The Best Baby White Noise Machines That Will Make Nap Time Everyone’s Favorite Time

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You might think your baby needs complete silence to sleep, but your little one might sleep better with a baby white noise machine. Bedtime for your tot isn't always going to be the quietest time of your day, which is why getting your little one used to background noises while they're resting plays such a crucial part in running your household as normal without worrying about waking up your baby.

It's a stellar gift for parents-to-be or new parents just finding their footing. These machines can be lifesavers, and calm the parent as much as the baby. You may get so used to the Hatch Restore that you'll keep it on all the time.

The Best Baby White Noise Machines

• Best Overall: Hatch Rest

• Best Lullaby Sound Machine: Tiny Love Machine

• Best Dual Light Machine: Skip Hop Soother

• Best Bassinet Soother: Cloud Portable

• Best to Grow With: Hatch Restore 2

What to Consider

You'd think that with white noise machines, it would be as simple as finding one, plugging it in, and hoping like heck that it soothes your baby or at least drowns out the noise of your parental anxiety for a minute. The joke’s on us, nothing can do that.

And while it's not that complicated, there are a couple of things that you need to decide about before purchasing. Those are, lighted or not lighted, timer or no timer, chargeable or corded, plush or standard, and whether or not you want a reactive sound machine.

Lighted or Not

If you're interested in a sound machine that lights up, there are a few categories to choose from: plain old night light style, dimmable night light (sometimes with a timer), and galaxy light that makes stars glow on the ceiling. Opting for a night light is a nice feature to have, but if you're using it frequently to put your baby to sleep, you should opt for one with a timer so that it isn't running all night long.

Dimmable night lights, a feature that the Hatch Rest has, work wonders at bedtime. They allow you to find the best level of light at just the right times. They're also great for offering just enough light for those middle-of-the-night diaper changes without waking up your babe.

Galaxy night light white noise machines are great for babies who are learning how to self-soothe. Whether you choose to do the cry-it-out method, or you just want them to start leaning into solo night times, a galaxy white noise machine that projects images onto the ceiling and walls gives babies something to gaze at as sleep comes. Some parents note that the galaxy can be distracting, or make the room too bright, but others insist that it's a godsend.

Timer or No Timer

Some parents choose to have the white noise turn off after a certain amount of time, 0r as a pediatrician, sleep expert, and the author of the wildly popular Happiest Baby on the Block book, Dr. Harvey Karp suggests, decreasing the volume once your baby is asleep.

Chargeable or Corded

For regular machines corded is fine in most scenarios as long as it's nowhere near your baby's crib. Rechargeable white noise machines are good for when you're going out, or you want to move it to an area where you don't have a lot of outlets. If it's a plush-style baby white noise machine there should not be any cords.

Plush or Not

Plush baby white noise machines, like the Gemma Joy Bedtime Bunny Baby Sleep Soother, are snuggly and comforting, but they're not always practical. The volume control isn't always the best, and there are generally fewer sound options. That said, they're the most portable of the bunch — and if I'm speaking from experience, my children had plush sound machines as babies and loved them. Your baby will also probably form an intense attachment to their sound plush, so it's best to buy a couple, in the event of an emergency.

Reactive or Not

Reactive baby white noise machines, like the Tiny Love Meadow Days Sound 'n Sleep Projector Soother, are reactive to your baby's noises meaning if your baby starts to cry, these machines turn on all on their own. They're great for parents who don't want a 24/7 white noise machine but still want a bit of sound assistance.

A baby white noise machine can help drown out your older kids doing somersaults off of the couch and help your babe drift off into a restful sleep (just be sure to always use it correctly!). We found the best ones so that your babe will be snoring and drooling in no time.

Hatch Rest+ 2nd Gen Portable Dream Machine

This baby white noise machine can be connected to your smartphone via an app, so you can be super sly about adjusting its settings without disturbing your little bub. This is especially effective for the first line of defense when it comes to soothing.

If you notice your little one is stirring while you're not in (or near) the nursery, you can turn on a soft glow and cue up some sounds to draw their attention. It's also the perfect way to wake your little one up in a gentle way if you're not in the room.

Our deputy editor, Joana Mascioli, uses this baby white noise machine for her little one and says, “My son uses the Hatch every single night to fall asleep and loves it. I even tried a different one that I had gotten as a gift, but nothing beats the Hatch. I love it so much that I even bought a second one!”

More: These 60+ Baby and Parenting Products Will Change Your Life

Sound 'n Sleep Projector Soother

This quirky little creature doubles as a sound machine and a light projector. Turn it on to play the perfect lullaby and watch your little one be mesmerized by the soft-glowing stars that dance around the ceiling.

The coolest part? There’s an integrated sensor that’ll trigger songs to sound when your little one fusses and cries. Users say that this noise machine is so intuitive and well-designed, remarking on its soothing lights and reactive noise. One user even said, “I’m so impressed by this baby white noise machine — I think it’s smarter than we are.”

If getting babies to sleep is our robot overlords’ future, I welcome it.

Owl Moonlight & Melodies Nightlight Soother

As we mentioned earlier, one study cautions against too-loud sound machines that could potentially damage an infant's hearing. This Skip Hop soother lets you control the volume of what your baby hears, from lullabies to nature sounds.

You can combine the sounds as well, making a soothing aural landscape for your baby. Parents tell me that the light is the real draw for this machine. You have both the galaxy projection and a gentle nightlight and can change them in a minute.

Cloud Portable Baby Sound Machine

Clip on this cute cloud to your baby's bassinet when your little one needs some soothing. Perfect for when you're on the go or keeping your baby close as you get work done around the house, this portable sound machine offers 15 calming sleep sounds.

Plus, the cloud changes colors, so your baby will be completely mesmerized while you get your stuff done!

Restore 2 Sunrise Alarm Clock

I don't think you could find a better sound machine for older babies and toddlers than the Hatch Restore 2. It's not just a sound machine, it's a ready-to-rise alarm clock that uses gentle, progressive light to ease your toddler out of slumber. You can operate the whole thing via an easy-to-use app, choosing sounds and light colors.

Once your kids get a bit older, there's a subscription service that you can opt into that has nighttime stories designed to lull you into sleep.

The machine is sleek and chic, and it fits into any aesthetic, but the real value is in the sounds and lights.

PureBaby® Sound Sleeper Portable Sound Machine & Star Projector - Plush Sleep Aid with Night Light, 10 Lullabies, White Noise, Heartbeat, Birds & More for Baby & Toddlers (Unicorn)

Have you ever tried to get your baby to sleep in a hotel or a strange place? It's a nightmare. The PureBaby portable sound machine and star projector change the entire atmosphere of the room, making it more like home.

It's a soft-bodied, gentle sound machine with 10 lullabies, three sounds, and five different levels of volume. The star projector is bright enough to be noticeable, but not distractingly so.

I find that while traveling, it works best in conjunction with my favorite baby travel must-have, the SlumberPod. You'll find with those two items that sleeping on vacation just got a heck of a lot easier.

Portable Sound Machine

There's a lot to love about this sound machine, but there are two primary reasons why it made our list. The first is the value. It's under $20, and for that price, it's hard to beat for the quality. The second is the "shh shh" sound it makes. It's magical. Sure, there are 15 sounds and two white noises, but the babies who tested this wanted one noise and one noise only from the machine: "Shhh shh." It is a mimic of that sound you make when you are rocking your baby on your shoulder. It's the sound that somehow comes naturally as soon as you procreate, and Momcozy has it down to a science.

The machine does light up, which is fine, but again, not the biggest draw.

PureBaby® Sound Machine

I was blown away by how well a newborn reacted to this sound machine. They are notorious for disliking most things, yet this small, fairly simple sound machine worked well to help drown out the sounds of New York City and help the baby chill out.

The look of the machine is unobtrusive, and it's both rechargeable and easily portable, for on-the-go comfort. There are only six sounds, and it is totally simple to use, you just push a button, turn the knob, and you're golden. Great for taking to Bubby's house or keeping in the nursery full time.

Sleep Miracle Soother

Tired of shushing your baby to sleep? Turn the job over to the pro. This sound machine provides 15 or 30 minutes of continuous shushing sounds, making it easy to follow Dr. Harvey Karp's The Happiest Baby on the Block technique.

Users love this one for babies who are only soothed by their parents. It uses a real human voice to make the shushing sound, and while that seems creepy to adults, like something out of a haunted house, babies love it.

Sleep Sheep Baby Sound Soother

Instead of counting sheep to sleep, your baby can be soothed by this one instead! Strap this cuddly little lamb to your baby's crib, and choose from four soothing sounds, including a mother's heartbeat, to lull your baby to sleep.

Parents love that it's a gentle approach to soothing their baby, allowing them tactile comfort while being soothed through the calming noise.

White Noise Sound Machine

Despite whining and crying for hours on end when it's time to go to sleep, your baby wants to doze off just as much as you want them to.

Help usher them into a restful snooze with six different soothing white noise sounds. HoMedics White Noise Sound Machine has calming tones like the pitter-patter of rain or the delicate chirps of summertime bugs.

The compact machine is both battery- and adapter-powered, which means you can take it from the nursery to your room to the living room for a quick midday nap without having to unplug several cords.

Natural White Noise Sound Machine

Have a busy household? Use this white noise machine to block out ambient noise — the dog barking, doorbell ringing, and your older kids running around — so your baby can get some sleep even when everyone else is awake.

This is the favorite for many families, as much for nostalgia as for its utter usefulness. This baby white noise machine is a real workhorse, and if your child has a large room? It's the perfect option, because this could fill it with sound in a way others can't.

Sound Machine

With a total of 24 different sounds, there is certainly a perfect subtle noise for your restless tot that will stop or reverse their sleep regression in its tracks.

Whether your tot takes to the low whirling sounds of a fan or the crackling of a campfire, the volume-adjustable tones will help them drift off into la-la land. The gentle yellow night light will help your little one ease to sleep alone without having to lay in a dark room.

As an aside, once your baby gets older, you can steal this from them if your spouse snores because it drowns sound right out, according to reviewers.

Their nursery will be like a sound bath oasis. Aaahhh!

Portable White Noise Machine for Baby

Honestly, when it comes to getting your tot down for a nap, you have to take them where you can get them. This travel-sized Hushh Portable White Noise Machine is ready to go wherever you and your babe go. Clip it onto your baby's stroller or car seat to make any place the perfect napping space.

The three soothing sound options can be set to a low whisper or a louder, more robust volume for the fussier, sleep-resistant tot. Our tester said that she uses this frequently when she’s taking her baby to a family member’s house, and she expects the need to nap. It fits right in her diaper bag, and then it’s ready to go.

SNOObie Smart Soother

The newest entry to the baby white noise machine market. The Snoobie Smart Soother is an impressive machine. I spoke with Dr. Karp about why he wanted to develop this, and he said that he wanted something that had a range of white noises that were safe and comforting for your baby, and wanted it to do more than just make noise. And boy, did they do something here.

This isn’t your ordinary white noise machine. It’s a nightlight. It’s a ready-to-wake timer, giving yellow, then green signals for baby or child to rise and notify them when it’s okay to move about. It teaches meditation through sound and light, with breath sounds for both babies and older kids, and the light on top dims and brightens with the breath, giving a visual aid to the activity. It plays lullabies and different white noises, and it’s soft-bodied and rechargeable, and the sound lowers if it’s off its cradle so that it can be placed closer to the baby.

Bedtime Bunny Baby Sleep Soother with Cry Activated Sensor

Our tester loves this white noise machine/lovey so much that his mom said, “I literally cannot take it from him, he goes crazy when I try!”

And it’s easy to see why — it’s reactive to your baby’s cry and plays sounds and lights up to calm your baby as soon as it gets triggered. It’s a ridiculously soft plush bunny with just the cutest expression, and it’s just loud enough to calm your baby without causing damage to their hearing.

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