White noise for babies and newborns
White noise is a steady “shhh” that many parents use to help a baby or newborn settle. It is close to the whooshing a baby heard in the womb and it softens sudden household noises. Keep it quiet, keep the phone well away from the cot, and use a sleep timer if you can.
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How to use white noise with a baby
- Start it as part of the routine. Play the sound during the wind-down – bath, feed, story – so it becomes a cue for sleep.
- Keep it quiet. Aim for about as loud as a soft shower, and keep the phone at least 2 metres from the cot – never in it. The app’s 🍼 baby volume limit stops it going above 60%.
- Use the sleep timer where you can. Sounds fade out gently over the last few minutes rather than stopping suddenly.
- Lock the phone. It carries on playing with the screen off, and there are no adverts to blast out at 3am.
Which baby sleep sound should I try?
- White noise – an even, bright hiss. The classic choice for newborns.
- Soft white, pink and brown noise – gentler and deeper. Many parents find these less harsh as babies get older.
- Mum’s shush, Dad’s shush and Dad’s hum – real recordings of our own family, soft and calm.
- Heartbeat and womb sounds – slow, low and steady.
- Fan, hairdryer, tumble dryer and washing machine – the familiar household sounds lots of babies love.
Every sound in the Babies & Children section is checked for sudden loud noises – no sirens, alarms, barking or bangs. You can mix sounds too: try pink noise with gentle rain. See also is white noise safe for babies? and brown vs pink vs white noise.
Always follow safe-sleep advice from your health visitor, midwife or doctor (in the UK, the NHS; in the US, the AAP).
Step by step
- Choose a sound. Open Babies & Children › Soothe and tap White noise (or Mum’s shush).
- Set a low volume. Turn it down to about the level of a soft shower. Leave the baby volume limit on.
- Place the phone. Put the phone at least 2 metres from the cot, never in it.
- Set the sleep timer. Tap the timer and choose 30, 60 or 90 minutes so the sound fades out gently.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use white noise for a newborn?
Many parents do. Keep the volume low (about as loud as a soft shower), keep the phone at least 2 metres from the cot and use a sleep timer where you can. Follow safe-sleep advice from your health visitor, midwife or doctor.
Should white noise play all night?
Some families use a timer so the sound fades out once the baby is asleep; others leave it on low all night. If you leave it on, keep it quiet and well away from the cot.
What is the best white noise for babies?
There is no single best sound. Newborns often like plain white noise or shushing; older babies often settle with softer pink or brown noise, rain, or a fan.
Related guides
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