How Sounds Impact A Baby’s Quality Of Sleep

Listen to this short video as pediatric sleep consultant Tracie Kesatie explains how different sounds can impact your baby’s quality of sleep.

While we all do sleep best in a quiet environment, the use of a white noise machine can be incredibly helpful. For newborns who are used to the sound of mom’s circulatory system, the sound of a white noise machine or fans or vacuum cleaners can be very comforting and familiar. And while you might not want to run your vacuum cleaner all night, a white noise machine can be incredibly helpful. You just wanna make sure that the white noise machine is not too loud. How do you know if it’s too loud? If it’s louder than the sound of what it sounds like when your shower is running, that’s an indication you wanna turn the volume down.

As for placement, I generally recommend placing the sound machine on the other side of the bedroom or at least seven feet, if possible, away from the crib or the bassinet where the baby is sleeping.

As for music, music can be a wonderfully soothing, and relaxing tool to use during your pre-bed routine with your child. But once lights are out and it’s time to sleep, I recommend turning the music off so it doesn’t turn into a habit that can become challenging later on.

Cribs should be a safe environment that is conducive to sleep. When it comes to little babies in a crib, the crib should really only contain a firm mattress and a fitted sheet. Pillows, blankets, and bumpers are not only not necessary, but they’re not considered safe and are no longer recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

I’m also not a fan of musical or light-up aquariums or toys in the crib, nor am I a fan of mobiles. While I think they’re darling, I do find that they can actually become stimulating and a distraction when it comes to sleep. You’re better off using those musical light-up aquariums and mobiles over by the changing station.

As babies get older, they get quite squirmy, and it can be incredibly helpful to distract your little one with a very cute mobile so you can get that diaper change done versus putting it over the crib.