How to Use a White Noise Machine

by Melissa Nathans

White noise machines are devices that produce a series of sounds that comprise all the range of frequency pitches that humans can hear but with a random schema that may be a waterfall, ocean waves, or any other noise that sounds common but serves for the purpose of masking other unwanted or unpleasant sounds.

All the white noise machines vary in size and shape, but all of them have a common and very basic setup that include a fan and depending on the model, they can also include a speed switch to produce a variety of sounds that occur when the fan drive receives enough air into internal slots through the machine's case.

More advanced models of white noise machines include electronic characteristics to control its volume, frequency, and tonality, including often natural and other special sound already programmed as a part of the white noise machine.

When it comes to babies, some sound conditioners usually come with sounds associated with water, probably the sound they are more familiar with after nine months living in mom's womb. The Lifesounds 440 actually contains the sounds of a womb and mother's heartbeat. There are other white noise machines that also include the sound of household appliances such as the clothes dryer or vacuum cleaner or clothes dryer. Sound conditioners are very popular and recommended for newborns.

The best way to use a white noise machine is by starting with making the noise familiar to your baby. This can only be possible setting the volume in the lowest position to avoid the baby becoming upset with more noise besides the one you are trying to mask.

Adjust the volume level as needed with the passing of the days, although some babies can find comfort in the level you setup initially regardless whether it is too low or too high. Experimenting may help to determine the level, but common sense advice is to start wit a low profile until tuning it.

Some people believe that is easier putting you real vacuum cleaner to work rather than buying a white noise machine, but remember that white noise is made of an array of pitches that is embedded into the vacuum cleaner sound, thing that you cannot do just by turning on your appliance and you cannot leave the vacuum running all night long.

If you are the owner of a white noise machine that provides a range of sounds including nature environment or other special settings, try different sounds with your baby and jot down the results to find what sounds making him/her sleep well, calm their colic or crying.

A monotonous sound may help your baby sleep, but perhaps it can be irritating at the time when the baby needs a relaxing environment to stop crying. In addition, white noise is not a magic solution that makes your baby sleeping within seconds after playing it; it takes time for the baby to learn to go to sleep in their bed instead of being held.

Most Child Psychologists and Pediatricians will advise you to play at least 35 minutes of white noise to allow your baby to begin to experience a peaceful atmosphere leading to natural sleep. Hence, make sure the white noise machine does not have short tracks looping over and over, but full-length sessions that commonly last more than a whole hour.