How does white noise help a infant sleep and how long should it be used?
Dr. Karp recommends that parents use white noise whenever their baby is sleeping… naptime and all night. It is very helpful not only during the 1st months of life, but all the way up to the 1st birthday… and beyond! The right type of white noise can instantly add 1-3 hours to a swaddled baby’s sleep. It works 3 different ways: 1) it turns on the calming reflex; 2) it prevents the common sleep problems so common in babies 4-12 months of age by covering over outside commotion (planes, snoring, etc) and disturbing sensations inside the baby’s body (like teething or mild hunger); 3) it makes babies feel cozy, relaxed and sleepy, almost like an “auditory” teddy bear. Better sleep is not only important for babies, moms who sleep well find breastfeeding easier and have less postpartum depression, marital stress, and are less likely to put their sleeping baby at risk by placing her on the stomach or falling asleep together on a couch.
