There is speculation about whether or not white noise is beneficial to your infant. While some people say that your infant can become dependent on the noise to sleep others believe that you can transition easily from using noise to silence. Still, others believe that plain white noise such as radio static can cause auditory developmental delays but that complex sounds will not. White noise can be very beneficial to your babies sleep health as well as your own.
Infants have been hearing sounds since they were in utero. Your baby heard your voice, the voices of your family, the TV and radio. Using a sound machine to help your baby sleep may be just what he or she needs to feel the same comfort of still being in your womb. New studies have shown that using some form of white noise, be it a fan or noise machine, can help your newborn get to sleep faster and may even lower the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).
While there are some risks associated with white noise machines they can still be useful tools for getting your baby or even you to sleep a little better. As with all things one must use caution and not place a machine next to your baby’s ears and turn the volume all the way up. The white noise will allow other sounds to be drowned out so that they will not startle your baby awake. The noise can also be used to soothe your baby in an otherwise confusing and over-stimulating world.