Ever since science proved that white noise helps us sleep, the new industry was founded. This industry focused its attention on designing and manufacturing machines that generated white noise with the help of fans. Some took things even further, pairing their white noise emitting devices with apps, which allowed their users to adjust noise, tone, and other traits via smartphone applications.
The purpose of this article is to help you find the best baby white noise machine. Here, you will find a list of 12 top baby white noise machines, as well as our buyer’s guide, which explains what these machines are and can help you find the best white noise machine for baby.
Best Baby White Noise Machine Comparison Table
Design | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
ZNOOZ | Corded | Yes | No | No | |
Corded | Yes | Yes | No | ||
LectroFan | Corded | No | No | No | |
Tiny Love Meadow Days | Battery (rec) | No | Yes | Yes | |
Sea Dreams | Battery (disp) | No | Yes | Yes | |
Battery (rec) | No | No | No | ||
Corded | No | Yes | No | ||
Cloud b | Battery (disp) | No | Yes | Yes | |
SweetDreamers | Battery (disp) | No | Yes | Yes | |
VTech Whale | Corded | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
Sleep Easy | Corded | No | No | No | |
MyBaby | Corded Battery (disp) | No | Yes | No | |
Corded Battery (disp) | No | Yes | No |
SNOOZ – Best High-End Baby White Noise Machine
The Snooze white noise machine isn’t your standard baby white noise machine. It designed for general purpose, for both adults and babies, and is ideal for parents and babies that sleep in the same room.
Snooz also boasts 10 volume options that you can adjust with simple Up/Down buttons. It comes with the compatible app; the app allows you to adjust volume, as well as to use automatic shutoff option. This device is compact and only 3.2 inches tall, meaning that you can carry it on your travels and make messy and loud hotel rooms more enjoyable and peaceful.
This unit is also aesthetically pleasing, and will undoubtedly match modern decor of most homes. And, you have the option to choose between black and cloudy colors to match it with your decor. This machine also features a nursery calibration that helps you find an optimal noise level for your kid.
- A wide range of adjustability (tone and volume)
- Boasts a genuine fan
- Sophisticated, reliable and durable design
- Comes with useful application
- Portable design (ideal for people that travel a lot)
- Expensive
- Doesn’t feature a child-friendly design
Hatch Baby – Most Customizable Baby White Noise Machine
The Hatch Baby machine is a multi-functional, child-friendly white noise machine. It’s the biggest strength is impressive customizability; it allows you to change color ambient and turn nightmare sleep conditions into sweet dreams.
You can choose between several colors and adjust their brightness. So, aside from ensuring that your child’s ears hear nothing but calming white noise, this unit will also paint the room with their favorite color. Alas, this unit is also a sleep organizer. It boasts the “Time To Rise” mode that gently reminds a toddler that it is time to get up.
Obviously, you won’t be using this mode for your baby, but the mode will come in handy as your baby grows. The unit also features a near-bedtime program; it will play sounds and start emitting lights, signaling to your child that it is time for bed.
The Hatch Baby machine does have an app that grants you a remote control so that you don’t wake your baby when you want to customize it. The unit features simple yet modern design and matches most contemporary homes.
The biggest issue we had with this device is the fact that it is quite loud, even on the lowest setting. You will, therefore, have to lower it down completely and distance it from your baby to avoid certain issues (more on that in our buyer’s guide.)
- Well designed and easy to use
- Exceptionally customizable
- Adjustable (noise, color and brightness control)
- Remote control via the compatible app
- Loud even on the lowest volume setting
- Expensive
LectroFan – Best Multi-Purpose Baby White Noise Machine
The LectroFan machine is highly functional, sophisticated and customizable. The unit comes in a frustration free package and features a unique design that matches all rooms and purposes. It has no mechanically moving parts, which is why it is one of the best baby white noise machine picks for creating a soundproof environment.
This machine boasts ten fan sound levels, as well as ten pitch levels; you control them all. Indeed, aside from adjusting the fan speed, you can also choose the depth of volume and ensure that your baby always rests in a comfortable and child-safe environment.
The LectroFan device is intended for sleeping, relaxing and daydreaming. You can adjust it to various output levels of noise to match them with your activity. It is also great for people that want privacy and isolation when they are writing, studying or working.
This unit also features a sleep timer, meaning that it can be turned off automatically. It is very compact and can be purchased in several colors to match your home or office interior. If you are looking for a multi-purpose and versatile white noise machine, this might be the item you are seeking.
- Value for money
- A wide range of tones and volumes
- Perfect for creating a child-safe environment
- Electric fan (with digital sound through a large speaker)
- Not the sturdiest item on the list
- Power cord feels loose
Tiny Love Meadow Days – Best Personal Baby Sleep Aider
The Tiny Love is an adorable machine, designed to launch your child into a peaceful dreamworld. It has an integrated sensor that will play baby music and emit light should your baby wake up and start crying.
The unit drains its power from a battery, which isn’t that great. The battery lasts for a decent time, but it takes way to long to recharge. We loved the controls, but some people thought they were very confusing. Yes, this device features many buttons, but they give you a lot of control to fine-tune the unit to your liking.
Make sure that the Tiny Love machine is near your baby because otherwise, it won’t recognize the sound. All in all, this unit is well worth obtaining. It has some flaws, but it offers things other machines can’t, such as the ability to play your baby’s favorite sounds and to project stars onto the room’s ceiling.
- Unique cartoonish design
- Features an intelligent cry sensor
- Plays more than 20 lullabies
- Ability to include personal mp3 sounds
- The star projection should have been brighter
- The battery takes long to recharge
Baby Einstein Sea Dreams – Best Educative Baby Sleep Soother
The Baby Einstein sleep inducer is the perfect items for babies that love water and water creatures. Its unique and child-friendly design will calm your baby, but is also fit for developing motor skills!
The unit also produces sounds in English, French and Spanish language, meaning that your child will pick up a new language from a very young age and get a headstart over other kids! But more importantly, learning these languages will contribute to their cognitive development.
Languages aside, the Baby Einstein also produces seven classical melodies. These melodies are very soothing and will not only help your child fall asleep but will also teach them a thing or two about classical music. The unit also boasts a light show (roughly speaking), which will capture the attention of your child and induce sleep.
The unit operates in a few modes:
- Melodies only mode
- Melodies and lights mode
- Action mode
Other two modes include the same two modes; only they replace classic melodies with oceanic melodies.
- Boasts various sound (classic and oceanic)
- Multiple operating modes
- Durable and elastic material
- Develops attentive and motoric skills in kids
- Has some design issues (the low battery signal doesn’t work)
- The remote control system is inconsistent
Marpac Hushh Machine – Best On-The-Go Baby White Noise Machine
The Marpac Hushh is an exciting machine. It delivers soft, deep and soothing white noise, and features exceptionally portable and compact design. It is the best unit for people that seek a white noise device for their car or stroller.
The continuous sound will lull the baby, allowing you to go about your day without any restrictions or special rituals. The unit continues to work even when your child falls asleep to block random sounds and noise. It uses a rechargeable battery and comes with a USB charger.
The package also includes a baby-safe elastic clip that you can attach on almost anything. The clip extends the items portability, allowing you to carry it with you wherever you go (assuming your baby is going with you). It also features a lock-in feature, ensuring that you or your baby don’t accidentally turn off the unit or change the settings.
This is the best baby white noise machine for on-the-go reasons. The only issue is that it was a hit and miss for some people (regarding functionality). Some people noted that the unit worked fine for a couple of days/weeks and then started outputting unordinary high-pitch noise. Should you buy this item, make sure that yours doesn’t demonstrate these symptoms.
- Cost-effective
- Portable design (easy to carry with you)
- Helpful elastic clip
- Child-safe lock-in mode
- Outputs three levels of white noise
- Has design issues (some customers reported problems with high-pitch noise)
Conor – Best White Noise Machine for You and Your Baby
If you want something clean-looking and doesn’t scream “I’m a baby white noise machine,” this unit from Conor is for you. It doesn’t have the usual cartoon look to it like most baby white noise machines because Conor decided to take the more straightforward route.
Clean-Look for the Baby Room or Office
Upon unboxing, this white noise machine needs no further assembling for any moving mechanical parts. In fact, you can use it straight off the box! Once you take it out of the protective plastic, you can immediately notice how low-profile it looks with its round shape and white color. It also feels heavy and solid. We think that you can appreciate this overall look because it can match to any room.
More than the sleek design, the Conor High Fidelity machine has only three buttons. One button for volume control, one button for fan sound (upper selection) and noise sound (lower selection), and the power button that also serves as your timer button. This control panel is somewhat similar to the controls of the unit we reviewed from Lectrofan, except that it is well-separated and helps with the overall aesthetic of the device.
Two USB Ports and Neat Cable Set-Up
At the back side of the machine are two USB ports that you can use to charge your gadgets in. And when you turn the device down, you can notice that there is an indentation from the DC socket. You can bend the DC adaptor cable into this indentation during use to help with a neater set-up on your bedside table. There are also four round silicone mats that act as grips, so you don’t have to worry about the machine sliding off.
24 Sounds
For the quality of noise output, we are pleased with how loud this machine can get. This means that it can effectively drown out background noises and help your baby or you sleep better.
The unit features 12 fan sounds and 12 white noise sounds, including a sound specific for babies. Speaking of babies, you have the option of setting the machine timer to turn off the device at either 15, 30, or 60 minutes. These time intervals are useful if your baby is only taking a nap and will not need the unit to play noise for an extended period.
Lastly, the machine also has a memory function so that when you turn it on, it will play with your last chosen noise at your last selected volume and time.
- Clean look
- 2 USB ports
- Neat cable set-up
- 24 sounds including baby white noise
- Loud noise output
- Memory function
- Has no battery option
Cloud b – Best Toy-Like Baby White Noise Machine
The Cloud b machines don’t look like your regular white noise generators; they appear as toys. Sheep, fox, giraffe, monkey or panda; you choose. Note that monkey is less expensive than other Cloud b toy-like white noise machines.
The one we tested was the sheep. Why? Well, it is because we teach our kids to count sheep if they can’t fall asleep! Plus the unit looks adorable and feels very soft to the touch. It outputs eight soothing sounds and melodies during the night. In the daytime, the Cloud b Sheep is like any other stuffed animal!
Some people complained that these newer Cloud b devices don’t output as much volume as their previous models did. While this statement is true, it isn’t relevant to our topic. Why? They aren’t relevant because loud white noise can actually cause more harm than good to a developing child.
But, we will say that the unit does lack a smooth transition when it automatically shuts off. When the 23 or 45-min timer shuts off the unit, it shuts it off abruptly. This lack of smooth transition from the white noise to no noise can be disturbing for your child and cause it to wake up.
- Toy and a white machine in one
- Option to choose between various animal-like machines
- Soft and fluffy
- Sturdily built in velcro
- Eight different sounds and a volume control
- The automatic shutoff is somewhat rough and sudden
SweetDreamers Ewan the Dream Sheep Purple – Best Baby Sleep Soother For Traveling
The SweetDreamers sleep soother is a white/purple sheep nicknamed Ewan the Dream. It is cute, fluffy and most importantly, helps kids fall asleep. The unit is known for helping babies, and toddlers fall asleep due to its amiable noises and cute design.
It can also output vacuuming, raining or harp sounds, but they are recommended more for toddlers than for babies. Ewan also emits soothing purple light that will send your baby to sleep in no time!
The biggest issue we had with this device is that it was more like a toy than a machine.
Ewan the Dream is cute; there’s no doubt about it. Your baby will love it, as well they love the sounds and the light that Ewan produces. However, it isn’t a genuine noise generating device. But, your baby might not care about white noise; perhaps they’ll fall in love with Ewan and fall asleep after a long day of playing with it. And since it is soft and tiny, it is perfect to carry with you on your short and long travels.
- Cute and fluffy design
- Impressive toy-like look
- Outputs soothing purple light
- Excellent for traveling (portable and handy)
- Easy to work with
- Doesn’t output white noise
- Lacks sophistication
- It feels more like a toy than a sleep soother
VTech Wyatt The Whale – Best All-Around Baby White Noise Machine
The VTech Wyatt The Whale features ten lullabies, ten soothing sea-inspired ambient sounds, all included to help your baby go to sleep. Best of all, Wyatt reads stories! That’s correct; it reads full stories for up to 40 minutes, ensuring that your baby goes to sleep to the sounds and words of classic fairytales.
And like any other whale, Wyatt has holes on the back; only this one emits light in the ceiling in the shape of stars and other celestial bodies. When you combine the fact that Wyatt reads fairytales with the fact that it illuminates the ceiling with stars, you get a recipe for a magical environment.
Wyatt also has its own app. In fact, it is with the help of this app that you can play fairytales. And, you control everything else with this app; from volume to operating mode. Also, don’t forget the fact that Wyatt can output white noise that can create a quiet environment for your baby.
VTech Wyatt The Whale is our favorite item on this list. We would only wish that they add more books to their app. Then again, you can always record stories in your own voice and have Wyatt play them for you!
- Exceptionally valuable
- Feature rich app
- White noise + lullabies + option to record personal stories
- Wyatt looks very cool
- Reliable and sophisticated
- The library could see some new fairy tales
Sleep Easy – Best Inexpensive Baby White Noise Machine With Genuine Fan
The Sleep Easy machine is a simple white noise machine. It might not be the most feature-rich or the most child-friendly device on our list, but it does what it is intended to do; helps your baby fall asleep.
You can adjust the volume and pitch level, making sure that the device works at optimal capacity and doesn’t cause problems for your baby (or you, should you decide to use it.) The unit is very compact and lightweight, and its natural design will fit in nurseries, offices, bedrooms and other places.
The non-slip base ensures that the device doesn’t slide on the surface. Once you turn on this machine (with the simple on/off controls), it will start producing whirling white noise. The Sleep Easy white noise generator uses a real fan to generate white noise and spread it across the room.
Some compared this unit to Marpac. And while we get that there is some resemblance between the two units, the Sleep Easy feels much cheaper and less sophisticated than Marpac. Of course, the Sleep Easy is less expensive, but it will not endure as much as Marpac would.
If you are looking for an affordable white noise generator with a genuine fan, then this might be an item for you. However, bear in mind that the Sleep Easy might disappoint you when it comes to durability, and with its limited functions.
- Very affordable
- Uses a real fan to generate white noise
- Easy to use and troubleshoot
- Compact and simple design
- Lacks durability
- Lacks sophistication and functions of some other units
MyBaby – Best Low-Profile Baby White Noise Machine
The MyBaby white noise generator features compact and ready to travel design, ideal for people that travel often. It is inexpensive, sophisticated, and features simple controls that even the greatest technophobes can understand.
This unit delivers six lullaby sounds that will nourish your baby’s ears and slowly take them in the world of dreams. Aside from outputting white noise sound, this unit also delivers heartbeat and oceanic sounds that are known to calm babies. Note that the white noise sound is generated digitally, not with the help of a genuine fan.
These noises are pretty realistic and designed to calm your baby. These random noises and are particularly beneficial during travel. The unit also features automatic shutdown timers (15, 30 and 60 minutes), allowing you to lull your baby and still save on energy. The unit is very versatile when it comes to power sources, for allowing you to use the included power cord or AA batteries. It comes without the remote or compatible app.
The unit’s control board is very clear and easy to use. Each noise has its dedicated button. Also, you have + and – buttons to control the sound volume. While the unit impresses with its functions, simplicity, and low-profile design, the white noise sound felt underwhelming.
- Low-profile design makes this unit fit in all places
- Travel-friendly and compact
- Clear and easy-to-use controls
- Variety of sound options
- White noise can be disruptive
- Some noted that their devices generated weird sounds in the
Big Red Rooster – Best Budget Baby White Noise Machine
The Big Red Rooster is the least expensive item on our list, featuring six sounds (of which one is white noise). It helps babies (and consequently parents) sleep easily and better, without extra features of some other more expensive units.
The unit runs on batteries or is powered via the included AC adapter. This machine is very good at reducing background noise, random neighborhood sounds, barking or traffic. It is quite potent, which is why you need to position it at a safe distance from the baby’s cradle.
And despite being inexpensive, this unit doesn’t feel cheap at all. It generates high-quality sounds, and the machine itself feels very sturdy and durable. It comes without bells and whistles of some other high-end units, but it does an excellent job at helping your baby fall asleep, which is critical!
If your baby or child (or you yourself) is a light sleeper, perhaps you should try this item. It is very inexpensive, and if you plan on experimenting with the effects of white noise on baby’s sleep, then Big Red Rooster is the best item for that endeavor.
- Exceptionally valuable
- Perfect for reducing background noise
- Auto shut-off timer and pre-programmed quality sounds (6)
- Simple controls and modern design
- Bulky design (a bit too high)
- Lacks features of other, more sophisticated machines
Best Baby White Noise Machine Buyer’s Guide
Now that you’ve seen all the items on our list, their features, pros, and cons, it is time we dive deeper into the subject at hand: baby white noise machines. What is white noise? What are baby white noise machines? Are they safe, and can they actually help your child get a quality sleep? And of course, should you obtain it, which features should you chase?
What Is White Noise?
In physics, white noise is defined as sound that consists of various frequencies with the same intensity. When you mention the term white noise, most people will think about static no-signal TV noise. Now, most would instantly switch the channel or turn off their TV so that they don’t have to listen to that horrible noise. But is it really that horrible?
The sound in nature, such as rain or waterfall produce similar noise, and most people would say that they easily fall asleep due to the effect these sounds have on them. So what’s the secret? The secret is in our capacity to hear and register sound.
So Why Our Brains Like It So Much?
Well, we use white noise to cover distinct background sounds. When you hear dog barking or traffic, your brain interprets it and forms an image based on the given sound, which, of course, is not good. But if you have a white noise machine next to you, it will cover the noise of the traffic or neighboring dogs, which means no images in the brain, no thoughts, and therefore greater chance of falling asleep.
What Is White Noise Machine?
A white noise machine is a device that mechanically or electronically generates artificial white noise. Devices that have actual built-in fan are generally the best at producing quality white noise. In this devices, the fan is that which generates white noise. It is similar to creating 1000 voices; your brain cannot focus on 1000 voices, and will, therefore, focus only on the noise, rather than on the specific frequency.
Also, many people suggest that white noise machines helped them either cure or control their tinnitus. Obviously, the thing we are most concerned with is the connection between white noise machines and sleeping. Specifically, we want to know how white noise affects sleep, and whether these devices are safe for babies.
White Noise, Babies And Sleep
Of course, we wouldn’t be writing this guide if we thought that white noise machines are harmful to you or your baby. But, there are some things we need to clear out.
For starters, we all know that babies are vulnerable and fragile. Also, they are developing and growing rapidly and each second, and it is your job to ensure that it gets the right care. You would do anything for your baby, which is why you are probably reading this guide; we understand that.
Sleep is vital for humans, babies in particular. It is essential for their health, growth, physical and mental state and development. But if you are a parent, then you surely know that babies can be very stubborn. Through no fault of their own, of course, babies will often have a difficult time falling to sleep.
And when babies can’t sleep, the whole house can’t sleep (generally). In these situations, we start to look for methods that will help babies fall asleep, right? And, one of the ways you can help your child fall asleep is by obtaining a white noise machine. But is this safe? Truthfully, yes and no.
Potential Risks
Let’s start with the risks, okay? It is vital that the noises on your white noise machines don’t exceed the recommended value of 50 dB (the amount suggested by the AAP). While adults complain that their white noise machines don’t output enough sound, babies are probably perfectly okay with them. One AAP article mentioned that too loud white noise machines could cause damage to baby’s hearing, even slow down specific cognitive abilities.
Benefits
There is no doubt that white noise machines can help your baby fall asleep faster. Moreover, they can help them get long and quality sleep, which, naturally, affects their health and growth. And if your baby is well and rested, then you as a parent are well and relaxed, right?
The benefits outweigh the risks; there’s no denying it. And while white noise machines can be dangerous to a certain extent, their adequate use can minimize the risks and maximize the benefits. You could, for example, use white noise machines only to help your child for asleep and then not use it the next day, just to see the effects.
To conclude, we suggest two things:
- Abide by the recommended value suggested by the AAP.
- Use, but don’t overuse white noise machines. If the machine is also a sleep soother, use those features. Most devices on our list play various noises, lullabies; some even read fairytales. What we are trying to say is; mix things up to avoid your child developing a dependency on white noise. Makes sense?
How To Choose The Best Baby White Noise Machine?
It is hard to say which baby white noise machine would fit you the most because we don’t know your specific needs. Maybe you are seeking an inexpensive device for your nursery or a high-end and compact device that is app compatible and easy to travel with. So, instead of giving random device, we created a list of things you ought to consider.
White Noise Or Sleep Soother (Or Both)?
White noise machines generate white noise, while sleep soothers generate sounds that aren’t white noise but are known to help your child fall asleep. Also, some devices boast light effects, which can be a bonus depending on whether your child likes it or not (but most babies do love having ceilings illuminated with stars)!
The reason why we selected the VTech Wyatt The Whale as the best item is because it produces white noise and other soothing noises. It also features a light show and reads fairy tales (downloadable or personal recordable).
Power Source
This one is easy: if you need a portable device, you go for the cordless. If not, then go according to your liking. For nurseries, we kindly suggest corded items because they create less hassle in the long run.
Design Features
Refer to our comparison table and see the categories concerning app compatibility, baby-friendly sounds, and baby-friendly design. What do we mean by these categories?
Well, app-compatibility is self-explanatory; the item either does or doesn’t arrive with a compatible app. Some of you will find this to be crucial, which is why you should focus only on the items that come with their dedicated apps.
Also, some machines come with built-in sounds that are baby-friendly. For example, a sound of an ocean or a beating heart is baby-friendly. If an item outputs only white noise, we marked it as an item that doesn’t have baby-friendly sounds.
Lastly, some devices are clearly designed for kids, and others aren’t. It’s not that those items that feature adult design aren’t baby-friendly, it’s just that they aren’t cartoonish or toy-like. To us, it makes sense that your baby will love Cloud b Sheep more than it would love Big Red Rooster white noise machine.
Final Thoughts
We covered many products in this article and wrote an extensive buyer’s guide on the subject. And while your eyes might feel tired from reading it, we hope that you think that it was well worth it. We tried to present the products objectively, and warn you about the potential risks of using white noise machines.
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