What exactly is white noise, and why is it so beneficial for newbons, infants and babies?
Despite its name, white noise is not a noise. Rather, it is a sound frequency or signal, a subtle, steady sound found in nature, such as the sound of ocean waves gently caressing the shore, a rain shower, a waterfall, or even the hum of a vacuum cleaner or clothes dryer. For many babies, especially crying sleepy babies and babies with colic, the monotony of an external noise is especially soothing. (How often have you gotten drowsy with the gentle sound of a motor running?) That’s why many pediatricians recommend white noise as part of a baby’s sleep regimen. In addition, general environmental noise, like noisy traffic outside the baby’s nursery or loud noises created by the baby’s siblings, may upset your baby or keep your newborn infant awake. Research has also shown that a steady stream of the same peaceful sound, such as white noise, can filter and mask distracting noises, while at the same time calm your child down. That’s why white noise is a very safe and effective sleep sound f
