White Noise
- Low20–250 Hz
- 3%
- Mid250 Hz–2 kHz
- 18%
- High2–10 kHz
- 79%
- Level variationP90–P10
- 1.7 dB
ST-90 · SIDE B · NURSERY CALIBRATED
White Noise for Babies.
For a newborn, silence is the strange part — the womb was a constant whoosh, louder than you'd guess. A steady, gentle noise recreates that familiar backdrop and masks the door clicks and dishes that startle a light baby sleeper. Preview the three nursery classics below, then read the safe-use guide.
01 — LISTEN
Three nursery classics.
Yes. The 126 sounds marked with a play button loop continuously in this browser player — free, with no sign-in or time limit. The NoiseTape app includes all 126 sounds, offline playback and a fade-out sleep timer.
These curves are calculated from the actual loops on this page. Compare their tonal balance and how much the level changes over time.
14-DAY FREE TRIAL · PAY ONCE · NO SUBSCRIPTION · OFFLINE
02 — SAFE USE
Using white noise with a baby, carefully.
White noise helps babies for two reasons. First, masking: a steady broadband sound covers the sudden noises — doors, traffic, older siblings — that trigger a newborn's startle reflex mid-nap. Second, familiarity: the womb was genuinely loud, a constant low whoosh, and a soft steady noise recreates the soundscape a newborn actually finds normal. Pediatric researchers noticed this decades ago: in one classic study, newborns exposed to steady noise fell asleep markedly faster than those left in silence.
| Guideline | Conservative reference | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Volume | Lowest practical level | A 2014 study in Pediatrics found many infant sound machines can exceed safe levels at full volume |
| Distance | As far from the baby's head as practical | Sound pressure falls quickly with distance — placement matters as much as the volume slider |
| Duration | Short periods; use a timer when practical | Steady sound is a falling-asleep cue; it doesn't need to run until morning |
Use the lowest practical level, place the player as far from the baby's head as possible, and use it for short periods. A browser volume percentage is not a sound-level measurement. Ask your pediatrician if you have concerns about sleep or hearing.
03 — FAQ
White noise & babies, answered.
01
Is white noise safe for babies?
Use the lowest practical level, place the player as far from the baby's head as possible, and use it for short periods. A browser volume percentage is not a sound-level measurement. Ask your pediatrician if you have concerns about sleep or hearing.
02
How loud should white noise be for a baby?
There is no trustworthy browser-slider percentage that equals a specific dB level at the crib. Device output, distance and the room all change the result. Start at the lowest setting that works, keep normal speech easy to hear and move the player farther away.
03
Should white noise play all night?
Use the lowest practical level, place the player as far from the baby's head as possible, and use it for short periods. A browser volume percentage is not a sound-level measurement. Ask your pediatrician if you have concerns about sleep or hearing.
04
Which sounds work best for babies?
Start with plain White Noise — the closest match to the classic nursery shusher. Fan adds a softer, warmer rhythm many parents prefer, and Pink Noise shifts energy toward lower frequencies for a gentler wash. All three loop seamlessly and play fully offline.
Try everything free for 14 days. One purchase then covers iPhone, iPad and Mac, every sound, every future update.
See also: white noise for sleep & focus · fan noise for sleeping · pink noise for deeper sleep · rain sounds for sleeping · GUIDES · the full 126-sound library