Soothing sounds to help your baby settle
Blend noise, heartbeat, shush, fan, and womb sounds to gently soothe and settle your baby
Open the sound mixerBefore birth, a baby's world is surprisingly loud — a constant whoosh of blood flow and muffled outside noise, often estimated at 70 to 90 decibels. After birth, a silent room can feel unfamiliar, and sudden sounds (a door, a sibling, a passing car) can pull a baby out of light sleep.
Steady, gentle sound creates a familiar backdrop that softens those startling noises and gives your baby something consistent to settle into. It isn't a magic switch, and every baby is different, but a soothing sound often becomes a useful part of the nap and bedtime routine.
Heartbeat and womb sounds echo what your baby heard before birth.
Steady noise masks sudden household and street sounds that wake light sleepers.
The same sound each time becomes a gentle cue that it's time to rest.
Babies have their own preferences, so the mixer lets you blend several sources and adjust each one. A few starting points:
Balanced, natural sound — like soft rain or a distant waterfall — that covers background noise without the bright hiss some find tiring. A common first choice for sleep.
A slow lub-dub with a low whoosh underneath recreates something of life before birth. Many young babies settle quickly to this blend — it's the heart of our Newborn preset.
The soft whir of a fan and a rhythmic "shhh" mirror the sounds parents reach for instinctively while rocking a baby.
Tap the Newborn or Nap time preset to start, then nudge the sliders until your baby looks comfortable.
A sound machine is a comfort tool, not medical advice. To keep it gentle:
Used sensibly, yes. Pediatric guidance generally suggests keeping infant sleep sound below about 50 decibels and placing the device at least a few feet from the crib rather than right beside your baby. Use the lowest level that helps and avoid leaving loud sound running for long stretches. It's a comfort tool, not a medical device, so check with your pediatrician if you have concerns.
There's no single best sound. Many babies settle to pink or brown noise, a soft fan, or the heartbeat-and-womb blend that echoes life before birth. Try one preset, watch how your baby responds, and adjust. Comfort matters more than any rule.
Some families run a quiet sound through the night to mask household and street noise; others use a timer so it fades after the baby is asleep. Either approach is fine. If outside noise tends to wake your baby, a low, steady sound overnight can help. Keep the volume gentle and the device a few feet away.
A sleep association with sound is common and usually harmless. If you'd rather wean it later, most families lower the volume gradually over a few weeks, or use sound only for naps before dropping it entirely. There's no rush, and some children simply sleep better with a little background sound.
The mixer works on any phone, tablet, or laptop. If you'd like a dedicated device or comfier setup, a few well-reviewed options:
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Open the free mixer and build a blend that settles your little one.
Start the mixerWomb, heartbeat & shush
Shorter daytime sleep
Research on sound & sleep