A Time Out for Mommy

NYC Mom Blog

Do Sleep Sound Machine’s Work? #SeriousSleep

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I was completely disillusioned about the sleep patterns of babies when I had my first. I thought babies slept- that’s what my friend’s babies always did when we would get together, but I quickly learned I was wrong. Apparently all those well wishers who told me to sleep as much as I can before baby came along were right. I get it now- babies sleep when you want them to be awake and visit with family, and they are awake when you want to take a shower, make dinner, or throughout the night. This has been my experience. They say babies sleep through most of their newborn days, but my girls would sleep in 10 minute intervals, so getting things done around the house was impossible. Then the whole night time sleep training was another issue.

marpac

One of my friends who had 4 kids by the time I had my first told me about sound machines to help babies sleep. I wasn’t aware at the time, but white noise machines were apparently very popular and something worth looking into. My oldest was about 2 when I bought her first sleep machine, but we hardly used it. By the time my second came along, we knew to be prepared and purchased a sleep machine before she came home from the hospital. From the earliest days, a sleep machine seemed to soothe her. It was in the shape of a stuffed animal, and before long it became a play toy for her and lost its appeal as a sleep machine.

Dohm
Last month we received a Marpac Dohmie Sleep machine. I knew we would get use out of it, but I wasn’t sure who would benefit most or which room I should put it in. The first trial was my youngest daughter, as I thought it would have the most effect on her. For an afternoon nap, which usually takes about an hour to put her down for her to sleep for 30-45 minutes, I wondered if it would help. I set up the machine in her room and went through our normal routine. The light sushing sound didn’t seem to bother her much, she was sleeping in about 15 minutes. Her nap lasted 2 hours. Thinking this was a fluke, I tried it for the rest of the week and sure enough, she relaxed much easier and slept a little longer than normal. I was already sold.
I tried using it on my preschooler a week later. She said the sound relaxed her, but she couldn’t fall asleep with it. She found it distracting, but I think she just wasn’t use to it. Would I recommend a Dohmie sleep machine? Absolutely! But I would suggest getting one for baby’s early days to promote good sleep habits from early on. You can find out more by visiting Marpac and connecting with them on their social media sites:

Marpac on Facebook
Marpac on Twitter 
Marpac on Pinterest

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Comments

  1. My 21 year old daughter uses one of these and it is so helpful for noisy college dorms!

  3. I’ve never used a sleep machine but was going to get one this time around to see if they actually work. I can’t believe how much it helped your toddler sleep – that’s SO great.

  4. I’m probably in the minority, but I had a sleep machine and I just could not fall asleep with it! I tried all different settings and if anything it actually kept me awake. I know so many people that these sleep sound machines work for though, I so wish it would have for me, I suffer insomnia a lot.

  5. I wish I had this when my kids were babies. They were ok with naps, but getting to sleep at night was horrible.

  6. ooh I’ve never heard of a sleep machine! I don’t mind using one for myself!! 🙂

  7. I have a friend who swears by a sleep machine with her little one.

  8. I’ve never used one for my daughter, but I use one for me all the time and it’s great!

  9. Wow, that’s awesome! I’m so glad it works for your lil one.

  10. I have an app for the sleep machine for when I travel – drowns out the odd sounds of the hotels or unfamiliar house. We’ve also used them in our kids rooms…there is just something about white noise – it soothes.

  11. I’m a firm believer in the effects of white noise. My youngest has been sleeping through the night since we bought a floor fan at 8 months old. I even bring it on vacation with us.

  12. I used a sound machine for the kids as babies but never thought to use one for myself or for the kids now. Maybe I should give it a try.

  13. I can see that it would work best if it’s introduced when a child is quite young and they grow accustomed to it.

  14. I need one of these for my room – forget the kids. 😉

    When I was a baby, my parents went about their regular tasks when we were sleeping. If it was time to vacuum when we were sleeping, they ran the vacuum right up to our bedroom door. For that reason, I think I can sleep through more than most… but I also really like to have some kind of noise in the room. I used to sleep with a stand fan running, but that sure gets cold in the winter. This would be much better!

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