Is white noise safe for babies?
White noise is widely used for babies, and the main things to get right are volume and distance. Keep it quiet – about as loud as a soft shower – place the phone or white noise machine at least 2 metres from the cot, never inside it, and use a timer. Follow your health visitor’s or doctor’s advice.
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Volume
Most of the advice comes down to “keep it quiet”. If you have to raise your voice to talk over it, it is too loud. In Hit The Hay the 🍼 baby volume limit is on by default and stops the volume going above 60% of your phone’s level; you can switch it off in Settings for grown-up listening.
Distance
Put the phone or speaker across the room, at least 2 metres from the cot or Moses basket – never in the cot, and never under a pillow or blanket.
Time
A sleep timer lets the sound fade out once your baby has drifted off. Ours fades gently over the last few minutes so nothing stops suddenly.
No sudden loud sounds
Ad-supported apps can play an advert at full volume in the middle of the night. Hit The Hay has no ads, ever, and every sound in Babies & Children is checked for sudden loud noises. Grown-up sounds with louder moments, such as rain on the window with thunder, live in the Adults section, and in the Seasonal section every sound is marked “✓ Baby-safe” or “Not for babies” (for example, distant fireworks).
We are parents, not doctors, so we can’t give medical advice. If you have any worries about your baby’s sleep or hearing, speak to your health visitor, midwife, GP or paediatrician. See also white noise for babies and newborns.
Frequently asked questions
How loud should white noise be for a baby?
Quiet – roughly as loud as a soft shower, and quieter than normal conversation. If you need to raise your voice over it, turn it down. The baby volume limit in Hit The Hay caps the level at 60%.
How far from the cot should a white noise machine be?
At least 2 metres away, across the room, and never inside the cot or under bedding.
Is it better to use a timer?
Many families use one so the sound fades out after the baby has fallen asleep. Hit The Hay’s sleep timer fades gently rather than stopping suddenly.
Are all the sounds baby-safe?
Everything in Babies & Children is checked for sudden loud noises. In the Seasonal section each sound is marked “Baby-safe” or “Not for babies”, for example distant fireworks.
Related guides
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