Baby Sound Machines
From LoveToKnow Baby
Parents desperately trying to get their babies to sleep for more than a few minutes at a time will appreciate baby sound machines or sound CDs to soothe their babies to sleep.
What Is are Baby Sound Machines?
A sound machine is really just what its name implies. It is an electronic machine that mimics various, repetitive sounds, such as a fan, water running, hair dryer, vaccuum cleaner, heartbeat etc. Sleep apnea sufferers are often prescribed sound machines to aid in their search for a good night's sleep. Keeping this premise in mind, manufacturers have jumped on the band wagon and begun making sound machines specifically geared towards babies.
Why Would I Use a Sound Machine?
If your infant is a light sleeper, sleeps only for shorts spurts, is hard to get to sleep, or suffers from colic, you might want to check out a sound machine. The idea behind this device is that repetition soothes a baby.
Of course, this is evident. All you have to do is watch parents rock, bounce, and jiggle their babies to ease their fussing or to lull them to sleep. A sound machine produces audio rhythms in order to reach the same goal.
Think about it this way. Before your baby was born, he lived in an environment that was actually quite noisy. He could hear your heart beating, your blood pumping, your lungs filling with air, and the rhythms of the world outside your uterus. His world was full of sound, not silence. So, why should we expect newborns to sleep well in complete silence, when they've never had that before?
What Is a Sound CD?
A sound CD is similar to a sound machine. It will probably offer a choice of sounds for you to play for baby. Of course, a cd will eventually end, and you'll have to program it to start again or manually restart it. A machine will continue to play until you turn it
How Can I Recreate Baby Sound Machines?
If you'd rather not purchase a sound machine right now, you can experiment with other white noise sound makers. Obviously, you won't want to keep the vacuum cleaner running for hours at a time, but a fan is a perfect choice. Some parents also like to use the hum of a humidifier in the baby's room. Be sure you clean it regularly, though.
There are also stuffed animals that have small sound machines inside them, such as the beating of a heart or the rushing sounds of the womb. You can turn the toy on and place it well away from baby in his crib. Be sure the toy isn't close to baby, however, to prevent the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).
As you get to know your infant, you'll discover what sounds she responds to the best. You may find that eventually you won't have to rely on a sound machine, cd, or white noise maker for her to sleep soundly. Until then though, if it works to help her sleep, you'll be glad you used it because you can get some much needed rest, too!
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