Does white noise help babies sleep? What the research says
For many babies, yes, especially newborns. The evidence is smaller than the marketing suggests, but it points in a consistent direction.
The best-known study
In 1990, researchers played white noise to 20 newborn babies. 16 of them, or 80%, fell asleep within five minutes. In a comparison group of 20 newborns without white noise, only 5, or 25%, fell asleep in the same time.
It's a small study and it looked at falling asleep, not staying asleep. But it's often cited because the difference was large and the setup was simple.
Why it seems to work
A few explanations are usually offered, and they probably overlap:
- It's familiar. The womb is not a quiet place. Steady whooshing from blood flow and the mother's body is the background a newborn has heard for months.
- It masks sudden sounds. A door, a dog or a car is less startling over a steady background.
- It's a cue. Used the same way every time, a sound can become part of the routine that tells a baby it's time to sleep.
What it doesn't do
White noise doesn't fix hunger, discomfort, illness or an overtired baby. It won't make a baby sleep through the night if they aren't ready to. It's a calming tool, not a treatment, and it doesn't replace safe-sleep practices.
White noise, pink noise or something else?
"White noise" is often used for any steady, hissing sound. Many parents find deeper sounds, like rain, a fan or a womb-like rumble, easier to live with than pure white noise. There isn't good evidence that one is better for babies than another, so pick something steady that your baby responds to and that you can stand hearing.
How to use it well
- Keep it soft: about 50 dB at your baby's head.
- Keep it away: at least 2 m (7 ft) from the crib.
- Keep it short: help your baby fall asleep, then let it fade.
Shushy follows those rules by default. It plays a gentle shush, white noise, rain, a fan, a womb sound or a heartbeat when your baby needs it, eases off as they settle and stays quiet the rest of the time.
This guide is general information, not medical advice. If you're worried about your baby's sleep, hearing or health, talk to your pediatrician.
Sources
- Spencer JA et al. "White noise and sleep induction." Archives of Disease in Childhood, 1990
- Hugh SC et al. "Infant sleep machines and hazardous sound pressure levels." Pediatrics, 2014
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia: "White noise not the right noise?" (2014)
- Henry Ford Health: "Are white noise machines safe for your baby?" (2026)