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The Best Sound Machine for Babies

Jessica Jones

Being a parent is by far the most demanding job in the world. You are responsible for raising and educating another human being, someone who grows up to be good, kind, and smart. But the most important thing of all is to have a healthy child.

In order for that to happen, you need to make sure that your child is well taken care of, and sleep is an important part of this process. However, parents can sometimes confront themselves with situations where the child either refuses to sleep or has problems falling and staying asleep. Is there anything that can help a troubled parent in this situation?

1. Hatch Baby Rest Sound Machine – Editor's Choice

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  • Dimensions: 4 x 4 x 6.2 inches
  • Weight: 1 lb.
  • Sounds Available: 11
  • Night Light: Yes
  • Battery Powered: No

2. Magicteam White Noise Machine

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  • Dimensions: N/A
  • Weight: 15.2 ounces
  • Sounds Available: 40
  • Night Light: No
  • Battery Powered: No

3. Fisher-Price Soothe ‘n Snuggle Otter

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  • Dimensions: 9.84 x 6.1 x 4.33 inches
  • Weight: 16 ounces
  • Sounds Available: Plays music
  • Night Light: Yes
  • Battery Powered: Yes

4. Marpac Hushh White Noise Sound Machine for Baby

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  • Dimensions: 3.5 x 1.8 x 3.8 inches
  • Weight: 3.84 ounces
  • Sounds Available: 3
  • Night Light: Yes
  • Battery Powered: Yes

5. Nightlight Projector Sleep Soother

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  • Dimensions: 5 x 4 x 4 inches
  • Weight: 12.5 ounces
  • Sounds Available: 20
  • Night Light: Yes
  • Battery Powered: Yes

The Best Sound Machine for Babies

1. Hatch Baby Rest Sound Machine – Editor's Choice

Highlights

  • Dimensions: 4 x 4 x 6.2 inches
  • Weight: 1 lb.
  • Sounds Available: 11
  • Night Light: Yes
  • Battery Powered: No

Pros

  • Best-selling item.
  • Operated via a smartphone/tablet.
  • Comes with a nightlight system.
  • Integrated Timer.
  • Child-lock mechanism.
  • Nursery sounds included.

Cons

  • Requires a power source to work.

Best-selling option

Probably the reason why the Hatch Baby Rest is a best-seller is due to the fact that it’s more than just a sound machine. It also doubles as a night light and one that can be fully operated by your phone. The device itself is powered by an electrical outlet, and whilst it may be lightweight and portable, it cannot operate on battery power only.

Since the product was launched, the manufacturers added a child-lock option, so that toddlers won’t override the parental settings. As far as the sound machine options are concerned, you can’t play your own tunes, as the machine doesn’t double as a speaker. However, you can choose one of the 11 sound options, including pink noise and lullaby music.

Aside from being an efficient sound machine, Rest is also a night light. Operated by any smartphone or tablet running Android (Lollipop or higher) or iOS (9 or higher), the Rest allows parents to switch between different night light functions, choose a soothing sound for their child, or even set the time to have the device automatically shut down when needed.

Who Should Purchase This?

The Hatch Baby Rest is a sound machine/night light that intelligently embedded technology within a simple device, to help parents create the ambiance their children need to fall asleep.

2. Magicteam White Noise Machine

Highlights

  • Dimensions: N/A
  • Weight: 15.2 ounces
  • Sounds Available: 40
  • Night Light: No
  • Battery Powered: No

Pros

  • Precise volume knob
  • 40 non-looping sounds
  • Timer feature included

Cons

  • No battery option, so not ideal for travel

Bargain buy

The Magicteam sound machine provides the options you’re looking for to give your baby exactly the soothing sound that fits their personality. Parents can choose between 40 non-looping sounds for their babies, ranging from lullabies to white noise, but also including some city-noises, zoo sounds, and sounds that mimic home appliances.

Another cool feature to have on a baby white noise machine is the timer function. This allows the device to shut down automatically when a specific time period is selected, which is perfect for parents that don’t want the sound machine to run all night but also don’t want to get into the baby’s room to turn it off.

Who Should Purchase This?

Because of its convenient price, the Magicteam is a sound machine worth taking into consideration if you are on a limited budget. It’s also a great product for parents that are just testing these sound machines, but don’t want to spend too much money at first, at least not until they figure out what all the fuss is about.

3. Fisher-Price Soothe ‘n Snuggle Otter

Highlights

  • Dimensions: 9.84 x 6.1 x 4.33 inches
  • Weight: 16 ounces
  • Sounds Available: Plays music
  • Night Light: Yes
  • Battery Powered: Yes

Pros

  • Ultra-cute design.
  • Lightweight and portable.
  • Batteries included in the package.
  • Integrated timer function.
  • 11 sensory discoveries

Cons

  • Can’t be plugged in.

Cutest design

Will there ever be a day when someone asks us for some good sound machine recommendation for children and we fail to mention the Soothe ‘n Snuggle Otter? I mean, look at it. Just look at it. Even I’d hug it to sleep, and I’m a fully grown adult. But it’s not about me, but rather about what this cute baby otter can do for your child’s sleeping pattern.

The Soothe ‘n Snuggle Otter is a sound machine for babies that doubles as a plush toy. Due to its extremely small size and the battery-powered operation, it’s very portable and easy to attach to the stroller, carrier, crib, or wherever you want your baby to doze off to Dreamland. This product arrives with 4 AA batteries included so you can start using immediately.

Who Should Purchase This?

The Soothe ‘n Snuggle Otter is the kind of product you’d recommend to any parent looking for a sound machine for their baby, really. However, if you are particularly interested in a portable and adorable sound machine, the Soothe ‘n Snuggle Otter is perfect.

4. Marpac Hushh White Noise Sound Machine for Baby

Highlights

  • Dimensions: 3.5 x 1.8 x 3.8 inches
  • Weight: 3.84 ounces
  • Sounds Available: 3
  • Night Light: Yes
  • Battery Powered: Yes

Pros

  • Small and very portable.
  • Baby-secure clip.
  • USB rechargeable.
  • Can work without a power outlet.
  • Features a child-lock system.
  • LED night light integrated

Cons

  • The battery is pretty weak.

Most portable option

If it’s portability you’re interested in, we have just the right device for you. The Hushh Comes with three different sound options that help promote sleep in babies, and are capable of masking unwanted noise. Parents can choose between a gentle surf, deep white noise, and bright white noise.

But let’s talk about the portability feature. The device can be charged with a USB cable and can operate throughout the entire night with a single charge. The device itself weighs only 3.8 ounces, which means that it’s very easy to carry around.

There is also a child lock feature that allows parents to block the device at the desired volume and setting, to make sure the children cannot change the current settings or turn the device off. The Marpac also comes with a LED night light which is a great feature for babies that don’t like sleeping in pitch black darkness.

Who Should Purchase This?

The Marpac Hushh comes with an integrated clip that’s baby-safe, which makes it easy for parents to secure it anywhere from the stroller’s handle to the diaper bag’s strap. It’s lightweight and super-easy to carry around.

5. Nightlight Projector Sleep Soother

Highlights

  • Dimensions: 5 x 4 x 4 inches
  • Weight: 12.5 ounces
  • Sounds Available: 20
  • Night Light: Yes
  • Battery Powered: Yes

Pros

  • Full room projection
  • Plug-in and battery options
  • Comes with 20 sounds to choose from
  • Light auto shutdown

Cons

  • Projection is stationary

Best option with a nightlight

Do you know how you can recognize a baby sound machine from a million miles away? It’s when you see a device that is so unique, you feel like you have to buy one for yourself. This nightlight projector sound device is not only compact, but it also has some cool features that both parents and babies can enjoy.

As far as the sound options are concerned, you can choose between 20 different sounds that include lullaby songs, nature sounds, and white noise. The device can also project fun images on the ceiling of your nursery. The light will automatically shut down based on times you can set yourself to make sure there are no visual cues that could disturb the baby’s sleep. While the unit itself is brilliant in terms of safety, portability, and ease of use, it also comes with a power adapter if you want to plug it in.

Who Should Purchase This?

The Nightlight Projector Sleep Soother sound machine is THE device to choose if you want to give your baby “the works”. With great sound options and beautiful visual cues, it can create a soothing atmosphere, perfect for children getting ready for bed.

You might want to read: The Best Baby Mobile

Why Sleep Is Important for Babies

Actually, let me start off by saying this: sleep is important to everyone. Make no mistake, even if you are an adult, it’s still very important to charge your batteries by sleeping at least six hours every night. By now, it’s no secret that’s sleeping is one of the most important aspects of a baby’s life.

Aside from helping the baby grow healthy when a baby sleeps, it’s also beneficial for the parents. Babies that don’t sleep are cranky and fussy, which can affect the mother on both a physical and mental level.

Here are some of the reasons and fundamental benefits that sleep brings to a baby’s life:

  • As the baby sleeps, his or her brain is stimulated by dreaming, which in turn leads to healthy growth.
  • A child that fails to get enough sleep is more likely to develop obesity as an adult.
  • Sufficient and quality sleep will ensure proper brain development have a newborn baby.
  • When babies get enough sleep, the immune system also becomes more powerful. With the proper amount of rest, babies can avoid a lot of health problems, but the overall mood also improve, so they don’t experience any emotional difficulties.

When Babies Don’t Sleep

However, even if there is a certain period when your child is not getting enough sleep, that’s not necessarily a reason for parents to panic. As parents, we tend to overreact to every little obstacle in the growth of our children. What we perceive is improper sleep could actually be enough sleep for a baby. We have a tendency to measuring how rested a person should be by the number of hours they sleep instead of judging by the quality of that sleep.

A parent’s responsibility is not to force the child to sleep, but rather to find ways of training the baby’s natural rhythm. By following certain techniques, a parent can create a certain sleeping pattern for the baby, but it’s important not to force the child to sleep if it doesn’t come naturally.

Of course, there are some situations when the baby doesn’t sleep because of other problems that need to be solved. For instance, if your baby’s teeth are growing, the whole process can be really painful and that causes the child to wake up frequently. If you notice that your baby doesn’t have a regular and healthy sleeping pattern, it’s often best to consult with the pediatrician and get to the root of the problem.

You might want to read: How to Help Your Teething Baby Sleep at Night

How Much Sleep Is Enough for a Newborn?

A baby is considered to be a newborn when they are between zero and three months old. In their infancy, babies dance to sleep around the clock and only wake up when they are hungry, or when they need to be changed. A baby that has less than three months will normally sleep between 10 and 18 hours per day.

When they are sleeping, babies often move their limbs by twitching their arms and their legs and making those cute faces we all love to look at. That doesn’t mean that the baby is restless, as being active while they’re sleeping is a very normal trait.

A newborn baby can send out different signals when they are ready for bed. Every baby has individual gestures, from rubbing their eyes to yawning. Some of them even fuss or cry. As a general note, you should put your baby to sleep when you notice the signals. This can educate the child to fall asleep as soon as they are sleepy, and will regulate their sleep cycle.

If you want to teach your child to sleep less during the day and more during the night, you can expose them to certain factors like noise or light. When you want to create a proper sleeping environment for the baby, you can dim the lights, reduce the noise, and the activity in the baby’s room.

You may want to read: How to Make a Baby Fall Asleep Fast

Top 5 Sound Machines for Babies Reviews

The reason why sound machines for babies are an awesome thing to have is that an infant is sensitive to noise that can distract his or her sleep. If you also have older children, it will be very hard to contain their energy and prevent them from waking up the youngest sibling.

Even more, there are white noise machines that can recreate the sound that a baby hears in the mother’s womb so that the infant will be very comfortable in this soothing environment. To help you make a purchasing decision, we have chosen the top five sound machines for babies that are currently a hit amongst parents from all corners of the world.

You may want to read: The Best Sound Machines for Kids

Bottom Line

When it comes to babies, white noise can trigger a sense of drowsiness. While there isn’t a perfect recipe for choosing the best sound machine for a baby, there are a couple of things that might help you make a better decision.

It’s very important to understand that with a sound machine for babies, the volume is everything. Try to focus the attention devices that allow you to adjust the volume as low as you’d like it to be, mostly because babies are very sensitive to loud noises.

When you decide to buy a sound machine, don’t be afraid to play around with the included sounds, because every baby has different reactions to different tones. Also, pay close attention to where you position the sound machine. It’s typically best to avoid putting the device inside the crib, as certain parts can come off and pose a choking hazard for children.