You’ll often hear us talk about White Noise at The Sleep Store and it’s one of our number one recommendations for calming babies and helping them settle at bedtime and throughout the night.
But, what is white noise? And how does it differ from pink noise and brown noise? Did you know, in fact, there’s many other colour noises too (also known as sonic hues) and their colour depends on the intensity and distribution of energy?
White noise can be described as a sound similar to radio or TV static or a humming air conditioner. Meghan Neal writes in The Atlantic that white noise is “a mixture of all the frequencies humans can hear (20 Hz to 20,000 Hz), fired off randomly with equal power at each — like 20,000 different tones all playing at the same time”.1
Because it covers all frequencies white noise can be used to mask background noises and help people, especially babies, fall asleep more easily and more deeply. It may also help people stay in deep sleep longer as it can mask loud, jarring noises which may otherwise wake a baby or adult out of a deep sleep. Think of all those toddlers & preschoolers jumping about whilst a baby is sleeping and a caregiver trying their very hardest to keep them quiet. White noise can help to mask those sounds, because it contains all frequencies at an equal intensity. Using white noise means the baby can stay asleep longer and caregivers don’t have to stress so much about keeping the bigger little ones quiet. Now that’s a win in our eyes!
Pink noise is similar to white noise in that it covers all frequencies that humans can hear, however the energy isn’t distributed equally across all of them. Our friends at Yogasleep share that “in pink noise, as the numbers get bigger, the difference in power becomes smaller, so the high pitched sounds are softer.”2
This essentially means that pink noise sounds ‘deeper’ or ‘lower’ sounding than white noise. So pink noise can seem less intense and less ear-piercing than white noise. A real life example of pink noise may include wind or rain. Like white noise, pink noise can also help improve sleep. Some studies say that pink noise can help improve memory the next day.
Yes, there’s a 3rd type of noise! Brown noise is similar to pink noise, but has an even deeper sound. According to Yogasleep, brown noise is similar to white noise in that it “also generates sound randomly, but unlike white noise, energy decreases as frequency goes up and vice versa.”3 Brown noise has more bass in the lower frequencies and could sound like roaring waterfalls (think Huka Falls) or thunder rumbling in the distance.
Thanks to Yogasleep for this visual of the Sound Rainbow. Accessed 17 May 2022, from https://yogasleep.com/blogs/give-sleep-a-chance-blog/pink-noise-the-full-sound-spectrum
The answer is, it really depends on your preference. White noise is excellent at masking loud and jarring sounds, which may be handy if you have a toddler or young children in the house, but equally brown or pink noise can be just as effective at calming, settling and creating a deeper sleep. Many white noise machines offer pink and brown noise options as well, be sure to check this out when choosing the best white noise machine for your family. Always place your sound machine at least 1m from the person sleeping.
References:
1.Neal, M. (2016, February 16). The Many Colors of Sound. The Atlantic. Accessed 28 May 2021, from https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2016/02/white-noise-sound-colors/462972/
2 and 3: Szkotak, M (2021, Aril 2). Your Guide to Pink Noise, White Noise, & Brown Noise. Accessed 28 May 2021 from https://yogasleep.com/blogs/give-sleep-a-chance-blog/pink-noise-the-full-sound-spectrum
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| Nod Sound Machine and Night Light | Dohm Nova Sound Machine and Night Light | Dohm Classic - Natural Sound Machine | Dreamcenter - Sound Machine & colour change nightlight | Duet - Sound Machine, Nightlight & Wireless Speaker | Light to Rise - Sound Machine, Clock & Nightlight | |
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| Features | 20 Sounds, adjustable | Modern style. Fan Based, 10 adjustable speeds, adjustable tone & volume control | The Classic. Fan Based, 2 adjustable speeds, adjustable tone & volume control | 26 Sounds, adjustable volume, dimmable amber LED nightlight, 3 sleep timer settings and headphone jack | 30 Sounds, Bluetooth wireless streaming, | 30 Sounds, dimmable, multicolour nightlight, sleep trainer clock, adjustable volume & 3 sleep timer settings |
| White Noise/Fan Sounds | Bright Fan Noise, Deep | Natural real fan sound - adjustable for near infinite tone choices | Natural real fan sound - adjustable for near infinite tone choices | 2 White Noises, 2 Pink | 2 White Noises, 2 Pink Noises, 3 Brown Noises, Deep Fan, Fan, Dohm High & Low | 2 White Noises, 2 Pink Noises, 3 Brown Noises, Deep Fan, Dohm High & Low |
| Nature Sounds | Rain, Gentle Surf, | N/A | N/A | Rain, Gentle Surf, | Soft Rain, Gentle Surf, | Soft Rain, Gentle Surf, |
| Relaxation Sounds | Womb Sounds, Shushing, Happy Child, Baby Song, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Music Box, Lullaby and Landscape | N/A | N/A | Womb Sounds, Shushing, Happy Child, Calm, Chimes, Relax, Restore, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and Lullaby | Twinkle Twinkle Little | Twinkle Twinkle Little |
| Volume Control | Yes, 25 | Yes, 10-speeds with range of fine tuning | Yes, 2-speeds with range of fine tuning | Yes, 25 | Yes, 16 | Yes |
| Maximum Decibel @ 12” | 83.5dB | 69.4dB | 64.9dB | 83.5dB | 83.9dB | 82dB |
| Timer | Yes 45min, 90min, 8hrs & continuous | Yes 45min, 90min, 8hrs & continuous | No | Yes 45min, 90min, 8hrs or continuous | Yes 45min, 90min, 8hrs or continuous | Yes 45min, 90min, 8hrs or continuous |
| Nightlight | Yes, Amber, dimmable | Yes | No | Yes, Amber and colour changing | Yes, Amber, dimmable | Yes, colour changing, dimmable |
| Battery | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Cord Length | 5’ micro USB cord | Power cord with plug & adaptors for UK, Europe, US, Asia | 6’ power cord with plug | 3’ USB C cord | 3’ USB power cord | 5’ power cord with plug |
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| Hushh 2 | Travel Mini Sound Machine with Nightlight | Hushh for Baby | Hushh+ | |||||
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| Feature | Modern refresh of the much loved Hushh. 6 sound options, portable, nightlight, backlit buttons & child lock. | 6 Sounds, USB | 3 Sounds, USB | Improved version of the bestselling Hushh with loads of features - 20 sounds, dimmable, warm nightlight, charge wirelessly & use as wireless speaker | ||||
| White Noise Sounds | White Noise & Dohm | White Noise, Brown Noise & Dohm | Bright White Noise & | White Noise & | ||||
| Nature Sounds | Rain, landscape, gentle surf | Gentle Surf, Stream, | Gentle Surf | Nature sounds | ||||
| Relaxation Sounds or songs | Healing sound | N/A | N/A | 10 Lullabies & relaxation sounds | ||||
| Volume Control | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||||
| Maximum Decibel @ 12” |
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| Battery | Yes - USB | Yes - USB | Yes - USB | Yes - USB or wirelessly | ||||
| Timer | Yes 30 minutes, 60 minutes , 120 minutes or continuous | No, continuous play only | No, continuous play only | Yes 45 minutes, 90 minutes or 8 hours | ||||
| Cord Length | 3’ micro USB cord | 3’ micro USB cord | 3’ micro USB cord | 3’ micro USB cord | ||||
| Night Light | Adjustable amber night light | Soft LED Night Light with 3 settings | Warm LED Night Light with 4 settings | |||||
| Weight | 160g | 136g | 107g | 170g | ||||
YOGASLEEP WHITE NOISE UNBOXING
Yogasleep Nod White Noise Machine Unboxing and Sounds
The Nod Sound Machine and Nighlight is another great product from Yogasleep designed to help your baby or child fall asleep faster, stay asleep, and mask distracting noises. Nod Sound Machine comes with some impressive features: 20 sound options (wow!) including - white noise, fan sounds, nature sounds, and eight classical lullaby tracks. Includes a “shushing” sound and heartbeat setting engineered to soothe infants. A soft, dimmable night light in amber tones that soothes rather than disrupts sleep cycle. Ability to play sounds without the night light turned on. Ability to run the sound machine all night long or set the auto-off timer. 3 timer options - 45 minutes, 90 minutes, or 8 hours. Sleek and compact that fits seamlessly with any bedroom or nursery. Easy to operate with a simple and user-friendly interface. No battery required, powered by USB cord. This does not come with a power adapter plug. Please use a good quality adapter to power your Nod sound machine. This unit must be plugged in to run, it is not rechargeable. Shop the full Yogasleep range for New Zealand & Australia at The Sleep Store online. You can also find our White Noise Machine Comparison Chart on our free Sleep Advice pages:
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2021-12-30
PT4M01S
The Sleep Store
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Dohm Natural Sound White Noise Machine Unboxing
This Dohm Natural Sound Machine is just like the beloved original Dohm DS White Noise machine! It has had a makeover with an updated and streamlined Michael Graves design. Now available in Charcoal or white with different accent colours. The Dohm is the original white noise machine. First invented in 1962, the Dohm has been sold to millions of families worldwide and loved for generations since! Still super popular and one of our complete faves! Turn it on, and tune out the rest of the world. It creates the soothing sound of rushing air, also known as "white noise," which has been proven to effectively block noises at a broad range of frequencies. A uniform blanket of smooth sound masks disruptive noises. Get Dohm to help you get some Serious Sleep. Comes complete with NZ/Australia compatible plug. New Zealand and Australia's 50Hz frequency - the volume difference is subtle due to the USA running at 60Hz. Please note that Marpac has now rebranded as Yogasleep. Marpac has been creating sleep-savings products since 1962 and will be continuing this proud tradition under the Yogasleep brand. Shop the full Yogasleep range for New Zealand & Australia at The Sleep Store online. You can also find our White Noise Machine Comparison Chart on our free Sleep Advice pages:
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2021-12-30
PT1M30S
The Sleep Store
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Yogasleep Dohm Classic White Noise Machine Unboxing
Formerly known as SleepMate/Sound Screen 980A, this extremely effective, popular white noise machine runs at high and low speeds. What serious sleep is all about! Developed almost 50 years ago, this is the Original Sound Conditioner you've probably heard about. It's dome shape is easy to recognise. Turn it on, and tune out the rest of the world. It creates the soothing sound of rushing air, also known as "white noise," which has been proven to effectively block noises at a broad range of frequencies. A uniform blanket of smooth sound masks disruptive noises. Get Dohm to help you get some Serious Sleep. Our most popular plug-in white noise machine, that just lasts and last. We had one personally in daily use for seven years and it was still going strong. Over 45 years ago, Marpac founder developed the original Sound Screen sound conditioner because he was having trouble sleeping. It worked so well, he made it available to his friends and family and ultimately the world. Today, the Sound Screen is still the most economical and most popular sound conditioner on the market. Comes complete with NZ/Australia compatible plug. New Zealand and Australia's 50Hz frequency - the volume difference is subtle due to the USA running at 60Hz. Please note that Marpac is now rebranding its products as Yogasleep and transitioning to new packaging under the Yogasleep brand. Marpac has been creating sleep-savings products since 1962 and will be continuing this proud tradition under the Yogasleep brand. Please note this is on the quieter side compared to a lot of white noise machines and does not have a volume control.
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2021-12-30
PT1M08S
The Sleep Store
https://www.thesleepstore.co.nz/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bU2_JoCxhy4
Yogasleep Dreamcenter White Noise Machine Unboxing and Sounds
Set the scene for your little one and let them drift off into dreamland with the help of the Yogasleep Dreamcenter Multi-Sound Machine and Colour-change Night Light. Features - 24 sound options - 9 robust white & brown noise options, 8 sleep songs, and 7 nature sounds. Also includes fan sounds and Dohm-inspired tracks. Warm night light - customizable night light ring perfect for nighttime feedings or young children. Choose from a warm, amber glow or adjust the colour and intensity and create a calming ambience with a spectrum of colours. Sleek and minimalistic combination unit fits in seamlessly with any bedroom, nursery, or office design. Easy to operate with a simple and user-friendly interface. Wide volume range. Auto-off timer - run it all night long or set the auto-off timer with three options - 45 minutes, 90 minutes, or 8 hours. 3.5mm Headphone jack. Box includes - Yogasleep Dreamcenter USB cable Please note - This unit is not rechargeable. Power adapter plug not included. Please use a good quality adapter to power your Duet sound machine. Yogasleep has 50+ years of making the best white noise machines for home, baby, and work. Great sleep shouldn't be a luxury - it's the foundation of a healthy lifestyle. White noise is a natural approach to the quality sleep you and your family deserve. Shop the full Yogasleep range for New Zealand & Australia at The Sleep Store online. You can also find our White Noise Machine Comparison Chart on our free Sleep Advice pages:
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2021-12-30
PT4M45S
The Sleep Store
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Yogasleep Duet White Noise Machine Unboxing and Sounds
Details The Yogasleep Duet is designed to help your little one get to sleep faster and stay asleep. So many great features packed into one unit - This multi-sound white noise machine and night light works double-duty as a wireless speaker all in one compact & streamlined device. Features - 30 sounds options - including white noise, pink noise, brown noise, fan sounds, nature sounds, and 8 lullaby tracks. Wireless speaker functionality - stream your favorite sleep soundtrack, podcast, or music from your smartphone directly to the Duet speaker wirelessly. Warm night light - it has a soft, dimmable night light in amber tones that soothes rather than disrupts sleep cycles. Auto-off timer - run the sound machine all night long or set the auto-off timer with three timer options: 45 minutes, 90 minutes, or 8 hours Sleek design - Sleek and compact unit fits in seamlessly with any bedroom or nursery. Easy to operate with a simple and user-friendly interface No batteries! Powered by USB cord. (USB power adapter wall plug not included) Package includes - Yogasleep Duet USB cable Please note - This unit is not rechargeable. Power adapter plug not included. Please use a good quality adapter to power your Duet sound machine. Yogasleep has 50+ years of making the best white noise machines for home, baby, and work. Great sleep shouldn't be a luxury - it's the foundation of a healthy lifestyle. White noise is a natural approach to the quality sleep you and your family deserve. Shop the full Yogasleep range for New Zealand & Australia at The Sleep Store online. You can also find our White Noise Machine Comparison Chart on our free Sleep Advice pages:
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2021-12-30
PT5M25S
The Sleep Store
https://www.thesleepstore.co.nz/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vr3y45uzh8&t=5s
Travel Mini White Noise Unboxing and Sounds
Check out this cutie from Yogasleep! White noise in the palm of your hand. From the sleep products company with 50+ years of experience! The Yogasleep Travel Mini Sound Machine combines robust white noise options and a nightlight in one sleek and lightweight pocket-sized device, ready for travel anywhere. The Travel Mini features - 6 different sounds - White noise, Brown noise, DOHM sound and 3 nature-inspired sounds - Surf, Stream and Thunderstorm Sound plays continuously Soft amber light - 3 brightness levels Super lightweight - 140grams Fits in the palm of your hand - literally! Rechargeable battery - USB cord included Handy lanyard The soundtracks on the Travel Mini promote relaxation and help to improve your sleep environment. A soft amber nightlight with 3 dimmable options and is engineered to the right tone and brightness as to not interrupt your sleep cycles. Weighing in at 140grams and no larger than the palm of your hand, the Travel Mini features a USB rechargeable battery and lanyard, making it perfect for at-home usage in your bedroom or nursery, travel, and on-the-go. Fits perfectly in handbags, suitcases and nappy bags! Elegant design with smooth, rounded edges - easily turned off/on and controlled with one hand. It is a rechargeable unit that comes with a USB cord. Operates all night long on a single charge. Shop the full Yogasleep range for New Zealand & Australia at The Sleep Store online. You can also find our White Noise Machine Comparison Chart on our free Sleep Advice pages:
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2021-12-30
PT2M35S
The Sleep Store
https://www.thesleepstore.co.nz/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSuyoqY4LBA
Hushh White Noise Unboxing and Sounds
The Hushh is from Marpac, makers of the beloved Dohm-DS All-Natural White Noise Sound Machine. Hushh is a portable electronic sound machine designed to help baby fall asleep and stay asleep anywhere. The Hushh cradles your baby in soothing sound to create a comforting, consistent sound environment for sleep. This compact portable unit comes with 3 sound options: choose from bright white noise, deep white noise, or gentle surf and a wide volume range. The sounds are played on a continuous loop. Hushh is powered by a lithium ion battery and recharges from a micro-usb cord (included). Throughout night time or naptime, it masks disruptive noises to promote longer, more restful sleep cycles. It runs continuously without a timer, and has an on/off button. We've tested The Hushh to run for approx 12 hours continuously on battery power, when played on medium volume and without the nightlight. For more info, see battery info below. Hushh never needs batteries, so there is none of the on-going cost you get with all other portable white noise machines, shushers or other sound boxes. And continuous play means you can turn Hushh on at bedtime, and it will help calm and resettle your baby or child all through the night. No timers or need to reset, just lovely calming white noise all night. If you are using this at home, we recommend choosing a plug-in model such as the Dohm or Whish. This model is not designed to be used continuously plugged in as that will in time damage the rechargeable battery. Please note: if you have previously owned a Hushh, this newer version is quieter than previous models. How does the Rohm compare to the Hushh? Hushh has a tiny amber light on the side, which the Rohm does not have Hushh has a plastic loop which you can attach to the buggy or side of the cot, whereas the Rohm has a little tie instead All other features and functions are the same Shop the full Yogasleep range for New Zealand & Australia at The Sleep Store online. You can also find our White Noise Machine Comparison Chart on our free Sleep Advice pages:
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2021-12-30
PT2M33S
The Sleep Store
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