We conducted a review of the medical literature on white noise machines for young children. All the devices generated alarmingly loud sounds. I’ve been using a white noise machine since my son was born. It helps him sleep. Is that bad? Could it affect his hearing White noise is made up of different frequencies, creating a background sound that can muffle potential disturbances. The devices are easy to use, often in the form of a stand-alone machine or a smartphone app .A toddler might sleep for 10 to 12 hours a night, but infants may sleep up to 16 hours over the whole day. In our review, we found that across 24 white noise machines and six phone apps, all could produce sound that violated the NIOSH guideline for an eight-hour work shift Most parents probably aren’t setting the machines at the loudest setting. But this finding means that during a typical night’s sleep, a white noise machine at maximum volume exposes children to noise that can cause permanent hearing loss. Changing the type of sound to music, static, rumble or tones does not make the sound safer, but lowering the volume does. In general, you should keep your white noise machine at the lowest volume that helps your child sleep. Our recommendation is to keep the volume at 60 decibels or less. White noise exposure near its maximum volume is harmful in multiple ways. Loud, extended noise exposure causes mechanical stress to inner ear sensory hair cells, inflammatory damage to their supporting structures and damage to the nerve ending to the hair cells White noise within reasonable limits may help children — and parents — sleep without causing harm. We found studies showing that white noise applied at 60 decibels or less — about the volume of a quiet conversation — showed a decrease in nighttime arousals, increased sleep time and increase sleep efficiency (time spent asleep while in bed). To check whether your white noise machine is at a safe volume, you can purchase a decibel meter online or download an app on your smartphone. Place the white noise machine at the volume you usually use it and place your decibel meter where your child sleeps
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Tuesday, May 20, 2025