“My baby only sleeps with white noise, like the hoover or hairdryer.” A baby being white noise dependent is more common than you may think. Here’s why and what to do about it.
Mom’s Question:
My 2-month-old baby only sleeps in hoover noise! He just won’t settle to sleep without the sound of the hoover or hairdryer. Why is this and how can I stop this pattern?
How To Help White Noise Dependent Baby
I can’t help but smile when I read your question. There is just no end to the weird things that small babies start “needing”. I bet you’ll find this quite a dear memory in a year or so. Write it down somewhere!
Why babies sleep better with white noise
My guess is that your baby finds the sounds of the hairdryer and hoover soothing. Maybe it resembles (in his or her mind) the sounds she heard while still in the womb. It is actually quite common that babies fall asleep really well to so-called white noise, such as the hoover or hairdryer. An often referred to study from 1990 concluded that as many as 80% of the babies in the study fell asleep within five minutes in response to white noise compared with 25% who fell asleep spontaneously without white noise. A huge difference, but a small study (referenced below).
Babies are also routine-lovers, so if this sound makes them feel safe, they will want it every time he’s about to go to sleep.
How to stop using white noise to put baby to sleep
You can go to three different routes to deal with this habit:
- Just stop! It might be a few tough days when it is hard for your baby to settle, but he or she is likely to learn quite fast. Stay close to him and make him understand that he is safe and loved anyway.
- Another option, if you don’t want to do it the hard way, take it slowly. Put the hoover in another room, so that he gradually learns to fall asleep without it. And turn it off just before he falls asleep.
- Or simply head play white noise from some app, Spotify, Youtube, or website! (Yes, all of these exist, so as you can see, your baby is not the only one sleeping to the noise of the hoover!)
With a bit of patience and persistence, it is my experience that you can change almost any of your baby’s habits. Just try to understand their situation and change it gradually into what you prefer.
Good luck, and I’d love to hear how long it took to teach your baby a new habit!
Paula
More Baby Sleep Habits
Research References
White noise and sleep induction
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Paula Dennholt founded Easy Baby Life in 2006 and has been a passionate parenting and pregnancy writer since then. Her parenting approach and writing are based on studies in cognitive-behavioral models and therapy for children and her experience as a mother and stepmother. Life as a parent has convinced her of how crucial it is to put relationships before rules. She strongly believes in positive parenting and a science-based approach.
Paula cooperates with a team of pediatricians who assist in reviewing and writing articles.
