Using white noise to put babies to sleep has become a popular technique among parents. However, sleep professionals are now sounding the alarm, noting that this technique could stunt a child's development.
White noise sounds similar to television static. This noise is often thought to be soothing and will help tune out disruptive sounds. White noise can be produced by a machine or a mobile app, with up to 37.2% of parents saying their children need some type of background noise to fall asleep, per a survey from The Sleep Doctor.
But now, sleep experts have warned that white noise may actually do more harm than good and could cause a "public health issue," according to the Daily Mail, citing Dr. April Benasich of Rutgers University.
How White Noise Affects Babies
Benasich noted that background noise can disrupt a child's language development. Specifically, the monotony of white noise could disrupt a child's "acoustic mapping," which pertains to a network in the brain that aids in a child's ability to learn language.
Exposing a child for 12 to 18 hours per day to white noise can prevent their brain from creating new neurons and networks, which would prevent their ability to evolve and adapt. This means the child's brain is also missing time to establish crucial language skills.
"[White noise tells] the brain you don't need to listen to this because there's nothing going on," Benasich told the outlet.
In addition to stunted development, white noise could also cause hearing damage in children, especially when used incorrectly.
"One gunshot next to my ear would cause the same damage as listening to white noise or listening to music at a very loud level for three hours," Dr. Michelle Hu, a pediatric audiologist, said.
Study Recommendations
For parents using white noise as a sleep aid, pediatric experts recommend placing it as far away from the baby. They also recommend using white noise machines at the lowest setting and shortest time possible.
Benasich noted that parents can also use soundscapes as sleeping aids. Unlike white noise, the soundscape has variation. This can include heartbeat or the sound of ocean waves,
