Frequently asked questions
Short, sourced answers. Follow the links for the full research behind each one.
Is white noise safe for babies?
Generally yes, at a moderate volume and reasonable distance from the crib. The main risks are specific — loudness and proximity — not something inherent to white noise itself. See the full safety overview.
How loud should a white noise machine be for a baby?
Around 50 dB measured at your baby's ear — about the loudness of a quiet conversation — based on a 2014 Pediatrics study of commercial sleep machines. See the full loudness guide.
How far should the machine be from the crib?
At least 2 meters (about 7 feet), based on the farthest distance tested in the same 2014 study. See placement details.
Should white noise play all night?
There's no specific rule against it, but a timer or fade-out is generally the more sensible default — see our reasoning. hushnap defaults to a 30-minute timer with fade-out, but lets you choose unlimited play if you prefer.
Does white noise actually help babies sleep?
The evidence is real but limited — a small 1990 study and a 2025 meta-analysis both found benefits, while other reviews call the overall evidence weak. See the full breakdown.
Can white noise damage a baby's hearing?
Some commercial machines can output hazardous sound levels if played loud and close — that risk is real and manageable with the volume/distance guidance above. Direct hearing-loss outcomes in real infants haven't been studied. See fact vs. fear.
What's the difference between white, pink, and brown noise?
They're the same idea — broadband noise — at different spectral slopes: white is flat, pink falls off gradually, brown falls off more steeply and sounds deeper. See the full explanation.
What's the best sound for newborn sleep?
Heartbeat and womb sound have the most specific research backing, mostly from NICU studies; broadband noise (rain, fan, brown noise) is the most-studied category overall. Which one works is often trial and error. See sounds ranked by evidence.
Is hushnap's audio real recordings or synthesized?
Every sound in the player is generated live in your browser using the Web Audio API — filtered noise, oscillators, and layered modulation, not licensed audio samples. Nothing is downloaded or streamed to play a sound.
Does hushnap collect any data?
See our Privacy Policy for the full, current answer — it covers analytics and advertising, and what each does and doesn't collect.