Baby sleep
The best sleep sounds by age
A newborn and a three-year-old have different tastes. Here is a starting point for each stage. Your own child may disagree, which is fine.
Newborns often like deep, familiar sounds such as womb, heartbeat and brown noise. Older babies do well with steady white or pink noise, fan and rain. Toddlers can enjoy nature sounds such as ocean and forest rain. These are starting points, not rules.
Newborn (0 to 3 months)
Deep, soft, familiar. Try womb, heartbeat and brown noise. For fussy spells, stronger sounds such as hair dryer or vacuum are popular, briefly. See white noise for newborns.
Baby (3 to 12 months)
As they become more alert and wake more easily, steady covering sounds help: white noise, pink noise, fan, shower and rain. This is also the age of sleep regressions. See sleep regressions.
Toddler (1 to 3 years)
Nature and rhythm: forest rain, ocean, ocean waves, wind, campfire. Let your child choose. See white noise for toddlers.
Parents
Adults often like rain, pink noise, fireplace and cafe. See white noise for adult sleep.
Quick reference
| Stage | Try first | Also good |
|---|---|---|
| Newborn | Womb, heartbeat | Brown noise, fan |
| Baby | White noise, pink noise | Fan, shower, rain |
| Toddler | Rain, ocean | Forest rain, wind, campfire |
| Parents | Pink noise, rain | Fireplace, cafe |
Baby White Noise sorts its 20 sounds into these four tabs: Newborn, Baby, Toddler and Parents.
How to test a sound
- Pick one sound.
- Use it at every sleep for 3 to 5 nights.
- Notice whether settling or waking changes.
- Keep it, or try another.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best sound for a newborn?
Many parents start with womb, heartbeat or brown noise. There is no single best.
Can I change the sound later?
Yes. A switch takes a few nights to settle in.
This page is general information, not medical advice. Talk to your pediatrician about your baby's sleep and hearing, and follow current safe sleep guidance.