We all love our kids. That’s pretty obvious. And of course we all want what’s best for them, even if it means sacrificing something that we want. But there are some things that fit both categories – things that are good for our kids, which we are also thrilled for them to have – and sleep is one of them. Everyone’s life is easier and more pleasant when our kids get the proper sleep that they need, and we’re willing to do whatever we can to help them sleep better and longer, for both their sake and ours!
There are a handful of items/strategies that come recommended by us as well as others to help with this, like blackout curtains, consistent bedtime routines, and sometimes melatonin (when recommended by a medical professional, of course). But one thing we find that helps especially well for better, deeper sleep is a sound machine.
The use of background noise while sleeping is nothing new, and there has been some significant research showing that white noise can help improve sleep quality, especially for babies. There are also multiple ways to create background noise – a fan, air conditioner, washing machine, or even rain on a metal roof. However most of these options only create one particular type of noise, and some of them aren’t consistent (i.e. rain might not last all night, or the A/C might shut off once it’s cool enough in the room).
With a dedicated sound machine, you have more control over the volume and frequency of the noise being emitted, as well as where it’s coming from (you can put it between you and the bedroom door to create a “sound wall”) and how long it runs for. There are also many different products on the market, allowing you to find one to best suit your individual preferences.
Of course with kids it’s sometimes more difficult to know exactly what their preferences are, so you may have to do some trial and error to find what works best. At three kids in, we’ve tried a few of them out, and these are the ones we like the best.
Best Natural-Sounding Noise – Yogasleep Dohm
The Dohm uses an internal fan to create noise using airflow (instead of digitally replicated noise), so it actually sounds the most “natural” out of all of the ones we’ve tried – it kind of sounds like air moving through a pipe (yes, that’s the best analogy I could think of).
While the sound quality is very good, it is not quite as customizable as others. There are only two speed settings for the fan, which is the main way you can control the volume. You can also move around the side and top covers to change up the holes that the air flows through, which gives you a little control over the sound frequency/tone, but overall it’s just all the same type of noise.
It’s also strictly wall-plug powered (no battery), so it’s not exactly a portable option. We have traveled with it on longer vacations, but it is a bit bulky to pack.
But the boys all seem to like it and it blocks out noise very well, so it’s a keeper.
Best Portable Machine – Yogasleep Hushh
This one is actually perfect for on-the-go. Not even just traveling, but also just for everyday adventures or nap time in the car. It has a rechargeable battery so it doesn’t always need to stay plugged in, and it comes with a clip so you can just keep it attached to the outside of your diaper bag.
We actually have two of these, one of which just stays plugged in in the older boys’ room, and another for the diaper bag.
It is fairly customizable with three different types of noise, plus a wide range of volume settings – anywhere from super-quiet to loud as F***. There is also a small light on the side in case you need a night-light.
The quality of sound is not quite as good as the Dohm, but it’s actually quite good for having digitally-replicated sounds.
Best High-Tech Machine – Hatch Rest
This one is kind of the “do-it-all” model, which of course means it’s the most expensive. It is both a light and a sound machine, and offers lots of control when it comes to sounds, light color, brightness, and loudness. It can be operated via an app on your phone, which not only makes it easier and more convenient, but allows you to control it from another room.
The app also allows you to create “programs” where the machine changes its light color and/or sound during certain times in the day, like to signal a transition from “sleep time” to “awake time” (or vice versa). Really the possibilities are limited only by your imagination.
We use one in the older boys’ room (yes, we have two sound machines in their room – we really want them to stay asleep!). We have it programmed where the light stays red during the night, then it turns yellow at 6:50, which tells them that they can turn their light on and read in bed if they’re awake, and then it turns green at 7:05 to signal to them that it’s ok to get out of bed.
On a side note, I really wish I had the internal clock of a 3-year-old; it would really help when trying to wake up on a Monday morning.
