White noise is a type of noise that consists of a combination of all the sound frequencies that the human ear can hear, including low, medium, and high frequencies. Calming a crying baby can be a very difficult task, especially when the mother is stressed or in a bad mood due to lack of sleep. Therefore, many mothers consider using white noise as a way to help the baby calm down and fall asleep faster. In this context, we will review in Dalili Medical the benefits of white noise for infants in addition to some of the potential harms that may result from it.

What is white noise?

 

White noise is known as a type of random noise that is characterized by equal spectral density, which means that its frequencies range between 20 and 20,000 hertz. It is called "white" because it resembles white light, as it consists of a mixture of different wavelengths. White noise or soft noise is one of the methods used to help infants sleep at night, especially if used during the day. Babies in the first months of their lives suffer from colic and gas buildup, which can cause them discomfort, and the mother is often unable to determine the causes of the baby's bloating. Therefore, this method is used to facilitate their entry into the world of sleep faster and easier. White noise is an effective way to focus the baby's hearing and senses on one sound, which helps him reduce the effect of annoying surrounding sounds, especially in noisy cities where homes are close to factories or train stations. It also treats the problem of intermittent sleep that many infants suffer from. This technique depends on exposing the child to specific sounds. The use of white noise contributed significantly to improving infants' sleep. The study, which included about forty infants, showed that 80% of them were able to sleep within just five minutes of hearing white noise. There are devices dedicated to white noise that record a group of sounds and are sold as a type of white noise. Among these recordings, we find mothers' lullabies, whether in the mothers' own voices or folkloric lullabies. Lullabies are known as soft, repetitive singing that features changes in tone, which helps induce drowsiness. In addition, there are devices that record the sound of the heartbeat, and others that record the sounds of household appliances such as the washing machine and the electric blender.

Have the benefits of white noise for sleep been scientifically proven?

 

There are tangible benefits of white noise in improving the quality of sleep, but these benefits still need more research and studies to become scientifically proven facts. It is also important to understand why children sleep with white noise, in addition to studying the effect of this noise on the quality of sleep in humans more accurately.

Are there any harms to white noise for children?

 

Some believe that white noise may harm infants and children, but the truth is different; white noise is generally safe for children. Many parents believe that this type of noise helps improve the quality of their children's sleep.

Can white noise be used with autism?

 

White noise is often linked to autism as a means of dealing with sleep problems that individuals with this disorder may face. White noise is one way that can help these individuals sleep better. In addition, there are many other guidelines that can be followed to improve the quality of sleep for people with autism, such as providing appropriate temperatures.

**White noise production tools**

 

**Infant sleep devices:** Infant sleep devices are one of the most popular options for generating white noise. These electronic devices are similar to radios, but they produce white noise instead of various sounds. These devices have important features such as adjusting the volume and producing natural sounds, and can be placed in the baby's room or carried with you anywhere.

**Using the phone and white noise applications:** You can download white noise applications on your phone and use its speaker to produce white noise, which helps to calm the infant effectively.

**Home appliances to generate white noise:** Some common household appliances can be used to produce white noise, such as vacuum cleaners or hair dryers. They can be operated at the lowest speed in a room next to the baby, with a fan used to distribute the sound, which helps create a calm environment for the baby.

**White noise using the mouth:** You can also calm the baby by making soft sounds from the mouth, especially when putting him to bed to sleep.

**Benefits of white noise**

White noise includes a range of benefits, including:

 

- **Promoting children's relaxation**: Children are accustomed to hearing white noise since they were in the mother's womb, as these sounds surround them.

- **Improving sleep quality**: If the child wakes up frequently during his sleep, using white noise can help reduce this, which contributes to his better sleep.

**Getting rid of tinnitus** If you suffer from tinnitus, white noise can be an effective way to alleviate this problem, helping you sleep better.

**Treating sleep disorders**

If you are having difficulty sleeping, white noise may be helpful in this, as it helps block out annoying sounds that may disturb your sleep.

**Masking household noises** Some children may be bothered by household noises, in which case white noise can be used to reduce these sounds, which contributes to creating a comfortable sleeping environment.

What are the criteria to consider when choosing the right white noise machine?

 

1. **Choosing between the machine and the application**: In some cases, a person may need to use white noise machines while traveling or in other places, and in this caseA machine that can rely on mobile applications that provide appropriate noise sounds instead of using a machine that is difficult to carry.

2. **Costs**: A variety of white noise machines are available at different prices, as costs vary based on the features and benefits offered by each machine. There are also applications with different prices that provide the same service.

3. **Sound quality**: Some machines rely on digital technologies to generate white noise, while others use mechanical methods. The quality of the sounds produced by these machines varies, so it is important to choose the machine that provides the required quality.

**5**Volume control: It is essential that the white noise machine includes the ability to adjust the volume to suit the needs, to ensure that the sound does not exceed the appropriate limits for children or adults.

**6**Providing a sleep timer: Many white noise machines have sleep timers, and the features available in these timers vary depending on the model, as some devices offer preset timing options to choose from instead of setting the time manually.

Are there multiple colors used to describe noise?

 

Some types of noise are classified as "white", but there are also other colors used to describe noise. Here is a list of some of these colors:

- **Pink Noise**: Pink noise is a constant background sound, and is intended to reduce distractions that may distract a person, such as car sounds and other noises that may affect sleep.

- **Brown Noise**: Also known as red noise, it is characterized by a deep, resonant sound, with bass-like tones found in pink and white noise. This noise may help relieve symptoms of tinnitus.

- **Blue Noise**: Blue noise increases in intensity as the frequency increases, and is more intense compared to pink and white noise, and may resemble the sound of water splashing.

- **Purple Noise**: Also known as purple noise, it is the opposite of brown noise, as it is characterized by a high pitch, and can be used to treat tinnitus.

- **Grey Noise**: Grey noise is produced from high frequencies and has certain characteristics.

**Negative effects of white noise**

Despite the benefits that white noise offers, it has some negative effects that must be taken into consideration, including:

1. **Hearing problems**: The volume of white noise may be high, which leads to ear damage, especially with repeated exposure to it daily at the same high level.

2. **Child's dependence on it**: The child may become unable to sleep unless he hears white noise, which forces the mother to play it anywhere.

3. **Some children's discomfort**: Many children prefer not to hear white noise, but the mother may insist on using it daily, which causes discomfort and distress to the child. Therefore, it is important for the mother to limit the use of white noise to help her child sleep, to avoid his total dependence on it and to protect his hearing as well.

**Alternatives to white noise and ways to help the infant sleep**

 

1. **Vibrating bed**: A vibrating bed can be purchased for the infant, which helps him sleep quietly without the need to use white noise.

2. **Use traditional pacifiers**: Traditional pacifiers can be used to encourage the baby to sleep, as they help him to be busy with them, which makes it easier for him to fall asleep quickly.

3. **Use a doll**: A cotton doll can be purchased for the baby to play with and be busy with, which helps him to relax and fall asleep easily.

4. **Infant massage**: Massaging infants is an effective way to calm them down and help them get a quiet and quick sleep.

What are the most important guidelines for healthy sleep without using white noise?

 

Some people use white noise to improve the quality of their sleep, but there are many other guidelines that can help achieve healthy sleep without the need for it, including:

1. **Regular sleep times**: It is important to adhere to fixed sleep times to get better sleep, by going to bed and waking up at the same time every day, including weekends.

2. **Practicing physical activities during the day**: It is preferable to do appropriate physical activities during the day, as this can contribute to improving the quality of sleep at night.

3. **Preparing the right atmosphere**: The bedroom should be equipped to ensure deep sleep, by providing quiet, choosing a dark room, and adjusting the temperature to be comfortable for sleeping.

4. **Removing screens from the bedroom**: It is necessary to remove televisions, computers, mobile phones, and other devices with screens from the bedroom, as these devices negatively affect the quality of sleep and may cause insomnia.

5. **Pay attention to nutrition**: The type of food and drinks consumed before bed should be taken into account, as they can affect the quality of sleep.

**Tips for using white noise**

**Choosing the right type of noise:** There are many types of white noise that can be tried, such as rain sounds, natural noise, static sounds, or hair dryer sounds. It is preferable to try each type to determine the most appropriate. You can search YouTube for types of comfortable noise and try them with children to help them sleep.

**Adjusting the volume correctly:** Very loud sounds in some white noise devices may be annoying and not suitable for everyone. So, it is important to make sure that the volume is not too loud for the ears. You can adjust the volume to determine how effective the white noise is. If you are using white noise machines for children, they should be placed well away from them.

**Only play the noise when getting ready for bed:** Now that we have learned about the concept of white noise, its examples and its role in helping children sleep, it should only be played when getting ready for bed. Playing it at other times to encourage the child to sleep may not be effective.So, when you notice signs of relaxation and fatigue in your little one, turn on white noise. When they wake up, you can turn it off so that it doesn’t drown out the normal everyday noises that help them learn while awake. As for pink noise, it is a type of noise and is considered deeper than white noise. In fact, it does a better job of improving your child’s sleep due to its softer quality. Examples of pink noise include: heartbeats, rain falling, and leaves rustling on trees. Pink noise is gentler on the ear, creating a more relaxing and calming atmosphere compared to white noise, which is usually louder and more intense. It can be used as a sleep cue outside, as your child will soon begin to associate white noise with sleep. So, you can choose a sound that can be played outdoors, which will help them settle into unfamiliar environments and promote their sleep at night.

It is important to maintain the same type of noise**: Once you find the right white noise, it is advisable to continue using it, as it becomes a distinctive part of the familiar sound background, helping your child adjust to the rhythm.