Until recently, whenever my daughter Nayul was asleep, I would play a mix of 'shushing' and 'water sounds' from YouTube at quite a high volume (probably loud enough for normal conversation, and sometimes even louder, maybe around 60~70 decibels?). However, after reading a post by a neighbor about 'Newborn White Noise Guidelines,' I've been more cautious about using white noise. What are the standards for white noise for newborns? Upon research, I found a paper published by the American Academy of Pediatrics in 2014. According to their recommendations, the sound level for white noise machines should not exceed 50 decibels, and it should be placed at least one foot (about 30 cm) away from the baby's crib.
Before writing this post, I wasn't fully aware of what the 50-decibel guideline meant. So, I took the opportunity to investigate the meaning of white noise, the decibel guidelines, and the levels of our household white noise machines.
White Noise
According to Doopedia, white noise has a broad frequency range which is easy on the ears, thereby making it less disruptive in daily life. It also helps in masking ambient noise, which can help with focus. When I looked up various case studies related to white noise and newborns, I found more articles praising its benefits than citing drawbacks. I was particularly surprised to read a study that exposed 1-year-olds to 75 decibels of white noise overnight and showed that levels above 65 decibels could also be fine.
White Noise Guidelines
It's clear from multiple studies that a moderate level of white noise is good for sleep. But what should the decibel limit be? Articles criticizing the American Academy of Pediatrics' guidelines seemed biased, often leading to links selling sleep apps or white noise machines. To clear my doubts, I checked the 'National Noise Information System,' which is operated by the government and provides various types of noise-related information.
According to their chart, sleep disorders start to occur above 60 decibels. Therefore, it seems safe to set the limit for white noise around 50~55 decibels, even if it is white noise.
Testing the 'Tiny Love' Sound Machine at Home
I checked the sound levels of our 'Tiny Love' machine at home and found that at the lowest volume setting, the decibel reading mostly stayed around 50. This gave me the confidence to continue using white noise for Nayul's sleep.
My Personal Thoughts on 'Tiny Love'
If you plan to use it for sleep, I'd strongly recommend not going beyond volume level 3. Above that, it might not be ideal.
In conclusion, this is what I've personally decided about the white noise to play for Nayul. If anyone has differing opinions, feel free to share in the comments. Also, my wife pointed out that we have a specialized white noise machine at home, asking why I didn't use it for the tests. Oh well, another thing to hear about later! 😭
👉 Note: For noise level measuring apps, you can easily find free options by searching for 'Noise Meter' or 'Decibel'. And remember, the everyday sounds that occur around a baby can actually be beneficial for their auditory development, so unless it's overly loud, there's no need to be overly concerned.
Test conducted on May 20, 2023