The 4 Best Baby Sound Machines to Switch on for Better Sleep

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 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.”

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.