# White Noise Machines, Night Lights and Baby Sleep Aids: What's Safe

> How loud and how close a white noise machine should be, the best night light, and sleep products to skip.

Stage: newborn - Topic: Sleep - Page: https://www.askcladle.com/guides/newborn/white-noise-and-sleep-aids

Grounded in: AAP HealthyChildren safe sleep guidance and the AAP 2022 safe sleep policy statement, a 2014 study in Pediatrics measuring infant sound machine volumes, and CPSC infant product warnings. Summarized in Cradle's own words; none of these sources endorse Cradle. General information, not medical advice.

Reviewed: 2026-11

## TLDR

- White noise is optional; keep it about as loud as a soft shower (about 50 dB) and at least 7 feet from the baby's head.
- Use a dim, warm-toned night light. Keep cords well away from the crib.
- Skip weighted sleep products, inclined sleepers, positioners and loungers for sleep.

## Why white noise can help

- The womb is loud: a steady whooshing from blood flow. A constant, low sound can feel familiar,
  and it masks sudden household noises such as siblings, traffic or a door.
- It's optional. Many babies sleep fine without it. It's a tool, not a requirement.
- Types: white, pink or brown noise, a fan or rain sound. Pick a steady sound without melodies,
  lyrics or sudden changes.

## Using it safely

- Volume: about the level of a soft shower or quiet conversation. Research found some machines can
  exceed recommended infant noise limits at full volume. A common guide is about 50 decibels at
  the crib; a free sound-meter app on a phone gives a rough check.
- Place the machine at least about 7 feet (2 meters) from the baby's head, not on the crib rail or
  inside the crib.
- Keep cords out of reach, at least 3 feet (90 cm) from the crib.
- Run it for the length of sleep if that helps, or use a timer. Turning it off once the baby is in
  deep sleep is also fine.

## Night lights

- Dim and warm-toned (red or amber) is least likely to wake anyone fully. Bright blue or white
  light can make settling harder.
- Plug-in lights should be out of reach and away from fabric.

## Sleep aids to skip

- Weighted sleep sacks, swaddles or blankets: the AAP advises against them.
- Inclined sleepers, sleep positioners, wedges, nests or loungers for sleep: not safe for
  unsupervised sleep.
- Stuffed toys with sound machines inside, or anything clipped inside the crib.
- Swings and bouncers for routine sleep. If the baby falls asleep there, move them to a flat surface.
- Smartphone apps placed in the crib.

## Helpful extras

- A pacifier at sleep time, once breastfeeding is established, is linked with lower SIDS risk (see
  the pacifier guide).
- A predictable sequence: feed, burp, diaper, sleep sack, dim lights, sound on, down.
- Room-darkening shades for daytime naps and early summer mornings.

## Will my baby depend on it?

- Babies can get used to any sleep cue. Some families wean off white noise between about 1-2 years
  by turning the volume down gradually over a couple of weeks. Others keep it longer, which is fine
  at a safe volume.
- For travel, a portable sound source can make strange rooms feel familiar.

## When to check in

- Mention at a checkup if your baby startles at sudden sounds very little or not at all, or doesn't
  seem to notice voices by a few months; see the hearing and vision guide.
- Ask about any sleep product you're unsure of before using it for sleep.