is the best. baby white noise
 

Womb Sounds Can Help

Although womb sounds technically fall under the "white noise" category, this is a very specific type of background sound to introduce into a nursery. The womb sound product market is becoming rather big as many parents are finding that babies are comforted by these most familiar of sounds. Here are some of the top questions that surround this type of sound introduction into a nursery:

Q. What are womb sounds?

A. These are recorded sounds that mimic what a baby heard while inside her mother's womb. They include everything from hiccups and heartbeats to stomach gurgles and even the swishing of fluids. baby white noise

Q. What kind of womb sound products are there?

A. The market for womb sound products is rather extensive. It is possible to find stuffed animals that play womb sounds, CDs, cassettes and even other toys and devices. baby white noise

Q. When should I use womb sounds?

A. Many parents choose to use these products right out of the gate, starting on Day One. This can help a baby become more comfortable in her surroundings right away. baby white noise

Q. How do I know if womb sounds are right for my baby?

A. It all depends on how she reacts. If a toy that plays womb sounds calms her, you're on the right track. If the sounds distress her, try something else.
 

The Power Of Parents' Voices

While white noise and womb sounds work well for some babies; others like to sleep to a different tune. The sounds of Mom and Dad's voices can work very well to calm and sooth some newborns and even older children, too. The questions that surround the use of parental recordings often include:

Q. Why does my baby react so strongly to my voice?

A. Even in the womb, your baby could hear your voice and that of other people around you. These sounds are familiar to her and give her a sense of comfort. Even when womb sounds don't work, you might find that your voice is all it takes to get her down.

Q. How can I make sure she can hear my voice even when I cannot be home?

A. Simply create a voice recording using a computer and CD burner or a cassette recorder. baby white noise

Q. What types of sounds are best?

A. That's up to your baby. Sometimes babies prefer to hear their parents talking (reading a children's book out loud can help here). In other cases, recording lullabies to play on a continuous loop can really help.

Q. What is the best way to introduce this type of recording into a nursery?

A. Pick up a CD or cassette player that's small and won't get in the way of the nursery function. Make sure it's close enough for baby to hear, but far enough away she won't be able to grab the cords when she gets bigger.
 

Selecting Other Musical Styles

Some parents try everything and find their little ones do like music, but they don't enjoy white noise, Mom's signing or even womb sounds. For these babies, a little bit of an edge in musical style is more to their liking for nap or bedtime. Parents who discover that their children sleep better to rock 'n roll or even jazz and blues often find themselves a little baffled. Here are some of the questions they frequently ask:

Q. Is it abnormal that rock, country or classical puts my baby out like a light?

A. Absolutely not. Babies like rhythm and they like music. There's nothing written in stone that says they have to enjoy one type over another. Experiment to see what works and what doesn't at bedtime. Parents sometimes find their babies are more apt to nod off to a great Top 40 song rather than an old-time lullaby. This is perfectly fine. Whatever she likes, is okay.

Q. Is there a musical style I should avoid?

A. Not really. The only thing to keep in mind when selecting music for a nursery is the speed of the music. If the rhythms change a lot on a CD, for example, she might fall asleep to one song and wake up when another comes on.

Q. Should I be concerned about volume?

A. Yes. Make sure the music plays at a level that will not hurt her ears. If you can hear it clearly in the hall, it's too loud. baby white noise

Q. Are there suggestions on the best ways to select songs for a nursery?

A. Take cues from your baby. If she nods off every time you play a classical movement or a particular rock song, jot down the title of the movement or song. Consider creating a special CD just for her room that includes her favorites. CD burners can come in handy for this.

Q. My baby likes all kinds of music and it does seem to calm her, but the words seem to keep her awake. Is there a way around this?

A. Absolutely! Hone in on her sleep time tastes and look for instrumental versions of the song. Online download sites can work wonders here. baby white noise

Q. Am I a bad parent if I put my 3-month-old down to rock and roll?

A. No way! You're a realist. If she likes the music and she falls asleep to it, count yourself lucky. Consider working in other musical styles if you're concerned about her being well-rounded down the road. However, keep in mind, what she listens to in month three will probably change down the road.

A lot of new parents are under the impression that babies need total silence to get 20 winks.  baby white noise

As it turns out in a lot of cases, this simply is not true. Babies tend to respond very well and even find comfort in a little noise in their rooms.

From simple white noise recordings to the latest and greatest hits, the trick is selecting what works for your baby.

Take the time to experiment and you're likely to hit on just the right sounds to provide her comfort while she sleeps. baby white noise

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