White noise for babies
A soft, steady shush that sounds like the womb — one of the simplest ways to help a baby settle and stay asleep. Press play; no app, no sign-up.
Safety first: keep it quiet (around a soft shower) and at least 2 m / 7 ft from the crib. More on this below.
Why white noise calms babies
Inside the womb, a baby is surrounded by a constant whooshing of blood flow and muscle — genuinely loud, and always there. Silence is the unfamiliar thing. So a gentle, steady shush recreates something a newborn already knows, and it's why so many babies relax the moment it starts.
It also masks the household: a closing door, a sibling's voice, the TV in the next room. Those small sounds are exactly what jolts a light-sleeping baby awake, and an even sound floor smooths them over so naps last longer.
Safe use — the parts that matter
White noise is widely considered safe for babies when kept gentle. A few simple habits:
- Keep the volume low — aim for around 50 decibels, about the level of a quiet shower. If you'd raise your voice to talk over it, it's too loud.
- Distance from the crib — place the phone or machine at least 2 metres (about 7 feet) away, never right next to the baby's head.
- Don't run it louder to work harder — a little masking is enough; louder doesn't settle a baby faster.
- A timer is fine — you can fade it out once the baby is asleep, or keep it low through the night. Both are common.
These mirror the general guidance parents are given for infant sound machines: quiet, distant, and only as loud as needed.
White, pink or brown for a baby?
Any of them can work — babies aren't fussy about the label. White noise is the most common and the most thorough masker. If you find the hiss a touch sharp, pink noise (like soft rain) and brown noise (a deep rumble) are gentler on the ear and work just as well for settling. Pick whichever quiets your baby.
White noise vs a lullaby
They help in different ways. White noise masks the room; a lullaby soothes with a slow, familiar melody. Many parents use noise for masking a noisy home and a lullaby for the wind-down before sleep — or gently layer both. If you're choosing lullabies, our picks are in the best lullabies for babies.
Settle baby all night, offline
The Lullaby app loops baby white noise and gentle lullabies seamlessly through the night, fades them with a sleep timer, and plays with the screen off — no ads, ever.
Frequently asked
Is white noise safe for babies?
Yes, when kept gentle: around 50 dB (a quiet shower), at least 2 m / 7 ft from the crib, and only as loud as needed. Used that way it's widely considered safe and helpful.
Why does it calm my baby?
The womb is loud and whooshing, so a steady shush feels familiar. It also masks household sounds that would otherwise startle a light-sleeping baby awake.
Should it play all night?
Either works — keep it low and across the room through the night, or fade it out with a sleep timer once your baby is asleep.
White noise or a lullaby?
Different jobs: noise masks the room, a lullaby soothes with melody. Many parents use both.