The 4 Best Baby Sound Machines to Switch on for Better Sleep
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Go the Fu** to Sleep—the mantra so eloquently coined by the beloved kids’ book of the same name—truly defines the breaking point parents reach as they work overtime to coax their kids to snooze. I’ll admit that when I was about to be a new parent back in 2017, I was quick to invest in all the sleep-inducing accoutrements for baby—a white noise machine included. The baby-friendly tool and its gentle, monotonous hum not only helps mimic a womb-like experience in the early days, but it also helps create a calm and relaxing environment that helps foster blissful nights of slumber well beyond the fourth trimester.
Still, for parents, where to begin? How do you go about choosing the best sound machine for your baby? Additionally, while we know the perks of using one (more sleep = good), I also wanted to investigate any pitfalls (for example, should you be worried about the constant decibel input on baby’s little ears?). To do this, I relied on a range of baby sleep experts and parent testers to make the right choice for your little one. The major lesson learned? All sound machines are not created equal. Here, our top picks for baby.
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The Best Baby Sound Machines At a Glance
How I Chose the Best Baby Sound Machines
I polled parents, scoured reviews and chatted with Brittany Sheehan, a pediatric sleep consultant, and the founder of Brittany Sheehan Sleep to help narrow my initial search. From there, I put our product finalists through a rigorous test, evaluating a thorough range of criteria as follows:
• Ease of Use: How hard was it to set up the sound machine? Was an app required to activate? How easy was it to pair? Can you turn it off and make sound adjustments in the dark?
• Appearance: It sounds silly, but style counts—even with a baby sound machine. Did it feel chic and luxe on baby’s bedside stand? Or was it an eyesore?
• Sound Quality: What are the range of sounds offered? Are they pleasant or do your ears start to feel bothered just a bit? Does the sound machine successfully mask outdoor noise, say, a siren or beeping horns—the norm in New York City, where I live? Also, is the decibel level appropriate for baby? (We used an app to test for this.)
• Bonus Features: Does the sound machine come with a nightlight? Is there an automatic shut-off? Does it have to be plugged into a wall to run? What other bells and whistles make it a stand-out?
• Value: How does the price measure up to what’s included?
The 4 Best Baby Sound Machines, According to Parents
1. The Dohm Classic Sound Machine
YogaSleep
First invented in the 1960s(!), this was the sound machine that nearly every parent I chatted with raved about as a tried-and-true favorite for creating ambient white noise for their infant. Here’s why: The Dohm Classic Sound Machine from YogaSleep offers fan-based white noise, which delivers a constant whirr that’s not abrasive to the ears. There are also two different speed adjustments, which allow you to temper the intensity and sound softness, if you will. To further adjust the volume, you simple twist the base, which limits "vents” and make it even easier to customize the sound. For our testing, we placed the Dohm approximately seven feet from our son’s head and the decibel measured at 50 on the highest setting, so well within the recommended auditory levels (see below). As for our other standards, the Dohm is easy to use in the dark, keeps a low profile on a nightstand and—even though it only offers white noise—it successfully helps to mute the sound of garbage trucks and cars racing down our busy street. (It doesn’t totally block them, but makes the sudden noise much less jarring—a win.) Another parent chimed in with a final pro: It won’t mess up your Spotify Discover. “I was using white noise and playing it form Spotify on my phone and all of my suggested songs became weird sound scapes.”
2. The Hushh 2 Portable Sleep Sound Machine and Night Light
YogaSleep
If there was a runner-up to the Dohm, the Hushh 2—also from YogaSleep—tops many a parent’s lists when it comes to a sound machine that’s easy to use on the go. For one thing, it can be plugged in or used with battery power (the charge lasts up to 34 hours and also starts to blink when the battery runs low), but it also comes with six different sounds—white noise, nature and calming melodies included, as well as the signature Dohm sound. The decibel level, per our app, at a distance of seven feet from our son’s head was 46; we also tested it at two feet (the approximate distance of a stroller, which you can clip it onto) and that came in at 49 after we adjusted the volume down. What stood out beyond the look and portability of this device was how easy it was use, especially in the dark thanks to backlit buttons. There’s also a handy child lock, so that if your past-the-baby-stage kiddo got a hold of it, they can’t wreak havoc on the settings. Auto shut-off is another feature that allows you to set a sleep timer for 30 minutes, 1 hour or two hours. The nightlight also provides a soft glow and is adjustable with dimmer settings.
3. Frida Baby 2-in-1 Portable Noise Machine
Frida Baby
This teeny tiny (and rechargeable) sound machine from Frida Baby is so small it can fit in the palm of your hand. We carried it with us on a trip to London and loved that it charges with a USB-C cable—which comes included—and lasts through the night (up to 15 hours, but you can keep it plugged in as an extra precaution if you’re worried about the charge). Other notable features: The choice of five different soothing sounds (pink noise, nature sounds, shushing, a heartbeat and waves) as well as an adjustable nightlight (the glow is bright enough to light the way but has three different settings so that it doesn’t disrupt sleep). The sound machine also comes with a strap that can be hooked onto a stroller, car seat or crib if you need it and auto shut-off. We tested the decibel level with the pink noise setting (which mutes higher frequencies) and at a distance of eight feet—the location of the desk in the room where we stayed—it was 56 at its highest volume. (The volume is easy to turn up or down, based on the distance from your child’s head and decibel level.) My only complaint is that you have to press and hold the buttons to turn the sound machine on or off. Still, I love the size and the fact that I could easily carry it in my purse.
4. Hatch Rest+ 2nd Gen
Hatch
First and foremost, the Hatch Rest+ 2nd Gen wins out for the prettiest sound machine to ever grace your kiddo’s bedside table. The nightlight, which is customizable to almost any hue via the color wheel—accessible via the WiFi-enabled app—emits a soft and dimmable glow that is both calming and serene. Add to that the range of more than 18 ambient sounds to choose from (again, via the app): Think white noise, a thunderstorm, the dryer, birds, wind and more. (When we tested the white noise functionality, the decibel level—which is easily adjustable via a volume slider in the app—rang in at 52 after we toggled the slider to 25 percent of its max volume and with a placement of two feet from our son’s head on his nightstand.) There’s more: The Hatch also offers programmable routines, which means as your kids grow, you can customize night light color and brightness as a way to cue them to wake. There’s also a back-up battery, just in case the power goes out, that will last up to eight hours and a clock that you can turn on and off. Finally, if you want even more features, a Hatch+ Subscription (which costs $5 a month) provides curated playlists of bedtime stories, music and more for kids including a brand-new feature called “tuck-ins” that allows traveling parents or extended family to record audio bedtime messages for kids. (Kind of special to hear Grandma sing a lullaby before shuteye, no?) My only complaint, which to be honest, is a bigger issue as kids age beyond the baby stage: The fact that a phone is required to pick the color and choose the sound. For some parents, this might open up a can of worms handing their kid a device at bedtime? Still, this sound machine is a dream for creating customizable ambience and for it’s multi-purpose capabilities that grow with your child.
What to Look for in a Baby Sound Machine
The funny thing about choosing a white noise machine for baby is that sometimes the simplest option is the best option. “There are lots of products on the market that offer a variety of features that may not be necessary,” Sheehan says. “The most important thing is that the white noise machine offers an ambient noise setting, meaning the sound variables don’t change.”
It's true: Sound machines nowadays have quite a range of “noise” to choose from. Most intriguing to us is the choice of white, pink or brown noise. The best way to understand the difference is this: White noise combines a variety of frequencies equally; pink noise mutes the high frequencies; brown noise mutes those high frequencies even more. As for which one to choose? It’s really based on personal preference—i.e. what noise feels the most relaxing and calming to you.
Still, the goal isn’t to make baby’s bedroom sound like a spa. In fact, sounds like rain drops, ocean waves and more can actually be stimulating, according to Sheehan. “You want the sound to stay constant, almost like TV static,” she says.
As for the volume—a number-one concern of parents—Sheehan says the decibel level should never exceed 60. “Ideally, it’s closer to 50 and this is measured at a distance of at least seven feet from your baby’s head,” she says. You can download an app to test the decibel (which is what we did), but if you aren’t able to do that, Sheehan suggests that the white noise should sound, from the crib, about as loud as you talking to someone in the shower. “In other words, you can still hear them, but you would have to raise your voice slightly.” It shouldn’t be louder than that.
“There’s a lot of fear mongering that claims that white noise causes developmental or speech delays,” Sheehan adds. “Those claims are not supported by data whatsoever, so parents needn’t worry. The only safety concern that’s remotely tied to white noise machines is the volume—as long as you test the decibel, you’re good.”
One Final Pro Tip for Travel
I swear by the white noise machines I tested above for their ease of use and portability. That said, if you forget to pack one, don’t panic. Per Sheehan, “The app ‘’ offers a sound setting called ‘Air Conditioner’ that is the perfect example of ambient white noise for babies.
What Time Do Kids *Really* Go to Bed? We Surveyed 70 Parents to Get the Cold, Bleary-Eyed Truth
